RaceForm Raceday Preview: New Zealand 1000 Guineas Day
Richard Edmunds - Raceform • November 6th, 2026 3:49 PM • 8 min read
As one of Australasia’s iconic racing carnivals draws to a close with the final day of Melbourne Cup Week at Flemington tomorrow, another one is about to roar to life.
The RaceForm team is proud to bring you this in-depth preview of tomorrow’s New Zealand 1000 Guineas Day at Riccarton, one of the early highlights of New Zealand Cup Week in Christchurch.
Christchurch has an increasingly busy events calendar, with sold-out rugby and league games at the brand-new indoor stadium (including Super Rugby’s hugely successful Super Round), concerts by the likes of Robbie Williams and Foo Fighters, and big-selling festivals such as Electric Avenue. But even in the face of that growing competition, New Zealand Cup Week remains a Canterbury institution.
The thoroughbred and harness codes combine to deliver a superb week of racing action, with three days at Riccarton (Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday) sitting alongside Addington’s iconic New Zealand Trotting Cup on Tuesday and Show Day on Friday.
The carnival’s appeal extends beyond dedicated racing fans and is enthusiastically embraced by Cantabrians and visiting out-of-towners alike. These racedays are highlights on the New Zealand sporting and social calendar every year, there’s a real buzz around Christchurch all week, and the late-spring Canterbury weather (usually) plays its part. This year is set to be no different, and from a thoroughbred racing perspective, it all kicks off with tomorrow’s 11-race 1000 Guineas card.
RACEFORM NEW ZEALAND CUP SPECIAL
Before we get stuck into our 1000 Guineas preview, I hope you’ll forgive a quick plug for RaceForm.
We’re putting out a New Zealand Cup Week Special on Monday morning, with full fields and form for the New Zealand Trotting Cup Day at Addington and TAB Mile Day at Riccarton. We also have eight pages of in-depth previews from our harness expects, Garrick Knight and Matt Markham.
They’ll give you everything you need to know ahead of one of the most iconic days in New Zealand racing. In my biased opinion, it’s well worth heading along to your local TAB to pick up a copy if you’re not already a subscriber.
Now, on to the 1000 Guineas preview!
WEATHER AND TRACK CONDITIONS
On Friday morning, the Riccarton track was rated Soft7.
Track staff have applied 57.5mm of irrigation through the last week, allowing for the warm temperatures that were expected across Thursday (27 degrees), Friday (28) and Saturday (25). A fine day was forecast for Friday, with those warm north-westerlies Canterbury is famous for, and the outlook remains mostly good for Saturday’s raceday, although MetService says there is a possibility of some occasional afternoon rain.
MARKET MOVERS
Race 1: She’s Sinatra $31 to $27, Willit $23 to $21
Race 2: Valley King $3.50 to $3.30
Race 3: Imelda Melody $10 to $5.50 favourite (dropping back to maiden grade after a last-start seventh in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes)
Race 4: Roaring Bebe $8.50 to $7
Race 5: Lily $8.50 to $7.50, Wyworry $8.50 to $8, I Am Nutz $17 to $16
Race 6 (Pegasus Stakes): Platinum Attack $3.20 to $2.70 favourite, North England $5.50 to $5, Honor The Name $23 to $14, Shameless Star $31 to $26
Race 7 (Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes): Moving Melody $3.50 to $3.20, Bona Sforza $7 to $6.50
Race 8 (Metropolitan Trophy): Court Of Appeal $7 to $6, Canheroc $31 to $27
Race 9: Graffiti Artist $7.50 to $4.20 favourite, Eurasian Prince $12 to $11
Race 10 (1000 Guineas): So Fear $27 to $14, Platinum La Danse $41 to $18
Race 11: Airpark Hustler $8.50 to $7, Surround Sound $7.50 to $7
FORM POINTERS
Here’s a selection of runners for Saturday’s meeting who have caught the eye of RaceForm’s expert form analysts, Mike Brown and Neil Davis (Formpro), with their performances in races or trials in recent weeks.
Redana (#13 in Race 1, $10): an unlucky last-start sixth over the same course and 1600m distance on October 24. “Redana was stuck sixth but wide early and moved up third and wide with 800m to go,” Mike Brown said. “She battled away centre-track to finish sixth, three lengths from the winner, who was back on the inside in running.”
