Beaten VRC Oaks favourite from the spring Aloisia will be out to atone over less distance this autumn and the gun filly is one of the standout Australian Guineas 2018 nominations taken for the Flemington feature.

Gun filly Aloisia is one of the headline 2018 Australian Guineas nominations for the March 3 feature at Flemington. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Racing Victoria took early entries for a host of upcoming Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival classics this week including those for the Group 1 $1 million Australian Guineas (1600m) run over the mile on March 3.

The official Australian Guineas nominations attracted 112 early entries including 22 fillies looking to beat the boys in the race for the first time since Shamrocker (2011) and Mosheen (2012) went back-to-back.

Futures Australian Guineas odds at bookmakers around the country tip the Aaron Purcell-trained Azamour filly Aloisia as the one to beat.

As a two-year-old she was runner-up to Capital Gain in Brisbane’s Group 1 J.J. Atkins (1600m) and won her own elite level over the distance during the spring saluting in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield.

Aloisia proved herself against the colts and geldings at The Valley on Cox Plate Date with her impressive three and a half length win in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) before being found out distance-wise when sixth as the beaten odds-on favourite in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) last time out.

If successful in the Australian Guineas, Aloisia will be the first Thousand Guineas winner to successfully win the event since Miss Finland (2006-07).

Purcell’s other top hope in the race is well-bred All Too Hard colt Villermont whose last start back on November 18 produced a win in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m).

Among the other standout fillies nominated for the Australian Guineas are the Godolphin-raced Thousand Guineas third placegetter Alizee who won Randwick’s Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) last September, VRC Oaks runner-up Bring Me Roses for last year’s winning trainer Tony McEvoy (Hey Doc) and the Anthony Freedman-trained Shoals.

A very promising daughter of Fastnet Rock, Shoals has won five of her seven career starts to date with her only two losses producing second place finishes in the Thousand Guineas Prelude and Thousand Guineas last October.

She atoned for the second to Aloisia when taking on the older mares on VRC Derby Day at Flemington to salute narrowly in the Group 1 Myer Classic (1600m) last November.

The David Hayes-led Lindsay Park stable have also entered a trio of their top fillies in the Australian Guineas this autumn with Blue Diamond winner Catchy, Tulip and last start Coolmore Stud Stakes third placegetter Formality in the mix.

Another three-year-old high-up the futures Australian Guineas betting markets this season is the Mitchell Freedman-trained Bravo Tango from Ballarat.

The Congrats colt has finished top three in all four of his career starts to date including a first-up third to the very promising Nature Strip at Flemington on January 20 in the $250,000 Inglis Dash (1100m).

VRC Carbine Club Stakes winner Levendi, Chris Waller’s untapped son of Savabeel Kaonic and the Godolphin-raced Caulfield Guineas runner-up Kementari are other notable entries.

Mick Price’s Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss meanwhile is out to do the double with an Australian Guineas win in the autumn for the first time since Mahogany (1993-94).

Price is after his third Australian Guineas win having previously prepared back-to-back winners Light Fantastic (2008) and Heart Of Dreams (2009).

The Australian Guineas 2018 first acceptances close on February 20, 2018 with updated odds to follow at Ladbrokes.com.au.

2018 Australian Guineas Nominations

Flemington Racecourse – 03/03/2018