Spring Champion Stakes Preview & Best Bets

The Sydney Everest Carnival continues at Randwick on Saturday, with the Spring Champion Stakes being the feature race on the card. It includes the best three-year-old stayers in Australia, and as ever, it will provide an important stepping stone towards some big races later in the season.

Here is a look at the best bets for the Spring Champion Stakes and some of the supporting races on the card.

BEST BET: ATTICA

Race 8 (Spring Champion Stakes)

It has been an excellent start to the season for trainer Joe Pride. Last weekend, he won the King Charles III Stakes at Randwick with Ceolwulf. He can continue that hot form when he saddles Attica in the Spring Champion Stakes. The colt is one of his leading three-year-olds, who took a big step forward when winning the Dulcify Stakes at this course earlier this month.

The son of Lonhro should appreciate this step up in distance to 2000 metres. He finished strongly in the final 200 metres here on his last assignment, and he looked to have plenty left in the tank when crossing the finish line.

Attica has had a trial at Warwick Farm since his Dulcify Stakes success, and Pride was delighted with how that went. The Godolphin-owned runner is having his first shot at a Group One race, and if victorious here, he can prove to be a valuable stallion for his owners in the future.

SECOND BEST BET: MISS FREELOVE

Race 5 (Crowley Stakes)

Miss Freelove was an impressive winner at the midweeks at Warwick Farm earlier this month. She produced the best performance of her career so far, coming out on top by just under three lengths.

The daughter of Tassort is a filly who looks destined for stakes success, and it can come in the Crowley Stakes on this card. She has been handed the perfect draw in barrier three, and if the ground does remain soft, that should not be an issue for Peter Snowden’s runner.

The main challenger to Miss Freelove in this race is Young Master Grace. However, this is just her third career start, so this Listed contest may come too soon for her.

BEST VALUE: MILITARIZE

Race 6 (Craven Plate)

Chris Waller has a strong hand in this year’s Craven Plate, with four of the seven runners in the field. The betting suggests his best chance of winning this race is with Lindermann, however, Militarize has been underestimated in the odds.

The five-year-old has run well at Group Two level on his last two starts. This ease in grade will help, and if he produces his best, he can overturn his form with Lindermann.