It may be Cox Plate Day in Melbourne but there’ll be an abundance of action and plenty of prizemoney on the line at Royal Randwick this Saturday for Spring Champion Stakes Day 2025.
The final Group One of the Sydney Spring Carnival will be run and won with the Spring Champion Stakes set to headline another massive day of racing.
A 2000m event for the three-year-olds, the staying test is a key lead up for the both the Victoria Derby and the VRC Oaks and carries a hefty purse of $2m.
The $2m The Invitation will also figure on the ten-race program, along with a $1m features, the Callender-Presnell and Five Diamonds Prelude .
I’ve had a close look at each event on the card and have provided by detailed selections below in my Spring Champion Stakes Day preview.
DEFENSEMEN has just had the one public trial and there was a lot to like about his performance.
A son of Wootton Bassett, the colt settled in behind the speed and when give a squeeze, he accelerated strongly to win the heat with his ears pricked.
He was very professional and looked to have plenty in hard.
Kerrin McEvoy will do the steering for Chris Waller, and he’s drawn ideally in barrier two for the first on Spring Champion Stakes Day.
POISEN POINT continues to race well and I’m keen to stick with her.
The Swiss Ace mare kicked off her preparation with a very encouraging run over 1200m here and she certainly relished to the rise to 1500m second up.
Off a wide draw, she was always wide and exposed but still gave a good kick over the final part to score by three quarters of a length.
Last start, again at the 1500m at Rosehill she settled back in the second half of the field and charged home late to get within .6 of length of all-the-way winner Adolphus.
She’s hard fit, the slight rise to the mile looks ideal and the low draw can see her settle within striking distance.
SUNRISE did it tough when resuming over 1100m at Rosehill, but she will have taken good benefit from the outing.
Kicking off in a BM78 Handicap, the Charm Spirit mare was always wide and exposed throughout and it tolled late.
She trialled exceptionally well prior to her return and with the drop back in grade and added fitness, I think we’ll see much improved performance from her here.
She put the writing on the wall last campaign, with back-to-back wins in dominant fashion and she runs up to her best, she’ll be very hard to beat.
Anna Roper takes over the steering and her 2kg claim is a plus.
POINT AND SHOOT closed off nicely last start in the Silver Eagle, and he looks well placed here stepping out to the mile.
The Blue Point gelding was given a six week freshen up after failing to figure in his first two runs this preparation and it was good to see him bounce back against quality opposition.
He failed to handle the heavy conditions when resuming and after blowing the start second up, he tired late after chasing the field.
He was in terrific form last campaign and put together successive wins in decisive fashion.
A winner at his only start over the Randwick mile and he gets in beautifully with just 52kgs on his back.
Rachel King was aboard last start, and she’ll again do the steering for Bjorn Baker.
MEMO hasn’t had anything go her way in her two runs this preparation and she’s certainly due for a change of luck.
When making her return in the Furious Stakes, the daughter of Capitalist stood flat footed as the gates opened and then found traffic in the early part of the straight.
Sent back to the trials, she then headed to Melbourne to contest the Scarborough Stakes at the Valley.
When making her move into the home turn, she was checked and did well to stay on her feet and finish off strongly into second.
She’s again trialled, and she looks in peak order.
Winner of the Group 3 Magic Night and runner up in the both the Wyong and Gold Coast Magic Millions features, she’s not lacking in terms of class and with even luck, she’ll be right in this.
LINDERMANN has won two of past three starts and looks well placed to add to that tally in the 2025 Craven Plate.
A proven weight for age performer, the Lonhro gelding has competed at the highest level throughout his career and back in Group 3 company, it’s hard to go past him.
He struggled in the heavy going when resuming in the Winx Stakes but back on firm ground second up in the Chelmsford, he proved too good.
He had only Fangirl get the better of him right on the line in the 7 Stakes, and last start in the Hill Stakes, it was dominant front-running performance.
He’s hard fit, he won this race last year and with Nash Rawiller to steer from gate two, he looks set to make it successive Craven Plate triumphs.
FARNICLE was gallant in defeat last start in the Tapp-Craig, and he looks well suited here stepping out to the mile third up.
Settling in second, he had the job of chasing the leader, who set a hot tempo, and he just had Ohope get the better of him late.
The Farnan colt hit the line strongly get within 1.1 lengths of Marhoona when resuming in the Listed Heritage Stakes and with the two runs under his belt, he looks ready to peak.
The low draw can see him settle in a prominent position without doing any work early, and he’s sure to be strong late under Tim Clark.
ATTICA comes off a decisive victory in the Listed Dulcify and I think he’ll be hard to beat again.
The addition of blinkers last start proved a masterstroke by Joe Pride as the Lonhro colt had been the runner up at his prior start in a Kembla Grange Class 1, but with the shades on, we saw the real Attica.
Taken back to last off the outside gate, he settled well and stormed home down the outside to score by just under two lengths.
A winner on debut over 1400m at Warwick Farm, he’s just had the three starts and he looks very progressive.
The way he found the line last time suggests he’ll relish the rise to 1800m and whilst he does draw wide again, if he can stay within striking distance, I think he’ll be too good for them.
I’m hesitant to jump off Manaal as she’s been terrific at her past two starts but I think this a perfect race for MISS ROUMBINI.
She’s been the runner up in both her runs this campaign and another win looks imminent for this talented mare.
She returned with a gallant effort in the Cockram Stakes, finishing off strongly after travelling wide without cover throughout.
With the job ahead from barrier thirteen last time in the Sir Rupert Clarke she settled second last and produced a barnstorming finish to get within three quarters of a length of Sepals.
A very honest mare, the daughter of Zoustar yet to miss a top four spot in eleven career starts.
Barrier seven can see her take up position closer in the run and I think she’ll relish getting out onto the big Randwick track.
TRANSATLANTIC comes straight from Group 1 success after taking out the Toorak Handicap and he’s sure to make his presence felt here in the Five Diamond Prelude.
The Tony Gollan trained gelding has always promised plenty and last start he delivered, with a strong all-the-way victory in the Caulfield feature.
It was a deserved win for the son of Snitzel, who’d been the runner up by the barest of margins at his two prior runs.
He’s hard fit, he’s got a great record over 1500m and with the low draw, there’s a lot to like about him here.