Caulfield Guineas Prelude

The Caulfield Guineas Prelude is a Group 3 race run at Caulfield Racecourse in September as a lead-up to the Caulfield Guineas.

2023 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Results

  • 1st: #3 Steparty
  • 2nd: #10 Southport Tycoon
  • 3rd: #6 Scentify



The Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude is a 1400m event held at Melbourne’s Caulfield Racecourse in mid to late September.

Run under set weights plus penalties conditions, the Caulfield Guineas Prelude is open only to three year old colts and geldings, and serves as the major lead-up race to the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) the following month.

The Caulfield Guineas Prelude offers a recently boosted $300,000 total prize money. While it is a major lead up event, participation is not requisite for acceptance into the Caulfield Guineas field and the Caulfield Guineas Prelude – Caulfield Guineas double was last achieved by Helmet (2011).

The Caulfield Guineas Prelude is currently held on Underwood Stakes Day with racing at the meeting headlined by the Group 1 $750,000 Underwood Stakes (1800m) for Cox Plate types.

The other key event on the program is the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) for Caulfield Cup-bound stayers.

The Caulfield Guineas Prelude is considered one of the ideal preparatory races for horses taking a number of different spring routes including being freshened-up and dropped down in distance for Flemington’s Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The 2021 Caulfield Guineas Prelude form was franked with the winner Lightsaber running fourth in that year’s Caulfield Guineas results before returning the following autumn to run second in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) in 2022.

The 2023 Caulfield Guineas Prelude ran on Saturday September 23, 2023 as part of Caulfield’s Underwood Stakes Day and saw the Paul Preusker-trained favourite Steparty ($2.60F) flash home late to just get there right on the line and salute for the punters. 

Caulfield Guineas Prelude
Date: Saturday September 23, 2023
Track: Caulfield Racecourse
Distance: 1400m
Conditions: 3YO C&G SW+P
Status: Group 3
Prize Money: $300,000
Inaugurated: 1985

2023 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Results

  • 1st: #3 Steparty ($2.60F)
  • 2nd: #10 Southport Tycoon
  • 3rd: #6 Scentify

The Paul Preusker-trained Artie Schiller colt Steparty ($2.60F) retained his flawless career start making it five wins from as many starts having looked gone at the top of the straight before unleashing late to charge home and narrowly salute for the punters in a thrilling 2023 Caulfield Guineas Prelude result.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 3 STEPARTY Paul Preusker John Allen 7 57kg $2.60F
2 10 SOUTHPORT TYCOON Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Harry Coffey 0.1L 5 56kg $9
3 6 SCENTIFY Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ben Allen 0.2L 3 56kg $10
4 5 SCHEELITE Ken & Kasey Keys Mark Zahra 0.4L 8 56kg $13
5 2 VEIGHT Tony & Calvin McEvoy Ben Melham 2.65L 2 58kg $3.70
6 1 LITTLE BROSE Ben, Will & JD Hayes Michael Dee 2.85L 9 59kg $16
7 13 ROCK EMPIRE Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Jordan Childs 3.15L 1 56kg $8.50
8 9 SOME PEOPLE CALLME Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Jamie Mott 5.15L 6 56kg $61
9 7 PRINZERRO Phillip Stokes Ms Jamie Kah 5.25L 4 56kg $21
12 DUCASSE Michael Freedman Damien Oliver 0
8 ARMED FORCES Chris Waller Craig Williams 0
4 CHRYSAOR Chris Waller Jye McNeil 0
11 SNOW PATROL (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Blake Shinn 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Betting Odds

The updated Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2023 betting odds and links to the Group 3 Caulfield racing markets online at Ladbrokes.com.au will be available below as soon as released.

Aft Cabin ($2.15 in 2022) and Steparty ($2.60 in 2023) are the latest favourites in Caulfield Guineas Prelude markets to salute for the punters.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 CAULFIELD GUINEAS PRELUDE ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 CAULFIELD GUINEAS PRELUDE FORM GUIDE

2023 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2023 Tips on the important Guineas lead-up this season.

