Champions Stakes Tips - Via Sistina the one to beat, while Freedman import can surprise at odds in the Champions Stakes

It is the Cox Plate (2040m) winner, Via Sistina, that is a dominant favourite in betting markets for the Champions Stakes after her eight-length romp at the Valley. 

The Chris Waller mare went a staggering 23.4 lengths faster than standard in the weight-for-age championship and should have something left in the tank. Docklands is the only other horse to have their most recent run in the Cox Plate and was 5th. He has more than 11 lengths to make up. 

Atishu is the only other runner under double figures and is on the one-week back-up after claiming the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on Derby Day. The stablemate to Via Sistina held out Amelia’s Jewel to go 9.2 lenghts faster than standard. She won this race last year, going a healthy 12.2 lengths faster than standard, one week after finishing runner-up behind Pride Of Jenni in the Empire Rose. 

The Caulfield Cup (2400m) winner, Duke De Sessa, will be in action and led to take out the first of the majors, going a healthy 14.7 lengths faster than standard. He was 4th in the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) prior to that, finishing two lengths behind Via Sistina. Deny Knowledge (5th) and Eliyass (7th) also come out of the Caulfield Cup. 

Without A Fight lines up for the first time since taking out the 2023 Melbourne Cup (3200m) and is capable of producing on the fresh side. 

It is hard to make a case for some of the other runners. Royal Champion has had two runs in Australia and improved to finish runner-up in the Crystal Mile (1600m) at the most recent of those. He was beaten by Plenty Of Ammo, who could only manage 9th behind Atishu on the weekend. 

Impossible to go past Via Sistina. Facts and figures say that she is the one. The daughter of Fastnet Rock draws perfectly in barrier 4 and the leading jockey, James McDonald, stays on board. I don't expect any surprises in the run with Deny Knowledge, Duke De Sessa, Eliyass and Royal Champion among a number that ensure we get at least an even to fast tempo, which should set up the race in a similar way to the Cox Plate. 

Not quite sure about the form around Plenty Of Ammo but Royal Champion is a highly credentialed import from the Freedman camp that has been building up and his condition only gave way late in the piece at Moonee Valley when going a respectable 11.5 lengths faster than standard. He gets out to the 2000m for the first time since coming over and has won three of six at the trip, placing in a couple of other big races in some of the others. Craig Williams jumps on board and I suspect that he is one that can place at a bit of value behind Via Sistina.