Caulfield Tips and Best Bets for the Guineas 2023

One of the best days on the racing calendar is upon us.

The greatest and richest sprint race in the world will be run and won at Randwick for $15 million, while Caulfield will host three Group 1 races including the $3 million Caulfield Guineas.

The market suggests the time honoured classic is a race in two between ‘Militarize’ ($2.80) and rising star ‘Steparty’ ($3.90).

There looks to be a clear stand-out however.

 

 

Track Conditions

The Caulfield track currently reads as a Good 4 and despite some rain about on Thursday and Friday, don't expect a downgrade.

The running rail is in the True position for the entire circuit, which should see the track play evenly.

 

Caulfield Race 9 – Caulfield Guineas (1600m)

The Map

Look for Rock Empire (3) to spear out the gates and find the front under gun front-running jockey Tim Clark, whilst roughie Limburg (9) rolls up to join him.

Second favourite, Steparty (7) with John Allen aboard, will watch it all unfold in front of him and settle in behind the pace for a perfect run.

Veight (1) will also get into a prominent position from the inside draw, and this could leave Verdad (14) and Griff (15) caught very wide if they elect to go forward.

Expect Joao Moreira to get Militarize (12) into a great position just worse of midfield and potentially follow Griff or Verdad into the race from their wide runs.

Look for Little Brose (10)  King Colorado (8) to also be around midfield.

The speed of this race will be determined by the usual on-pace horses, who have drawn the car park barriers.

If either Verdad or Griff find the front, the pace will be strong.

 

 

 

The Favourite

Militarize has won 3 Group 1 races already in his 7-start career and he is an excellent chance to make it 4 here.

The 3YO Dundeel colt from the Chris Waller yard was superb when winning the Golden Rose last start, after coming from the back and storming over the top of them late.

Hong Kong-based superstar jockey Joao Moreira goes down to Caulfield for the ride, boasting a perfect 3 wins from 3 rides aboard the colt (all 3 Group 1 wins).

He will need a bit of luck from the wide draw, but you can trust the ‘Magic Man’ Moreira to give him the perfect ride.

He has comfortably the best form in the race, is already a Group 1 winner at the 1600m and only bad luck will stop him from winning another here.

 

 

Cody's Best Bet Tips

I can’t see Militarize being denied his fourth Group 1 victory here.

After his superb Golden Rose win, he will only be better third-up at the 1600m.

Four of the last 5 winners of this race have come out of the Golden Rose and 2 of them completed the double (‘Ole Kirk’ in 2020 and ‘The Autumn Sun’ in 2018).

Moreira sticks for the ride, with a likely clear run in transit and will be hard to hold out if they run it at a genuine tempo or better.

 

Steparty is the clear next best but requires a lot of improvement to beat the favourite.

He is a proven winner, and does get the aid of the perfect run in the race. However, the form does not stack up anywhere near as strongly as Militarize.

Two of the horses he beat in his last two starts, ‘Scentify’ and ‘Southport Tycoon’, are $17 and $26 respectively.

Should have the rest of the field covered to finish in second.

 

Expect Veight to be around the mark off the back of a gun run from barrier 1.

The flying Damian Lane gets back aboard and will be keen to make it his fourth win from 5 rides on this 3YO Grunt colt.

Strong top 3 chance.

 

If he can find his best, King Colorado will be right around the finish in behind the top two also.

The 3yo King Man colt is already a Group 1 winner at the 1600m (J.J Atkins) and will run a good race here third-up at the mile.

He proved his ability at this set-up, when he was able to successfully win the J.J Atkins last preparation.

 

1st Militarize

2nd Steparty

3rd Veight

4th King Colorado

 

There are loads of Caulfield tips for Saturday's racing in our Horse Racing Tips market at thegreattipoff.com.