The Precursor (#10 in Race 8, the Metropolitan Trophy, $2.80 favourite): produced a big finish into fourth over 1600m at Ellerslie on October 24. “He settled last and wound up strongly in the straight for fourth in excellent closing sectionals for a staying type,” Neil Davis said. “He is right on track for the New Zealand Cup.”
Graffiti Artist (#12 in Race 9, $4.20 favourite): runner-up over the same course and 1600m distance on October 24. “A slow start meant she settled last,” Neil Davis said. “From there, she weaved her way through them and charged home to run second in the best last 600m in 33.55. A win is close.”
Sweetest Thing (#6 in Race 10, the 1000 Guineas, $15): forgive her last-start fourth in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes at Ashburton on October 10. “Sweetest Thing can bounce back quickly after being a beaten favourite when fourth in the Barneswood Farm Stakes,” Mike Brown said. “Back and wide in running from her outside barrier, she was pushed extremely wide on the home turn from runners inside. She did well to get as close as she did.”
Miss Magnetica (#9 in Race 10, the 1000 Guineas, $10): caught the eye with a strong-finishing fourth in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie on October 17. “From last on the inner, she was able to find clear air with 200m to go and powered home for fourth,” Neil Davis said. “The bigger track at Riccarton will be ideal.”
Surround Sound (#7 in Race 11, $7): runner-up in two of his three starts in this campaign, including an excellent last-start effort at Trentham on October 25. “Surround Sound put in a strong performance to finish second,” Mike Brown said. “Fourth and wide in running, he was up wide on the home turn to make his bid. He battled well. The winner never left the inside rail.”
For further form insights like these, purchase RaceForm in store at your local TAB, email [email protected] or click here to subscribe.
Race 10: BARNESWOOD FARM 54th NEW ZEALAND 1000 GUINEAS (4:39pm)
The first of New Zealand’s two Group One classics for three-year-old fillies, the New Zealand 1000 Guineas was created in 1973. Along with the New Zealand 2000 Guineas, which is open to all three-year-olds, the race was added to the Riccarton calendar when the New Zealand Oaks and New Zealand Derby were moved to the North Island.
Through its 53-year history, the 1000 Guineas has been won by famous names such as Our Flight, Canterbury Belle, Snap, Tartan Tights, Tycoon Lil, The Jewel, Seachange, Daffodil, Katie Lee, Legarto and Well Written. Katie Lee’s win in 2009 was part of a famous New Zealand Cup Week double, in which she became the first (and still only) horse to win both the 1000 Guineas and 2000 Guineas.
Soliloquy Stakes the key lead-up
The 1000 Guineas is the first big clash between the standout three-year-old filly talent from the North Island and the South Island, and the race that has stood tallest as a form reference in recent years is the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie.
Incredibly, seven of the last 1000 Guineas winners have had their final lead-up run in the Soliloquy, which is run over 1400m at Ellerslie during Labour Weekend.
Media Sensation won both races in 2018, Loire was unplaced in the Soliloquy in 2019, Kahma Lass ran second in the Soliloquy in 2020, The Perfect Pink was fourth in 2021, Legarto won both races in 2022, Molly Bloom was fourth in the Soliloquy in 2023, and Well Written won both races in 2025.
Asturia an eighth 1000 Guineas winner for Te Akau?
Te Akau Racing has an unparalleled record in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas, with an incredible seven winners since 2007 (along with seven 2000 Guineas winners since 2003). Premiership-leading trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are heading into tomorrow with two chances to add an eighth 1000 Guineas to the mantelpiece – Asturia and Sweetest Thing.
Walker himself provided the first of the stable’s seven previous 1000 Guineas successes when he saddled Insouciant to win the fillies’ feature in 2007. Jason Bridgman followed in 2010 with King’s Rose and in 2013 with Costa Viva, and then Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards won the race with Risque in 2015. Richards added another two with Kahma Lass in 2020 and The Perfect Pink in 2021, and then the baton was passed to the current Walker-Bergerson partnership with Captured By Love’s 2024 victory.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to have some lovely fillies win the 1000 Guineas over the years,” Bergerson told RaceForm this week.
“Winning it with Captured By Love was a day I’ll never forget. It was my first Guineas, and it was run on the last day of the carnival that year and we managed to win the New Zealand Cup on the same day with Mehzebeen. Those are some very special memories for the team.
“We’re excited to have two really nice chances again this year. Everything’s gone to plan with them so far, and fingers crossed they can have a good back end of this week and line up on Saturday as strong chances in such a prestigious race.”