  • To Win: #2 Veight ($3.70 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Plenty of in-form three-year-olds facing off in the Prelude with varying form lines to consider. Taking on the undefeated favourite and have Veight on top for Tony & Calvin McEvoy. The Grunt colt is a Group 2 winner from last time in (VRC Sires’) before a brave fourth in Sydney’s Group 1 Inglis Sires’ on Heavy going. He was back in winning form first-up at this track on September 2 saluting in the Group 3 H.D.F. McNeil (1200m) in style and will relish the 1400m second-up here. Previous second-up winning form, drawn a treat in gate two with Ben Melham aboard and can win again.

2023 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Field

Each season the Caulfield Guineas Prelude field attracts the season’s top three-year-old colts and geldings with the potential to see out the mile of the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) next-up.

The official 2023 Caulfield Guineas Prelude field and barriers will be released by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday of race week and published in full below.

The Caulfield Guineas 2023 final field features a smart line-up of Group 1 hopefuls led in betting by the undefeated Paul Preusker-trained Steparty in his Group race debut.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 21x218x43 LITTLE BROSE Ben, Will & JD Hayes Michael Dee 12 59kg 98
2 114×1 VEIGHT Tony & Calvin McEvoy Ben Melham 2 58kg 90
3 111×1 STEPARTY Paul Preusker John Allen 8 57kg 82
4 4140x137x9 CHRYSAOR Chris Waller 10 56kg 76
5 11×55 SCHEELITE Ken & Kasey Keys Mark Zahra 11 56kg 73
6 1×12 SCENTIFY Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ben Allen 3 56kg 74
7 2×321 PRINZERRO Phillip Stokes Luke Nolen 4 56kg 66
8 720×5 ARMED FORCES Chris Waller 6 56kg 70
9 29×1 SOME PEOPLE CALLME Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Jamie Mott 7 56kg 62
10 11 SOUTHPORT TYCOON Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Harry Coffey 5 56kg 69
11 13 SNOW PATROL (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Blake Shinn 13 56kg 65
12 37×47 DUCASSE Michael Freedman Damien Oliver 9 56kg 65
13 1 ROCK EMPIRE Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Jordan Childs 1 56kg 65

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Caulfield Guineas Prelude Nominations

The 2023 Caulfield Guineas Prelude nominations close on the Monday leading-up to Underwood Stakes Day and will be detailed right here once early entries are announced.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight True Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 21x218x43 LITTLE BROSE C 3 Ben, Will & JD Hayes 1 59kg 98
2 411×9 KING COLORADO C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 2 59kg 96
3 114×1 VEIGHT C 3 Tony & Calvin McEvoy 3 58kg 90
4 41514×13 TOM KITTEN C 3 James Cummings 4 58kg 83
5 111×1 STEPARTY C 3 Paul Preusker 5 57kg 82
6 231×5 SALTCOATS (NZ) G 3 Chris Waller 6 57kg 75
7 3118×3 BRAVE MEAD C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 7 57kg 74
8 26×13 NADAL C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 8 56kg 78
9 4140x137x9 CHRYSAOR C 3 Chris Waller 9 56kg 76
10 1×12 SCENTIFY C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 10 56kg 74
11 11×55 SCHEELITE C 3 Ken & Kasey Keys 11 56kg 73
12 118×0 CONGREGATION C 3 Chris Waller 12 56kg 72
13 3x1x46 GENERAL SALUTE C 3 Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou 13 56kg 72
14 720×5 ARMED FORCES C 3 Chris Waller 14 56kg 70
15 11 SOUTHPORT TYCOON C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 15 56kg 69
16 2×321 PRINZERRO C 3 Phillip Stokes 16 56kg 66
17 13 SNOW PATROL (NZ) G 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 17 56kg 65
18 37×47 DUCASSE C 3 Michael Freedman 18 56kg 65
19 1 ROCK EMPIRE C 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 19 56kg 65
20 2621 WOLFY (NZ) C 3 Nick Ryan 20 56kg 63
21 29×1 SOME PEOPLE CALLME C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 21 56kg 62

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Caulfield Guineas Prelude History

Inaugurated in 1985, the Caulfield Guineas Prelude has experience multiple renowned horses throughout its relatively short history.

