Group 1 winning Kiwi three year old Catalyst has held on to favouritism in the betting for the 2020 Group 1 $1m Kennedy Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington today.
Catalyst, above, in white and blue colours, is the favourite for the 2020 Australian Guineas at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Betting at Ladbrokes.com.au has Catalyst marked as the $2.60 top pick just ahead of the Alligator Blood at $3.20 as the pair line up for a rematch after a stirring battle down the Flemington straight when the David Vandyke trained Queenslander prevailed by a nose over the Kiwi in the Group 3 $160,000 C S Hayes Stakes (1400m) two weeks ago.
Catalyst will meet Alligator Blood 1kg better at the weights and Te Awamutu trainer Clayton Chipperfield said that the step up to the 1600m would be ideal.
“(Alligator Blood) is a warrior that horse and one we have to try and beat, but this time we match him at level weights and meet him at the mile,” Chipperfield told AAP.
“I think the advantage is in our hands this time.”
“To be put in a dogfight like that and not lie down — he answered all our questions whether he would be competitive over here.”
Catalyst scored a stunning victory over 1600m in the Group 1 NZ$500,000 47th New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton Park in New Zealand in November last year while Alligator Blood’s only attempt at 1600m resulted in a nose second to Super Seth in the Group 1 $2m Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas at Caulfield during the 2019 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
C S Hayes Stakes third placegetter Chenier and C F Orr Stakes winner Alabama Express share the third line of betting for the Australian Guineas at $6.50 at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The Anthony Freedman trained Chenier finished on the heels of Alligator Blood and Catalyst in the C S Hayes Stakes while Alabama Express beat the older horses at weight for age in the Group 1 $500,000 Neds C.F. Orr Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 8.
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