Many a good filly has taken the New Zealand 1000 Guineas run at Riccarton on Saturday.

Daffodil took it out and then came back to win an AJC Oaks. Is the 2018 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday up to that standard?

2018 NEW ZEALAND 1000 GUINEAS - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The New Zealand 1000 Guineas is a Group 1 race run under Set Weights conditions for three year old fillies at Riccarton Park race course conducted by the Canterbury Jockey Club.

The New Zealand 1000 Guineas is run over 1600m. It was first run in 1973.

The New Zealand 1000 Guineas is regarded as one of New Zealand’s feature 3yo fillies races along with the Oaks run later in the season.

Over the traditional mile, it is run during the New Zealand Cup week festival of racing and trotting in November.

The Derby and Oaks were run at Riccarton but when they were moved to Ellerslie and Trentham, Riccarton was decided as a place to contest Guineas races along the same lines as their UK equivalents. This was especially more relevant with the Classics now run much later.

Tycoon Lil is probably the best of the winners in the last 20 years winning Group 1s on both sides of the Tasman and being close up in a Cox Plate behind Might And Power.

Canterbury Belle came to Brisbane and won the Stradbroke that season.

The New Zealand 1000 Guineas is worth NZ$300,000 in 2018.

Notable winners of the New Zealand 1000 Guineas include La Diosa (2016), King’s Rose (2010), Katie Lee (2009), Daffodil (2008), Seachange (2005), Justa Tad (2004), The Jewel (2002), Ad Alta (1999), Pace Invader (1998), Tycoon Lil (1997), Tartan Tights (1994), Snap (1993), Nimue (1992), Candide (1987) and Canterbury Belle (1984).

The 2017 New Zealand 1000 Guineas was won by Hasahalo from Dijon Bleu and The Lustre.