The Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas-trained Dalasan is tipped to beat home a field of fellow Australian Guineas hopefuls first-up at Caulfield Racecourse in Saturday’s Manfred Stakes 2020.

One of two co-features on the Caulfield card, this year’s Group 3 $160,000 Neds Manfred Stakes (1200m) has attracted just seven final acceptors.

Of the three-year-olds in the traditional early lead-up to the Group 1 $1.5 million Australian Guineas (1600m) – held at Flemington on February 29 – it is Dalakhani colt Dalasan leading the markets.

Installed at current Manfred Stakes odds of $2.70 through Ladbrokes.com.au, he has been backed in from an opening quote of $2.90 to retain his undefeated record over the distance.

Dalasan won the Group 3 Spring Stakes at Morphettville over Group 1 winner Scales Of Justice as well as the Group 2 Danehill Stakes down the Flemington straight over the 1200m last season before a second to Alligator Blood in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m).

He was brave in defeat behind Super Seth when fifth in the Group 1 $2 million Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) before his last start victory last November over the Cup Carnival in the Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m).

“He’s undefeated first-up,” co-trainer Macdonald told the media this week.

“He beat Scales Of Justice in the Spring Stakes, so I suppose that makes the form stack up a bit, doesn’t it?

“He’s in good condition. We’re very happy with the way he’s worked.

“He’s done everything asked of him and I’m confident he’ll run well.

“He’s beaten older horses at weight-for-age. He’s won the Danehill at Group 2. So, he stacks up there all right.

“I thought he probably should have won the Guineas Prelude and he still ran well in the Guineas, but it probably finished up a bit of a non-event.

“The wide run didn’t work, going forward probably never worked and the blinkers probably never worked. He still ran fifth and just the last little bit he probably wilted a bit when he was entitled to.

“Having said that I think Alligator Blood is a very good horse, there’s no doubt about that.

“I’m confident he (Dalasan) is there to be a major player for sure.”

Another fresh win in the Manfred Stakes will be a huge boost for Dalasan who is in a bid for votes to make the starting line-up in the $5 million The All-Star Mile (1600m) back at the Caulfield track on March 14.

The danger at $4.40 in Manfred Stakes betting is the returning Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth who gives the weight away carrying 59.5kg at set weights plus penalties first-up.

The son of Dundeel has an excellent record at Caulfield (4:3-0-0) and at the 1200m (4:3-0-0), while the Caulfield Guineas form has subsequently been franked this summer by star Queenslander Alligator Blood.

With Super Seth on the drift, lightly raced Snitzel colt Spend is now the equal second elect for Team Hawkes.

The bay won his race debut defeating subsequent Group 3 winner True Detective home in a 1100m two-years-old handicap in the wet at Rosehill last July and has his first run since on Saturday.

Click here for the latest Manfred Stakes 2020 odds thanks to Ladbrokes.com.au.