The 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival comes to a close on Saturday and the second of three Group Ones to be run on the day is the Champions Mile.
Run under weight for age conditions, the $3m event will feature some the best milers in the country and it boasts a long history, having first being held in 1881.
Registered as the Cantala Stakes the time honoured event has had several name changes over the years but the quality of the field has always remained and this year will be no different.
For our thoughts on every horse, you can find our race preview below. (Prices current at time of publish)
1. Mr Brightside (4)
Price: $5.50
Mr Brightside is as honest as they come and at his sixth raceday appearance this preparation, he presents here hard fit.
Racing in top order, his only unplaced run this time in was his latest, where he still finished a very credible fifth in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.
He drops back to the mile, which looks to be his sweet spot and the team will remove the winkers and reapply the blinkers.
He finished third in this race in 2022 and went one better last year when finishing the runner up behind Pride Of Jenni.
Barrier four will see him afforded every chance under Craig Williams and he’ll be in it for a long way.
2. My Oberon (6)
Price: $20.00
My Oberon comes off a terrific run in the King Charles III Stakes where he loomed to win 100m out but just couldn’t quite get to Pride of Jenni, and Ceolwulf swooped past them both.
He was luckless in the Epsom Handicap at his prior start and only went down by half a length to Fangirl in the 7 Stakes.
It’s been a long time between drinks for the eight year old son of Dubawi, just over two years to be exact but he’s in top form and he excels at the mile.
Nash Rawiller stays in the saddle and I think he’ll be there amongst them as they near the line.
3. Pinstriped (8)
Price: $35.00
Pinstriped recorded the biggest win to date when taking out the Memsie Stakes at his second run back from a break.
Things didn’t go to plan at his following outing where he failed to handle the heavy conditions and was found to be lame post race.
Given a five week freshen up with returned with a solid effort in the Moonga Stakes where he charged home into third under the big weight.
He has won over this track and distance but still does a few things wrong and he’ll need to be on his best behaviour to feature here.
4. Antino (12)
Price: $6.00
Antino could not have been more impressive when recording his first win at the elite level.
Set alight in the Toorak Handicap, he hit the front 450m from home and continued to extend his margin, going on to to score by 6.5 lengths.
The Queensland visitor had been solid in all three runs prior, resuming with a very encouraging performance in the Memsie Stakes before solid efforts to place in both the Makybe Diva and Feehan Stakes under WFA conditions.
He’s always shown plenty of talent but went to new level last start.
He comes here in peak order and is sure to make his presence felt.
5. Desert Lightning (11)
Price: $34.00
Desert Lightning was solid last start effort to finish fourth in the Toorak Handicap.
Settling just behind the speed he tried to get on the back of Antino as he made his move but couldn’t match it with him.
The former Kiwi was transferred under the care of Peter Moody and Kath Coleman prior to this campaign and they’ve got him racing well as he saluted in the Sandown Stakes at just his third Australian start.
A group one winner in his homeland, he’s proven himself a class galloper and his best performances have been over the mile but he will need to step up a level to figure here.
6. Another Wil (2)
Price: $9.00
Another Wil failed to finish off in the Toorak Handicap last month but bounced back to his best with an emotion victory in the The Damien Oliver on Derby Day.
The son of Street Boss has now recorded eight wins from just twelve career starts with his only two unplaced appearances being at Group One level.
A highly talented gelding he looks set for bigger and better things but this will be his toughest test to date.
7. New Energy (3)
Price: $71.00
New Energy has only managed the one win from seventeen career starts and after finishing second at his first Australian start, he’s yet to finish in the placings in five subsequent runs.
Placed of five occasions in his homeland before venturing down under, the former Irish galloper isn’t lacking in ability but it’s hard to see him figuring here on the back of recent runs.
8. Von Hauke (1)
Price: $67.00
Von Hauke produced a much improved performance last start, charging late in restricted room to finish fourth in the Crystal Mile and he was unlucky not to have finished closer.
The Savabeel gelding had only been plain in his two prior runs but with fitness on his side he relished to the rise to 1600m.
The recorded the biggest win of his career when saluting in the here earlier this year and whilst he is a talented galloper on the way up, I think he’ll be tested here.
9. Pride Of Jenni (7)
Price: $5.50
Pride Of Jenni has had a taxing few weeks and it certainly showed last start.
The star mare proved superior it the Feehan three runs back before producing a tough effort in the King Charles III Stakes, where she was just collared late by the very talented Ceolwulf.
A seven day back up into the Ladbrokes Cox Plate and float trip from Sydney in-between looked to take it’s toll as she was under pressure a long way from home.
She did win this race last year and I think she’ll appreciate the drop back to the mile.
Ben Melham goes onboard for the first time in what has certainly been a much talked about change and she’s sure to be in it for long way.
10. Fangirl (7)
Price: $9.00
Fangirl returned to fine order as she finished off strongly into second in the Winx Stakes behind stablemate and subsequent Cox Plate winner Via Sistina.
She then proved far too good second up, powering home from the tail to take out the 7 Stakes.
Given a month between runs, she stepped out in the King Charles III Stakes but never looked to be travelling comfortably off the hot tempo.
A high class mare, she looks well suited here and back on a firm surface, she’ll be powering home late.
11. Amelia’s Jewel (10)
Price: $15.00
Amelia’s Jewel has been solid in all four runs this campaign and her most recent effort in the Empire Rose was superb.
Hitting the lead 150m out she was only collared in the final strides by Atishu.
The former WA mare has clearly settled in well to the Neasham and Archibald stable and I think she’ll continue to improve.
She’s fit, she’s been terrific in both Flemington runs and I wouldn’t be leaving her out.
12. Stefi Magnetica (5)
Price: $15.00
Stefi Magnetica is on the quick up after contesting last Saturday’s The Golden Eagle where she was desperately unlucky.
Whether she would have beaten the winner, we’ll never know but I’m certain she would have at least run second.
The All Too Hard mare worked her way from a Wellington Maiden to a Stradbroke Handicap in under twelve months and returned in top order with a slashing run in The Shorts, where she was beaten by the barest of margins and held her ground in the The Everest, suggesting she was looking for further.
The rise to the mile looks ideal and barrier five should see afforded every chance Chad Schofield.
13. Broadsiding (13)
Price: $6.50
Broadsiding was brilliant in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate and Jamie Kah quoted post-race that he’d be winning it next year.
A son of Too Darn Hot, the colt has made a sharp rise from finishing outside the placings in a Ballarat maiden back in February to a three time Group One winner and is undoubtably, one of the most exciting horses in the country.
He was doing his best work late when set a task in the Caulfield Guineas was strong late last time with the rise to 2040m .
He drops back in trip but I think he’ll relish getting out on the big Flemington track and with just 52kgs on his back, he’ll be powering home.
Selections:
1st – Fangirl
2nd – Mr Brightside
3rd – Broadsiding
4th – Amelia’s Jewel