Militarize Leads 2023 Champagne Stakes Field & Betting Markets

The money is coming hard and fast for the Chris Waller-trained Militarize to win the final leg of the Sydney 2YO Triple Crown with the last start Inglis Sires’ champ nearing odds-on territory in Champagne Stakes 2023 betting.

2023 Inglis Sires’ winner Militarize is tipped to win the Champagne Stakes over the Randwick mile this weekend. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Group 1 $600,000 Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes (1600m) is one of the final two elite level races of the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival taking place at Randwick on All Aged Stakes Day this Saturday.

The line-up for the mile showdown is down to 11 two-year-olds following the early scratching of Godolphin’s last-start Group 3 TL Baillieu Handicap winner Amur (9).

Updated Champagne Stakes markets at Ladbrokes have Dundeel colt Militarize into $2.05 to win from barrier seven with the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira in the saddle.

The Brazilian hoop guided the youngster to an impressive 3.54 length victory at the track a fortnight back on a Heavy (9) in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

With another likely Soft – Heavy track this weekend Militarize is now favourite going up to the 1600m after scoring an upset at 25/1 last time out.

The Sires’ winner doesn’t need to do much more than what he did on Day 1 of The Championships to win again and complete the Group 1 double after his dominant success in the traditional Champagne lead-up.

“Militarize is very well, we haven’t had to do anything different with him,” Waller told Racenet this week.

“He was extremely effective in the Sires, he’s been ticking over nicely since, keeping him happy is the key.

“I expect the mile will suit him but in saying that until they try the distance, it’s never guaranteed. This is another stepping stone for an exciting young colt.”

King’s Legacy (2020) was the last horse to complete the ATC Sires’ – Champagne Stakes double.

Only two other juveniles are under $10 for the win including the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Don Corleone installed at Champagne Stakes odds of $4 to turn the tables on his last start conqueror.

The smart young Extreme Choice colt has been impressive in his last three runs all in Group 1 company going back to his second to Little Brose in Melbourne’s Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) in late February.

From there he travelled back North for a fourth to Shinzo in the Golden Slipper and then his distant second in the Sires’.

James McDonald comes aboard Don Corleone for the Champagne Sakes where the youngster is out to hand co-trainer Peter Snowden his sixth win in the event and his third in four years in partnership with son Paul following recent victories with the aforementioned King’s Legacy (2020) and Captivant (2021).

Completing the single-figure fancies at $9.50 is James Cummings’ remaining runner Tom Kitten in gate six with Nash Rawiller to ride.

Cummings won the Champagne Stakes back in 2016 with Prized Icon and is after another victory this year saddling-up his harry Angel colt Tom Kitten on the quick back-up.

The horse posted his second career win at start number four just last Saturday relishing the Heavy going at Randwick to narrowly salute at the track and trip in the Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m).

Proven at the mile now he comes back from 57.5kg to 56.5kg at set weights and looks a genuine shot up in grade.

The Champagne Stakes is scheduled to run as Race 7 at 3:10pm (AEST) on Saturday’s bumper 10-race Randwick card.

2023 Champagne Stakes Field & Barriers

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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