The Hawkes Racing-trained Golden Rose champion Ole Kirk will face 14 rivals in his bid at interstate elite level wins when he lines-up one of the best fancied runners in Saturday’s 2020 Caulfield Guineas field.
Golden Rose winner Ole Kirk lines-up as a huge chance in Melbourne’s 2020 Caulfield Guineas field on the weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.
Melbourne’s Group 1 $2 million Neds Caulfield Guineas (1600m) is shaping-up as one of the most intriguing editions of the three-years-old classic in recent history with a host of Group 1 winners and varying form-lines to follow into the event.
Drawn mid-field in the 15-horse Caulfield Guineas field jumping from gate seven with premiere Perth hoop William Pike coming aboard in place of Tommy Berry is Written Tycoon colt Ole Kirk.
After seconds in The Rosebud and Run To The Rose at big odds, the progressive galloper was strong to the line to hold out stablemate North Pacific in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) in Sydney last time out.
He gets the chance for back-to-back Group 1 features on the weekend heading south for the Guineas and should be suited to the mile.
The other best out of the Golden Rose backing-up in the Caulfield Guineas is the third placegetter King’s Legacy.
Peter & Paul Snowden’s class Redoute’s Choice colt enjoyed dual Group 1 wins as a juvenile taking out the ATC Sires’ Produce and Champagne Stakes during the autumn.
He is on the improve the further he goes in distance this prep improving on his last place (7th) fresh in the Run To The Rose when rounding out the trifecta in the big one on September 26.
Already proven at the 1600m, King’s Legacy should eat-up the extra metres on Saturday but will need a touch of luck from the wide gate (12) with Hugh Bowman retaining the ride.
Drawn one closer to the fence and a likely favourite in Caulfield Guineas betting this spring is the undefeated Chris Waller-trained Mo’unga to be ridden by Damien Oliver.
Waller chases his third Caulfield Guineas triumph having previously won with Press Statement (2015) and The Autumn Sun (2018).
The master trainer’s sole hope this season is Savabeel colt Mo’unga who has won three-from-three in easier company.
He stepped-up to Black-Type company last time out on September 12 and won Rosehill’s Listed Dulcify Stakes (1500m), but faces a notable rise in grade on Saturday racing the left-handed way for the first time.
Another last-start winner in the mix looking a genuine winning hope in the Guineas is the Peter Moody-trained Fastnet Rock colt Glenfiddich.
Moody won the race back in 2010 with Anacheeva and is back a decade later with Group 2 Stutt Stakes winner at The Valley, Glenfiddich.
The horse was runner-up to King’s Legacy in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) as a two-year-old, ran a first-up third against the older horses fresh in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and then won the Group 2 over the mile by two lengths on September 25 in outstanding fashion.
Suited to the 1600m and proven against many of these horses, Glenfiddich could prove the one to back on Saturday as he looks to complete the Stutt Stakes – Caulfield Guineas double for the first time since Whobegotyou (2008).
Blue Diamond winner Tagalao and Lindsay Park’s flying Prelude winner Crosshaven out to make it five-from-six are the other notable final acceptors.
2020 Caulfield Guineas Field
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31x4124x36 | TAGALOA | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Craig Williams | 3 | 56.5kg | 102 | |
| 2 | 315x911x73 | KING’S LEGACY | Peter & Paul Snowden | Hugh Bowman | 12 | 56.5kg | 105 | |
| 3 | 1343×221 | OLE KIRK |
Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | William Pike | 7 | 56.5kg | 103 | |
| 4 | 133×366 | MAMARAGAN | John Thompson | Michael Rodd | 13 | 56.5kg | 88 | |
| 5 | 2502162×31 | GLENFIDDICH | Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 8 | 56.5kg | 100 | |
| 6 | 11×611 | CROSSHAVEN | Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes | Daniel Stackhouse | 15 | 56.5kg | 85 | |
| 7 | 35413×22 | AMISH BOY | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Jye McNeil | 1 | 56.5kg | 80 | |
| 8 | x52116x644 | LUNAR FOX |
Paul Preusker | Brett Prebble | 4 | 56.5kg | 80 | |
| 9 | 1×11 | MO’UNGA (NZ) | Chris Waller | Damien Oliver | 11 | 56.5kg | 75 | |
| 10 | 31×16 | AYSAR | Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes | Damian Lane | 14 | 56.5kg | 71 | |
| 11 | 114 | CAMBOURNE | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Mark Zahra | 10 | 56.5kg | 68 | |
| 12 | 13×903 | NATIONAL CHOICE |
Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Craig Newitt | 5 | 56.5kg | 72 | |
| 13 | 517×42 | GRANDSLAM |
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | John Allen | 6 | 56.5kg | 66 | |
| 14 | 231 | POLAND | Michael Moroney | Jordan Childs | 9 | 56.5kg | 66 | |
| 15 | 215 | CAPTAIN CORELLI (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Michael Dee | 2 | 56.5kg | 64 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
