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Monday Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow and forgive from 2025 Australian Guineas Day at Flemington

Gilbert Gardiner reviews Australian Guineas Day at Flemington, pinpointing the horses to follow and forgive.

Gilbert GardinerGilbert Gardiner
@gilbertgardiner
3 min read
March 3, 2025 - 6:30AM
Goldrush Guru on the way to the barriers before the Australian Guineas at Flemington. Picture: George Sal / Racing Photos
Goldrush Guru on the way to the barriers before the Australian Guineas at Flemington. Picture: George Sal / Racing Photos

Herald Sun racing writer Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow and forgive out of Australian Guineas Day at Flemington.

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FIVE TO FOLLOW

GOLDRUSH GURU (1.8-length 3rd of 15, Race 8): Super last 200m – quickest in the race and 14th fastest on the card – to get into the money. The Victoria Derby winner took a few strides to balance up in the straight, raced in restricted room and was held up inside SAVOUR THE DREAM but once clear, the South Australian raider built momentum quickly. Bring on 2000m.

PLENTY OF AMMO (5.1-length 6th of 10, Race 7): Fresh into the Group 2 Blamey Stakes (1600m) and a run short, missed a planned 1400m start a fortnight ago after a suspected stingray sting, but stuck on well under pressure in the strongly-run race. Could be a sharp improver next start. Australian Cup-bound ATTRITION (2nd) and ZARDOZI (3rd) appreciated the tempo and finished strongly from back in the field. Any rain around for Zardozi in the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 29 would be a major bonus.

RUE DE ROYALE (4.2-length 10th of 17, Race 9): Solid return. Settled last alongside the eventual winner EL MORZILLO and travelled nicely into contention on the grandstand side but peaked the last 200m. Rue De Royale has won and placed second-up previously. Runner-up DAGGERS was very impressive first-up down the straight, forced to weave a path through the field.

JENNI MOO MOO (3.2-length 5th of 9, Race 1): Not quite sharp enough to go again at 1000m but saved best work for the last 100m. Jenni Moo Moo posted closing sectionals not dissimilar to the winner SHINING SMILE, who has won three stakes races in succession at 1000m and 1100m. The Group 3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) at Flemington could be a nice option in three weeks’ time.

STEEL RUN (2.8-length 5th of 9, Race 2): First run back for eight months and acquitted himself very well against predominantly hard-fit opposition. Last in the run and allowed to go through his gears in the straight. The promising stayer has won two of five starts including a 2500m handicap at Flemington last year.

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FORGIVE

POINT AND SHOOT (4.9-length 8th of 15, Race 8): Slow into stride at the start and then held up from the 500m until the 350m. Shifted out near the 150m. Jockey Damian Lane said Point And Shoot “cost himself out of the barriers” and raced “as well as he could” from a tricky position in the straight. A post-race veterinary examination did not reveal any significant findings.

STEPARTY (4.1-length 5th of 9, Race 7): Pulled up lame in the near foreleg. Good effort in hindsight, pushed forward from a wide barrier and ran the field along – nine lengths faster than standard time to the 800m. Got tired in the straight but stuck to the task. Stablemate POISON CHALICE, also deep in the campaign, equally bold to track the leader and grip onto fourth place.

ARQANA (5-length 7th of 13, Race 10): Held a nice spot in the run but could not let down in the conditions. Jockey Jamie Melham told stewards favourite Arqana would appreciate tracks with more give in the ground. Arqana, trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, was only second-up last Saturday so should take benefit from the run fitness-wise.

ANGLAND (5.6-length 9th of 14, Race 6): Pushed forward from the wide draw and began to over-race despite setting a strong tempo. Weakened in the straight as expected under the circumstances. A post-race veterinary exam revealed wounds to the near hind heel and hocks. NAME DROPPER (10.6-length last) also raced well below market expectation.

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Originally published as Monday Racebook: Gilbert Gardiner’s horses to follow and forgive from 2025 Australian Guineas Day at Flemington

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/horse-racing/vic-racing/monday-racebook-gilbert-gardiners-horses-to-follow-and-forgive-from-2025-australian-guineas-day-at-flemington/news-story/532c0a280325795174339ad0461fd2cd