Thousand Guineas

Winners and Past Results for the Thousand Guineas

Some of the top three year old fillies come under the starter's orders in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield Racecourse in October during the Melbourne spring racing carnival.

Fillies travel 1600 metres of the Caulfield track under set weight conditions. The race is hosted by Melbourne Racing Club with a tidy purse of $500,000 in prize money up for grabs. The Thousand Guineas is held midweek on Wednesday, just ahead of the Caulfield Cup on Saturday. The male equivalent of the race, the Caulfield Guineas, is held the previous Saturday.

Punters ought to follow the progress of horses from the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes held earlier on Turnbull Stakes day at Flemington Racecourse over the same distance, which has produced a number of winners and placegetters over the years. Special Harmony won the Manifold Stakes/Thousand Guineas double in 2003 while Alinghi followed suit the next year. Gallica also achieved the feat in 2008. Miss Finland in 2006 and Serious Speed in 2007 placed well in the Edward Manifold Stakes before winning here.

Level weights favour the better performing three year old fillies who may then move on to tackle the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes at Flemington in November over an extended distance of 2000 metres and the Group 1 Crown Oaks also at the same track, a week later during the Flemington Carnival. Among the notable fillies to win the Thousand Guineas/Crown Oaks double include Richfield Lady in 1991, Arobrea in 1993, followed by Northwood Plume the next year. Magical Miss achieved the feat in 2011 while Special Harmony was next in 2003, followed by Miss Finland in 2006.

Sweet Chime went down in history as the first winner of the Thousand Guineas as a principal race in 1946. It was promoted to Group 1 in 1979 and has remained so ever since. There is no doubt that the lead up races gives punters a good sighter when it comes to picking a winner and placegetter although track conditions and peak fitness play an important role as well.

2012 Thousand Guineas

Commanding Jewel enjoyed the benefit of a good barrier draw, and settled a little further back than in recent starts. Up front, Longport won the race for the early lead, while Damien Oliver was the model of patience, allowing Commanding Jewel to stay in close proximity then weaving through the field from the 600 metre mark. At the top of the straight, Commanding Jewel was able to find room between Love For Ransom and Maybe Discreet, then had no trouble in running down Longport. Commanding Jewel raced right away, winning by three lengths. Dear Demi and Zydeco finished strongly to fill the minor placings.

2012 Thousand Guineas result

1. Commanding Jewel
2. Dear Demi
3. Zydeco

Then came:

4. Longport
5. Stella Lante
6. Big Chill
7. Love For Ransom
8. Lady Of Harrods
9. Balaclava Lady
10. Molto Bene
11. Maybe Discreet
12. Mama's Choice
13. La Zuma
14. Excitus
15. Meditrina
16. Members Joy