Randwick Guineas

Winners and Past Results for the Randwick Guineas.

One of the premier mile races hosted by the Australian Turf Club is the Group 1 Randwick Guineas during the Sydney autumn racing carnival in March.

Three year old horses compete over 1600 metres under set weight conditions for a purse of $1,000,000 at Randwick Racecourse.

The race attracts a number of top quality milers with the likes of Octagonal in 1996 and Weekend Hussler in 2008 blazing the track at Randwick, to name a few. 

In addition, the winner of this race automatically qualifies for a berth in the AJC Derby and Doncaster Handicap, making it an all important event for horses and their connections. Other major features included in the day's race card are the Group 2 Challenge Stakes and Group 3 Randwick City Stakes, which has now been downgraded as a listed race.

Among the major lead up races is the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes held at Rosehill Races in February. Ilovethiscity proved this point in 2011 by winning both events convincingly. Runner up, Skilled, was third in the Hobartville Stakes while third placed Light Brigade was unplaced in the same event. Earlier in 2010, Shoot Out was runner up in the Hobartville Stakes prior to winning the Randwick Guineas, which proves that the event is a handy form guide for punters looking for a winner and strong place getter.

Horses may move on to target the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas and Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes at Rosehill a few weeks later. The Group 1 George Ryder Stakes over 1500 metres at Rosehill is also a likely follow up event that horses may pass through. Weekend Hussler scored a Randwick Guineas/George Ryder double in 2008.

The Randwick Guineas was earlier known as the Canterbury Guineas with Todman, Beechcraft, High Regard, Kingston Bay, and Arena are just a few among the classy milers to take home the Randwick Guineas in earlier times. Mentality, Weekend Hussler, Metal Bender, and Shoot Out continued the list of fine performers between 2007 and 2010. Shoot Out also went on to win the 2400 M Group 1 AJC Australian Derby. Earlier, the event was held as the Canterbury Guineas over 1900 metres between 1935 and 2005.

For punters, horses that make their way to the Randwick Guineas are definitely the ones to watch closely for the rest of the year.