The Thousand Guineas Prelude is a Group 2 event held at Melbourne’s Caulfield Racecourse annually in late September or early October across the AFL – NRL Grand Finals weekend.
Raced over 1400m, the Thousand Guineas Prelude pays $200,000 in total prize money. Open only to fillies aged three years old, the Thousand Guineas Prelude presents punters and race fans with a great opportunity to gauge the form of the season’s best young fillies heading towards a Group 1 run during the Spring Racing Carnival. It is run under set weights plus penalties, which allows for a fairly interesting competition, with the better fillies usually coming out on top.
The Thousand Guineas Prelude is held alongside its sister race, the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) for three-year-old colts and geldings as part of Underwood Stakes Day at Caulfield Racecourse. Contested on the Sunday of Sydney’s NRL Grand Final, the race meeting is headlined by the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) for Caulfield Cup types and the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).
The Thousand Guineas Prelude acts as a great lead-up event to the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) run back at the track in a fortnight’s time. Two of the three Thousand Guineas winners from 2014-16 had their final lead-up in the Thousand Guineas Prelude race, while the double was last completed by Irish Lights (2009).
The Thousand Guineas Prelude 2017 ran on Sunday October 1, 2017.
| 2017 Thousand Guineas Prelude | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Sunday October 1, 2017 |
| Track: | Caulfield Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1400m |
| Race Type: | 3YO Fillies SWP |
| Status: | Group 2 |
| Prize Money: | $200,000 |
2017 Thousand Guineas Prelude Results
- 1st: #6 Booker
- 2nd: #2 Shoals
- 3rd: #1 Catchy
Check out the full Thousand Guineas Prelude 2017 Results & Finishing Order below, following the link to read more on the upset win of Booker who improved on her lead-up third in the Danehill Stakes to defeat the previously unbeaten Shoals (2nd) and the beaten odds-on favourite Catchy ($1.95) in a blanket finish.
| Place | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | BOOKER | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Dwayne Dunn | – | 7 | 55kg | $6.50 |
| 2 | 2 | SHOALS | Anthony Freedman | Mark Zahra | 0.4L | 8 | 57.5kg | $5.50 |
| 3 | 1 | CATCHY | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Regan Bayliss | 0.5L | 4 | 58.5kg | $1.95F |
| 4 | 8 | SHE’S SO HIGH | Mick Price | Beau Mertens (a) | 1L | 1 | 55kg | $8.50 |
| 5 | 3 | LIMESTONE | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | 4.25L | 2 | 57kg | $13 |
| 6 | 4 | ROOMOOZ | Tony McEvoy | Luke Currie | 5L | 5 | 56.5kg | $31 |
| 7 | 5 | SEANNIE | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Ben Melham | 5.4L | 3 | 56.5kg | $26 |
| 8 | 9 | MAHLANI (NZ) | Andrew Noblet | Ms Katelyn Mallyon | 5.5L | 6 | 55kg | $101 |
| – | 7 | TRUE EXCELSIOR (NZ) | Leon & Troy Corstens | Blake Shinn | – | 0 | – | – |
2017 Thousand Guineas Prelude Tips
- 1st: #1 Catchy
- 2nd: #6 Booker
- 3rd: #3 Limestone
Really hard to see the Lindsay Park-trained favourite Catchy get rolled. She’s a proven Group 1 winner at the track winning the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes in the autumn and won her lead-up at Flemington in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m). She’s short, but deservingly so, and will likely take on the boys in the Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas after winning this. Booker is the market mover and danger after her third to Catchy in the Danehill Stakes, while Limestone fell in the same race but gets the chance to atone here.
2017 Thousand Guineas Prelude Odds
The Thousand Guineas Prelude 2017 betting odds and market links to Ladbrokes.com.au on the official Thousand Guineas lead-up race for fillies will be available below the week of the event.
2017 Thousand Guineas Prelude Field
The Thousand Guineas Prelude field features a quality line-up of Group 1 bound three-year-old fillies that could have the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) in two weeks’ time in sight. A rival to the Thousand Guineas field is the previous day’s Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) run over the Randwick mile and many fillies are accepted for both races before a final call is made on which event in which state over the huge weekend of racing they contest.
The official 2017 Thousand Guineas Prelude field and barriers are released by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday leading-up to Underwood Stakes Day and will be available in full below following final acceptances.
The Thousand Guineas Prelude 2017 Final Field features just nine fillies led by Catchy (58.5kg) who is a proven Group 1 winner at the Caulfield track and last-start winner of the Danehill Stakes at Flemington. Catchy jumps from barrier four while the big danger in the Thousand Guineas Prelude field is undefeated Shoals in the outside alley (9 of 9).
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11110×21 | CATCHY | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Regan Bayliss | 4 | 58.5kg | 102 |
| 2 | 111×1 | SHOALS | Anthony Freedman | Mark Zahra | 9 | 57.5kg | 89 |
| 3 | 3112x4F | LIMESTONE | Darren Weir | Damian Lane | 2 | 57kg | 78 |
| 4 | 148×10 | ROOMOOZ | Tony McEvoy | Luke Currie | 5 | 56.5kg | 74 |
| 5 | 1x136x55 | SEANNIE | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Ben Melham | 3 | 56.5kg | 70 |
| 6 | 12×23 | BOOKER | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | Dwayne Dunn | 8 | 55kg | 78 |
| 7 | 32×134 | TRUE EXCELSIOR (NZ) | Leon & Troy Corstens | Blake Shinn | 7 | 55kg | 65 |
| 8 | 143 | SHE’S SO HIGH | Mick Price | Beau Mertens (a) | 1 | 55kg | 68 |
| 9 | 7×1462 | MAHLANI (NZ) | Andrew Noblet | Ms Katelyn Mallyon | 6 | 55kg | 62 |
2017 Thousand Guineas Prelude Nominations
The 2017 Thousand Guineas Prelude nominations close on the Monday of race week and the official list of Thousand Guineas Prelude nominated fillies will be available below once announced.
