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Some of Australia’s best three-year-olds are on show this afternoon in the 2013 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick. Join us from 3.45pm AEST for a preview, live blog and post-race analysis.
Horses who run well here will be looking onto the Victorian Derby over 2400m in three weeks’ time at Flemington. Monaco Consul back in 2008 was the last horse to win the Spring Champion-Victoria Derby double.
Last year’s winner Its A Dundeel went on to run a disappointing 7th in the Victorian Derby but has recently won multiple Group 1 races including the Underwood, the Australian Derby, the Randwick Guineas and the Rosehill Guineas.
Favourites do no have the best record in the Spring Champion Stakes with only the one favourite winning in the last 11 years.
Last year’s favourite Proisir was narrowly defeated by It’s A Dundeel in what will be remembered as one of the best Spring Champion Stakes of all time.
In this year’s event Savvy Nature leads the betting at $3.50 ahead of Gloaming Stakes winner Complacent at $4.60.
Rock Hero is on the next line of betting at $5 followed by Drago, the only other horse under double figure odds at $8.
Savvy Nature took out the Group 3 Spring Stakes before running second to Complacent in the Gloaming two weeks ago.
Savvy Nature had to cover much more ground than the winner last start from the back of the field and should sit a touch closer after drawing a middle barrier. Deserves favouritism and will be hard to beat.
Drago lead Savvy Nature into the straight in the Gloaming and couldn’t match his turn of foot, although I think Peter Robl went a bit too early on him.
Drago has been dying to get out to 2000m and beyond and I think he can turn things around here today, as long as Peter Robl holds off and gives him one last crack at them.
Rock Hero’s run last week in the Dulcify was nothing short of outstanding. He missed the kick, sat third last on the rails before finally getting clear in the last 150m to run over the top of Liberty’s Choice.
The seven-day back-up is a query, but if he can produce something similar to last week he will be right in the finish.
The best roughie for me here is Criterion from the David Payne yard. He ran a gallant second to Eurozone last start over 1500m and it looks like he will appreciate the step up to 2000m.
He has drawn well and we should see him fighting it out in the finish.
Brad Durrant’s tips
1. Drago
2. Savvy Nature
3. Criterion
4. Rock Hero
Justin Cinque’s tips
1. Complacent
2. Rock Hero
3. Savvy Nature
4. Drago
Andrew Hawkins’ tips
1. Rock Hero
2. Savvy Nature
3. Criterion
4. Drago
Cameron Rose’s tips
1. Savvy Nature
2. Drago
3. Complacent
4. Rock Hero
Alfred Chan’s tips
1. Drago
2. Ecuator
3. Complacent
4. Savvy Nature
Roar writers 2013 Spring Carnival tipping tally (five points if winning horse is tipped for first; three points if tipped for second; two for third and one for fourth):
After week eight
Alfred Chan: 31
Justin Cinque: 30
Cameron Rose: 29
Andrew Hawkins: 27
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