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Saturday’s G1 Caulfield Guineas has attracted a field of 11 colts and geldings who are all striving for the $3 million in prizemoney. It will come as no surprise following his G1 Golden Rose heroics that the headline act is Broadsiding who opened as a $1.55 favourite with Ladbrokes.
The James Cummings-trained superstar is looking to join Ole Kirk and The Autumn Sun as recent winners of the Golden Rose-Caulfield Guineas double.
The Godolphin conditioner won the time-honoured feature in 2021 with Anamoe and in 2022 with Golden Mile.
Angel Capital won the Caulfield Guineas Prelude and as a result is one of only two horses other than Broadsiding that is under double figure odds.
Gai Waterhouse has trained over 150 G1 winners yet has never won a Caulfield Guineas.
This year, she and co-trainer Adrian Bott will put the polish on Mayfair and Wanaruah as she strives for her first win.
Is Broadsiding a lay down misère in the 2024 Caulfield Guineas?
We'll do our best to answer that question in our comprehensive look at each horse in this year's field. (Prices current at time of publish)
1. Broadsiding (9)
Price: $1.50
The Godolphin galloper was last season's champion two-year-old by the length of the straight after winning the G1 Champagne Stakes and the G1 Ladbrokes JJ Atkins by a breathtaking 4.3 lengths.
He picked up where he left off with an impressive display last start when resuming in the Golden Rose.
The son of Too Darn Hot let down over 1400m in supreme fashion to run down the likes of Traffic Warden and Mayfair.
Stepping up to a mile is ideal given he wasn't comfortable over the shorter trip against sprinters last start plus he is undefeated in three races over the distance.
He is thrown in under the set weight conditions of the race given he is 14 rating points ahead of his nearest rival and 22 points clear of third.
There looks to be good speed in the race which will allow James McDonald to slide across and find some cover from the wide barrier.
The 2024 Caulfield Guineas looks at his mercy.
2. Rue De Royale (6)
Price: $51.00
It took the Team McEvoy colt nine starts to break through for his first win but don't let that distract you from his potential.
The son of Per Incanto was held up in the G2 Sires' Produce Stakes last preparation and was unlucky not to finish closer than the 1.8 length second to Traffic Warden.
He was also less than a length second in the Inglis Millennium when resuming last campaign.
Last start he was beaten fair and square when finishing third by 3.3 lengths in the G2 Stutt Stakes over this distance.
While as stated he has potential, I think there's easier targets than this for him.
3. Evaporate (8)Price: $13.00
The Team Hayes-trained gelding enters the $3 million race in amazing form as he looks to win his fifth race in a row.
After winning his maiden four starts back, the son of Per Incanto has won three in a row at The Valley including the Stutt Stakes by a length last start.
He's an exciting galloper who continues to improve with each run and for that reason he seems a touch over the odds.
Mick Dee has won four of six rides on him and remains in the saddle.
He should enjoy a nice run just behind the speed so I couldn't talk you out of having an each way bet if you liked his chances.
4. Angel Capital (7)
Price: $9.00
The Clinton McDonald-trained colt has come back this preparation in outstanding fashion.
He impressed when resuming in the McKenzie Stakes over 1200m at The Valley where he stormed home from last to win by just under a length.
Last start in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude, the son of Harry Angel looked in strife blocked for a run.
He got clear with a furlong to go and produced plenty to win by a neck.
Everything he has shown so far this preparation suggests that the rise to 1600m will suit beautifully.
Given he should have won the Prelude by further and is only lightly raced, he looks the best locally trained hope of beating Broadsiding.
5. Mayfair (10)
Price: $9.00
The Waterhouse & Bott-trained colt has unfortunately run into some handy types in each of his three races this preparation.
He kicked off his campaign in the G3 San Domenico Stakes where Storm Boy gave him windburn and he finished three-lengths third.
The son of Fastnet Rock gave a sight second-up in the G3 Ming Dynasty but was run down by subsequent G1 Flight Stakes winner Lady Shenandoah to finish a head second.
Last start he fought bravely to finish just a neck away from Broadsiding when third in the Golden Rose.
Given that he was three runs into his preparation and Broadsiding was first-up, I'm doubtful that he can turn the tables on the favourite.
However, he will certainly give plenty of cheek with an on-speed run and looks one of the better each way chances.
6. Wanaruah (3)Price: $17.00
The Waterhouse & Bott-trained colt won his first two race starts before being given a short seven-week let-up.
He gave a good account of himself when resuming in the G3 Up And Coming Stakes where he led until the final furlong when gun filly Autumn Glow ran past him, and he had to settle for a two-length second.
The son of Snitzel was most recently seen in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude where he led and gave a good fight only to be run down late for a half-length third.
He'll strip fitter and maps to get a great run on speed, but this is the first time he takes on 1600m and I think he may be suspect late.
7. Public Attention (4)
Price: $20.00
The Price & Kent Jnr-trained grey colt could be the forgotten contender in this year's Caulfield Guineas.
The son of Written Tycoon raced three and four wide throughout in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude but still had the audacity to fight like a tiger and finish a neck second.
That was just his third race start so he has an abundance of upside and can further improve with the rise to a mile.
He draws to get a much better run and looks well over the odds so don't let him get under your guard!
8. Feroce (2)Price: $51.00
The son of Super Seth was Dominic Sutton's first winner as a trainer, a feat he only achieved earlier this year.
So, it's an accomplishment for the emerging condition to have a runner in a G1 race so early in his career.
The gelding was spelled after winning his first two races and finishing a close fourth in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes.
He resumed recently with a total forgive run in the G3 McNeil Stakes before putting up a brave fight to finish fourth in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude last start.
He's drawn to get a great run, but he may be found wanting in the closing stages against some of his more fancied rivals.
9. Tropicus (1)
Price: $26.00
The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained colt won on debut at this track over 1100m before being sent for a break.
He caught the eye when storming home to finish third in the San Domenico Stakes before again running on well in the G2 Run To The Rose after getting too far back.
Last start the son of Too Darn Hot was easily accounted for by Broadsiding when finishing five lengths seventh.
He has a lot of development to come and in time will be a nice horse, but this race looks a touch rich for him at this stage.
10. Vianarra (11)Price: $201.00
A ten-start maiden that is making up the numbers and hopefully won't prove to be a speed bump.
11. Private Life (5)Price: $15.00
The Chris Waller-trained colt finished last preparation with a maiden win and returned with an impressive display to start this campaign.
He let down powerfully over 1200m at Warwick Farm to run by Listed Jim Moloney winner Lilac and G2 Edward Manifold Stakes runner-up Declichy Boulevard.
The son of Written Tycoon loomed as the winner of the Caulfield Guineas Prelude but tired in the final 50m to finish 0.7L fourth.
That run will have topped him off nicely and he looks well placed up to a mile.
The JudgementIt's near impossible to go past Broadsiding after seeing him return in the Golden Rose in such impressive fashion.
The Godolphin galloper is a 3x G1 winner and boasts a massive class edge over his rivals who he meets at an equal weight.
Cummings has Ladbrokes Cox Plate aspirations for this talented three-year-old, so you'd expect him to be putting this field away if he has any hope of achieving that.
Barring bad luck, he should be winning the 2024 Caulfield Guineas.
Selections:
1st – Broadsiding (1)
2nd – Angel Capital (4)
3rd – Public Attention (7)
4th – Mayfair (5)
