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With multiple Group 1 winners engaged, alongside many other exciting standout three-year-olds of the current crop, the 2024 Randwick Guineas looms as one of the standout feature races of the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
The lion's share of gallopers engaged in this year's Randwick Guineas field have come through the traditional lead-up race, the Hobartville Stakes, but early race favourite Militarize steps back from open company and does look a fitting favourite.
I've analysed every galloper below in my 2024 Randwick Guineas Preview.
2024 Randwick Guineas Betting Strategy
► 4 Units Militarize (Win)
► 1 Unit Encap (Each Way)
1 – Militarize (4)
An outstanding three-time Group 1 winner and getting ideal conditions second-up at Randwick.
Won both the Sires' Produce and Champagne Stakes at the end of his two-year-old prep, and added the Golden Rose during another glittering preparation in spring.
What eye-catching into second behind an outstanding Fangirl in the Apollo Stakes first-up this time and will relish getting out to a mile and getting back into three-year-olds company.
From a perfect barrier and under James McDonald, he shapes as a clear standout top pick in the Randwick Guineas 2024.
2 – Tom Kitten (8)
Cannot be discounted third-up from a spell.
Continued to improve with each run back in the spring, culminating in a dominant performance and victory in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes.
Was well beaten in both the Eskimo Prince Stakes and the Hobartville in each of his first two runs back, but does tend to find his best form with a couple of runs under his belt, and will relish getting out to the mile this week.
3 – Celestial Legend (11)Announced himself as a serious Randwick Guineas horse with a career-best effort to date in the Hobartville.
Has always hinted at above average ability, but does look to have returned to the races a fitter and stronger horse this time, and is another who looks suited out to the mile this week.
Kerrin McEvoy retains the ride, and the outside barrier isn't too much of a knock given that he will likely settle off the pace regardless.
4 – Encap (10)
Fitter third-up and primed to strike.
Improved noticeably into a close second behind Militarize in the Golden Rose most notably in the spring, while each of his first two runs back this time after been competitive.
Untested at the mile, but everything that he has done so far has suggested it won't be a problem, and he has plenty of upside.
Will need some luck in running from the wide draw.
5 – Ganbare (5)Second-up from a spell after being well beaten in the Hobartville Stakes.
Has won at this point of his preparation previously but would need to enjoy huge improvement to trouble some of these gallopers.
6 – Les Vampires (2)Returned to action with an easy win in BM64 company at Canterbury before filling the minors behind Celestial Legend and Encap in the Hobartville Stakes.
He is open to further improvement, but whether or not he can turn around close to three lengths on those gallopers remains to be seen.
Adam Hyeronimus is riding in career-best form and is a positive booking, but Les Vampires is another horse that really would need to find another gear to fight out the finish of the Randwick Guineas.
7 – Fukubana (3)One of the more intriguing gallopers in the Randwick Guineas field but has probably gone up at the correct quote ($20 at publish).
Made light work of them over 1200m at Doomben two back and was strong through the line to finish fourth in the Hobartville Stakes, but similarly to Les Vampires, it's tough imagining him improving more than three lengths to turn the tables on the winner of that race.
8 – Ducasse (9)Ducasse returned to action with a dominant performance in maiden company at the midweeks, but was a little out of his depth when eighth, beaten almost six lengths in the Hobartville Stakes.
A race of this quality looks to be a bridge too far at this point of his career.
9 – Ceolwulf (1)Ceolwulf returned to action with a fair performance to finish midfield in the Hobartville Stakes.
He did enjoy big improvement into his second-up run last time in and interestingly, his only career win to date, but this is another big rise in class, and it is tough to have any real confidence in his chances.
10 – Café Millenium (7)Café Millenium has opened at Randwick Guineas odds of $81.
Having won just one of his seven career starts and finished down the order in his first run back this time, he faces an Everest-like mountain this weekend.
11 – Cosmic Lad (6)Cosmic Lad is the rank outsider in 2024 Randwick Guineas betting ($101 at publish).
This is an enormous task for the son of Adelaide.
