Australian Guineas 2020 Calls for Banquo

January 17, 2020

Australian Guineas 2020 Calls for Banquo

Trainer Danny O’Brien will use a handicap clash at Flemington this Saturday as the first-up run for his Australian Guineas 2020 bound colt Banquo.

Banquo. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Banquo will return to racing at Flemington on Saturday ahead of a 2020 Australian Guineas bid. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The well-bred son of Written Tycoon has had six starts to date for two wins and will chase a third career start in the $135,000 Donate to Salvation Army Disaster Appeal (1100m) on Kensington Stakes Day this weekend.

Banquo improved on a breakthrough win at Sale over 1400m in late October handling a quick back-up to post his maiden Black-Type success at HQ over the Melbourne Cup Carnival in November’s Listed World Horse Racing Springtime Stakes (1400m).

He was then stepped-up in class for a run in the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) where he lost few admirers running under a length back fourth over the mile.

A mile is where O’Brien would like to get the three-year-old up over again this coming Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival with Banquo being aimed at the Group 1 $1 million Australian Guineas (1600m) on February 29.

“He’s a gorgeous colt. Just a real quality animal,” O’Brien told AAP this week.

“He’s had a great summer down at Thirteenth Beach. He’s big and strong and he trialled up nicely in a jump-out at Werribee recently.

“(Jockey) Damien Oliver and myself thought it would be nice to kick him off in a short course race where he can find the line off the back of the others.

“We’d love to get him to the Australian Guineas.

“He’s got a platform there from the spring which he will need to improve from to be competitive in the Guineas, but we think he can.

“We’re going to give him his chance to get there.”

O’Brien took over the training of Banquo, a brother to last year’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate champion Booker, from Kiwi horseman Stephen Marsh late last year and has been in charge for all but the horse’s debut.

O’Brien is also a two-time Australian Guineas winning trainer having prepared Shamrocker (2011) and Shamus Award (2014) for their respective victories in the Flemington feature.

Current pre-field Australian Guineas 2020 odds at Ladbrokes.com.au are led by last Saturday’s brilliant Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winning Queenslander Alligator Blood ($4.20).

Banquo meanwhile can be found further down the futures Australian Guineas betting markets at $34, a price sure to shorten with a win on Saturday.

O’Brien suggested that Banquo would head towards the Guineas via either the Group 3 $160,000 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 15 or Caulfield’s Group 2 $200,000 Autumn Stakes (1400m) a week earlier on February 8.

The 2020 Australian Guineas nominations close on Monday with current all-in betting on the classic available here courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

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