3 minute read

The 2019 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) has drawn record nominations off the back of prizemoney doubling to $1 million for the 12 October feature at Caulfield.

A total of 285 three-year-old fillies, up from 262 and 237 in the previous two years respectively, have today been entered for the coveted Group 1 race.

Nominations have also risen sharply for the $2 million Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas (1600m) – to be run on the same day – with 324 three-year-olds entered today – up from 267 in 2018.

The Thousand Guineas prizemoney increase was one of a range of enhancements announced last month for Victoria's Spring Racing Carnival.

Horses contesting the Thousand Guineas and Caulfield Guineas will be eligible for one of three lucrative bonuses.

The winners of both Guineas are eligible for a $1 million bonus if successful in the $5 million Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on 26 October.

Beaten Guineas runners are also eligible for the same Cox Plate bonus if they have also contested either the Caulfield Guineas or Thousand Guineas Preludes (Caulfield, 29 September) or the Stutt Stakes (The Valley, 27 September).

Three-year-olds contesting the same pathway of races through the Preludes/Stutt and Guineas are also eligible for a $1 million bonus if successful in the $500,000 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on 2 November.

Headlining the entries for the Caulfield Guineas are star colts Castelvecchio (Richard Litt, Champagne Stakes) and Prince Fawaz (Anthony Cummings, JJ Atkins), both Group 1-winning two-year-olds over 1600m.

Godolphin have kept their options open with Group 1-winning fillies, Kiamichi (James Cummings, Golden Slipper) and Lyre (Anthony Freedman, Blue Diamond), nominating last season's brilliant two-year-olds for both Guineas.

They are among 24 fillies that have been nominated for the Caulfield Guineas along with Group 1 Champagne Stakes placegetters Loving Gaby (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace) and Lady Lupino (Danny O'Brien).

Godolphin's Magic Millions winning filly Exhilarates has been nominated for the Thousand Guineas only, as too has Mystic Journey's three-quarter sister Mystical Pursuit.

Among the other Caulfield Guineas entries of note are Chris Waller-trained pair Kubrick and Reloaded – both placed behind Prince Fawaz in the JJ Atkins Stakes – their stablemate Yes Yes Yes, Dubious (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace), Cosmic Force (Peter & Paul Snowden) and Super Seth (Anthony Freedman).

First acceptances for the Caulfield Guineas and Thousand Guineas, which headline the opening day of the 2019 Ladbrokes Caulfield Cup Carnival, will be taken at 12 noon (AEST) on Tuesday, 10 September 2019.

Click here to view the 2019 Caulfield Guineas nominations.

Click here to view the 2019 Thousand Guineas nominations.