Guineas Prelude

Today Racing Victoria released the 2011 Caulfield Guineas Prelude final field and barrier draw, 12 three-year-old colts and geldings accepted for the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes Day feature.

Scheduled to run as Caulfield Race 5 at 3:00pm this Saturday, the $175,000 Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) field is lead by the Peter Snowden-trained Helmet.

Absalon is drawn too wide for the win but could prove a nice Place bet in the Guineas Prelude through Luxbet!

The dual Group 1 winning son of Exceed And Excel seeks their first win as a three-year-old and comes off a game third behind Manawanui and Smart Missile in the Golden Rose over 1400 metres in Sydney on September 10.

Making their Melbourne debut, Helmet avoids a second clash with his Golden Rose conquerors on Saturday making them the likely Caulfield Guineas Prelude betting favourite at Luxbet.

Helmet is one of the top fancies in the futures markets for next month’s 2011 Caulfield Guineas, his current price likely to firm at Luxbet with a win on Saturday.

There are three last-start winners looking to go back-to-back with a Caulfield Guineas Prelude victory on the weekend with:

• The Peter Moody-trained Golden Archer (barrier 4) coming off a win in the Group 3 HDF McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield on August 27, before which they ran a game second to Sepoy in the Vain Stakes

• Anthony Freedman’s Nadeem colt Specter (barrier 5) who put in a strong performance to run down early leader and Caulfield Guineas Prelude rival Chase The Rainbow to win the Listed Henry Bucks Best Dressed (1400m) at Flemington on September 3

• That’s The One (barrier eight) who is undefeated to date with two wins, come off a 1410 metre victory at Flemington at the start of August

Two other notable 2011 Caulfield Guineas Prelude acceptors that have suffered an early blow with wide barrier draws are the David Hayes-trained Cross Of Gold (barrier 10) who ran second to Golden Archer in the McNeil Stakes, Jason McLachlan’s progressive Mossman colt Absalon.

Absalon won their opening two career starts in Queensland during the winter including the Listed Darello Stakes (1200m) at Doomben on June 13 before making their three-year-old debut at Flemington on September 3 running a credible sixth when beaten only three and a half lengths by Darley-owned megastar Sepoy in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m).

“He’s done everything right since then,” McLachlan said.

“He’s definitely improved and going to the 1400 metres is perfect at this stage.

“The Prelude is a very good field but I think this colt will run well if he gets some luck.”

Below is the full 2011 The Age Caulfield Guineas Prelude final field, barriers, weights and jockeys.

Bookmark this site for our insider Caulfield Guineas Prelude betting tips later in the week.

To get in on the early Caulfield Guineas futures betting head to Luxbet now, where you will also find the best Prelude odds when markets open.

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Caulfield Guineas Prelude 2011 Final Field & Barrier Draw