The Kennedy Champions Mile makes up a triple-header of Group 1s this Saturday at Flemington.
The market paints a telling picture with Mr Brightside, Alligator Blood, and the favourite Fangirl coming out of the Cox Plate, leaving punters with an incredibly tough choice between the proven Group 1 winners.
To help you find the winner, we’ve run the rule over the entire field in our 2023 Champions Mile Preview.
1. Mr Brightside (2)
If you ask most, this is the best miler in the country.
He saw his unbeaten run come to an end in the King Charles where he was ride in the run and given every chance around the 300m mark, just lacking the dash to go with Fangirl.
The impressive Lindsay Park gelding lost no admirers in the Cox Plate two weeks later, getting away a little slowly but still making his presence felt when it counted.
Back to a bigger track like Flemington from a good gate, he’s tough to fault as he potentially eyes a trip to Hong Kong after this.
2. Alligator Blood (5)
Just as honest as the horse above him.
The seven-time Group 1 winner hasn’t lost a step this spring, winning the Underwood and Might And Power in succession before running top five in the Cox Plate for the second year in a row.
He came out and won this race last year by half a length with Mr Brightside running third that day.
From the soft gate, he’ll go straight to the front and run his usual race on speed, and based on everything he’s done this prep, I can’t fault him.
3. The Inevitable (4)
He may not boast the same record as Mr Brightside, but there’s a lot to like about this son of Dundeel.
John Keys’ old boy went within a length of the All-Star Mile winner earlier in the autumn, resuming in the Theo Marks Stakes back in September where he came storming home from the tail to run second.
I’m willing to overlook his last two runs in the Epsom and Toorak Handicap from difficult gates, and this does shape as a more suitable assignment if they go hard on the speed early on.
4. Bankers Choice (6)
Looks ready to peak in his fourth run back, but the fact he hasn’t won in close to a year says it all.
His effort for third in the Toorak Handicap two back was full of merit, but I thought he was given every chance down the outside in the Crystal Mile last start at The Valley where he was only fair.
This is miles tougher and the price reflects that.
5. Victoria Road (1)
Went around with zero expectations on debut in the Cox Plate where he never really gave a sight in the run home.
He warrants respect as a Group 1 Breeders Cup winner over the mile, but we need to see improvement in his first start for Maher and Eustace.
6. Fangirl (7)
As the market suggests, she’s another one that is very hard to argue against.
First-up winner of the Winx Stakes before going one better two starts later beating home Mr Brightside with an impressive turn of foot in the King Charles.
I thought she had genuine excuses in the Cox Plate two weeks ago, held for a run along the inside where she never got a serious look.
Back in trip and a winner in her lone start here at Flemington earlier in her career, this looks the perfect race for her to cap off a massive prep.
7. Pride Of Jenni (3)
Maps the likely leader despite drawing a much better gate than she had last week in the Empire Rose.
Declan Bates proved the key on her last Saturday letting her tick along out front, finding something extra to score by a length in one of the more surprising results of the day.
There’s a lot more speed and class engaged here, but she could sneak into the money providing she’s got something left in the tank.