Vinrock, Autumn Boy to lock horns in Caulfield Guineas

A slower-than-expected start and traffic issues led Vinrock to a fifth-place finish in the Group 2 Stutt Stakes at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 26. A day later, Autumn Boy could only manage a seventh-place finish after a wide trip in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney.

The two meet for the first time in Friday’s Group 1 Caulfield Guineas at a mile for Southern Hemisphere 3-year-olds at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne with a chance to amend for those recent losses. As of Wednesday, Autumn Boy was 7-2, while Vinrock was an interesting 7-1 in early betting. Wodeton, second in the Golden Rose, was the 5-2 favorite in a field of 16.

The Golden Rose Stakes was won in a course record 1:20.79 for seven furlongs by Beiwacht, who is not part of the field for the $1.97 million Caulfield Guineas.

The Caulfield Guineas drew a full field of 16. West of Swindon, winner of the Stutts Stakes at a mile, is a 15-1 outsider.

Both Autumn Boy and Vinrock race as stalkers. Vinrock, trained by Matt Laurie, won the Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes for Southern Hemisphere 2-year-olds at seven furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney in April. The Caulfield Guineas is his second start at a mile. Autumn Boy will be tried at a mile for the first time in the Caulfield Guineas.

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Might and Power Stakes

Laurie also trains the 4-year-old filly Treasurethe Moment, who was 4-5 in early betting for Friday’s Group 1 Might and Power Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Caulfield against four rivals. A winner of 10 of 13 starts, Treasurethe Moment had a nine-race winning streak end when second to Pride of Jenni in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes at a mile at Moonee Valley on Sept. 27.

Treasurethe Moment chased pacesetter Pride of Jenni and was beaten 1 3/4 lengths. Pride of Jenni was the Australian Horse of the Year for the 2023-2024 season. She is not entered in the Might and Power Stakes.

Treasurethe Moment’s main rival in the Might and Power Stakes is Buckaroo, who was a close second to Sir Delius in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes at Caulfield on Sept. 20. Sir Delius is a leading contender for the Group 1 Melbourne Cup on Nov. 4.

Toorak Handicap

Friday’s Group 1 Toorak Handicap at a mile at Caulfield drew 11, led by two 4-year-olds - Sepals, the 5-2 favorite, and Lazzura, a 5-1 chance.

Sepals won for the fifth time in his seventh start in the Group 1 Rupert Clarke Stakes at seven furlongs at Caulfield on Sept. 20. Lazzura won her second consecutive stakes in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes at seven furlongs at Flemington on Oct. 13, closing from fifth of 13 to win by a neck.

Caulfield has a 10-race program beginning at 9:15 p.m. Eastern.

Hill Stakes

The leading race on Friday’s 10-race program at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney is the Group 2 Hill Stakes at 1 3/16 miles.

Lindermann, a 6-year-old gelding who was second to Sir Delius in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes at a mile at Randwick on Sept. 6 and second to the four-time Group 1 stakes winner Fangirl in the 7 Stakes at a mile at Randwick on Sept. 20, was the 3-2 favorite in early betting.

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