On Monday Racing Victoria took nominations for a trio of upcoming Group 1 autumn features at Flemington including those for the 2022 Australian Guineas that attracted 111 entries led by Victoria Derby champion Hitotsu.

Victoria Derby winner Hitotsu headlines the 2022 Australian Guineas nominations this autumn. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Early entries for the Group 1 $1 million Australian Guineas (1600m), running at HQ on March 5, along with those for the both the Group 1 $1.5 million Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and Group 1 $1.5 million Australian Cup (2000m) the following weekend on ‘Super Saturday’ have all now been released.

This year’s Australian Guineas nominations were down from 122 last Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival but still chock-full of star young three-year-olds including seven individual Group 1 winners.

The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Maurice colt Hitotsu heads updated all-in Australian Guineas betting markets at $3 through Ladbrokes.com.au.

He enjoyed a turnaround of form during the spring after transferring from Wendy Kelly to the powerhouse Maher/Eustace stable and went from a debut win at Donald to Victoria Derby champion in just three runs.

The other all-in favourite at Australian Guineas odds of $3.50 is Anamoe for Godolphin.

The James Cummings-trained Street Boss colt enjoyed a stellar spring headlined by his Caulfield Guineas win over the mile and devastatingly close second to State Of Rest in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate over 2040m at The Valley.

He resumed in Sydney last Saturday running a credible third in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes (1200m) and will only improve on that with more fitness and distance.

Anamoe however is an unlikely final acceptor for the Australian Guineas with the Group 1 $1 million Randwick Guineas (1600m) run on the same day in Sydney.

The other top chance for the Royal Blue brigade is Telofilo gelding Alegron ($15), third in Sydney’s Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) before his Victoria Derby second over the 2500m at Flemington last October.

Ahead of the better Australian Guineas lead-up races scheduled over the coming weeks, the third single-figure fancy at a current quote of $9 is the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Artorius.

The Flying Spur colt has not won a race since the Blue Diamond Stakes as a two-year-old last February but he’s been competitive in plenty since including a Golden Rose fourth, Caulfield Guineas third and third also in the Coolmore Stud Stakes down the ‘Straight Six’ here on Derby Day.

Since 2010 three fillies have beaten home the boys in the Australian Guineas results, most recently Mystic Journey (2019), and there are 26 in the mix this season.

Some of the standout fillies looking to take on the colts and geldings include the Hawkes Racing-trained Thousand Guineas winner Yearning; third in the same mile feature last October Barb Raider; Flight Stakes champ and Spring Champion Stakes runner-up Never Been Kissed for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott; and the Chris Waller-trained Hinged who ran second in the Flight Stakes at Randwick.

Waller is yet to prepare an Australian Guineas winner and is in with eight entries with his Golden Rose third placegetter Coastwatch the other early standout.

Other notable entries including Stan Fox Stakes – $1 million Bondi Stakes double winner Hilal, Peter & Paul Snowden’s Caulfield Guineas runner-up Captivant, the Waterhouse/Bott JJ Atkins winner Converge and the consistent Peter Moody-trained Zoustar colt Lightsaber.

The Queensland contingent is led by Naughty Harry for the race’s 2020 winning trainer with Alligator Blood, David Vandyke.

As for the Kiwis, Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman have nominated their consistent New Zealander White Noise who has won four straight at home.

The 2022 Australian Guineas first acceptances close on Tuesday, February 22, with the latest all-in markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au available here.

2022 Australian Guineas Nominations

Table Credit: Racing Australia.