The horses to beat in the Champions Sprint, Mile and Stakes at Flemington

The final event of the 2024 Flemington Carnival is here and what a meeting it is!

Champions Day looks an absolute treat on paper with star gallopers everywhere you look.

We’ve taken a look at the Group 1 races on the card and provided a little rundown of the three features which are all doozies.

Champions Sprint

Bella Nipotina is in superb form of late, winning her last two including The Everest, and placing in two other starts this prep.

While she hasn’t won at Flemington from 10 attempts she certainly presents as the horse to beat.

She has drawn wide in barrier 12 which puts her on the stand side of the track. That’s where most of the straight races have been won this week.

Craig Williams has a great affiliation with the star mare and she deserves her favouritism.

The horse she beat in The Everest, Giga Kick, must be respected. He is also drawn on the fast side of the straight and was almost back to this very best last time out.

Has won twice at the track and will be motoring late.

The value play could be Bellatrix Star who has done absolutely nothing wrong in recent times. Loves Flemington and is in super nick.

Don’t overlook Overpass who is a speed demon. Will be in it for a long way.

Selections

5 - Bella Nipotina
1 - Giga Kick
12 - Bellatrix Star
2 - Overpass

Champions Mile

This is some race!

$5 the field with last year’s winner Pride Of Jenni sitting at the top of the market.

After tipping her in the Cox Plate she’s going to be risked here for Mr Brightside who could just get the run of the race for ‘Willo’.

He is back to his pet distance over a mile and you just get the feeling he’ll be a very popular winner if he does happen to lob after running second last year.

There’s very little between he and Fangirl. Things did not quite go to plan in the King Charles but she is capable of bouncing back for J-Mac who has had a handy carnival.

Antino must be considered following his crushing Toorak win while three-year-old Broadsiding ran on well in the Cox Plate and can figure in the finish.

Pride Of Jenni will find herself right in the race but has had a testing prep and could puncture late.

Selections

1 - Mr Brightside
10 - Fangirl
4 - Antino
13 - Broadsiding

Champions Stakes

Another beauty.

Feels like this is either as obvious as it comes, or a proper nightmare.

Cox Plate dominator Via Sistina could just turn up and brain them here. If she isn’t busted up after winning the great weight-for-age in record time, then she might have lengths on these.

But if you can’t bring yourself to settling for $1.60 or less, then there are plenty of other options.

Atishu is the obvious danger and can win if her stablemate is off her game. She already has four Flemington wins to her name including the Empire Rose last Saturday and this race 12 months ago.

Without A Fight resumes and owns a great first-up record, but it is his first run since last year’s Melbourne Cup triumph so may need the run.

Eliyass can improve and Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa will likely be around the mark.

Selections

10 - Via Sistina
11 - Atishu
1 - Without A Fight
6 - Eliyass
2 - Duke De Sessa

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