The Champions Stakes will be the final Group 1 to be run and won over the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Formally run as the Mackinnon Stakes the 2000m weight for age feature was once a main lead up event to the Melbourne Cup but in 2016 it was moved the last day of the carnival.
A race steeped in history, the honour roll as is good as it gets, with the likes of Phar Lap, Tulloch, Empire Rose, Lonhro, Better Loosen Up and So You Think just to name a few.
Once again a class field will assemble for this year’s edition and we’ve taken a good look at each runner.
Our thoughts on every horse can be found below. (Prices current at time of publish)
1. Without A Fight (10)
Price: $9.50
Last year’s Caulfield and Melbourne Cup champ Without A Fight makes his return to the races.
After suffering a tendon injury, the star stayer hasn’t been seen raceday since saluting in the race that stops a nation but the team look to have him back in top order off two pleasing jump out performances.
He was unlucky when resuming last campaign in the Underwood Stakes and was victorious first up over 1800m in his first Australian start.
He boasts a terrific overall record and whilst he will improve off this run, he’s sure to make his presence felt.
2. Duke De Sessa (5)
Price: $14.00
Duke De Sessa comes off the biggest win of career to date, having claimed honours in the time-honoured Caulfield Cup.
Under a well timed ride up on speed the Lope De Vega gelding showed a strong kick over the final part to pull away and hold off the fast finishing Buckeroo.
His prior runs were all full of merit and the former Irish galloper has continued to improve since his arrival in Australia at the beginning of last year.
He’s hard fit but he does drop back from 2400m and under weight for age conditions he will carry an extra 7kgs.
3. Arapaho (11)
Price: $46.00
Arapaho has just had the two runs back and after being well beaten in the Alan Brown, he produced a much-improved performance last time in the Craven Plate, charging home over the final part to go do down by less than a length.
He looks ready to peak at this third run back and the rise in trip will certainly suit but I would prefer to see him in something slightly easier.
4. Nugget (8)
Price: $41.00
Nugget hasn’t quite lived up to early expectations and it’s almost two years since he last returned to the winner’s stall.
Prepared by Ciaron Maher, the former UK import made a big impression in his first Australian campaign, putting together three wins in succession before solid performances at the elite level including placing in the CF Orr and Doncaster Handicap.
Kept to the mile, he does tend to mix his form and for just the second time in his career he’ll step out to 2000m.
He latest run in the Crystal Mile saw him charging home into third and I think he’ll appreciate the rise in trip.
This is a lot tougher than what’s he’s been contesting so he’ll have to go to a new level to figure here.
5. Future History (6)
Price: $51.00
Future History has been racing well and comes off a deserved win in the JRA Cup.
He was only beaten by the barest of margins in the Naturalism before heading the Sydney where he just felt the pinch late in the Metropolitan.
Back to 2000m last time, he proved superior and it certainly looks to be his pet trip.
He’s fit and racing well but this is a lot harder and under WFA conditions I think he’ll tested.
6. Eliyass (2)
Price: $12.00
Eliyass had to work hard early off the outside draw in the Caulfield Cup and for the first time in his thirteen start career he finished outside of the top three.
A winner of nine races, the Le Havre gelding won his first three Australian starts in good style before a solid effort to finish third in the Turnbull Stakes, which was also off the outside gate.
His latest run was his first time at 2400m and I think he’s much better sticking to this trip.
From eight starts over the 2000m, he has recorded seven wins and the one placing, so he has to be included here.
From barrier two he’s set to enjoy a cosy run in transit under Nash Rawiller, who goes onboard for Gai and Adrian.
7. Docklands (7)
Price: $16.00
The Harry Eustace trained Docklands comes off a fair effort in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate and having not raced for nine weeks going into it, he will have taken plenty of benefit from the outing.
He looked to be travelling beautifully throughout and got on the back of Via Sistina as she made her move but was just found wanting late.
He’s never won first up and is sure to improve here and whilst he’s not yet proven himself over the trip, the team wouldn’t bring him all the way here if they weren’t confident he could run it run out.
8. Royal Champion (9)
Price: $21.00
European Import Royal Champion has just had the two starts down under and there was plenty of merit in both of his performances.
Kicking off over 1400m here after a year off the scene, the son of Shamardal wasn’t suited in the soft conditions and was found to have pulled up with a slow recovery.
Last time in the Crystal Mile he took up the running and was only just run down in the final strides.
He strips fitter, he’ll relish the rise to 2000m and with solid international form, I wouldn’t be discounting him.
9. Kingswood (SCR)
10. Via Sistina (4)
Price: $1.60
Via Sistina could not have been more impressive when taking out the Ladbrokes Cox Plate two weeks ago and on the back of that, it’s hard to see anything getting past her here.
In one of the world’s greatest races, she produced a performance that will be talked about for years to come and in doing so, broke the track record. Now a five-time group one winner, the daughter of Fastnet Rock just continues to improve and the team elected to bypass the Melbourne Cup in favour of this race which I think it’ll prove to be winning move.
She gets conditions to suit, a low draw and James McDonald stays aboard.
11. Atishu (1)
Price: $8.50
Atishu lines up on the quick back up after proving too good in the Empire Rose Stakes here last Saturday.
The Chris Waller trained daughter of Savabeel powered home down the outside to get her head down on the line and bring up her fourth Flemington win.
She’ll love getting back to 2000 and gets conditions to suit.
She was triumphant in this last year after finishing second in the Empire Rose and looks set for another huge performance.
12. Deny Knowledge (12)
Price: $27.00
Deny Knowledge recorded her first group one win with a tough all-the-way win in the Might And Power two runs back.
A highly talented mare, she’s continued to improve with age and she’s hard to run down when she’s able to have her own way in front.
Last start she drew wide in the Caulfield Cup and just worked too hard through the first part and it tolled late.
She’ll appreciate the drop back to 2000m but she’ll get no favours from the outside draw.
Selections:
1st – Via Sistina
2nd – Atishu
3rd – Docklands
4th – Eliyass