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Ciaron Maher‘s VRC Derby hero from the spring, Observer, is hot favourite to keep the wins coming second-up in the time-honoured Australian Guineas 2026 at Flemington this weekend.

Saturday racing at HQ is headlined by the three-year-old milers facing off in another exciting edition of the Group 1 $1 million Australian Guineas (1600m) and it is an all-boys affair this autumn.

Ten colts and geldings are engaged in the classic and the big money in Australian Guineas betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is coming for class colt Observer who pays $2.30 at time of publish.

Winner of the coveted Vase / VRC Derby double last prep, he showed he could be just as effective fresh over shorter with a dominant display to get things underway in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

Having easily accounted for a similar class of rivals first-up, he presents fitter and ready to fire again here sure to relish the step-up to 1600m now with the also airborne Ethan Brown sticking with.

Chances are he’ll be on pace and he’s the one they all have to beat as he chases a fourth win on the trot.

The danger occupying the second line of betting at $2.80 and firming is the talented Chris Waller-trained Sixties chasing a hat-trick this time in.

Damian Lane will ride the gun son of Flying Artie from the outside alley having partnered him for his last start victory as the odds-on fancy here on February 14 in the Group 3 CS Hayes.

That followed on from an impressive win fresh over the older horses and there’s plenty of punters coming for him to complete the CS Hayes / Australian Guineas double since Alligator Blood (2020).

Outside of the dominant duo, the only other runner at single figure Australian Guineas odds this season is Planet Red ($5.50).

Hailing from the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr yard, last year’s Caulfield Guineas second placed Admire Mars gelding made an excellent return when runner-up to Observer in the Autumn Stakes.

Only 1.25 lengths beaten from a wide alley which forced him back with too much to do, he gets his chance to run in the money again here with Jamie Melham in the saddle, but he’ll need to work hard to close the gap.

Of the longer priced runners in this year’s Australian Guineas field, value contenders with genuine Top 3 claims include the consistent Autumn Stakes third placed Victorious Spirit ($21) for Moody & Coleman and the local Simon Zahra-trained Onavuitton ($27) who ran fourth in that same key lead-up which looks the form line to follow.

The 2026 Australian Guineas is set to run as Flemington Race 8 at 4:20pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s 10-race card in Melbourne.

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