Dual acceptor Tulsa will take his place in the Group 1 $1m Girvan Waugh Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Trainer Mike Moroney, above, will send Tulsa to Sydney to run in the the Randwick Guineas. Photo by Taron Clarke.
Tulsa was also included in the final field for the Group 1 $750,000 Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday in which his trainer Mike Moroney also has top fancy Tivaci.
The decision to send Tulsa north to Sydney will give Moroney two chances to win a Group 1 Guineas on the same day.
After Tulsa draw barrier fifteen in the sixteen horse Australian Guineas, the decision to take on the Sydney three year olds was made a little easier and to split his two three year olds was sensible.
Tulsa drew barrier six in the thirteen horse Randwick Guineas.
“There are a few reasons,” Moroney told Racenet.
“One, it (the Randwick Guineas) is worth $1 million.
“Number two, he’s drawn better and third, it gives us a runner in each race and they’re in similar ownership.”
Tulsa is also nominated for the Group 1 $2m BMW Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on April 2, the first day off ‘The Championships’, and a good performance on Saturday could see him progress to the Group 1 $600,000 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill on Golden Slipper Day.
“Another thing is his future lies in Sydney after this run anyway and it gives us an opportunity to get him up there and get him settled,” Moroney said.
“He’s not the easiest horse at times. We thought about it pretty hard and decided for all those reasons, we’ll head up there.”
Top Melbourne jockey Steven Arnold will also travel to Sydney to ride Tulsa, replacing Ben Melham who has been aboard the Sebring gelding in his two Autumn Carnival appearances.
Tulsa resumed from a spell for an eighth to Puritan in the Group 3 $150,000 Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on February 6 followed by a third to stablemate Tivaci in the Group 3 $150,000 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington on February 20.
Even though the Randwick Guineas and the Australian Guineas have been programmed for the same day, both races have pulled together strong fields of three year olds.
High profile New Zealand colt Xtravagant heads a strong line up in the Australian Guineas which also includes the Darren Weir trained trio of Mahuta, Palentino and Perfect Reflection as well as the 2015 Victoria Derby winner Tarzino.
While the Randwick Guineas boasts the appearance of the Chris Waller trained Press Statement who will start a very short priced favourite.
Press Statement was having his first run since winning the Group 1 $1m BECK Caulfield Guineas (1600m) at Caulfield during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival when he scored an effortless win in the Group 2 $400,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on February 20 and looks to have the Randwick Guineas at his mercy.
Tulsa has been marked as a $21 chance at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Randwick Guineas in a market order that is dominated by the $1.50 favourite Press Statement.
Randwick Guineas market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.50 Press Statement, $7.50 Stay With Me, $9.50 Montaigne, $14 Le Romain, $21 Dal Cielo, Tulsa, $31 Shards, $41 Mackintosh, $51 Man Of Choice, Balmain Boy, Gold Ambition, Data Point, $61 Etymology.
