Lindsays chasing Guineas glory in transtasman races

Cambridge Stud boss Brendan Lindsay is chasing one of the most unusual doubles in racing history today when he tries to win the 1000 Guineas in two countries.

The 1000 Guineas for 3-year-olds is one of the traditional five classics in many racing jurisdictions, alongside the 2000 Guineas, Derby, Oaks and, to a far lesser extent these days, the St Leger.

Today is the first time the 1000 Guineas in New Zealand and Australia has been run on the same day, with the Australian version pushed back a month as part of changes to the Victorian spring carnival.

So Lindsay and his wife Jo, who purchased Cambridge Stud in 2017, have the opportunity to try to win the Australian 1000 Guineas at Caulfield as well as the New Zealand version at Riccarton.

While Lindsay will be in Melbourne to see his fillies Joliestar and the Mark Walker-trained Zourion in the Guineas, he says winning at Riccarton with Luberon would be more satisfying.

“Winning any Guineas would be fantastic but the New Zealand Guineas would mean more to us for a variety of reasons,” says Lindsay.

“We not only own Luberon but we own her dam and, of course, we stand her sire Embellish.

“Embellish has had a great start to his career off a cheap service fee and almost won the 2000 Guineas with Tallisker last Saturday.

“A Group 1 winner would really help him, and he has two chances, as he also has Quintabelle in the Guineas. And if either of them can’t win, we will be hoping for Mary Shan because she is by another one of our stallions in Almanzor.

“So there’s a lot on the line at Riccarton and it’s a race that means a lot to us because we won it a few years ago with Kahma Lass.”

The New Zealand Guineas looks even, with tempo and traffic maybe the deciding factors, with the outcome more confused by the fact many of the favourites tend to get back.

The Lindsays aren’t the only Kiwis chasing both Guineas, with trainer Mark Walker training Zourion for them at Caulfield but training against them with Star of Justice and Viva Vienna at Riccarton.

The Guineas is the highlight of the three black type races at Riccarton, with the New Zealand Cup thrown open to some extent by favourite Nest Egg drawing barrier 21.

He was excellent winning the Metropolitan at Riccarton last Saturday and doesn’t go up in the weights, but he was given a perfect trip by Warren Kennedy on that occasion, whereas he looks certain to get back in the big field today.

Kennedy is the most in-form jockey in the country and with some of those in the Cup today sure to be struggling 500m out, his ability to plot the right path could decide the race.

The value each way bet could be Uareastar, who won last year’s Auckland Cup on a good4 track beating far better horses, Concery Hall and Sound, than she meets today.

She has been running on well this campaign and today’s race looks perfect apart from her 56.5kg weight, which is getting up there for a mare in a 3200m race.