Thirteen juveniles have been confirmed in the final field for Saturday’s Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Royal Randwick and it is shaping as an extremely open betting race.
Victorian raider Seabrook is the sole occupant of the top line of Champagne Stakes betting at the time of publish and is available at a market-best quote of $5.75 in the market here at Neds.
Seabrook has only made five appearances at the races since debuting during last year’s Spring Carnival, but she has shown outstanding ability and is worthy of her prominence in Champagne Stakes betting.
Resuming this time for credible third in the Group 2 Blue Diamond Prelude F (1100m) on February 10th, the daughter of Hinchinbrook arrived in Sydney for a smart win in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) before a strong run for fifth in the Golden Slipper.
Having missed the start before finishing ninth in the Group 1 Inglis Sires’ (1400m) a fortnight ago, Seabrook will need to show some early pace to not get lost from a wide draw, but she looks like she’ll relish a mile and will be tough to hold out in the Champagne Stakes.
Long Leaf and Not A Single Cent have both been terrific amongst black type company this season and the pair the second line of Champagne Stakes betting at odds of $7.50.
Long Leaf immediately stamped himself as a colt to follow upon debuting to racing in October and won each of his first three starts, including both the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) and Listed Blue Diamond Preview C&G (1000m).
The Fastnet Rock colt was noticeably flat when he failed to run on in the Group 1 Blue Diamoind Stakes (1200m) on February 24th, but has since finished sixth in the Golden Slipper and a pleasing fourth in the Inglis Sires’ most recently.
Kerrin McEvoy will take the horse back from barrier 9, but he harbours a big turn of foot and looks to be another horse that will appreciate an increase in trip.
Not A Single Cent is a half-brother to cult hero Happy Clapper and should he find even some of his sibling’s ability over a mile in the Champagne Stakes, will prove extremely difficult to beat.
The son of Not A Single Doubt clearly required the run when he ran on fairly for fifth over 1200m at Caulfield on debut in February, but had clearly taken wholesale improvement from the experience when a smart winner of the Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) three weeks later.
He appeared to struggle at his first attempt at the Sydney way of going in the Inglis Sires, but will be better for the experience and will prove tough to hold out.
El Dorado Dreaming won the Inglis Sires’ at odds of $101, but she has not been missed in the market this time around and is available at Champagne Stakes odds of $10.
Godolphin entrant Encryption is by Lonhro and out of two-time Group 1 champion at a mile Guelph, and could prove to be over the odds at his current $16 Champagne Stakes odds, Irukanji ($15) should be able to find a position close to the pace with ease from gate 4 and carries winning form into this race after a smart performance and triumph in the Group 3 The Schweppervescence (1400m) three weeks ago.