Caulfield Guineas tips and trifectas

The $2 million Caulfield Guineas will be run at Caulfield on Saturday and here are the tips and trifectas from our editorial team.

We asked the boys for their Caulfield Guineas tip based on a $50 investment and also what they'd do in Caulfield Guineas trifecta with $50 to play with.

The Caulfield Guineas will be run as Race 8 on Saturday and they are scheduled to jump at 4.30pm.

STEPHEN BRASSEL

No. 6 - ROYAL SYMPHONY ($50 WIN) -  Slightly disappointing last time when only fourth in the Guineas Prelude but it was his first experience around Caulfield and he did get home equal fastest for the last 400m suggesting he's ready to peak at the longer distance. Has had a sharpen up with winkers applied and a jumpout since that run and expecting he'll be spot on for the big day. Showed his quality with some sensational performances at Flemington leading into his last run so giving him the benefit of the doubt on that first Caulfield outing and expecting we'll see that same dynamic power from Flemington again here.

CLINTON PAYNE

No. 7 – GOLD STANDARD ($25 EACH-WAY) – I think he's attractively priced on Saturday at double-figure odds. When you look through his form it stacks up against the Caulfield Guineas Prelude form. Two runs back he thumped Ace High and Sanctioned in the Stan Fox Stakes then last time out he fourth in the Golden Rose but let's not forget he was only a half-neck behind the runner-up and beat home Perast by almost two lengths. In the Golden Rose Tommy Berry was forced to ask Gold Standard to make a couple of runs in the first 600m of the race to avoid being posted three deep and if anything the horse was coming again on the line – he was coming back in trip for that race as well. Now he's drawn the perfect gate to stalk, it will be run at a good tempo and he gets to the mile which I think he will eat up. I reckon they're a pretty even lot this group of colts and Gold Standard has the right credentials which makes him a genuine value chance.

BRAD WATERS

No. 5 SHOWTIME ($25 EACH-WAY): Going with the Bill Stutt Stakes winner each-way in what is an open Caulfield Guineas this year. A touch of the boom came off Royal Symphony in his first defeat last time out, which opened the market somewhat, but I've liked the way Showtime is progressing. The colt treated his rivals with contempt in his maiden win three runs back before leading and doing a decent job behind Royal Symphony in the Exford Plate but his effort to lead all the way in the Stutt Stakes was another step forward. There will be decent pace in the Caulfield Guineas this year and Showtime won't need to lead from the inside gate. I expect Damien Oliver to give Showtime the perfect run and he can go close to claiming the $1.2 million cheque for the 'battlers' that paid more than a million bucks for him as a yearling.

TOM WALTER

No. 6 – ROYAL SYMPHONY ($50 WIN) – Think this is one of the thinnest Caulfield Guineas I've seen. That is probably emphasised by the fact that a filly yet to win past 1200m is vying for favouritism. Royal Symphony tasted his first defeat in a slowly run Caulfield Guineas Prelude but finished off ok. With a bit more tempo, he can set the record straight here. Proven at a mile and I see barrier nine as a positive – it keeps him out of traffic.

DARRYL SHERER

No. 7 – GOLD STANDARD ($25 EACH-WAY) – Improving colt that showed he was up to this level with a big effort in the Golden Rose after racing on the speed all the way. Prior to that he was the comfortable winner of the Stan Fox over 1500m defeating subsequent Group I winner Ace High so the trip here should not pose an issue. Drawn to get the lovely run, his recent jumpout at Flemington he settled on the right leg and won comfortably in fast time. In what shapes as an even race he looks to have a super chance at double figure odds.

BEN DORRIES

No. 8 – PERAST ($25 EACH-WAY) – Something of the forgotten horse in the betting market considering he won the Guineas Prelude in tough fashion and will almost certainly be more suited by an extra 200m here. Importantly, draws a peach of a gate and will be in the first four in the run while others near the top of the market are likely to be giving him a big start. Is rock-hard fit and I still can't believe he was within 6-1/2 lengths of the Golden Rose winner given the horror run he had that day where he had every right to drop out and run last. Has already proved he can do the job at Caulfield and the $11 available is extremely attractive.

TOM BADDOCK

No. 3 – GOLD STANDARD ($25 EACH-WAY) – He has been racing extremely well in elite company in Sydney. That bodes well for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained colt given the recent domination by Sydney-siders of the feature three-year-old event. Over the past six years the Caulfield Guineas has been won by four Sydney-based horses; those being Divine Prophet, Press Statement, Shooting To Win and Helmet. Gold Standard has only once finished outside the top two placings, and that was in the Group I Golden Rose behind Trapeze Artist when sitting on the speed of a brutal tempo. He's already beaten home the likes of Group I winners Ace High and Trapeze Artist and appears to get his chance to claim one of his own from barrier six. He's already a Group II winner over the 1500m, so running out a strong mile is of no concern. Each-way he looks a great bet at double figures, considering he'll make his own luck up on the speed and be strong at the finish.