In the Golden Rose's early years as a Group 1 event, the Caulfield Guineas was a hoodoo race for winners of the Sydney feature.
Guineas winners have come out of the Golden Rose all the way back to 2011, but the 1600-metre Group 1 at Caulfield was an elusive race for the first few winners of the Golden Rose after it was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2009.
Denman (2009), Toorak Toff (2010), Manawanui (2011) and Epaulette (2012) were all beaten in the Guineas after winning the Golden Rose.
But that was when the Golden Rose was run before mid-September and, in Denman's case, in late-August.
The 1400-metre Group 1 at Rosehill is now cemented in the second half of September and it is effectively a case of the first horse home in the Golden Rose that goes to the Guineas that wins the $3 million Group 1.
The Autumn Sun – the first horse to complete the Golden Rose/Caulfield Guineas double – sparked a run that has seen it happen four times in the past five years.
Highest-placed Golden Rose runners in Caulfield Guineas – Last 5 years
2018 – THE AUTUMN SUN: won Golden Rose, won Caulfield Guineas
2019 – KUBRICK: 5th Golden Rose, 14th Caulfield Guineas
2020 – OLE KIRK: won Golden Rose, won Caulfield Guineas
2021 – Anamoe: 2nd Golden Rose, won Caulfield Guineas
2022 – GOLDEN MILE: 4th Golden Rose, won Caulfield Guineas
Those four winners all started favourite in the Caulfield Guineas – Ole Kirk was $4.20 equal favourite with Tagaloa – which has helped amend the Guineas reputation as a troublesome race for punters.
It was responsible for one of the biggest upsets in Australian racing history, Abaridy's 250/1 win in 1986, while Mighty Boss ($101), Marwong ($67) and Econsul ($41) are other longshot winners since.
But Weekend Hussler, Whobegotyou, Helmet, Long John and Press Statement are other recent favourites to score, meaning nine of the past 15 editions have been won by a horse at the head of the market.
This year's Golden Rose winner Militarize will start favourite in what will be his first start the Melbourne way of racing.
Avoiding horses having their first start left-handed at Caulfield is a theory of some, but those who fancy Militarize will be buoyed by the record of his trainer, Chris Waller.
The Hall of Fame trainer's two Guineas winners, Press Statement and The Autumn Sun, both had their first run left-handed in the Guineas and own the two greatest winning margins in the Guineas since 2010.
Divine Prophet and Shooting To Win are others to win the Guineas at their left-handed debut in the past decade.
