Champagne Stakes Tips - Can Campione D’Italia take out the Sires/Champagne double?
- Campione D’Italia favored for the Champagne Stakes double at Randwick.
- Grinzinger Heart could surprise as a value bet with strong leading potential.
- Speed map suggests a slow tempo, benefiting tactical leaders.
2026 Champagne Stakes Preview
- 2026 Champagne Stakes Preview
- 2026 Champagne Stakes Speed Map
- 2026 Champagne Stakes Best Bet
- 2026 Champagne Stakes Value Bet
Campione D’Italia will be out to claim the Inglis Sires’/Champagne Stakes double when he lines up in the first of two Group 1 races at Randwick on Saturday.
The Chris Waller-trained galloper heads in as favourite for the third of the Sydney Group 1 races for the two-year-olds and the Inglis Sires is clearly the dominant lead-up to the Champagne Stakes, producing 25 of the past 31 winners.
The son of Snitzel camped midfield in that race before peeling out at the right time to defeat Miss Chanel, going 3.1 lengths faster than standard benchmark.
Miss Chanel shapes as the danger after producing the fastest last 200m in that race after settling back and the 1600m looks to be in her favour but she will have to do it from the wide gate, while Fireball (3rd) and Zambales (5th) are a couple of others that come out of the Sires.
The Fernhill Mile (1600m) adds another important historical lead-up, with Diameter bringing the right profile after sitting outside the leader on a slow tempo before winning that race last weekend. Salann and Don’t Look Back both worked home strongly there and shape as runners who will appreciate a mile.
The Baillieu Stakes (1400m) also deserves respect through Southend, who made it two wins from as many starts with victory in the Group 3 at Rosehill three weeks ago. He remains the X-factor runner with upside, especially if the race becomes tactical.
The alternative key form comes from the VRC Sires (1400m) with the Victorian filly Grinzinger Heart leading all the way to go five lengths faster than standard at Flemington, holding out Zambales, who was then luckless in the Golden Slipper (1200m) before his last start 5th in the Inglis Sires. Diameter is another that was in action in the VRC Sires before heading to Sydney.
Historically, this is a race where fillies more than hold their own, with six winners in the past 20 years, and this year’s fillies — particularly Miss Chanel and Grinzinger Heart — look genuine threats.
2026 Champagne Stakes Speed Map
The speed map suggests this could be run at a below-average tempo, which makes tactical speed and race position absolutely critical over the Randwick mile.
From the map, Grinzinger Heart is the clear likely leader and may well get this race run entirely to suit. She comes across from barrier 7 and, with very little natural pressure around her, should be able to dictate at her own tempo.
That setup is ideal for Campione D’Italia, who maps perfectly from barrier 4 to settle one pair behind the speed or just worse, exactly where James McDonald will want him. He should be within striking distance throughout and gets every chance to use his sustained sprint.
Fireball and Zambales also map favourably in the first half, while Diameter should land midfield with cover and be poised to improve from the 600m.
The runners who may need things to fall their way are Miss Chanel and Salann, both of whom look likely to settle back from awkward gates. With the map suggesting only modest speed, they may be forced to rely on pure class late.
The big map horse at odds is Grinzinger Heart, because if she crosses cheaply and controls the race, she becomes very dangerous.
2026 Champagne Stakes Best Bet
Campione D’Italia ticks every major Champagne Stakes box.
He comes through the premier lead-up in the Inglis Sires, has already proven himself at Randwick, and maps to get the perfect stalking run from barrier 4.
The rise to 1600m looks a clear positive given how strongly he attacked the line over 1400m, and Chris Waller’s recent success with Militarize completing the same double in 2023 adds another confidence layer.
With no issue stepping to the mile and likely to be in the first four throughout, he looks the horse they all need to beat.
2026 Champagne Stakes Value Bet
Grinzinger Heart profiles as the best value runner in the race.
Her VRC Sires win rated the highest last-start benchmark figure in the field, and importantly that performance came off a strongly run tempo, suggesting she can absorb pressure if anything takes her on.
The key here is the map. She looks the likely leader in what shapes as a softly run Champagne Stakes, and that is a huge edge for a filly already proven at 1400m against quality opposition.
If she gets her own way in front, she can easily pinch this and looks over the odds at her current quote.
Verdict
Champagne Stakes tips
Campione D'Italia
Win
@8/5 - 1 Unit
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Grinzinger Heart
Each-Way
@18/1 - 1 Unit
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