Flemington takes centre stage once more this Saturday for Champions Stakes Day, the grand finale of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
It’s a day that celebrates the very best in Australian racing where the nation’s finest sprinters, milers, and middle-distance stars go head-to-head for Group 1 glory.
With the Champions Sprint, Champions Mile, and Champions Stakes highlighting a nine-race card brimming with class, the meeting promises to deliver a fitting conclusion to one of the great weeks on the racing calendar.
The stage is set, the stars are ready, and my Champions Stakes Day preview has everything you need to find the winners and enjoy the finale in style.
ANGELIC RISE (7) makes her debut for the Hayes stable on the back of two pleasing pieces of work.
The Harry Angel filly won a jump out here before producing an eye-catching trial win that suggested to me that she’s ready for a bold showing first-up.
Over 800m at Caulfield Heath, she went to the front and cruised around to win in quick time with plenty in hand while her rivals were being pushed out to keep up.
Mark Zahra, who is in sublime form, rode in that trial and sticks for the race ride.
Selections: 7-6-5-4
| 7. Angelic Rise (6) 56kg |
SABAJ (2) went from strength-to-strength last preparation, winning three straight before finishing runner-up in stakes company.
Now with the Price & Kent Jnr stable, the son of Manhattan Rain resumed with an unlucky run in the Silver Eagle when held up badly but hit the line strongly once clear to finish 3.64 lengths sixth.
He’ll be better for the hit out and is undefeated in two previous second-up races.
He loses nothing in the equine pilot area with Mark Zahra replacing Damian Lane.
Selections: 2-1-8-11
| 2. Sabaj (12) 59.5kg122×6 |
KING OF ROSEAU (3) finished last preparation on a tear with three race wins in a row.
The Peter Snowden-trained gelding won back-to-back races at Rosehill before going south for the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap where he stormed home to easily win over this course and distance by 1.5 lengths.
He looks set for a bold showing first-up following a Rosehill trial where he worked powerfully home under his own steam.
Mick Dee rode him to victory last start and is once again in the saddle.
Selections: 3-13-14-15
| 3. King Of Roseau (3) 55.5kg0111x |
SHE’S A HUSTLER (5) has come back this preparation in great fettle with back-to-back wins.
The Grahame Begg-trained mare kicked off her campaign over 1800m here with a fast-finishing effort to win with 60kg before stepping up to this distance at The Valley where she proved too strong in the Group 3 Tesio Stakes.
She’ll strip fitter and won her only previous third-up race, which was last preparation when ticking off this distance for the first time at Sandown Hillside.
She’s enjoyed nice runs just off the speed and that should again be the case with Jordan Childs riding in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes.
Selections: 5-6-3-1
| 5. She’s A Hustler (6) 57kg12×11 |
BIRDMAN (1) has a large impost of 60kg to carry, but he has earned it given he has been racing in the strongest races.
There is no hotter form for this race than the Group 1 Caulfield Cup following the winner Half Yours franking the form by winning Tuesday’s Group 1 Melbourne Cup.
The son of Free Eagle settled at the tail of the field before working home well to finish three lengths sixth.
Prior to that, he was doing his best work late in the Group 1 Metropolitan and won the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes three starts back.
He’s a proven performer over this distance so will enjoy the rise in trip and he gets the services of James McDonald.
Selections: 1-3-10-2
| 1. Birdman (10) 60kg25176 |
JOLIESTAR (6) brings the premium form line to the Group 1 VRC Champions Sprint after chasing home Ka Ying Rising in Group 1 Everest last start to finish 1.58 lengths sixth.
The Chris Waller-trained daughter of Zoustar was a different class to her rivals in the Group 2 Shorts first-up where she stormed home despite racing wide throughout to win by 1.3 lengths.
She won her only previous race over this course and distance, which was the Group 1 Newmarket during the autumn.
James McDonald has an excellent rapport with the three-time Group 1 winning mare.
Selections: 6-1-10-3
| 6. Joliestar (6) 56.5kg21×15 |
CEOLWULF (2) reacted brilliantly to blinkers going on last start in the Kings Charles III Stakes.
The Joe Pride-trained gelding produced an eye-catching performance in the Group 1 Winx Stakes first-up but was then just average to solid in the three subsequent Stakes race.
Master horseman Pride put the shades on and along with a decent speed being set by Pride Of Jenni, Ceolwulf was able to storm home and dominantly win the Group 1 feature.
With confidence on his side and a similarly run race, he’ll be charging home to hopefully win the Group 1 Champions Mile.
Selections: 2-1-9-8
| 2. Ceolwulf (7) 59kg44361 |
If there was any doubt that VIA SISTINA (10) could be dethroned as Australia’s best horse, then she categorically dispelled those doubts last start in the Group 1 Cox Plate.
Following back-to-back third placings in the Group 1 Makybe Stakes and Turnbull Stakes where slow tempos were against her, she proved too strong for Australia’s best over 2040m.
She won last year’s edition of the Group 1 Champions Stakes following her Cox Plate win, and she looks incredibly hard to stop in repeating the double.
This looks like an easier field, so bad luck looks like her only real rival.
Selections: 10-6-3-1
| 10. Via Sistina (10) 57kgx1331 |
GRAND LARCENY (3) looks ready to peak third-up after two very good runs to start this preparation.
The Team Hawkes-trained gelding found 955m too sharp at The Valley first-up when finishing four lengths third.
He was unlucky not to challenge for the win last start over 1100m at Caulfield given he was held up and only got clear air late at which point he hit the line hard to finish just under a length second.
He won his only previous third-up race and will appreciate a strong tempo.
Selections: 3-11-6-16
| 3. Grand Larceny (5) 61kg12×32 |