The top seed is undoubtedly Asturia, a commanding $2.05 favourite on the TAB’s fixed-odds market.
Bought by Sir David Ellis for $135,000 from Lansdowne Park’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2025, Asturia has quickly stamped herself as an exceptional talent. The Almanzor filly scored a smart win on debut at Ellerslie on September 5, then finished a close and unlucky second in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas.
In her only other start, Asturia was an emphatic winner of the Soliloquy Stakes. “She’s become quite a hot favourite, but we think she’s earned that with what she’s shown in those first three starts,” Bergerson said. “She’s just continued to improve.
“I really liked the way she won against a strong field in the Soliloquy at Ellerslie. Getting her down to that big track at Riccarton should really suit her, and we think she’ll love the step up to the mile.
“She’s gone the right way since the Soliloquy and has done everything right.”
Michael McNab has ridden Asturia in all three starts so far and keeps the mount on Saturday, with Wiremu Pinn partnering stablemate Sweetest Thing.
Group One-placed in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes last season, the daughter of Hello Youmzain made a winning return in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes before finishing an unlucky fourth in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes.
“It was just such a messy race, especially on the corner where she got wiped out,” Bergerson said. “That was a real shame, because she was particularly well leading into that race and we had high hopes.
“To be fair to her, she did a good job to pick herself up in the straight and make up ground for a creditable fourth on a day that favoured horses racing on the speed.
“I think she’s a bit forgotten and written off. She’s already down there and is nice and settled, and Riccarton has been her home track for the last couple of months.
“She’s another one who should really appreciate the mile. She has a lovely big stride.
“If she gets the right run, settles and does things well in the running, she can give it a shake.”
Cunneen makes Group One debut
Lightly raced local filly On Piste, who is a $51 longshot in the Guineas market, will be the first Group One runner for her young trainer Meg Cunneen.
“I’m pretty excited about it all to be honest,” she said to RaceForm’s Matt Markham. “I’ve been going to Cup Week at Riccarton each year pretty much since I was born and watching good horses and good trainers step their horses out in the big ones, but to have one of my own is amazing.
“She is in great order, I couldn’t be happier with her. She’s just stepping up each time we ask her and since her last run, I think she’s improved again.
“We’re not going in there full of confidence or anything like that – just being in the race is a great result. But I don’t think she will disgrace herself, she’s a filly on the way up.”
On Piste was a debut winner at Timaru on September 23, then finished a creditable third in the Gr.3 Barneswood Farm Stakes at Ashburton in her only other start.
Race 7: WINDSOR PARK STUD CANTERBURY BREEDERS’ STAKES (2:48pm)
A 1400m race for fillies and mares, the Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes has been run since 1981. Its honour roll includes Group One winners Barinka, Final Touch (whose daughter Final Time contests the 1000 Guineas on Saturday), Belclare and last year’s winner Captured By Love.
It has drawn a talented line-up of 12 for this year’s edition, with former North Island mare Moving Melody ($3.20) holding favouritism over Dream Of The Moon ($4.80) and Bona Sforza ($6.50).
Moving Melody has well in some strong northern company, finishing third in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint and fourth in the Gr.2 Westbury Classic and Jo Giles Stakes. Her first two starts for Riccarton trainer Terri Rae have produced a win and a second.
Dream Of The Moon carries the Walker-Bergerson team’s hopes of back-to-back wins, following on from Captured By Love last year, although the lead-up form hasn’t inspired confidence.
“She’s been a bit disappointing,” Bergerson said. “Her first-up run was too bad to be true, but we couldn’t find a reason for it. She was a bit better last time – she got a long way back on a fast track, then made a good initial sprint before levelling off a bit late in the race.
“We’ve been scratching our heads a bit. But her work on Tuesday morning was top-notch, galloping on the course proper with Sweetest Thing. She’s very talented on her day and would be right in a race like this if she brought her best form.”
History within reach for three-year-old filly
No three-year-old filly has won this race in its 45-year history, but Silhouette has the chance to become the first.
The Cody Cole-trained runner is also entered for the 1000 Guineas, but has no rider named for that race while George Rooke is booked for the Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes.
Silhouette has been racing well through the spring, placing in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes and Gr.2 Sunline Vase before running fourth in the Gr.3 Gold Trail Stakes and seventh in the Gr.2 Soliloquy Stakes.
