Three big guns that will win on Champions day: Flemington’s best bets

All roads lead to Flemington on Saturday as the best horses in the country converge on the famous course to battle it out in three $3 million championship races.

Headline act Via Sistina and in-form jockey James McDonald will start short-priced favourites in the group 1 Champions Stakes over 2000 metres, while Pride Of Jenni and Mr Brightside will renew hostilities in the group 1 Champions Mile (1600m).

Via Sistina is returning to the track for the first time since her stunning Cox Plate win.Credit: Eddie Jim

The Age’s racing writer Danny Russell runs through the form for the day’s best bets.

Flemington Champions day

First race: 12.40pm
Final race: 5.50pm
Track: Good 4.
Rail: Out eight metres.

Race six: $3m group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m), 3.30pm
The favourite: Bella Nipotina has become a sprinting marvel. In the past 12 months, the seven-year-old Ciaron Maher-trained mare has won three group 1s, including the Everest. She has yet to win down the Flemington straight and is backing up after winning at The Russell Balding at Rosehill last week, but if she has come through that run in good shape, she remains the horse to beat.

The threats: Giga Kick ran second in the Everest, beaten a nose by Bella Nipotina, to announce he was back to near his best; Sunshine In Paris has form around Bella Nipotina without being able to land a killer blow; and Baraqiel and Overpass are coming off strong group 2 victories. Three-year-old filly Bellatrix Star ran second in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Selections: 1. Bella Nipotina, 2. Giga Kick, 3. Sunshine In Paris, 4. Baraqiel

The verdict: Doubt Bella Nipotina at your own peril. Every time you find a reason not to select her, she comes out and wins. She has not missed a place in her past eight starts.

Race seven: $3m group 1 Champions Mile (1600m), 4.30pm
The favourite: Punters have obviously forgiven Pride Of Jenni’s taxing run in the Cox Plate as she heads the betting markets. They are obviously expecting her to bounce back over 1600m at Flemington, and are not phased by the change of jockey from Declan Bates to Ben Melham.

The threats: Pride Of Jenni’s arch rival Mr Brightside ran a bottler in the Cox Plate for fourth, and is a better horse over 1600m. Three-year-old colt Broadsiding ran third in the Cox Plate but will have to lug an extra 2.5kg here. Antino ran out of his skin to win the Toorak Handicap at Caulfield. My Oberon finished third behind Ceolwulf in the King Charles Stakes, while Fangirl is one of the best milers in the country.

Selections: 1. Mr Brightside, 2. Fangirl, 3. My Oberon, 4. Pride Of Jenni

The verdict: There are a few form lines to consider, but Mr Brightside was strong in the Cox Plate. He has a weight swing over Broadsiding, holds an advantage over Fangirl in Melbourne, and it looks like Pride Of Jenni might not be at her absolute best.

Race eight: $3m group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m), 5.10pm
The favourite: Via Sistina romped in the Cox Plate by eight lengths to stamp herself as the best weight-for-age middle distance horse in the country.

The threats: Atishu finished strongly to win the group 1 Empire Rose on Derby Day and won this race last year. Frontrunner Deny Knowledge won the group 1 Caulfield Stakes two starts back, and import Docklands will be better for the run after finishing fifth in the Cox Plate. Eliyass will be better suited back to 2000m, after finishing seventh in the Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Atishu is back at Flemington to defend her Champions Stakes crown.Credit: Getty Images

Selections: 1. Via Sistina, 2. Atishu, 3. Deny Knowledge, 4. Docklands

The verdict: If her Cox Plate blitz is anything to go by, one of Via Sistina’s legs would have to fall off for her to be beaten here.

Russell’s best bet: Kinesiology (Race 3, No.7) – Chris Waller import having his first run in Australia in preparation for next year’s Melbourne Cup. On UK form, should be winning.

Russell’s roughie: Quickster (Race 5, No.6) – In an open race, Quickster looks ready to peak third-up. Should get an economical run from gate two.

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