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
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1. Giga Kick (7)
J: Mark Zahra 58.5kg
T: Clayton Douglas |
||
| Going well. Most recently 2nd of 11 at Randwick in the G1 Everest on October 19 over 1200m, slow going nose behind Bella Nipotina carrying 58.5kg at $14. The start before that 4th of 7 at Randwick in the G2 Premiere on October 5 over 1200m, 1.0 len behind Airman carrying 58.5kg at $3. Making headway. Great run in The Everest, has huge claims. | ||
|
2. Overpass (2)
J: Josh Parr 58.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
||
| Second-up today. Last run won by 1.5 len at Randwick G3 Sydney Stks October 19 over 1200m in soft going defeating Coal Crusher with 58.5kg at $5.50. At only start last preparation raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 0.9 len at Ascot Quokka April 20 over 1200m defeating Amelia's Jewel with 58.5kg at $6. He's a Group 1 sprinter who will be very hard to catch. | ||
|
3. I Am Unstoppable (11)
J: Dylan Browne McMonagle 58.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
| Third-up today and placed third-up in the past. Resuming 2nd of 8 at Warwick Farm Bm100 on October 7 over 1000m, long-neck behind Hard To Say with 60kg at $2.30. Second run from a spell ran on strongly from last on the turn; 2nd of 9 at Moonee Valley in the G2 Mcewen on October 26 over 1200m, 2.75 len behind Baraqiel carrying 58.5kg at $5.50. Would have to improve even further. | ||
|
4. Baraqiel (1)
J: Ben Allen 58.5kg
T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin |
||
| Most recently raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 2.75 len at Moonee Valley G2 Mcewen October 26 over 1200m defeating I Am Unstoppable with 58.5kg at $3.50. The race before that tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 0.8 len at Moonee Valley Bm84 September 27 over 1200m defeating War Machine carrying 58kg at $5. Very progressive and wouldn't shock if he measured up. | ||
|
5. Bella Nipotina (12)
J: Craig Williams 56.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
| Recent form sound. Last start favourite; raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 1.75 len at Rosehill Russell Balding November 2 over 1300m defeating Sunshine In Paris carrying 56.5kg at $2.50. The start before that favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by a nose at Randwick G1 Everest October 19 over 1200m in soft going defeating Giga Kick with 56.5kg at $9. Only query is her Flemington record but she's flying. | ||
|
6. Sunshine In Paris (9)
J: James McDonald 56.5kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
||
| Most recently came from the tail of the field 2nd of 11 at Rosehill Russell Balding on November 2 over 1300m, 1.75 len behind Bella Nipotina carrying 56.5kg at $4. The race before that 5th of 11 at Randwick in the G1 Everest on October 19 over 1200m, on a slow track; 1.5 len behind Bella Nipotina with 56.5kg at $7. Has to turn the tables but she's very talented. | ||
|
7. Lady Laguna (6)
J: Nash Rawiller 56.5kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
||
| Useful mare. Last start ran on from midfield; 3rd of 11 at Rosehill Russell Balding on November 2 over 1300m, 3 len behind Bella Nipotina with 56.5kg at $17. Before that 6th of 18 at Randwick in the G3 Sydney Stks on October 19 over 1200m, on a slow track; 4 len behind Overpass with 56.5kg at $19. Good effort last time, place hope. | ||
|
8. Estriella (4)
J: Ben Melham 56.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
| Last start won by a nose at Caulfield G2 Caul Sprint October 19 over 1000m on a soft track defeating Rey Magnerio carrying 59kg at $5.50. The start before that did the work up front then tired 7th of 12 at Moonee Valley in the G1 Manikato on September 27 over 1200m, 3.5 len behind Southport Tycoon with 56.5kg at $7.50. Some query at 1200m but she'll give a sight. | ||
|
9. Right To Party (3)
J: Jye McNeil 56.5kg
T: A & S Freedman |
||
| Comes off a 35 day let-up. Last start settled well back; won by a nose at this track G2 Gilgai October 5 over 1200m in soft going defeating Arkansaw Kid with 56.5kg at $5. The run before that 4th of 10 at this track in the G2 Bobbie Lewis on September 14 over 1200m, on rain affected going; 2 len behind Arkansaw Kid with 54kg at $3.50. Loves the straight, this is a new test. | ||
|
10. Stretan Angel (5)
J: Luke Nolen 56.5kg
T: Phillip Stokes |
||
| At the latest run 8th of 14 at Randwick in the G3 Silver Eagle on October 19 over 1300m, slow going 4 len behind Ostraka with 55.5kg at $14. The start before that came home strongly from last on the turn; 3rd of 12 at this track in the G2 Gilgai on October 5 over 1200m, slow going long-neck behind Right To Party carrying 57kg at $13. Looks outclassed here. | ||
|
11. Private Life (8)
J: Damian Lane 53.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
| Most recently won by a head at Caulfield G1 Caul Guineas October 12 over 1600m defeating Feroce with 57kg at $13. The run before that 4th of 11 at Caulfield in the G3 Gneas Prel on September 21 over 1400m, 0.6 len behind Angel Capital with 56kg at $4. Happy to be against this time. | ||
|
12. Bellatrix Star (10)
J: Michael Dee 51.5kg
T: Mark Walker |
||
| Last start 2nd of 14 at this track in the G1 Coolmore Stud on November 2 over 1200m, 2.75 len behind Switzerland with 55kg at $8.50. The race before that won by 0.5 len at Caulfield G2 Schillaci October 12 over 1100m defeating Oscar's Fortune carrying 51kg at $6.50. Ran very well in hot G1 Coolmore and that should hold up. | ||
Data retrieved: 09/11/2024 11:37:58 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.