A top field of two-year-olds face off over the Randwick mile on Saturday in a wide open Champagne Stakes 2018 field where there are a host of livewire chances in the latest markets.
Seabrook is tipped to return to form leading 2018 Champagne Stakes betting for the Randwick mile clash this Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
One of two autumn elite level races on All Aged Stakes Day, this year’s Group 1 $500,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) field drew 13 youngsters and in early markets five are under $10 for the win.
Current favourite in Champagne Stakes betting at Ladbrokes.com.au is the widely-drawn Mick Price-trained filly Seabrook ($5) out in gate 12 with jockey Damien Oliver retaining the ride.
Winner of the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) three back with Hugh Bowman aboard, Price’s daughter of Hinchinbrook has had Oliver in the saddle for her latest two runs.
She ran only two lengths off the winner in the Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) for a fifth in the world’s richest race for two-year-olds in late March before a ninth place effort at Randwick on April 7 in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).
Seabrook was still only three lengths off the winner that day and looks to be better suited to a clearer run from out wide stepping up in distance this weekend.
Fillies have won three of the past five editions of the race and Seabrook is one of two in the field this year along with her last start conqueror, Benjamin Smith’s Sires’ Produce Stakes winner El Dorado Dreaming.
The Ilovethiscity filly scored the upset as a triple-figure roughie last time out off a second in a Newcastle maiden race and currently pays $9 in the Champagne Stakes odds to repeat the feat and do the double achieved in recent years by Helmet (2011), Pierro (2012) and Guelph (2013).
Following Seabrook in the markets at $5.50 meanwhile is the Ciaron Maher-trained Not A Single Doubt colt, Not A Single Cent.
Two back in Melbourne the bay won Flemington’s Group 2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) before his 10th in the Sydney edition.
Not A Single Doubt was only three lengths off the winner after a tough run from gate 15 of 15 and has the experience of a Sydney start behind him now, plus a better barrier five draw for the Champagne Stakes.
Rounding out the single-figure fancies are then Long Leaf ($7) and early market mover Outrageous ($6.50) drawn in barriers nine and three respectively.
Long Leaf is one of two in the Champagne Stakes field for the Lindsay Park stable along with Seberate ($20).
The Fastnet Rock colt hasn’t won since late January at Caulfield, but was impressive in his lea-dup fourth in the Sires’ Produce at the Randwick track during The Championships.
Outrageous is also an ATC Sires’ graduate, the Team Hawkes-trained All Too Hard colt having crossed third.
Hawkes Racing prepared the 2006 Champagne Stakes winner Mentality, while head trainer and Hall of Famer John Hawkes also won in 2001 and 1998 with Viscount and Dracula respectively.
Co-trainer Peter Snowden is also a three-time winner of the Champagne Stakes and chases his first win in partnership with son Paul on Saturday with Bondi ($11).
Check out the full Champagne Stakes 2018 field and betting markets below, prices open online now at Ladbrokes.com.au.
