The field for this Saturday’s $1 million Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) was announced on Wednesday featuring three runners from the Lindsay Park stable.
Last year’s Thousand Guineas (1600m) winner Amphitrite has opened as the $4.40 favourite with Ladbrokes after drawing barrier 5, while stablemate Hawkshot sits on the second line of betting at $7.50.
Amphitrite, above, is the early favourite for this year’s Australian Guineas.
Trainer David Hayes told The Morning Bulletin he thought Amphitrite looked well-suited to the Flemington course during her win in last fortnight’s Group 3 Vanity Stakes, and thinks the mile is the perfect distance for his winning three-year-old.
“She’s been really good since she’s come over,” Hayes said. “She loves Flemington and she’s a better miler than a 1400m horse.”
Amphitrite isn’t the only horse at Lindsay Park with winning form. Hawkshot has claimed two victories from four starts this campaign, the most recent of which being the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 9. Hawkshot will hope to become the fourth horse and the first since Pins in 2000 to win the Autumn Stakes-Australian Guineas double.
Meanwhile, $21.00 chance Long Leaf looks to make it back-to-back victories after winning over a mile in New Zealand last month.
“It was a good field and he had to do it tough,” Hayes said when asked on Long Leaf’s win.
“He defeated two horses, Surely Sacred, who has since won the Avondale Guineas, and Imelda Mary, who won the Sir Tristram Classic.”
Amphitrite will run on Saturday before heading to Randwick to contest the $5 million All-Star Mile (1600m) on March 16. Full Australian Guineas odds can be viewed below.
