![Autumn Boy [Bradley Photos]](https://betsy.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2123260-1.jpg)
Without the star quality of years gone by, this edition of the Caulfield Guineas shapes as an exciting betting prospect, headlined by Autumn Boy and Wodeton representing the Golden Rose. The Waller pair, decimated by Godolphin’s Beiwacht in that race, share favouritism at this point in time, and justifiably so, holding the best performance ratings to date.
Autumn Boy was unremarkably beaten into seventh in the Golden Rose, yet remains the early market second elect for this year’s Caulfield Guineas. He raced wide without the benefit of cover in a race that was honestly run, dulling his finish at the end of seven furlongs. At this stage, the market is still learning about these lightly raced three-year-olds, but it’s evident that they hold him in high regard, sending him off as a $4.40 second favourite. The level of form expected by the market exceeds what we’ve seen from him thus far and must be taken on trust. He’s drawn to encounter difficulty in transit from barrier one, but has Damian Lane to offset the task.
BEIWACHT 💙
The Golden Rose goes to Godolphin, but it’s the colt who wins it! Adam Hyeronimus with a perfect frontrunning ride 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/BY97G30rmT
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 27, 2025
Prior to his Golden Rose defeat, he was unbeaten in two starts, producing exceptional sectional times on debut before validating that promise with a strong time performance in the Tattersall’s Stakes.
Ignoring his Golden Rose failure, he profiles like a typical Caulfield Guineas winner, and thus deserves favouritism.
Wodeton was scintillating when winning on debut, but has gone winless in seven appearances since. Only beaten by Beiwacht in the Golden Rose, he finished in the race’s second quickest concluding 200 metres of the race, only bettered by the winner. A mile shouldn’t pose any difficulty to him, provided he replicates the way he finished over a strongly run seven furlongs, and he’s seemingly building toward a peak performance at the right time. Nonetheless, he’ll more than likely need to produce a level of form he’s not yet run to, but that’s far from impossible. I’ve marked Wodeton $5.50.
Navy Pilot reeled off an exceptional concluding sectional to win at Sandown, following on from a terrific resuming effort in the Poseidon Stakes. From the same family as Anamoe, a mile will only be beneficial to his chances in the Guineas, and he’s drawn to have a soft run.
Navy Pilot on the line 🫡
He wears down Bacash in a great go!@Logez27 @cmaherracing pic.twitter.com/lRqisaNgn0
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 27, 2025
Having run to two consecutive peak performance ratings in as many starts this preparation, he’s evidently improved as a three-year-old and is peaking at the right time. He can topple the Waller pair, and I’ve assessed him as an $8.50 chance.
Observer represents an alternative form line, racing against the older horses on resumption. He raced himself into Guineas and Derby consideration at his second career start, posting an enormous performance rating, shedding his maiden status by five lengths at Sandown. He’ll race in a prominent position, and in a race with a lack of quality, that’ll count for plenty. I’ve assessed him as a $16.00 chance.
The pace should be consistent with what we typically expect in a Group 1 mile for three-year-olds, genuinely run without being brutal. A strong enough pace is expected to allow the two favoured Waller runners to build into the race and unravel their sprints, while suiting Observer, who can roll forward and control the race at an honest tempo.
At current prices, both Observer and Autumn Boy appeal as genuine betting propositions, and I’ll be backing each accordingly.
