Spring Champion Stakes Tips - Runner-by-Runner Guide for the Randwick Group 1
- Spring Champion Stakes is a 2000m race for 3-year-olds at Royal Randwick
- Top picks: Rag Queen, El Castello, Swiftfalcon, Henlein
- Rag Queen offers great value and has shown competitive spirit
The Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes is run over 2000m at Royal Randwick for three-year-old’s at set weights.
First run in 1971 the race has been won by some classy three-year-old middle distance horses including Kingston Town (1979), Nothin’ Leica Dane (1995) and Savabeel (2004).
We’ve run through every runner in the race and our top four selections can be found below.
1. El Castello (8)
Broke through for his maiden win to kick start this campaign and has since strung together three wins in a row.
The latest of those wins came in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes where he beat home Swiftfalcon by 1.8 lengths and the step up in distance will suit.
2. Swiftfalcon (11)
The only time this exciting and progressive three-year-old missed the top two was on debut at Rosehill way back in April.
The son of Exceedance won his first two starts this prep including a dominant win in the Listed Dulcify Stakes over 1600m and he was making up plenty of ground late in the Gloaming.
3. Henlein (1)
Finished a length of Evaporate at The Valley two back and that horse lines up in a Cox Plate on this same day.
The son of Dundeel was disappointing in the Gloaming Stakes and while he worked to the line well, he will be better out over a Derby distance to my eye.
4. Firm Agreement (10)
Won his maiden second up at Newcastle over 1500m and found the front late in the Gloaming only to be run over late.
This is a big ask at just his fourth career race start but he is open to further improvement.
5. Duvana (4)
Couldn’t have been much more impressive when scoring by lengths at Goulburn to win his maiden which earned him a shot in the Gloaming Stakes.
He was well beaten in that race and it doesn’t get any easier here but he will be better over more distance.
6. Due Calzini (3)
Was beaten over a length in a Highway race at Rosehill just two starts back and has shown nothing to suggest he’d be competitive in a Group 1 race.
7. Flying Argento (2)
Placed for the first time in his short five start career at Goulburn last start over 2150m but that form doesn’t justify starting in a race of this quality.
8. Harlem Queen (7)
Won her first two starts this campaign at Newcastle and Kembla Grange which earned her a chance at Group 1 glory in the Flight Stakes.
She was no match for the winner on that occasions but managed to finish second and she now gets her chance out in distance against the boys.
9. Rag Queen (6)
Has failed to place in three runs this campaign but she made up considerable ground against the boys in the Gloaming Stakes late in the piece.
She will only be better out over distance now and she represents great value not only in this race but also the Oaks.
10. Pleasure Artist (5)
Won her maiden at start two at Kembla Grange but was then well beaten by Swiftfalcon last time out.
I’m concerned about the step up in distance at this stage of her racing career and she would need to take a big leap forward.
11. Noises (9)
Put together two nice wins at Kembla Grange and then finished second in a benchmark 72 at Warwick Farm three weeks ago.
Another that is suspect at this distance and I couldn’t entertain her in a race of this quality.
Verdict
1st: No. 9 Rag Queen
2nd: No. 1 El Castello
3rd: No. 2 Swiftfalcon
4th: No. 3 Henlein
Rag Queen
Each-Way
@18/1 - 3 Units
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