Group 1 racing continues at Royal Randwick on 2024 Spring Champion Stakes Day.
The Spring Champion Stakes is almost always one of the most open Group 1 features of the Sydney Spring Carnival and there is no exception to that rule this year, with a case to be made for many of the three-year-olds engaged.
You can find my selection for that race and the remaining nine on the program below.
Race 1 - 12:30pm AEDT
Kirkham Plate (1000m)
This will be our first look at eight of the nine juveniles stepping out in the Kirkham Plate including Comedy, a Snitzel colt out of Thalia.
In two public trials, Comedy has turned in a couple of fine performances and appears talented and forward enough to win on debut.
1 Unit Comedy
Race 2 - 1:05pm AEDT
Midway Handicap (1200m)
Midway Handicaps are always an open affair and there’s a case to be made for a few of them again this week, including Mogul Monarch.
Mogul Monarch has returned to the races in smart form this time, winning two of five runs back from a break and finishing the runner up on two other occasions.
I really liked the way he let down to score in BM64 company at Hawkesbury last time out, and he’s drawn to receive a similar run on Saturday.
1 Unit Mogul Monarch
Race 3 - 1:40pm AEDT
Highway Handicap (1600m)
The Kosciuszko might have been run and won for another year, but country horses are back in town on Saturday for another Highway Handicap.
Volcanic Love is a horse I’ve had plenty of time for at a weaker level, and I’m happy to stick with him on Saturday.
The Kermadec gelding has made four appearances at the races since resuming this season, winning in Class 1 company up at Grafton most notably, while he was last seen filling the minors in metro company in Brisbane.
There’s no doubting his fitness this week and with even luck from the central draw, he does looks up to one of these.
2 Units Volcanic Love
Race 4 - 2:15pm AEDT
Listed Brian Crowley Stakes (1200m)
This is a decent drop in class for High Octane and I’m pretty keen on his chances.
The Deep Field colt was good during his two-year-old prep, winning at Listed level on debut and ending his season with a run in Group 1 company, albeit a failed tilt.
He’s yet to strike in three runs back this time but has filled the minors in a Rosebud and ran into the likes of Switzerland and Coleman in the Roman Consul last time – there’s nothing of that quality engaged here.
2 Units E/W High Octane
Race 5 - 2:50pm AEDT
Group 2 Callander-Presnell (1600m)
Anode takes winning form into the Callander-Presnell and I think it’s a great opportunity for him to make it two in a row.
The I Am Invincible colt turned in some fine performances during his two-year-old season and was unlucky not to score a black type victory.
Having only just missed behind Traffic Warden in the Run To The Rose first-up this time, he was well beaten in the Golden Rose but bounced back in the Tapp-Craig last time out.
He’s hard fit, the mile looks suitable at this point of his preparation, and he can lead them up under the best front-running ride in the country.
3 Units Anode
Race 6 - 3:25pm AEDT
Group 3 Craven Plate (1800m)
This is an excellent edition of the Craven Plate with several key winning chances engaged, including Numerian.
Numerian hasn’t been seen at the races since winter, but he was an impressive winner of the Group 2 Hollindale at this point of that preparation, beating home the likes of Kovalica.
His fresh form all-round is good, while he’s had the benefit of a couple of trials leading up to this return.
1 Unit Numerian
Race 7 - 4pm AEDT
Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m)
There’s a case to be made for a few of them in the Spring Champion Stakes as well including Swiftfalcon, who has been set for the race.
Swiftfalcon returned to action with an eye-catching effort and victory in BM64 company at Flemington before repeating the dose in the Listed Dulcify Stakes earlier this month.
Having settled off the pace in the Gloaming Stakes last time, he came home hard with a big run to finish second behind El Castello, who had just pinched too much of a break.
This horse is hard fit, and I dare say he’ll be settled a little closer this week by Jay Ford.
3 Units Swiftfalcon
Race 8 - 4:45pm AEDT
The Invitation (1400m)
Some of the better mares in the country are engaged in The Invitation, but I cannot look past Zougotcha.
Zougotcha is a multiple Group 1 winner, and there’s no doubt she found career best form in autumn this year, winning the Millie Fox before adding both the Coolmore and the Queen Of The Turf to her mantle.
She only just missed behind Via Sistina in the Winx Stakes when resuming and there’s no doubt she was very disappointing in the 7 Stakes, but I like that she’s been back to the trials and her Randwick record is simply too good to ignore.
3 Units Zougotcha
Race 9 - 5:30pm AEDT
Listed Five Diamonds Prelude (1500m)
Talented Queenslander Yellow Brick arrives in Sydney in winning form and primed for another big performance in the Five Diamonds Prelude.
Yellow Brick has been an above-average performance since debuting, winning eight of seventeen starts, placing a further seven times and proving that he is more than up to strong black type company.
After only just missing in The Weetwood last month, he was far too good for them in the Tattersalls Members Cup at Eagle Farm last time out.
Fitter third-up and under Timmy Clark, this looks another perfect race for him.
3 Units Yellow Brick
Race 10 - 6:10pm AEDT
Robrick Lodge Filante Handicap (1600m)
Tough way to end the day from a betting perspective, but Riyazan has a fitness edge over most of them and gets a nice pull in the weights as well.
With form around the likes of recent Epsom Handicap – King Charles III Stakes double winner Ceolwulf, Here To Shock and Williamsburg and from a good draw, he might not be offered a better opportunity in Saturday metro company than this.
2 Units Riyazan