Champions Stakes Preview and Tips 09/11/24

There’s no Melbourne Cup hangover here at OnlyRacing, we are on the quick turnaround for Champions Day, which is also raced at Flemington Racecourse. It’s going to be an epic day of racing, highlighted by three Group One races that are sure to capture the attention of racing fans.

The three races that we will be treated to on Saturday include the Champions Stakes, the Champions Mile and the Champions Sprint. On top of this, there are two key races up in Sydney, The Five Diamonds and the Golden Gift. Who said the Spring Racing Carnival finished with the Melbourne Cup?

My Saturday tips are hot off the presses and while I will cover all five races mentioned above, this article is specifically for the Champions Stakes. I’ve crunched all the numbers and put together my best bets for the race. So, without further ado, let’s get stuck into some tips, shall we?

There are so many runners in this one who have fast barrier speed and could easily take the lead. That being said, the race is likely going to be run at a fast pace, as many will try to lead this. In the end, I reckon Deny Knowledge is the one most likely to gain the leader position, with the mare setting the pace out front.

The heavy favourite, Via Sistina, will likely settle off the pace, with some cover, waiting for the perfect time to strike. Atishu is currently on the second line of betting with PlayUp and she’ll be near the back of the field, waiting to use every bit of her closing speed, hoping to run them all down.

We haven’t seen many Group One races so far this Spring that have featured a heavy favourite, but that’s what we get here and Via Sistina is currently going around as a $1.65 pop with PlayUp. So, the best bet for the 2024 Champions Stakes practically picks itself. Something would really have to go wrong for Via Sistina to not win this one I reckon.

So, you’re not getting a lot of value for her, but she is coming off back-to-back Group One victories in the Turnbull Stakes and then the Cox Plate, where she was simply lovely. Jockey James McDonald retains the ride and it looks set up in a similar way to the Cox Plate. It’s not a matter of if she’ll win, it’s a matter of by how much.

The safe bet for the Champions Stakes also practically picks itself. Atishu is currently the only other runner in the field with single-digit odds and if Via Sistina has a rare off day, I reckon she’ll be the one to swoop in. With Bet365, we are currently getting odds of $8.50 for Atishu to win the Champions Stakes.

If Via Sistina didn’t win the Cox Plate the way she did, I reckon Atishu would be closer to around the $5.00 mark. The 7YO still needs to be respected though, she’s tackling this one on the seven-day back-up after winning the Empire Rose Stakes last time out. The 2,000m looks to be no problem and will have one go at them, coming from the rear of the field.

The value bet and the best roughie for the Champions Stakes are pretty interchangeable I think. Deny Knowledge is currently paying $26 to win the race, with Dabble. The mare won the Group One Might and Power Stakes just two runs ago, beating the likes of Mr Brightside and Atishu, who both line up again for this one.

She maps to try and take the lead, similar to what she did in the Caulfield Cup last time out, but just couldn’t keep the pace going, finishing fifth. She’ll come back in trip for this one, which I think is the right call and her racing style will suit this one as well. I’m surprised she’s over $20 honestly. 

I think Eliyass is a little overlooked in the Champions Stakes, so he comes in as my danger runner. Another runner coming through the Caulfield Cup, where he finished seventh, but I’m going to put a line through that one. A big field, wide barrier, he was out of it before it even began I think.

He gets a much better barrier here, barrier two and we’ve seen recently what he can do, as he finished third to Via Sistina in the Turnbull Stakes in her run before the Caulfield Cup. I feel like there’s a lot of upside to him and his first run this prep resulted in a win in the Group Three Kingston Town Stakes. We are currently getting $12.50 for the gelding with QuestBet.

There’s usually a lot of value to be found when a short-priced favourite dominates the market. This is what we see in the 2024 Champions Stakes and as by best roughie, I’ve nailed down Royal Champion. I’m not sure that we’ve seen the best of this import just yet, who has only had two runs in Australia this prep.

The gelding has odds of $21 to win the race, at the time of writing, with Bet Right. With the two Aussie runs under his belt, he could be in for a good race and while this is a step up to the company he has been running against so far, there’s plenty of upside. He enjoys this distance as well, going three from six at 2,000m. Should run a good race.

All my Champions Stakes horse racing tips and their odds can be found here:

Bookmaker	Tip	Odds
	Via Sistina (win)	$1.65
	Atishu (place)	$2.30
	Deny Knowledge (place)	$5.00
	Eliyass (place)	$2.85
	Royal Champion (place)	$4.20