Trainer Mike Moroney has insured against Tulsa missing an Australian Guineas start by entering him in the Randwick version on the same day.
The Moroney-trained Tivaci won the CS Hayes Stakes on protest last start while Tulsa was third in the race, a traditional Australian Guineas lead-up.
Moroney said both had come through the race well and said the preference was for both to run in Melbourne on Saturday.
“We’ve got Tulsa at 18th in the Australian Guineas ballot order so we’ll have to pay up with him in Sydney as well,” Moroney said.
“Their major gallop is going to be on Tuesday morning but at this stage we couldn’t be happier with both of them.”
Tivaci and Tulsa have both been nominated for the Randwick Guineas as well as the Australian Guineas and the Moroney stable is not the only one to have runners nominated for the two races.
Four from the David Hayes and Tom Dabernig stable – Risque, Sovereign Nation, Stay With Me and Sacred Eye – are dual nominated.
Chris Waller has Press Statement and Vanbrugh entered for both with Press Statement expected to be the star attraction in the Sydney race, while Mick Kent has Data Point nominated in Sydney and Melbourne.
Both races are over 1600 metres with a field limit of 16 in the Australian Guineas and 20 at Randwick.
Moroney said Nick Hall would ride Tivaci and Steven Arnold would be on Tulsa if both ran at Flemington.
Boom New Zealand colt Xtravagant is the $4.20 Australian Guineas favourite ahead of Palentino at $4.80 with Victoria Derby winner Tarzino $6 and Mahuta $7.
Palentino was controversially relegated to second in the CS Hayes Stakes when stewards agreed with Craig Williams’ objection relating to interference at the 900m.
Although Mark Zahra was not judged to be at fault, Palentino shifted out abruptly to avoid heels and hampered Tivaci who lost momentum and was forced to race wide.
Moroney believes Tivaci and Tulsa have come back well enough this campaign to be Guineas chances.
“Most horses do at three, but we were pretty confident both had improved enough from the spring to be competitive in these Group One races. So let’s hope we’re right,” Moroney said.
