2024 Australian Guineas Guide
THE Group 1 Australian Guineas is run at Flemington racecourse for three-year-olds, which is run at set weights, over the distance of 1600 metres.
The race is run during the autumn carnival and draws some of the best three-year-olds in the nation to Melbourne for the $1,000,000 prize money.
The Australian Guineas has been hosted by two different tracks in its 31 year history. Racing at Flemington, the only time the Australian Guineas has been held anywhere else was in 1997 when Caulfield held the event due to course renovations.
The race gained group one status one year after its inception after starting its history as a group three event.
The Australian Guineas is typically dominated by the colts. Only three fillies in the history of the race have gone on to win it.
2024 Australian Guineas betting odds
The 2024 Australian Guineas odds as of February 12 look like this:
- King Colorado – +300
- Veight – +400
- Riff Rocket – +600
- Snow Patrol – +650
- Southport Tycoon – +800
- Crocetti – +900
- Orchestral – +1000
Best Australian Guineas bookmakers
The bookmakers open all-in markets on the Australian Guineas weeks in advance. In the week leading up to the race however tote markets and fixed odds become readily available across the board.
Here are some of our favourite bookmakers to bet on the Guineas.
Latest Australian Guineas news
Australian Guineas Betting Guide
The Australian Guineas is a male-dominated race.
Since its inception in 1986, just four fillies have saluted in the race, Legarto in 2023, Mystic Journey in 2019, Mosheen back in 2012 and Shamrocker, which got the job done in 2011.
In addition to that, the outside barriers have been a disastrous place to be in the Guineas. Mosheen became the first horse in 30 years to win from a double figure barrier. With barrier two proving the most successful, with seven winners saluting from barrier two.
The C.S. Hayes Stakes has emerged as the most productive lead-up since the Guineas assumed its current position the week before Super Saturday in 2011. From 2015-18, Wandjina (2015), Hey Doc (2017) and Grunt (2018) all achieved the double. Alligator Blood (2020) also recently completed the CS Hayes – Australian Guineas double.
2024 Australian Guineas Final Field
Horsebetting.com.au will update this page when the 2024 Australian Guineas field is released.
Many a rising three-year-old has taken out the Australian Guineas.
- The New Zealand raiders Ken & Bev Kelso have taken out the Group 1 Australian Guineas with Legarto who powered over the top of Attrition in the final 50m to record her second Group 1 success of her short career. After jumping nicely, Michael Dee had his filly midfield on the fence, with a lot of traffic in front of her, but as the field rounded the home turn, he was able to get off the fence and go for a run on the outside of horse. However, at the 300m the eventual third-placegetter Japanese Emperor closed the gap on her and made her switch back to the inside, but when Dee pushed the button, the daughter of Proisir exploded and flashed home to nab Attrition in the final strides. The punters were all over the Kiwi filly in the closing stages of betting, as she was smashed in betting from $9 to $6.50 with online bookmakers in the final 10 minutes of betting.Even though the win of Legarto was thrilling, there was a fall that happened about 250m out from the winning post in the home straight that saw Maximillius and Holymanz tumble along with their jockeys, Ethan Brown and Mark Zahra. Ethan Brown was taken to hospital in an ambulance for further assessment, while Zahra was treated on track for any injuries he suffered.
- The Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Hitotsu became just the third horse to complete the Victoria Derby / Australian Guineas double when claiming a remarkable victory in the 2022 Guineas. Having been first-up from a spell since claiming the Derby, the fact the stable were able to get him sharp enough for a 1600m Group 1, following a Group 1 victory over 2400m shows just how versatile Hitotsu is. From barrier one, he tracked the speed throughout and when a run came in the home straight was able to grind away the defecit with every stride and managed to hit the front with 25m to go and produced one of the greatest training efforts in recent times.
- When a runner is sent around as a $251 chance in a Group 1, they generally have no chance to even beat a single runner home. However, Lunar Fox floored the punting world when getting the job done at $251 when holding out the likes of Cherry Tortoni and Tagaloa. Having finished 13 lengths off Tagaloa in the CS Hayes Stakes, it was a remarkable turn around of form for the Paul Preusker-trained colt.
- After Alligator Bloods impressive form heading into the Australia Guineas, it was clear why the three-year-old gelding was the clear favourite. Ryan Maloney barely had to lift a finger as he jumped and held the lead rail the entire 1600 metres, when asked to give a little at the straight there was no hesitation winning by over a length and giving Alligator Blood his first group one win.
- It was a Tasmanian Guineas in 2019 as Mystic Journey continued her brilliant run of form. Hawkshot speared out to an early lead in the race and lead the field for the majority of the contest but when the leader shifted out Mystic Journey took the inside run and speared away to record a dominant victory. Hawkshot stayed on strongly to finish second and subsequently booked a wildcard spot in the All-Star Mile.
- Grunt claimed the first of two Group 1 titles in 2018 in the Australian Guineas in typical fighting fashion. Striking the front late in the piece, Grunt fought off a late challenge from the Darren Weir-trained Peaceful State to cling to a terrific win. The galloper would go on to claim the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes later in the year.
- Hey Doc became Cox Plate-winning trainer Tony McEvoy’s first group 1 winner since 2004 with a convincing victory. Hey Doc took the early initiative and pushed forward, before jockey Luke Currie found a nice run to the line, firstly gaining a nice break, before holding on for dear life to defeat Prized Icon and Snitzson. Read a full report.
- It was one of the strongest fields we have seen in an Australian Guineas and the race did not disappoint. Superstar Palentino came down the outside in a veritable who’s who of the three-year-old scene and just claimed the prize ahead of Tarzino and Jameka. Read a full report.
- Gai Waterhouse-trained Wandjina put on a front-running display that will go down in Australian Guineas folklore. With the more favoured pair Stratum Star and Alpine Eagle hitting the line strongly Wandjina found a kick late to ensure the prize money would go back to Sydney.
- Shamus Award found the front early and dictated terms from the front. The colt was one of the chief elects in the market, but the more fancied runners Hucklebuck and the Quarterback were expected to close, but never did. It was a brilliant front running display from a former Cox Plate champion.
