Al Dhafra Earns Chance At Sydney Autumn

Promising three-year-old Al Dhafra kept his unbeaten record intact with a brilliant win in the $100,000 Canberra Guineas on Sunday and will now take aim at the Sydney autumn carnival.

Al Dhafra settled at the back of the field in the 1400m event but rounded up his rivals with ease in the straight to defeat the Peter Snowden-trained Offhanded by 1-1/4 lengths with another Snowden runner Sigma a further 4-1/4 lengths away in third.

Trainer Guy Walter said he was now likely to set Al Dhafra for the Group Two Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 20 but did not rule out a crack at the Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m) a week later.

"I was very impressed, I thought it was a terrific win," Walter said.

"We planned to ride him back from the wide gate but he's obviously learning to relax.

"We didn't think he would get that far back but to see him finish like that was very, very good."

Walter said Al Dhafra, who made it four wins from as many starts, had the scope to get to a middle distance over the autumn carnival.

"Perhaps he'll go to the Phar Lap Stakes and the Frank Packer Plate but we'll see how we go," he said.

Al Dhafra hadn't raced for five weeks heading into the Guineas so his effort to pick them up and win so easily was encouraging for Walter and jockey Kathy O'Hara.

Al Dhafra had previously won a Goulburn Maiden over 1200m last December before winning a Class One at Canberra over 1400m on January 8.

He then showed he was a horse with much potential when he scored a tough win at Rosehill over 1500m on January 23.

"He's a magnificent looking horse," Walter said.

"He's strong physically, he's getting better all the time and he's a wonderful type."

O'Hara, who has made headlines in recent weeks through her association with Golden Slipper-bound filly Chance Bye, said the best part of the gelding's win was the way he relaxed during the run.

"He's a promising type and his effort today was excellent because it was five weeks between runs and after the race he wouldn't have blown a candle out," O'Hara said.

"A couple of times before he's been a bit keen but it was really good to see him relax today. He worked into the race nicely at the right time and it was a soft win in the end."