Originally held over 1200m, the Caulfield Guineas Prelude changed to 1400m from the 1991 edition onwards. A Listed race from 1985 to 2000, the 2001 Caulfield Guineas Prelude ran as a Group 3 event, a status which the race has retained since.

The Caulfield Guineas Prelude has experienced a few name changes over the years. Between 1985 and 1989 the Caulfield Guineas Prelude was named the “Show Day Stakes”. Between 1990 and 1997 the race was referred to as the JD MacDonald Stakes. For two years in 1998 and 1999 the name was shortened to the MacDonald Stakes. Since 2000, the race has been known as the Caulfield Guineas Prelude, or more simply, the Guineas Prelude.

Some of the more notable Caulfield Guineas Prelude winners include Brequillo (1985), Alfa (1996), Elvstroem (2003), Apache Cat (2005), Epaulette (2012), and Alligator Blood (2019) who won the following year’s Group 1 Australian Guineas.

Caulfield Guineas Prelude results since 2000 are listed below.

Caulfield Guineas Prelude Results

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Steparty 1 minute 22.57 seconds
2nd Southport Tycoon
3rd Scentify
2022
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Aft Cabin 1 minute 27.67 seconds
2nd Meridius
3rd Amenable
2021
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Lightsaber 1 minute 25.14 seconds
2nd Brigantine
3rd Military Expert
2020
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Crosshaven 1 minute 25.57 seconds
2nd Amish Boy
3rd National Choice
2019
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Alligator Blood 1 minute 23.49 seconds
2nd Dalasan
3rd Groundswell
2018
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Native Soldier 1 minute 23.36 seconds
2nd Tavisan
3rd Long Leaf
2017
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Perast 1 minute 23.47 seconds
2nd Summer Passage
3rd Kementari
2016
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Sacred Elixir 1 minute 24.7 seconds
2nd Revolving Door
3rd Wazzenme
2015
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Bon Aurum 1 minute 22.67 seconds
2nd Tulsa
3rd Dal Cielo
2014
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Rich Enuff 1 minute 23.5 seconds
2nd Looks Like The Cat
3rd Awesome Rock
2013
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Eclair Big Bang 1 minute 23.3 seconds
2nd El Roca
3rd Long John
2012
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Epaulette 1 minute 24.2 seconds
2nd Let Go Lenni
3rd Awesome Bro
2011
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Helmet 1 minute 21.4 seconds
2nd Secret Hills
3rd Specter
2010
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Anacheeva 1 minute 23.1 seconds
2nd Toorak Toff
3rd Skilled
2009
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Demerit 1 minute 24.7 seconds
2nd Trusting
3rd Manhattan Rain
2008
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Fernandina 1 minute 25.4 seconds
2nd Time Thief
3rd Von Costa De Hero
2007
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Purrealist 1 minute 24.2 seconds
2nd Marching
3rd Shrewd Rhythm
2006
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Wonderful World 1 minute 24.6 seconds
2nd Blue Lago
3rd Sharkbite
2005
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Apache Cat 1 minute 27.0 seconds
2nd Gods Own
3rd Danerich
2004
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Tirade 1 minute 24.7 seconds
2nd Fastnet Rock
3rd Classiconi
2003
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Elvstroem 1 minute 22.3 seconds
2nd In Top Swing
3rd Dance Up
2002
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Great Glen 1 minute 23.2 seconds
2nd Titanic Jack
3rd Helenus
2001
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Pure Theatre 1 minute 24.2 seconds
2nd King Of Prussia
3rd North Boy
2000
Caulfield Guineas Prelude
1st Fubu 1 minute 22.4 seconds
2nd Show A Heart
3rd Debrief

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