The Australian Guineas types face off at Flemington this weekend in the CS Hayes Stakes 2018, betting tips and updated odds on the Black Caviar Lightning Day support act detailed below.

The promising Mick Price-trained Grunt is the Races.com.au tip to win the CS Hayes Stakes 2018 and make it three on the trot this Saturday. Photo: Jenny Barnes.

Scheduled as Flemington Race 7 at 4:00pm (AEDT) on Saturday afternoon, a capacity field of three-year-old colts and geldings do battle in this year’s Group 3 $150,000 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m).

The race has produced the last three champions of the Australian Guineas, a million dollar mile feature running this autumn on March 3.

Despite the size of the field, only four of the runners are under $10 for the win in the latest CS Hayes Stakes betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au including the $5 favourite Peaceful State.

Drawn in gate three and having just his fifth career start, the Darren Weir-trained Sandown Guineas runner-up comes off a lead-up win over 1300m from Sandown-Lakeside on February 7 and is back up in grade this weekend.

The youngster has Ben Allen in the saddle on Saturday and Peaceful State has now overtaken his better-tried stablemate and current second favourite in the CS Hayes Stakes odds Cliff’s Edge ($6).

Cliff’s Edge has eased out slightly after drawing wide for his second-up run.

The Canford Cliffs colt resumed on February 3 winning the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) and gets the chance to go back-to-back stepping up 200m on Saturday with Brad Rawiller in the saddle.

Outside of the Weir duo the other best fancied CS Hayes Stakes runners are also stablemates with Caulfield’s Mick Price saddling-up Grunt ($8.50) who is after win number three on the trot and the well-drawn Cao Cao ($9.50) in barrier two.

So will the single-figure fancies salute or is there an upset CS Hayes Stakes result pending from the likes of returning Victoria Derby runner-up Sully ($10) or the promising Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Island Missile ($10)?

1^st

#16 Grunt ($8.50)

So many promising types that could prove autumn revelations, but so far so good for this Price-trained O’Reilly colt. He debuted over 1400m at Flemington last May and was only a length beaten by the gun filly Aloisia who went on to run second in the winter’s JJ Atkins before her Thousand Guineas – Moonee Valley Vase double in the spring. That form has been franked and Grunt also came back in December to win back-to-back races by a combined margin of 7.2 lengths. Easier grade obviously but after a freshen-up off a nice Geelong trial, he’s got genuine winning claims.

2^nd

#6 Sully ($10)

Early money coming in for this Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Reliable Man grey who opened at $17 before the big firm. Was on fire over the spring when third to Ace High in Sydney’s Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) and then second to the same galloper in the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m). Will be better over further later, but has won over the 1400m and fires fresh. Midfield draw and Dwayne Dunn aboard also appeals.

3^rd

#11 Island Missile ($10)

Another at that $10 price point with Each Way claims in an open affair. Jumps from barrier five and doesn’t know how to run a bad race. Snowden-trained, this Smart Missile gelding was last seen a month ago finishing runner-up in the Listed Gosford Guineas (1200m). Improves off that getting out to a better distance that he boasts a nice record over (3:2-1-0).

Whether you’re backing or sacking our insider CS Hayes Stakes 2018 betting tips get the best odds on the Australian Guineas lead-up now at Ladbrokes.com.au.