Pre-race favourite Cliff’s Edge has drawn out wide at barrier sixteen in the final field for the 2018 Group 1 $1m Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

Cliff’s Edge, above, has drawn a wide barrier in the 2018 Australian Guineas field at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Cliff’s Edge could move in one spot at start time with only one of the two emergencies drawing inside of the Darren Weir trained colt who will be ridden by John Allen who is replacing Brad Rawiller.

Allen was aboard Cliff’s Edge two starts back when he won the Group 3 $150,000 Ladbrokes Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 3 while Rawiller was in the saddle last start for a second to Australian Guineas rival Grunt in the Group 3 $150,000 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 17.

Rawiller has opted to ride the stablemate Peaceful State who drew barrier eleven and is coming off a last start seventh in the CS Hayes Stakes.

Caulfield trainer Mick Price has three runners in the Australian Guineas, Mighty Boss, Holy Snow and Grunt and the three colts have drawn barriers right across the spectrum.

Michael Walker’s mount Mighty Boss drew the best of the three Price trained three year olds at barrier two while Grunt, with Damien Oliver booked to ride, looks likely to jump from the outside gate after drawing seventeen in the original draw.

Last start Autumn Stakes winner Holy Snow has also drawn near the outside at barrier fourteen for Michael Dee.

The Lindsay Park trained Muraaqeb was also out of luck at the barrier draw, coming up with the fifteen marble with Damian Lane to ride.

The two fillies in the Australian Guineas drew at the opposite ends of the starting gates with the Tony McEvoy trained Bring Me Roses to jump from the inside gate with Luke Currie to ride while Mark Zahra will need plenty of luck from barrier thirteen on the Thousand Guineas winner Aloisia.

Betting for the Australian Guineas is now available at Ladbrokes.com.au who have Cliff’s Edge as the early $4.60 favourite just ahead of Grunt at $6 and Aloisia at $7.50.