We’re into the thick of the Melbourne Autumn Carnival now as we look ahead to a stacked Australian Guineas Day program at Flemington on Saturday.
Last year’s Victoria Derby winner Observer has dominated the early betting for the time-honoured feature over the mile, while the history-rich Group 2 Blamey Stakes could offer a glimpse into several bigger races ahead.
Looking for best bets and tips at Flemington on Saturday? You’ve come to the right place. Our 2026 Australian Guineas Day Preview can be found below.
LA GITANA (7) has form around the talented Big Sky, which is more than what you can ask for in an open sprint race to start the day.
The Hayes boys sent this filly around at Caulfield in the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes just under a month ago where she was honest all the way to the line for third.
She lacked the speed to go with Big Sky when it mattered, but better for the run and likely to appreciate a more genuine tempo, she’s a big improver to watch.
| 7. La Gitana (6) J: Ethan Brown 55kg 3T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
FLYING MIKKI (6) appeals off a bit of a break.
He’s a gelding that finds it tough to win, but I thought he made up solid ground here over the track and distance last month, rattling off some impressive late sectionals when second behind Fission.
He finished in front of Saturday’s rival Rue De Royale that day and carries less weight on this occasion. Given a trial between runs, he can measure up here with a repeat performance.
| 6. Flying Mikki (9) J: Logan Mcneil 57.5kg 43×32T: David Noonan |
RED GALAXY (2) competes with the blinkers on for the first time with growing fitness on his side.
Greg Eurell’s five-year-old resumed for third over shorter at Geelong to start the year, before heading to Headquarters where he had a bit go wrong on his way to finishing down the order, beaten 4.8 lengths.
A track that could rate on the softer side following some rain on Friday adds to his claims.
| 2. Red Galaxy (5) Scratched: | |||
AHHA AHHA (9) gets another chance following another gallant place effort at Caulfield over the mile.
She’s been in work for a while but continues to hold her form well with a win and a pair of placings to her name from her last four starts.
Her latest effort saw her run on incredibly well down the outside to finish runner-up to Sneaky Sunrise, and she’s drawn to receive another nice cart into the race from the inside gate. Any chance of a soft track shouldn’t bother her, either.
| 9. Ahha Ahha (2) J: Jamie Melham 54kg 81522T: Clinton McDonald |
Lots to like about MCGAW (4) first-up for the Browne camp.
The last we saw of this promising three-year-old was down the straight here at Flemington in last year’s Coolmore Stud, beaten 5.6 lengths by Tentyris in what has surely been a nice learning curve for the son of I Am Immortal.
He comes back a couple of levels for this fresh assignment and gets Damian Lane back in the saddle carrying a comfortable 55.5kg. Off two nice jump outs, he’s the one to beat.
| 4. Mcgaw (6) J: Damian Lane 55.5kg 5158xT: Emma-Lee & David Browne |
Big watch here on EDUCATED (6) with close to four weeks between runs.
The Zoustar filly remains unbeaten, a perfect two-from-two after exploding to win at Cranbourne over 100m shorter last month.
She’s armed with a serious turn of foot and although this is a step up in class, she’s capable of rolling right to the front again from the inside gate and letting her speed do the talking.
| 6. Educated (1) J: Celine Gaudray 55.5kg 1×1T: Ciaron Maher |
APULIA (2) goes around on the fresh side in search of his hat-trick.
The Fiorente entire is back on the East coast after dominating the Perth Summer Carnival, winning the Ted Van Heemst on his way to a barnstorming Perth Cup victory.
He’s a classy stayer who may find the mile a little on the short side, but keep in mind he’s six weeks between runs with a trial between starts. Proven here at this track, he’ll be very hard to beat.
| 2. Apulia (2) J: Michael Dee 58kg 11011T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
OBSERVER (1) maps to find the box seat from the middle gate under Ethan Brown.
Ciaron Maher’s colt earned himself plenty of praise and admirers when he came out and won the Autumn Stakes as the favourite at Caulfield two weeks ago, setting up in behind the speed before unleashing to win by well clear of a length in the end.
He’s still got enormous improvement to come second-up as he continues to get out over further.
| 1. Observer (6) J: Ethan Brown 57kg 311×1T: Ciaron Maher |
Keen to see what LAYLA (15) can produce here up sharply in grade.
The Hayes-trained filly by Justify hasn’t done much wrong in two starts to date, running third on debut at Sandown late last year in a race that has produced some strong form lines since.
She took good improvement into her second start at Cranbourne to kick off the New Year, winning by a whopping five lengths when eased down approaching the line.
The stable has kept her on ice since with just the one jump out here at Headquarters to keep her fitness up. With a little luck from the wide gate, she could be right in this.
| 15. Layla (10) J: Michael Dee 55kg 31T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
FIORENOT (7) has been up for a while but continues to hold his form nicely.
He was a winner of back-to-back starts here at Flemington, before returning off a four-week break where he just found Tarvue a touch to good out over 2000m.
Keep in mind he was five-wide that day and still strong through the line, so there’s nothing to suggest he can’t bounce back to the winner’s circle if Jordan Childs finds a bit of cover in the early stages.
| 7. Fiorenot (10) J: Jordan Childs 57kg 32112T: Tom Dabernig |