The 2016 Australian Guineas field has been released and 15 talented gallopers are set to contest the Group 1 event at Flemington on Saturday.
Mahuta has the chance to extend his winning streak in the 2016 Australian Guineas at Flemington on Saturday. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos
Kiwi colt Xtravagant is one of the most exciting horses in Australasia and he is set to make his Australian racing debut in the Australian Guineas this weekend.
Xtravagant recorded a dominant eight and a half lengths victory in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton Park on November 7 and he failed to fire in the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham on January 16 before he returned to his best with another dominant display in the Group 1 NRM Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 13.
The 2016 edition of the Australian Guineas will have a strong Kiwi flavour and talented filly Risque is also set to contest the Group 1 event this weekend.
Risque was purchased by clients of Lindsay Park after she scored strong wins in both the Listed Armadillo Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton Park on October 24 and the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at the same venue on November 14 before she made her Australian racing debut with a fast-finishing victory in the Group 3 Kevin Hayes Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 13.
The daughter of Darci Brahma is not the only filly set to contest the Australian Guineas and Perfect Reflection, Sailing By and Jameka are set to take on the boys in the $750,000 event.
Perfect Reflection suffered her first race defeat when she made her racing debut in the Group 3 The Vanity (1400m) at Flemington on February 20, while Crown Oaks winner Jameka finished a flat fourth in the same race.
Sailing By returned to the races with a fast-finishing second behind Mahuta in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 13, a race that could prove a strong form reference than The Vanity.
The Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes is always one of the key lead-up races to the Australian Guineas and that is set to be the case again in 2016.
Palentino was the first horse across the line in the CS Hayes Stakes before the race was awarded to Tivaci on protest and both horses will do battle again in the Australian Guineas this weekend.
Tulsa, Sovereign Nation, Bon Aurum, River Wild and Ready For Victory are also set to back-up in the Australian Guineas after running in the CS Hayes Stakes a fortnight.
Another key form reference for the Australian Guineas will be the Autumn Stakes won by Mahuta, who has won his past six race starts.
Mahuta was set to contest the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) last weekend, but connections opted to save the in-form galloper for the Australian Guineas this weekend.
Tarzino contested the same race and he made up plenty of ground from the tail of the field in what was a very impressive return to racing, while Snoopy finished a gallant third in the same race.
The 2016 Australian Guineas field is rounded out by Chris Waller-trained Vanbrugh, who is set to make the trip to Melbourne for the Group 1 event.
