Xtravagant Leads 2016 Australian Guineas First Acceptances

February 24, 2016

Xtravagant Leads 2016 Australian Guineas First Acceptances

Boom New Zealand colt Xtravagant is the headline first acceptor taken for Saturday week’s Australian Guineas 2016 after first declarations for the Flemington feature closed on Tuesday.

Press Statement

Press Statement is one of the surprise 2016 Australian Guineas first acceptances after earlier plans to target the Randwick Guineas on the same day. Photo: Steve Hart.

Running on March 5, this year’s $750,000 Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) originally attracted 110 nominations.

That number is down to just 25 three-year-olds after first acceptances closed this week, with early Australian Guineas odds at Ladbrokes.com.au led by the Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards-trained Xtravagant.

The New Zealand-trained Pentire colt has won five of his eight starts to date including last year’s Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas (1600m) and the Group 1 NRM Sprint (1400m) on February 13.

He currently pays $4 in all-in Australian Guineas betting to travel down under and enjoy another elite level triumph.

It is a tight market among the best of the Australian Guineas first acceptors with another six at single-figures to win including Palentino at $5.50.

Melbourne Cup winning trainer Darren Weir has a total of three youngsters still in the mix led by Teofilo colt Palentino who was last seen finishing a narrow second in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 20.

Weir’s other two first acceptors are former Perth-trained More Than Ready filly Perfect Reflection who suffered her first loss when third in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) last Saturday and the flying Mahuta.

Mahuta has won his past six starts on the trot including the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) and is nominated to race again in the Group 2 Caulfield Autumn Classic (1800m) on Saturday.

The Flying Spur colt is at $6.50 to win the Group 1 on March 5, while Perfect Reflection is at $9 to join Shamrocker (2011) and Mosheen (2012) as the most recent fillies to beat home the boys in the Australian Guineas.

Last year’s winning trainer Gai Waterhouse (Wandjina) has one remaining hope with River Wild sitting 20th on the Australian Guineas ballot after his unplaced CS Hayes Stakes run (eighth).

The Michael Moroney-trained CS Hayes Stakes winner Tivaci is number one on the Australian Guineas order of entry after his qualifying win last Saturday, the High Chaparral colt at $11 to go the double achieved by Wandjina (2015) 12 months ago.

Moroney also prepared third past the post in the CS Hayes, Tulsa, who is 23rd in the Australian Guineas ballot and paying $15 to not only make the field but take it out.

The other shortest priced hopeful at $5.50 is the Chris Waller-trained Press Statement, the dual Group 1 winning Hinchinbrook colt having won the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) first-up at Rosehill by over two lengths.

While the intentions of Waller are to keep Press Statement in Sydney heading towards the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) on the same day as the Australian Guineas, he remains officially entered for the latter.

The most notable omission at first acceptance stage meanwhile was the Tony McEvoy-trained Not A Single Doubt filly Don’t Doubt Mamma.

She won The Vanity first-up last Saturday, but is tipped to target the $600,000 Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 12 instead of taking on the boys at Flemington the Saturday before.

Other notable three-year-olds still in contention include the David Hayes & Tom Dabernig-trained Kiwi expat Risque who won the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes at Caulfield in her Australian debut a fortnight ago, Mick Price’s Victoria Derby winner Tarzino whose major autumn aim is the 2016 ATC Derby in Sydney and the spring’s Caulfield Guineas runner-up Lizard Island.

See below for the full Australian Guineas 2016 first acceptances, full futures markets on the race now open at Ladbrokes.com.au!

2016 Australian Guineas First Acceptances

Flemington Racecourse – 05/03/2016

# Form (Last 10) Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight
1 12205×11 TIVACI C 3 Michael Moroney 1 56.5kg
2 24111111 MAHUTA C 3 Darren Weir 2 56.5kg
3 111x2511x1 PRESS STATEMENT C 3 Chris Waller 3 56.5kg
4 311731×4 TARZINO (NZ) C 3 Mick Price 4 56.5kg
5 41x33211x4 JAMEKA F 3 Ciaron Maher 5 54.5kg
6 11111×3 PERFECT REFLECTION F 3 Darren Weir 6 54.5kg
7 x2462111x0 VANBRUGH C 3 Chris Waller 7 56.5kg
8 25x11616x5 STAY WITH ME F 3 David Hayes & Tom Dabernig 8 54.5kg
9 7x23939x30 READY FOR VICTORY C 3 Mick Price 9 56.5kg
10 1×8311141 XTRAVAGANT (NZ) C 3 Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards 10 56.5kg
11 12217×5 SACRED EYE F 3 David Hayes & Tom Dabernig 11 54.5kg
12 x6321228x4 LIZARD ISLAND C 3 Pat Hyland 12 56.5kg
13 2x61211x1 RISQUE (NZ) F 3 David Hayes & Tom Dabernig 13 54.5kg
14 4132119×96 BON AURUM C 3 Ciaron Maher 14 56.5kg
15 17148×65 SOVEREIGN NATION C 3 David Hayes & Tom Dabernig 15 56.5kg
16 211×72 PALENTINO C 3 Darren Weir 16 56.5kg
17 321105×0 METALLIC CROWN C 3 Chris Waller 17 56.5kg
18 2x510x7 CELTIC TIGER (NZ) G 3 Mick Price 18 56.5kg
19 x416211x88 TORGERSEN (NZ) C 3 Chris Waller 19 56.5kg
20 13×4118 RIVER WILD C 3 Gai Waterhouse 20 56.5kg
21 1x11940x13 SNOOPY C 3 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 21 56.5kg
22 3x31324x2 SAILING BY F 3 Mick Price 22 54.5kg
23 3x1628x83 TULSA G 3 Michael Moroney 23 56.5kg
24 116 PATTERN G 3 Robert Hickmott 24 56.5kg
25 1×22 DATA POINT C 3 Michael Kent 25 56.5kg

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapat...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: L...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse extended her record to eight victories in the 2024...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winne...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Veight joined an elite list of three-year-olds to beat home the older horses...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results:...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring, Riff Rocket, now has the...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Vi...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Via Sistina Too Good Debuting for Waller

Yu Long Investments lucrative European purchase, the now Chris Waller-trained...

Race Results

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapateo Upsets Sunshine In Paris

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Imperatriz Defends Title in 2024 William Reid Stakes

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Race Previews

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off

Fields & Form

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off