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The Group 1 wins continued for the talented Ciaron Maher-trained Observer who proved too good for his fellow three-year-olds posting a strong win in Saturday’s Australian Guineas 2026 results at Flemington.
The spring’s VRC Derby champion made it four straight victories second-up in the Group 1 $1 million Australian Guineas (1600m) going back-to-back this prep after kicking off his autumn with an Autumn Stakes victory last time out.
Relishing the step-up from 1400m to a mile, the still progressive son of Ghaiyyath showed why he was the odds-on fancy in the time-honoured classic going on to beat Planet Red by a half-length with Sixties rounding out the trifecta in third.
The Australian Guineas results saw Observer join the likes of King’s High, Mahogany and Hitotsu in completing the VRC Derby / Australian Guineas double as a three-year-old.
“He’s a special horse and he’s got a special rider and it’s special we got the job done today,” Maher’s stable rep Jack Turnbull told Racing.com.
“He’s probably the closest thing we’ve liken likened to Hitotsu in terms of his racing style.
“He’s probably not as dynamic, but his ability to be winning a Derby and coming back to be a Group 1 mile Guineas winner at his next preparation is hard to do.
“You never often see it. It’s a credit to the horse, and to Godolphin as an organisation.”
The flying Ethan Brown, who nearly lost his life in a horror incident in this same race three years ago, gave the top elect a lovely ride getting him right on pace settled second behind the front running Romantic Encounter as the field turned for home.
The run opened up beautifully for Brown and his heavily supported mount with Observer ($1.85F) slipping up the inside at the top of the straight before he charged to the lead inside the 200m and held on for the win.
“Initially I was happy to have cover and travel up ever so sweetly behind which was nice to see,” Turnbull said of how the race panned out.
“You hold your breath for a stride or two as they straighten and that bell rings, but for a horse to go up inside and travel up so effortlessly because you know he has the stamina, he’s a classy animal and it was a good watch.”
For Brown, who is riding in place of the injured Mark Zahra, it was a redemption effort in the Australian Guineas and a win he was thrilled to secure on such a promising young stayer.
“Unreal. I was just say thank you to the owners, Andy (Makiv) and the Godolphin team,” he said.
“Ciaron Maher for his support and the horse. He has hum humming.
“He found again today second-up at a mile and I’m pinching myself.
“Down to the fence wasn’t ideal for him especially as short as he was. I’m sure the punters were thinking ‘what’s going on here’.
“The main thing with him is getting him to relax and settle. That meant having to go down to the fence and riding a cool, patient race on him. From there on in, the track is fair, we stuck to the fence and he did the rest.
“He’s a superstar.
“Mark (Zahra) has done a lot of work on this horse, and it is unfortunate that he is out injured but he will be back bigger and better than ever.
“He’s a beauty, this horse.”
Turnbull said there were now options galore for Observer this campaign with the team considering future targets including the Group 1 $1 million Australian Cup (2000m) back at the track against the older horses on March 28, the Group 1 $750,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) in Sydney on March 21 or even a shot at Randwick’s Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) on April 4 during ‘The Championships’.
“It’s the million-dollar question (where to next),” he said.
“You’ve got the Australian Cup, Rosehill Guineas, Doncaster, if you waited a little bit longer.
“Winning this race really allows us to pivot and target races against the older horses if Godolphin desires.
“We’re in a lovely position and we can savor the moment and really enjoy the win.”
Observer has firmed in from $11 to $6 in futures Australian Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au to become the first three-year-old winner of the Flemington feature since Super Cool back in 2013.
Australian Cup 2026 Odds
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1. Buckaroo
T: |
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2. Ceolwulf
T: |
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3. Birdman
T: |
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4. Observer
T: |
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5. Tom Kitten
T: |
He is now the $3.40 favourite for the Rosehill Guineas 2026 should the team opt to run him a week earlier further north, while all-in Doncaster Mile markets have Observer at a longer quote of $15 (in from $26).
Rosehill Guineas 2026 Odds
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1. Observer
T: |
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2. Attica
T: |
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3. Autumn Boy
T: |
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4. Planet Red
T: |
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5. Green Spaces
T: |
Australian Guineas 2026 Results
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1st
1. Observer (6)
J: Ethan Brown 57kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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2nd
2. Planet Red (9)
J: Jamie Melham 57kg
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
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3rd
4. Sixties (10)
J: Damian Lane 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
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4th
8. Victorious Spirit (7)
J: Zac Spain 57kg
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
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5th
5. Bingi (2)
J: Luke Cartwright 57kg
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
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6th
3. West Of Swindon (3)
J: Ben Allen 57kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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7th
10. Express Class (1)
J: Patrick Moloney 57kg
T: Gerard Moloney |
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8th
9. Onavuitton (8)
J: Thomas Stockdale 57kg
T: Simon Zahra |
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9th
7. Romantic Encounter (5)
J: Daniel Stackhouse 57kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
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10th
6. Officiate (4)
J: Ben Melham 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
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