This Saturday nine promising three-year-olds will take to the track at Flemington in the $750, 000 Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) as part of the lucrative and thrilling Super Saturday of Racing.
The Peter Snowden-trained Denman is leading the betting markets by miles, currently at $1.60 for a win with Sportsbet.com.au.
Denman was originally prepared to face off against the Gai Waterhouse-trained Manhattan Rain in the Australian Guineas, but a poor performance by the Encosta De Lago colt in the Hobartville Stakes last Saturday prompted the connections of Manhattan Rain to retire him to stud.
Denman, who has won all three of his starts this season, now faces a field where only two runners look a chance of causing an upset, Angus Armanasco Stakes winner Set For Fame and Alister Clark Stakes victor Linton.
Peter Moody’s filly Set For Fame has loads of potential and has drawn ideally in barrier one for Saturday.
The Robert Hickmott-trained Linton is a promising stayer who has won two of his three race starts and will no doubt prove to be one of Australia’s great turf champions over the years. Linton will start wide from barrier eight in the Australian Guineas on the inside of race favourite Denman on the far outside in nine.
The Australian Crown Guineas will run as race three on Saturday. Other highlight events at the Flemington meeting include the $1 million Group 1 Darley Australian Cup (2000m) and the $1 million Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (2000m).
2010 Australian Crown Guineas Final Field & Barriers
No |
Horse |
Trainer |
Jockey |
Barrier |
Weight (kg) |
Handicapper Rating |
1 |
DENMAN |
Peter Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 9 | 55.5 | 110 |
2 |
CARRARA |
Tony Vasil | Craig Williams | 4 | 55.5 | 103 |
3 |
HANKS SCRATCHED |
Peter G Moody | Steven Arnold | 2 | 55.5 | 95 |
4 |
LINTON |
Robert Hickmott | Nicholas Hall | 8 | 55.5 | 95 |
5 |
CHIEF OF STAFF |
Mark Minervini | Dwayne Dunn | 7 | 55.5 | 80 |
6 |
MOST IMMEDIATE |
M, W & J Hawkes | Steven King | 6 | 55.5 | 76 |
7 |
GURU BOB (NZ) |
L & S Hope | Danny Nikolic | 3 | 55.5 | 76 |
8 |
ROCK CLASSIC |
Bart Cummings | Michael Rodd | 5 | 55.5 | 74 |
9 |
SET FOR FAME |
Peter G Moody | Luke Nolen | 1 | 53.5 | 99 |