In 2017 the Thousand Guineas Prelude entries drew 13 hopeful fillies including Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy who was last seen taking out the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) at Flemington on September 16, and the third placegetter in the same race Booker.
| # | Form (Last 10) | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | Hcp. Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11110×21 | CATCHY | F | 3 | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | 1 | 58.5kg | 102 |
| 2 | 111×1 | SHOALS | F | 3 | Anthony Freedman | 2 | 57.5kg | 89 |
| 3 | 3112x4F | LIMESTONE | F | 3 | Darren Weir | 3 | 57kg | 78 |
| 4 | 148×10 | ROOMOOZ | F | 3 | Tony McEvoy | 4 | 56.5kg | 74 |
| 5 | 1x136x55 | SEANNIE | F | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 5 | 56.5kg | 70 |
| 6 | 12×23 | BOOKER | F | 3 | Mathew Ellerton & Simon Zahra | 6 | 55kg | 78 |
| 7 | 60×11 | GLAM GURU | F | 3 | Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas | 7 | 55kg | 69 |
| 8 | 32×134 | TRUE EXCELSIOR (NZ) | F | 3 | Leon & Troy Corstens | 8 | 55kg | 65 |
| 9 | 143 | SHE’S SO HIGH | F | 3 | Mick Price | 9 | 55kg | 68 |
| 10 | 0x3334x421 | SUPER SNOB | F | 3 | Peter Morgan | 10 | 55kg | 60 |
| 11 | 339×5 | MINTHA | F | 3 | Tony McEvoy | 11 | 55kg | 60 |
| 12 | 5×317 | ELLE GAGNE (NZ) | F | 3 | Grahame Begg | 12 | 55kg | 62 |
| 13 | 7×1462 | MAHLANI (NZ) | F | 3 | Andrew Noblet | 13 | 55kg | 62 |
Thousand Guineas Prelude History
Before it became the Thousand Guineas Prelude, this race was known as the Tranquil Star Stakes. Inaugurated in 1985, the Thousand Guineas Prelude has rapidly grown into one of the essential three year old races in Australia. As it is restricted to fillies, the Thousand Guineas Prelude is one of the most important events for understanding form and career direction.
The Thousand Guineas Prelude was a Group 3 event prior to the 2013 edition, when it ran for the first time with Group 2 status. Throughout its history, the Thousand Guineas Prelude has developed a reputation for producing some top runners. A lot of the fillies in this event have gone on to great success in the Thousand Guineas. Commanding Jewel came second in the 2012 Thousand Guineas Prelude prior to her Edward Manifold Stakes and Thousand Guineas victories. Mosheen, who took out third in 2011, went on to win the Crown Oaks. Irish Lights was able to string together a win in the Prelude and the Thousand Guineas in 2009. Hollow Bullet and Ballet Society managed to place in both events in 2004.
The Thousand Guineas Prelude results and winning times since 2000 are listed below.
Thousand Guineas Prelude Results
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | TBD | TBD |
| 2nd | TBD | ||
| 3rd | TBD | ||
| 2017 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Booker | 1 minute 23.42 seconds |
| 2nd | Shoals | ||
| 3rd | Catchy | ||
| 2016 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Legless Leuve | 1 minute 25.2 seconds |
| 2nd | La Luna Rosa | ||
| 3rd | Sword Of Light | ||
| 2015 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Miss Gunpowder | 1 minute 23.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Payroll | ||
| 3rd | Jameka | ||
| 2014 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Afleet Esprit | 1 minute 24.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Amicus | ||
| 3rd | Go Indy Go | ||
| 2013 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Gregers | 1 minute 29.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Marianne | ||
| 3rd | Politeness | ||
| 2012 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Lady Of Harrods | 1 minute 24.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Commanding Jewel | ||
| 3rd | Molto Bene | ||
| 2011 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Bliss Street | 1 minute 24.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Hallowell Belle | ||
| 3rd | Mosheen | ||
| 2010 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Divorces | 1 minute 24.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Sistine Angel | ||
| 3rd | Panipique | ||
| 2009 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Irish Lights | 1 minute 26.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Set For Fame | ||
| 3rd | Mont Fleuri | ||
| 2008 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Ortensia | 1 minute 26.0 seconds |
| 2nd | Romneya | ||
| 3rd | Sugar Babe | ||
| 2007 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Gabbidon | 1 minute 23.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Jestatune | ||
| 3rd | Sleek Chassis | ||
| 2006 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Miss Finland | 1 minute 24.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Anamato | ||
| 3rd | My Only Hope | ||
| 2005 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Doubting | 1 minute 27.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Pinezero | ||
| 3rd | Isanami | ||
| 2004 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Hollow Bullet | 1 minute 24.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Ballet Society | ||
| 3rd | Astradame | ||
| 2003 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Hinting | 1 minute 22.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Ashenti | ||
| 3rd | Portland Damask | ||
| 2002 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | La Bella Dame | 1 minute 24.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Toast Of The Coast | ||
| 3rd | Lashed | ||
| 2001 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | Haste Ye Back | 1 minute 25.0 seconds |
| 2nd | Malagra Miss | ||
| 3rd | Special Grange | ||
| 2000 Thousand Guineas Prelude |
1st | So Gorgeous | 1 minute 22.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Ponton Flyer | ||
| 3rd | All Time High | ||