After an eye-catching run for second in last weekend’s Australian Guineas a short seven day back-up into Sydney’s 2018 Randwick Guineas field could be on the cards for the Darren Weir-trained Peaceful State.
Trainer Darren Weir is seriously considering backing-up his Australian Guineas runner-up Peaceful State in the 2018 Randwick Guineas field in Sydney this weekend. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
All last week Victoria’s premier horseman Weir was namedropping Peaceful State in talks about the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.
Despite saddling-up the favourite Cliff’s Edge, Weir was happy to sing untapped Animal Kingdom colt Peaceful State praises.
True to Weir’s predictions, the up-and-comer caught the eye of the form analysists and punters when turning the Australian Guineas into a real race late finishing a half-length second to the Mick Price-trained winner Grunt.
Weir’s other runner Cliff’s Edge meanwhile only managed to run nearly five lengths back for seventh as the beaten favourite.
A nicely-bred half-brother to former champion Weekend Hussler, Peaceful State could now be tested again heading to Sydney for the first time on Saturday for a shot at the Group 1 $1 million Randwick Guineas (1600m) on the quick back-up.
Weekend Hussler won the Randwick Guineas back in 2008, but just two Australian Guineas graduates in over 30 years have successfully taken out the Royal Randwick showdown.
Back in 1991 St. Jude improved on an Australian Guineas sixth to salute in the Sydney feature, while in 2012 the Robert Smerdon-trained filly Mosheen made history doing the double.
If not the Randwick Guineas, plans with Peaceful State will be to save him for a March 16 run under the lights at Moonee Valley in the Group 2 $200,000 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m).
“Both he and Cliff’s Edge are Sydney-bound but I’ve just got to work out whether Peaceful State goes up for next Saturday’s [Randwick] Guineas or we keep him at home for the Alister,” Weir told Racing Victoria on Sunday.
“He’s an emerging horse Peaceful State and so we’ll have a good think about it.”
Last year’s Alister Clark Stakes was won by Hardham (2017) who improved on a Randwick Guineas seventh and who went on to run third to Jon Snow only a length beaten back at the Randwick track that April in the Group 1 $2 million ATC Derby (2400m).
Another top Australian Guineas graduate nominated for the Randwick Guineas this season is the Aaron Purcell-trained fourth placegetter Villermont.
All-in Randwick Guineas betting at Ladbrokes.com.au lists Peaceful State at $11 and Villermont at $26 with futures markets dominated by James Cummings’ Hobartville Stakes winner Kementari ($2.25).
The official Randwick Guineas 2018 field is set for release on Wednesday, making now the time to lock in your early selections at their generous all-in prices at Ladbrokes.com.au.
