The Champions Stakes is always one of the most intriguing races of the season in Australia.
Plenty of Group 1 winners, both locally trained and from abroad descend on the 2000m course at Flemington, and with so much depth engaged, it is almost always a good betting race.
I’ve run the rule over the field of eleven, and you can find my 2023 Champions Stakes Tips below.
I almost certainly would have had her on top of my Cox Plate selections if her campaign wasn’t thrown into turmoil a couple of months ago, but I’m confident that Prowess can claim a consolation win on Champions Day.
Prowess was nothing short of outstanding during her three-year-old season, and won the Group 1 Bonecrusher over in New Zealand before absolutely destroying her rivals in the Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill.
Despite a minor ailment earlier this prep, Prowess has returned to action to finish second in a Group 3 over 1400m in New Zealand before crossing the ditch to win the Crystal Mile at The Valley on Cox Plate Day.
Fitter third-up, out to 2000m and under Mark Zahra, it’s another perfect race for her, and a little rain wouldn’t hurt!
He’s hardly put a hoof wrong since arriving in Australia, and I’m interested to see West Wind Blows dropping back to the 2000m at Flemington third-up in the Champions Stakes.
West Wind Blows has been a consistent performer throughout the entire year, finding form around some world class gallopers over in the UK prior to arriving in Australia last month for second behind Gold Trip over this route.
He was last seen finishing a head behind Without A Fight in the Caulfield Cup, who has obviously franked that form this week, and even luck appears to be the only thing required for this horse to be in the finish again on Saturday.
He has made this race his own the last couple of years, and Zaaki can run another big one in the Champions Stakes.
Zaaki hasn’t been quite as scary this year, but he has still managed to win in Group 2 company, and placed in each of the Winx Stakes and 7 Stakes at his first two starts back this time, before finishing sixth, beaten only a length and a half in the Cox Plate.
Can he make it a hat-trick of Champions Stakes victories? I have little doubt that Jamie Kah will give him every chance.
I love that Atishu is on the quick back-up from the Empire Rose, and the 2000m at this point of her prep looks ideal.
Atishu has always hinted at Group 1 ability, and she finally realised it in the Queen Of The Turf Stakes in autumn of this.
She’s yet to strike in four starts back this time, but she absolutely flew home behind Pride Of Jenni last week, in a performance that suggested a win isn’t far away.