The lion’s share of favourites in Saturday’s featured Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington have drawn wide and there is subsequently plenty of value to be taken in betting.
Cliff’s Edge has returned to racing in typically smart form this time and currently occupies the top line of our Australian Guineas betting market at $4.20 quote, despite having been charged with overcoming gate 16.
The Canford Cliffs colt enjoyed a fast rise to prominence throughout the 2017 Spring Carnival; running second behind Main Stage in Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) before leading from start to finish to record a three-length win the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m).
Placing second to Aloisia in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) before ending his campaign sixth amongst open company in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes (2000m), Cliff’s Edge resumed this time for a comfortable win in the Group 3 Manfred Stakes (1200m) on February 3rd.
Cliff’s Edge was last seen hitting the line well for second behind Grunt in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) a fortnight ago and will relish a step up to a mile on Saturday.
Grunt is another horse that will need plenty of luck after drawing into the Australian Guineas field in barrier 17, but he has also continued to receive steady support in betting and is the $5.50 second-favourite at the time of publish.
Grunt has only made four competitive appearances at the races since debut in May last year, but has more than stamped himself as a colt to follow and is seeking his fourth-consecutive win when he steps out in the Australian Guineas.
Having dominated a pair of minor races over 1400m and a mile respectively through December, the O’Reilly colt returned from a freshen-up for his win in the CS Hayes Stakes and will enjoy racing on the wide Flemington track again in the Australian Guineas 2018.
Interestingly, Aloisia ($7) is the only other horse currently available at Australian Guineas odds of less-than $10.
The Azamour filly ended a smart two-year-old campaign a close second in the Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) in Brisbane and while she failed to fire first-up in the Pinchapoo Plate (1400m) in spring, mustered a huge turn of foot in the final straight at Caulfield to easily win the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m).
Repeating that performance and result in the Moonee Valley Vase, Aloisia ended her year sixth in the Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) and resumed this time for a similar first-up performance and result to that of her spring campaign.
With only 54.5kgs, Aloisia is another horse that will enjoy the big Flemington track and she appears to be over the odds at her current quote to win the Australian Guineas.
Caulfield Guineas winner Mighty Boss ($13) has been racing amongst open company this time and will enjoy a step back into three-year-old company here, while stable mate Holy Snow will take winning form into this race following a smart first-up run in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) on February 10th, and will only improve second-up.
Busuttin Racing stable mates Main Stage ($14) and Salsamor ($34) both have form amongst similar company and under the conditions of this race and are worth consideration at each-way Australian Guineas odds, while Villermont ($19) has won two from three starts at a mile, including the Group 2 Sandown Guineas.
We’re offering Fat Odds across the entire 2018 Australian Guineas odds!