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It’s been a while since the Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield on Sunday did the double into the G1.

Irish Lights in 2009 was it. Can it happen again beginning with the 2018 Thousand Guineas Prelude (1400m) at Caulfield on Sunday.

2018 THOUSAND GUINEAS PRELUDE - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Thousand Guineas Prelude is a Group 2 race run under Set Weights and Penalty conditions for three year old fillies at Caulfield conducted by the Melbourne Racing Club.

The Thousand Guineas Prelude is run over 1400m. It was first run in 1965 and was won by On Point.

The Thousand Guineas Prelude is registered as the Tranquil Star Stakes named after a champion mare who won two Cox Plates.

It was over 1600m until 1990.

The Thousand Guineas Prelude was a Listed race up to 1999 then was Group 3 up to 2012 before being a Group 2 after that. The boys version is still only a Group 3.

Those to do the Thousand Guineas Prelude/Thousand Guineas double are Irish Lights, Miss Finland, Azzurro and Bianco Flyer.

The Thousand Guineas Prelude is worth $200,000 in 2018.

Notable winners of the Thousand Guineas Prelude include Gregers (2013), Irish Lights (2009), Ortensia (2008), Miss Finland (2006), Hollow Bullet (2004), Miss Pennymoney (1999), Danelagh (1998), Azzurro (1992), Bianco Flyer (1987) and As You Like It (1976).

The 2017 Thousand Guineas Prelude was won by Booker from Shoals and Catchy.