The 2024 Champions Sprint field features a dozen of the season’s best horses including the in-form favourite Bella Nipotina looking for a win down south after claiming The Everest – Russell Balding Stakes double in Sydney.
Incredibly, Ciaron Maher‘s brilliant mare has her 57th career start this weekend at Flemington heading the markets on a truly top-class edition of the Group 1 $3 million Champions Sprint (1200m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
There are a host of in-form sprinters coming off a variety of lead-ups ready to fly down the iconic ‘Straight Six’ at HQ on the weekend, but it is Bella sitting top of the Champions Sprint odds at $3.80 after a slight drifty through Ladbrokes.com.au to make it a hat-trick.
Two back this brilliant daughter of Pride Of Dubai made history as the first mare to win the world’s richest turf race in Randwick’s $20 million The Everest.
The seven-year-old backed-up from that at Rosehill last weekend and was near flawless winning the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill by 1.8 lengths.
On the quick back-up and rock hard fit, the only query is the track with Bella Nipotina having had 10 previous Flemington runs without a win.
She jumps from barrier 12 with Craig Williams aboard.
The danger occupying the second line of Champions Sprint betting this spring at $4.80 is another previous The Everest champion, Giga Kick.
The Clayton Douglas-trained son of Scissor Kick won The Everest as a three-year-old back in 2022.
He has enjoyed two subsequent Group 1 wins and returns to Flemington for the first time since his close fifth in this same race back in 2022 under a length beaten.
Scissor Kick boasts two previous Flemington wins and caught the eye second-up when narrow runner-up to Bella in this year’s The Everest last start.
Ready for the rematch, he is drawn midfield in gate seventh with Mark Zahra to ride.
Following very closely at Champions Sprint odds of $5 (in from $7) is the consistent, two-time The Quokka winner Overpass for Bjorn Baker.
Set to jump from a favourable barrier two draw with Josh Parr in the saddle, Vancouver six-year-old Overpass is Sydney trained but a star in WA having won the opening two editions of the $4 million The Quokka as well as last December’s Group 1 Winterbottom over this trip.
Fresh he was back in winning form in the lucrative Group 3 Sydney Stakes (1200m) at Randwick, form he is looking to bring down south now.
Others in the mix include the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained Russell Balding runner-up Sunshine In Paris ($7.50), the rails-drawn 2.75 length McEwen winner Baraqiel ($9.50) chasing a hat-trick, and the in-form Schillaci Stakes winning filly Bellatrix Star ($12) coming off a Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes second at the track and trip from Derby Day.
The 2024 Champions Sprint is set to run as Flemington Race 6 at 3:50pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s nine-race program.
Champions Sprint 2024 Odds & Results
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
6. Sunshine In Paris (9)
J: James McDonald 56.5kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
||
|
2nd
9. Right To Party (3)
J: Jye McNeil 56.5kg
T: A & S Freedman |
||
|
3rd
5. Bella Nipotina (12)
J: Craig Williams 56.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
4th
10. Stretan Angel (5)
J: Luke Nolen 56.5kg
T: Phillip Stokes |
||
|
5th
11. Private Life (8)
J: Damian Lane 53.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
6th
4. Baraqiel (1)
J: Ben Allen 58.5kg
T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin |
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|
7th
1. Giga Kick (7)
J: Mark Zahra 58.5kg
T: Clayton Douglas |
||
|
8th
2. Overpass (2)
J: Josh Parr 58.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
||
|
9th
8. Estriella (4)
J: Ben Melham 56.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
10th
7. Lady Laguna (6)
J: Nash Rawiller 56.5kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
||
|
11th
12. Bellatrix Star (10)
J: Michael Dee 51.5kg
T: Mark Walker |
||
|
12th
3. I Am Unstoppable (11)
J: Dylan Browne McMonagle 58.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
Data retrieved: 13/11/2024 05:19:38 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
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Race comments
The first of three outstanding Group 1 races. It's hard to go past BELLA NIPOTINA (5) who is in career best form, tough when wide throughout to win The Everest two back before getting a sweet trail and coming away to win easily last time. Small query is her record down the straight, but she's been an absolute marvel of late and looks a fair gamble. OVERPASS (2) was a very strong winner of the G2 Sydney Stakes first-up and arguably would've gone close in The Everest, winning in quicker time than that race. GIGA KICK (1) was excellent third-up in The Everest when charging into 2nd behind Bella. He's a proven straight track performer who looks back to something like his best. SUNSHINE IN PARIS (6) is a classy mare who could suit the straight. BARAQIEL (4) can acquit himself well off a strong G2 win.