Australian Guineas Tips - Sepals to be hard to beat, while Victoria Derby winner can improve third up

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Angel Capital heads in as favourite after a dominant performance when resuming with a win in the Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 8. The Clinton McDonald-trained galloper settled just worse than midfield before leaving the likes of Evaporate in his wake. That horse then went on to place 4th against the older horses in the Futurity Stakes. 

Nine runners come out of the CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington and it was a dominant three-length win by Sepals in that lead up ahead of Ndola, while the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) placegetter, Feroce, was 3rd. Last year’s Victoria Derby (2500m) winner, Goldrush Guru, just tired late for 4th. 

Point And Shoot is an interesting contender. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding comes down from Randwick and was a five-length winner two starts ago before backing at that performance with a big win over the 1600m, again at Randwick, overcoming a poor start. 

Savaglee adds another element of intrigue, coming over from New Zealand. He finished alongside Bosustow at Group 1 level as a placegetter in his homeland last time and that form ties in with some of the local hopes. 

This year’s edition is shaping up to be fast-paced, with Feroce, Stay Focused, Goldrush Guru, Opening Address, and Savaglee all vying for prominent positions. Market favorites Sepals and Point And Shoot are expected to settle just behind the leaders, while race favourite Angel Capital is likely to track his main competitors throughout the contest. Henlein, Ndola, and Royal Insignia will be coming strong from the back, making a late push for the finish

Keen on Sepals in the feature of the day. The promising gelding has won three of four career starts and couldnt have been much more impressive when taking out one of the key lead ups to this, the CS Hayes Stakes (1600m) by more than three lengths. The Cliff Brown-trained galloper went 12.8 lengths faster than standard benchmark, which is a better figure than what any runner in this race has produced in their careers to date. He draws to enjoy a similar run from barrier 3 and can go on with the job. 

Goldrush Guru shapes as an improver for mine at his third run back from a spell. The South Aussie was caught wide up the front on a hot tempo over the 1400m last time and was entitled to tire late. Third up and over the 1600m will suit alot better, while the likelihood of a solid tempo should also play into his hands, provided that he can find a better spot this time around.