Orange will be the colour of the day at Caulfield this Saturday with the Group 1 Neds Caulfield Guineas headlining the 10-race card.
Chris Waller’s last-start Golden Rose Stakes winner Militarise is in search of his fourth Group 1 win, but he’ll have his work cut out against not only Paul Preusker’s unbeaten colt Steparty, but also a handful of impressive milers out of the Maher and Eustace yard.
It’s shaping as one of the races of the spring, and our top four selections for the three-year-old classic can be found below!
The Golden Rose has long been a great form reference heading into the Caulfield Guineas, and it’s very difficult to find fault with Militarize’s barnstorming win three weeks ago at Rosehill.
Chris Waller’s multiple Group 1 winning colt was all class in the run home, taken back early from the inside gate before weaving his way through traffic to finish over the top of Encap and Cylinder right on the line.
The rise to the mile presents no issues after claiming the Champagne Stakes over the same trip during the autumn, and after rattling off some very impressive late splits in the Golden Rose, he looks very tough to hold out.
King Colorado was fancied in the Golden Rose last time out where he was only fair down the outside beaten two lengths by Militarize.
It might have been a touch disappointing to some, but I thought he found the line nicely in just his second run back, suggesting there is improvement to come as he gets out over further.
The colt by Kingman notably won the JJ Atkins over the mile at Eagle Farm earlier in the year, and I think a change in rider could see him run a place (if not win) if Michael Dee can get him to settle closer on this occasion.
Steparty is a classy colt for Paul Preusker that boasts genuine claims.
His win in the Prelude a few weeks ago was full of merit, tracking into the final turn seven lengths off the lead, before John Allen pushed the button to see him win very narrowly on the line.
There’s no question he’s armed with a serious turn of foot, and although the rise to the mile is a query, he should be right in this if he can find cover early from a slightly tricky gate.
Southport Tycoon is a much better chance than the current market price suggests.
This son of Written Tycoon was among a wall of horses charging the line late in the Prelude where he came off second-best only narrowly to the fast-finishing Steparty.
He was impressive earlier in his prep winning two starts in succession at Geelong and Sandown, and like we’ve seen in the past, the Maher and Eustace team tend to have their horses set to peak in big races like this.