The Hawkes Racing-trained Golden Rose champion Ole Kirk will face 14 rivals in his bid at interstate elite level wins when he lines-up one of the best fancied runners in Saturday’s 2020 Caulfield Guineas field.

Golden Rose winner Ole Kirk lines-up as a huge chance in Melbourne’s 2020 Caulfield Guineas field on the weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

Melbourne’s Group 1 $2 million Neds Caulfield Guineas (1600m) is shaping-up as one of the most intriguing editions of the three-years-old classic in recent history with a host of Group 1 winners and varying form-lines to follow into the event.

Drawn mid-field in the 15-horse Caulfield Guineas field jumping from gate seven with premiere Perth hoop William Pike coming aboard in place of Tommy Berry is Written Tycoon colt Ole Kirk.

After seconds in The Rosebud and Run To The Rose at big odds, the progressive galloper was strong to the line to hold out stablemate North Pacific in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) in Sydney last time out.

He gets the chance for back-to-back Group 1 features on the weekend heading south for the Guineas and should be suited to the mile.

The other best out of the Golden Rose backing-up in the Caulfield Guineas is the third placegetter King’s Legacy.

Peter & Paul Snowden’s class Redoute’s Choice colt enjoyed dual Group 1 wins as a juvenile taking out the ATC Sires’ Produce and Champagne Stakes during the autumn.

He is on the improve the further he goes in distance this prep improving on his last place (7^th) fresh in the Run To The Rose when rounding out the trifecta in the big one on September 26.

Already proven at the 1600m, King’s Legacy should eat-up the extra metres on Saturday but will need a touch of luck from the wide gate (12) with Hugh Bowman retaining the ride.

Drawn one closer to the fence and a likely favourite in Caulfield Guineas betting this spring is the undefeated Chris Waller-trained Mo’unga to be ridden by Damien Oliver.

Waller chases his third Caulfield Guineas triumph having previously won with Press Statement (2015) and The Autumn Sun (2018).

The master trainer’s sole hope this season is Savabeel colt Mo’unga who has won three-from-three in easier company.

He stepped-up to Black-Type company last time out on September 12 and won Rosehill’s Listed Dulcify Stakes (1500m), but faces a notable rise in grade on Saturday racing the left-handed way for the first time.

Another last-start winner in the mix looking a genuine winning hope in the Guineas is the Peter Moody-trained Fastnet Rock colt Glenfiddich.

Moody won the race back in 2010 with Anacheeva and is back a decade later with Group 2 Stutt Stakes winner at The Valley, Glenfiddich.

The horse was runner-up to King’s Legacy in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) as a two-year-old, ran a first-up third against the older horses fresh in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) and then won the Group 2 over the mile by two lengths on September 25 in outstanding fashion.

Suited to the 1600m and proven against many of these horses, Glenfiddich could prove the one to back on Saturday as he looks to complete the Stutt Stakes – Caulfield Guineas double for the first time since Whobegotyou (2008).

Blue Diamond winner Tagalao and Lindsay Park’s flying Prelude winner Crosshaven out to make it five-from-six are the other notable final acceptors.

2020 Caulfield Guineas Field

No	Last 10	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Penalty	Hcp Rating
1	31x4124x36	TAGALOA	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Craig Williams	3	56.5kg		102
2	315x911x73	KING’S LEGACY	Peter & Paul Snowden	Hugh Bowman	12	56.5kg		105
3	1343×221	OLE KIRK	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	William Pike	7	56.5kg		103
4	133×366	MAMARAGAN	John Thompson	Michael Rodd	13	56.5kg		88
5	2502162×31	GLENFIDDICH	Peter G Moody	Luke Nolen	8	56.5kg		100
6	11×611	CROSSHAVEN	Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes	Daniel Stackhouse	15	56.5kg		85
7	35413×22	AMISH BOY	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	Jye McNeil	1	56.5kg		80
8	x52116x644	LUNAR FOX	Paul Preusker	Brett Prebble	4	56.5kg		80
9	1×11	MO’UNGA (NZ)	Chris Waller	Damien Oliver	11	56.5kg		75
10	31×16	AYSAR	Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes	Damian Lane	14	56.5kg		71
11	114	CAMBOURNE	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Mark Zahra	10	56.5kg		68
12	13×903	NATIONAL CHOICE	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Craig Newitt	5	56.5kg		72
13	517×42	GRANDSLAM	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	John Allen	6	56.5kg		66
14	231	POLAND	Michael Moroney	Jordan Childs	9	56.5kg		66
15	215	CAPTAIN CORELLI (NZ)	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Michael Dee	2	56.5kg		64

Table Credit: Racing Australia.