Everest winner Tempted is favourite for Saturday's Champions Sprint, while Autumn Glow is a short-priced favourite in the Champions Mile.
Two of the spring's standout horses headline the support Group 1s on Champions Day at Flemington on Saturday. Everest winner Tempted leads the market in the Champions Sprint, while Autumn Glow looks the one to beat in the Champions Mile.
Champions Sprint (G1, 1200m), Race 6
Ciaron Maher's Tempted has won six in a row, including The Everest by a head and the Group 2 Premiere Stakes by three lengths. Tempted headed the nominations earlier in the week, has drawn barrier 9 with Chad Schofield to ride, and is around $1.80 favourite, a touch longer than earlier in the week.
The field and barriers:
- Skybird (Mitchell Freedman, Ben Melham)
- Point Barrow (Anthony & Sam Freedman, Mark Zahra)
- Charm Stone (Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr, Damian Lane)
- Plaintiff (Peter Snowden, Jordan Childs)
- Geegees Mistruth (Mark Walker, Craig Williams)
- Headwall (Matthew Smith, Ethan Brown)
- Giga Kick (Clayton Douglas, Jamie Mott)
- Caballus (Bjorn Baker, Blake Shinn)
- Tempted (Ciaron Maher, Chad Schofield)
- Joliestar (Chris Waller, James McDonald)
- Mazu (Ciaron Maher, Rachel King)
- Rey Magnerio (Robbie Griffiths, William Pike)
Joliestar, third in The Everest, is the clear next in the market at around $4.80. Headwall was fourth in The Everest and second in the Russell Balding, while Giga Kick won this race last year. Rey Magnerio backs up after winning the Century Stakes on Oaks Day.
Champions Mile (G1, 1600m), Race 7
Chris Waller's Autumn Glow has won 14 of 15 starts, including the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes by two and a quarter lengths last start. Autumn Glow has drawn barrier 2 with James McDonald aboard and is a very short favourite at around $1.22.
Stablemates Lindermann (barrier 3), who won the Craven Plate, and Buckaroo (barrier 7), runner-up in the Crystal Mile, are the next in the market at around $13. Tom Kitten (barrier 6), second in the Craven Plate, rounds out the main group. Nine are set to run.
The punting angle
At such short prices, the question with both favourites is less about who wins and more about value. If you think Tempted or Autumn Glow is beatable, the each-way and exotic markets are where the opportunity sits. If you're with them, they're probably best used as anchors in multiples or quaddies rather than backed straight out at the price.