Racing's age-old question of whether a good colt usually beats a good filly gets another data sample in tomorrow's $110,000 AJC Avondale Guineas but this time it comes with a twist.
Because while the boys hold an 11-2 numerical advantage in what is certain to be the most important form reference to the New Zealand Derby in two weeks, quite incredibly none of the boys are colts.
All 11 have been gelded, which is even more of a statistical anomaly when you consider two of the favourites in Tutukaka and Fields Of Gold are half-brothers to Group 1 winners so might have had some stud value if they could reach that level themselves.
Maybe it is a sign of the times in racing that New Zealand sells so many of the possible future stallions prospects overseas as yearlings and the one that remain in the hands of organisations like Te Akau are often sprinter-miler types, far easier to develop into stallions on back of a Group1 win than a Derby winner would be.
It isn't just the Guineas that is short of colts but even the three Derby contenders who contest tomorrow's other lead-up race the Rating 65 over 2100m are also all geldings so there is the possibility of a Derby in a fortnight without a colt starter.