2024 Thousand Guineas Day Tips & Preview

Ruakaka Raider gets his first shot in town now after storming clear to win second-up at Sale last month. 

The wide gate was against Cindy Anderson’s lightly-raced gelding, but that didn’t stop him from executing a strong turn of foot down the outside where he was seen doing his best work late through the line. 

The son of Redwood has handed in two pleasing performances this time in work, and does look ready for the rise to 1700m after winning his maiden over a similar distance at Geelong earlier in April.  

Drawn a much better gate and carrying 3kg less under Daniel Stackhouse, this looks a nice race for him to prove himself up in grade. 

It’s been just over a year since Capo Strada last won a race, but he does look capable of turning in a much-improved performance on his first-up effort at Bendigo last month.  

The six-year-old son of Street Boss was a little tardy to begin before being held up badly along the rail approaching the 200m mark, forced to shift off the fence and miss out on a place.  

Reece Goodwin’s gelding has done some of his best racing second-up with a win and a place to his name, and he might find this a touch easier back to BM74 level with Beau Mertens retaining the ride.  

Belle Savoir has claims first-up for Nick Ryan.  

A Group 2 place getter, this mare by Not A Single Doubt ran some huge races right through the winter, finding the money on three straight occasions with the highlight being a third to Cindy Falls in the Leilani Final.  

She was only plain in a recent jump out but is drawn to land somewhere around midfield under Mark Zahra and launch late.  

Racing over 1400m fresh might be a litlte sharp, but with good form over this trip, she’s still a key chance on return. 

Pisces strips fitter second-up for Godolphin. 

The three-year-old son of Frosted ran a heck of a race on return in the Red Anchor Stakes at The Valley two weeks ago, restrained early out of the barriers before hitting top gear out wide to run second behind Bittercreek. 

The tactics were a slight query as James McDonald got back early and found cover, but after rattling off some impressive late splits, I’m happy to stick with the pair.  

This boy came out and won impressively at Newcastle second-up last time in work, and if he’s saved for late again, he should handle this rise in trip quite nicely. 

Miraval Rose resumes for Grahame Begg. 

A daughter to Grunt, this smart mare didn’t have the best of luck up in Queensland throughout the Winter Carnival, drawn awkwardly on both occasions where she was entitled to finish where she did.  

She’s jumped out well in the leadup to her return though, and it’s worth nothing she’s run some nice races here at Caulfield, the most impressive being a win in the Twilight Stakes last December.  

The horses she beat that day were no slouch, with last week’s Champions Sprint runner-up Right To Party running third. 

Proven fresh and drawn to receive every chance from the middle gate, she looks to be one of the main chances with next to no weight in the saddle. 

On Display is worth a look each-way on return for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr. 

This girl was slowly away on debut over shorter here earlier in the year, beaten just over three lengths by Manolo Bling, who has since come out and won very impressively on Cup Day.  

She was quickly sent back to the paddock in time for the spring and has since come out and won a recent jump out by half a length.  

Aeliana looks the one to beat in the first feature of the day. 

Chris Waller’s filly was enormous two back when she claimed the Reginald Allen at Randwick, proving that was no fluke down the Flemington straight in the Carbine Club Stakes a couple of weeks ago where she won 3.5 lengths clear.  

James McDonald rode her superbly that day, taking her back off the speed and stalking the leaders out wide into the turn. 

She’s clearly armed with a dangerous turn of foot, and after pulling up for a soft win on the line, she should have a bit left in the tank for this.

Lottaroc is on a quick backup looking to improve on his effort for third in last week’s Ararat Gold Cup.  

Teo Nugent landed third in the run and tracked wide into the straight, but I thought the pair gave a nice sight over the final 100m to nearly wear down Staunch and finish runner-up.  

The decision to race on a quick turnaround suggests he’s pulled up nicely, while the slight drop back to 2000m could prove key to his chances from a similar gate. 

Another Wil can cap off what has been a fantastic Spring Carnival for Ciaron Maher and connections. 

The talented five-year-old by Street Boss was back in the winner’s circle two weeks ago after taking out the Group 2 Linlithgow over the same trip at Flemington, flashing home late along the rail to deny the fast-finishing Jimmystar, who he meets again on Saturday. 

His final 200m sectional ranked as the fastest of the meeting that day, while the return of Jamie Kah to the saddle clearly proved the difference after the tactics went against him the start prior in the Toorak Handicap. 

He’s had a couple of cracks at a Group 1 now and failed, but he might not find an easier one to win than this.  

Happy to roll the dice on Facile here second-up.  

The four-year-old mare to Trapeze Artist finished midfield in her first start for Team Snowden at Flemington in the Furphy Sprint a couple of weeks ago, trying her hardest out wide where she went past a few runners and quickened smartly over her final few strides.  

She’s open to big improvement second-up and carries top weight, but does warrant consideration as a previous Group 3 winner. 

Billy Egan gets the steer for the first time and is likely to roll forward early and try his luck on the speed.