Victoria Derby winner Prized Icon heads up a full field of three year olds for the 2017 Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Hey Doc, above, is one of the main chances in the Australian Guineas at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The James Cummings trained Prized Icon, with Dean Yendall booked to ride, has drawn barrier three in the final field of sixteen plus three emergencies and could jump from gate two if third reserve Hardham, who drew the rails, fails to gain a start.
Prized Icon is also an acceptor for the Group 1 $1m Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas (1600m) which is going to be run a heavy track at Randwick on Saturday.
Priced Icon has visited Flemington on one previous occasion for a win in the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival and has had one run back in the 2017 Autumn for a sixth to Man From Uncle in the Group 2 $400,000 Schweppes Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 18.
Divine Prophet has drawn barrier ten with Dwayne Dunn teaming up again with the Team Hawkes trained colt after the pair claimed the Group 1 $1m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield during the 2016 Spring Carnival before resuming in the Autumn for a ninth to Black Heart Bart in the Group 1 $500,000 Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 11.
Team Hawkes has also accepted with Redouble who is listed as the second emergency and came up with barrier thirteen.
Caulfield Guineas runner up Seaburge has drawn barrier four with Mark Zahra who was aboard the Lindsay Park trained Sebring colt in the Caulfield Guineas and when he resumed for the Autumn with a tenth to Hey Doc in the Group 3 $150,000 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 18.
The Lindsay Park Team of David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, fresh off a Group 1 winning double at Caulfield last Saturday with Catchy in the Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes and Sheidel in the Oakleigh Plate, will have four runners in the Australian Guineas.
As well as Seaburge, the team will saddle up Snitzson (Andrew Mallyon, barrier 5), Harlow Gold (Regan Bayliss, 7) and Fuhryk (Cory Parish, 14).
The Tony McEvoy trained Hey Doc has been racing consistently since running third in the Caulfield Guineas and put himself into contention for the Australian Guineas with a last start win in the C S Hayes Stakes.
Luke Currie has been aboard Hey Doc for all but three of his eleven race starts and will ride the Duporth three year old again on Saturday from barrier two.
The John O’Shea trained Morton’s Fork won the Group 2 $250,000 Ladbrokes Sandown Guineas (1600m) at Sandown at the end of the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival but will need plenty of in the Australian Guineas after drawing the outside barrier in the capacity field.
Craig Williams gets the ride again on Morton’s Fork after being aboard the colt for his last four outings which includes his last start fourth to Hey Doc in the C S Hayes Stakes.
Oak Door has also drawn poorly at barrier eighteen and will be ridden again by Damian Lane who was aboard the Robert Smerdon trained colt for his last start all the way win in the Group 2 $200,000 Hyland Race Colours Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 11.
Hong Kong based jockey Brett Prebble takes the ride on the Team Snowden trained Attention (barrier 11) who is back to three year old company in the Australian Guineas after finishing fourth to Black Heart Bart in the weight for age Group 1 $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last Saturday.
