Australia: Three Group 1s on Friday schedule
Jacquinot has solidified his reputation as one of Australia’s leading 3-year-olds with two Group 1 wins at seven furlongs since late September.
The colt’s ability at a mile will be tested in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Friday evening.
Jacquinot will start at a mile for the first time after a desperate nose win in the Group 1 C.F. Orr Stakes at seven furlongs against older horses at Sandown Racecourse on Feb. 11. Ridden by Damian Lane, Jacquinot closed from fifth in a field of 10 to reach the front in the nick of the time.
The style of that win, and a come-from-behind victory in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes at seven furlongs at Rosehill Gardens last September, indicates Jacquinot should be able to handle a mile in the Australian Guineas. Lane retains the mount.
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The race has drawn a field of 15. Jacquinot, trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr., was the 6-5 favorite as of Thursday. Elliptical and Attrition, who were first and fifth in the Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-old males at Flemington on Feb. 18 were 5-1 and 8-1.
The Australian Guineas is the top race on a nine-race program that begins at 8:35 p.m. Eastern or 5:35 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.
Osipenko, the winner of the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes at seven furlongs at Rosehill Gardens on Feb. 18, was scratched from the Australian Guineas in favor of a start in a similar race in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Friday evening.
The Randwick Guineas drew a field of 12 led by Aft Cabin, who was fifth in the Hobartville Stakes as the 3-5 favorite after racing near the front while wide.
Aft Cabin, the winner of stakes in September and January, was the 9-5 favorite in early betting, while Osipenko was 7-2. Zou Tiger, second in the Hobartville, was respected at 5-1.
Earlier on the Randwick program, the New Zealand shipper Imperatiz will be around even money to win her first start in Australia in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs.
Imperatiz, a 5-year-old mare by I Am Invincible, has won 12 of 17 starts, including five Group 1 races in New Zealand. She is unbeaten in three starts this year at six and seven furlongs.
The Canterbury Stakes is the first start in Australia since last March for Artorius, who was third in the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot last June and in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket Racecourse last July in Britain. Artorius was sixth in the Group 1 Prix Maurice Gheest at 6 1/2 furlongs at Deauville, France, last August in his most recent race.
Earlier in his career in Australia, Artorius won the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at six furlongs for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds in 2021.
The Randwick program begins at 8:20 p.m. Eastern.
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