Thousand Guineas Prelude
The Thousand Guineas Prelude is a Group 2 set weights & penalties race for three-year-old fillies that takes place each September at Caulfield racecourse during the Melbourne spring racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 1400 metres and worth $300,000 in prize money. The 2020 Thousand Guineas Prelude was won by Instant Celebrity from Personal with Rock My Wand third.
This race is the female equivalent of the Group 2 Caulfield Guineas Prelude for colts & geldings and was upgraded from Group 3 to Group 2 status for the 2013/2014 racing season. The Thousand Guineas Prelude is held on the same day as the Group 1 Underwood Stakes.
Thousand Guineas Prelude info
| Date: | Saturday 18th September 2021 |
| Track: | Caulfield racecourse, Melbourne |
| Distance: | 1400 metres |
| Race Type: | 3yo Fillies - Set Weights + Penalty |
| Status: | Group 2 |
| Prize Money: | $300,000 |
| 2020 Winner: | Instant Celebrity |
The Thousand Guineas Prelude is run over 1400 metres for fillies only and is generally used as a lead up race to the prestigious Group 1 Thousand Guineas that takes place in a fortnight at the same track. Classy gallopers Commanding Jewel (2012) and Irish Lights (2009) are the most recent fillies to complete the Thousand Guineas Prelude & Thousand Guineas double.
Better fillies are suited by the weighted conditions of this race and the Thousand Guineas Prelude is typically won by a more than handy filly who will most likely then go on to contest the Thousand Guineas on the 2nd day (Wednesday) of the three day Caulfield carnival, or alternatively, they will contest similar type fillies races during the carnival.
Some more than handy females have won the Thousand Guineas Prelude over the years and gone on to be very competitive as mares later in their career. Miss Finland (2006) has been the most significant winner in recent times and she went on to compete and win at the highest level on many occasions.
Acting (2019) won a BM64 race over 1300m at Sandown before leading all the way to win this event in impressive fashion for Cranbourne training duo Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young.
Recent Thousand Guineas Prelude winners include Smart Melody (2018) and Booker (2017).
Spring Carnival Guide
La Falaise (6th in 2019) dead-heated with Fascino in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Oaks at Moonee Valley after contesting this event.
Se Sauver (6th in 2013) claimed the Gr2 Edward Manifold Stakes at Flemington, while Commanding Jewel (2nd in 2012) also won the Edward Manifold Stakes at her next start before going on to win the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
Mosheen (3rd in 2011) won the Edward Manifold Stakes before finishing runner-up in the Thousand Guineas at Caulfield and then won the Group 1 VRC Oaks at Flemington. Bliss Street (2011) finished second behind Mosheen in the Manifold Stakes, while Hallowell Belle (2nd in 2011) travelled to Sydney a couple of weeks later to run second behind Streama in the Group 1 Flight Stakes at Randwick.
Sistine Angel (2nd in 2010) won the Gr3 HDF McNeil Stakes on her way to finishing second in this race before going on to win the Gr2 Edward Manifold Stakes at her next start, while Yosei (5th in 2010) won the Thousand Guineas at her next start.
Irish Lights (2009) claimed the Thousand Guineas after winning this event and Headway (4th in 2009) won the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes on Derby day at Flemington.
2020 Thousand Guineas Prelude result
1. $2.80 Instant Celebrity 56.0 Craig Williams
2. $15.00 Personal 55.0 Damien Oliver
3. $26.00 Rock My Wand 55.0 Luke Currie
then followed
4. $3.70 Night Raid 56.0 Mark Zahra
5. $31.00 Love Sensation 55.0 Luke Nolen
6. $151.00 Ecumenical 57.0 John Allen
7. $31.00 Yosemite 55.0 William Pike
8. $4.40 Mozzie Monster 55.0 Jamie Kah
9. $61.00 Jenni’S Rainbow 55.0 Ben Melham
10. $13.00 Annavisto 55.0 Jye McNeil
11. $26.00 River Night 56.0 Damian Lane
Margins: 1 len, 0.20 len
Time: 1:25.28
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Thousand Guineas Prelude winners & placegetters
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2020 | Instant Celebrity | Personal | Rock My Wand | 1:25.2 |
| 2019 | Acting | Southbank | Barbie's Fox | 1:23.9 |
| 2018 | Smart Melody | Thrillster | El Dorado Dreaming | 1:22.7 |
| 2017 | Booker | Shoals | Catchy | 1:23.4 |
| 2016 | Legless Veuve | La Luna Rossa | Sword Of Light | 1:25.2 |
| 2015 | Miss Gunpowder | Payroll | Jameka | 1:23.2 |
| 2014 | Afleet Esprit | Amicus | Go Indy Go | 1:24.5 |
| 2013 | Gregers | Marianne | Politeness | 1:29.5 |
| 2012 | Lady Of Harrods | Commanding Jewel | Molto Bene | 1:24.9 |
| 2011 | Bliss Street | Hallowell Belle | Mosheen | 1:24.4 |
| 2010 | Divorces | Sistine Angel | Panipique | 1:24.2 |
| 2009 | Irish Lights | Set For Fame | Mont Fleuri | 1:26.1 |
| 2008 | Ortensia | Romneya | Sugar Babe | 1:26.0 |
| 2007 | Gabbidon | Jestatune | Sleek Chassis | 1:23.9 |
| 2006 | Miss Finland | Anamato | My Only Hope | 1:24.3 |
| 2005 | Doubting | Pinezero | Isanami | 1:27.4 |
| 2004 | Hollow Bullet | Ballet Society | Astradame | 1:24.3 |
| 2003 | Hinting | Ashenti | Portland Damask | 1:22.9 |
| 2002 | La Bella Dame | Toast Of The Coast | Lashed | 1:24.2 |
| 2001 | Haste Ye Back | Malagra Miss | Special Grange | 1:25.0 |
| 2000 | So Gorgeous | Ponton Flyer | All Time High | 1:22.9 |
| 1999 | Miss Pennymoney | My Sienna | One Under | 1:22.5 |
| 1998 | Danelagh | Visual Displays | Oaks Dream | 1:23.9 |
| 1997 | Cornwall Queen | Kensington Palace | Rose Of Danehill | 1:23.7 |
| 1996 | Derobe | Fairway Lass | Simply Believe | 1:25.6 |
| 1995 | Rubidium | Arctic Scent | Seika | 1:23.8 |
| 1994 | Majestic Dawn | Captiva | Dasyura | 1:24.9 |
| 1993 | Brompton Cross | Motown Blue | Fine Recipe | 1:24.7 |
| 1992 | Azzurro | Forget Playing | Dhokeep | 1:27.8 |
| 1991 | Chador | Latin Halo | Dancefloor Doll | 1:29.3 |
| 1990 | Century Pike | Tassuti | Holiday Lover | 1:26.1 |
| 1989 | Pleasure Bandit | Snow Apple | Pure Talent | 1:39.4 |
| 1988 | Imposing Bloom | Goodbye Tristram | Kingdom Poacher | 1:38.6 |
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