Third Decree to bounce back
Previously a placegetter in this race, the locally trained Third Decree is expected to bounce back tomorrow after enduring a horror wide run in last month’s TAB Mile Prelude.
“There was nothing amiss with the horse and we worked her the next day, we took a blood test and that was fine, there’s absolutely nothing wrong,” said Michael Pitman, who prepares the nine-race winner with son Matthew.
“She gets in well under the set weights and penalties because she’s quite highly rated. Matt Cartwright will be riding her.”
Race 8: NAUTICAL BOAT INSURANCE METROPOLITAN TROPHY (3:24pm)
Run over 2590 metres a week out from the New Zealand Cup, this race has a well-earned reputation as the key lead-up to the time-honoured two-miler.
Seven horses have done the Metropolitan-New Zealand Cup double in the last 35 years – Carlton King (1991), Sapio (1995), Torlesse (2003), Trebla (2005), Pentathon (2006), My Scotsgrey (2009) and Mehzebeen (2024).
The $2.80 favourite for this year’s Metropolitan is The Precursor, who also heads the New Zealand Cup market at $3.20.
One to watch tomorrow might be the $6 second favourite Court Of Appeal, who was an unlucky sixth in this race last year after a tough wide run. The Walker-Bergerson mare has found the line well for third in the North Canterbury Cup and Listed Spring Classic in her last two lead-up runs.
“She’s tracking really nicely towards the Cup,” Bergerson said. “I’ve really liked all her runs this prep, especially the last two. I loved the way the found the line in the Spring Classic.
“She’s a good stayer and the distance suits. She’s continued to improve through the preparation and has been working well down there at Riccarton.”
Unleash The Beast, trained and part-owned by Rangiora-based Kenny Moore, was an impressive winner over 2200 metres at Timaru two starts back.
“His last-start run (eighth in the Spring Classic) was a case of us just getting another run under his belt more than anything, but I was pleased with the way he ran through the line as it pointed to him being really ready to step up in trip,” Moore said.
“And Saturday provides another opportunity for that too. We are obviously there to win, but I think it will just tidy him up really nicely for the Cup next week.
“He’s a really bright and happy horse, and I’ve been impressed with his work since that last run.”
Race 6: DONALDSON BROWN PEGASUS STAKES (2:16pm)
This 1000-metre sprint feature is set to be a fascinating clash between a proven top-flight sprinter and some exciting emerging talent.
At the top of the field is the $2.70 favourite Platinum Attack, who was a blistering two-length winner of this race last year. He went on to run sixth in the Gr.1 Telegraph, fifth in the Gr.1 Railway and sixth in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint, then won the Listed Lightning Handicap and City Of Napier Sprint.
His last-start performance was one of the most impressive of his 25-start, nine-win career, outclassing his opposition in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes at Ellerslie and pricking his ears before the finish line.
“I was rapt to get him on a good track, and he really showed what he’s capable of,” trainer Lisa Latta said. “We were expecting a performance like that based on what he’d been showing us at home. It probably wasn’t the strongest Sweynesse field, and with his rating (102 before the race) we would have been disappointed if he hadn’t given us a strong showing there at weight-for-age.
“He’s been really good through those few weeks between runs. I’ve been very happy with him.
“We know he goes well down the chute at Riccarton, he won this race last year, and it’s a nice target again on Saturday. My only concern is that he’s going to have to carry 60kg, with some up-and-comers getting in with only 53.
“But there’s not that many options available in terms of sprint races where you can be confident of a good track.”
Among those up-and-comers is the $5 third favourite North England, who is making his New Zealand debut.
The son of Farnan was previously trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, for whom he won the Gr.3 Golden Gift and Gr.3 Kindergarten Stakes. He also ran third in the Gr.3 Breeders’ Plate, fifth in the Gr.2 Todman Stakes and sixth – beaten by 3.8 lengths by Marhoona – in the Gr.1 Golden Slipper.
North England is now trained by Lance Robinson for harness racing legend Barry Purdon and his wife Katrina. They bought him for A$45,000 in an online Inglis Digital sale in May. From two New Zealand trials, North England has scored two highly impressive wins.
Trackside's Big Saturday has racing at Te Rapa and Riccarton Park, plus racing from across the Tasman. Cup week begins, with the first day highlight being the Gr.1 1000 Guineas. The final day of the Melbourne Cup festival is Champions Day, with 3 x Gr.1 races. Tune into Trackside 1 or trackside.co.nz from 11:30am.
