Lightly raced three-year-old Huegill is set to give trainer Peter Moody successive Caulfield Guineas victories.
Last year Anacheeva won the Group One feature for the stable and Huegill has always impressed Moody as a Guineas prospect whether it be now or the autumn.
He has taken an immediate course of action with the son of More Than Ready who has raced four times and won his past two starts in maiden company at Cranbourne by six lengths and a Sandown midweek event over 1400 metres on September 21.
Moody’s racing manager Jeff O’Connor said it was hard to get a line on Huegill’s recent form but there was reason to think he would be competitive in the Guineas on Saturday despite being $26 with TAB Sportsbet.
“It is hard to line up his form, we don’t know how good it is and that is why we are running,” O’Connor said.
At his debut Huegill was placed behind champion juvenile Sepoy and VRC Sires Produce Stakes winner Running Tall in the Blue Diamond Prelude.
He returned in the spring with a luckless 2-1/4 length fifth in the Listed McKenzie Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley in August.
“We thought he would be a Guineas horse but not a lot went right for him first up at Moonee Valley,” O’Connor said.
“The run was OK but he got back, found trouble, and was held up at the top of the straight.
“We put the winkers back on after that and he’s been going really well.”
Moody was particularly impressed with the way he overcame trouble at Sandown to win after being pushed wide down the hill and around the home turn.
With racing he is getting better and which encourages Moody to have a crack at the Guineas with him.
“We don’t think he is a stayer but on his last run he should get a strong mile if he can get a nice run in the Guineas,” O’Connor said.
The final Guineas field will be declared on Tuesday with the event seen as a race in four.
Last start Guineas Prelude winner Helmet heads the market at $2.70 from Smart Missile (3.40) who needs to redeem himself after a slow start cost him dearly against the older horses when 10th to Toorak Toff in the Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Rick Hore-Lacy-trained Chase The Rainbow ($6.50) firmed as a contender after winning Friday night’s Group Two Bill Stutt Stakes while Manawanui ($7.50) has impeccable form with five wins from six starts including the Group One Golden Rose two runs back.
TAB Sportsbet’s David Macknamara said it was hard to go past the top four in the market.
“They look the clear chances,” Macknamara said.
He cautioned about reading too much in to Smart Missile’s last run.
“He didn’t have much more than a practice after he missed the start a little bit last time,” Macknamara said.
He said Helmet deserved to be favourite.
“He looked super impressive in super time (1.21.40) the other day and if he holds his manners and can get up on the speed and keep out of trouble he will have horses like Smart Missile and Chase The Rainbow getting back in the field needing luck.”
Macknamara said Manawanui looked “pretty bombproof” and noted that he had already beaten both Smart Missile and Helmet in the Golden Rose.
“There is a little question mark over the 1600 metres with him but he is a pretty sensible horse and has a lot of ability,” Macknamara said.