Spring Champion Stakes 2023 betting tips | Saturday, October 28

What	Spring Champion Stakes
Where	Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031
When	Saturday, October 28, 2023
Prizemoney	$2,000,000
Distance	2000m
Status	Group 1
Conditions	Set Weights
2022 winner	Sharp ‘N’ Smart (3) \| T: Graeme & Deborah Rogerson \| J: Hugh Bowman (56.5kg)
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The Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) is the main event this Saturday at Royal Randwick, with a field of 12 three-year-olds set to line up in the $2 million feature.

Some eight of the 12 runners engaged come through the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) on October 14, with the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Raf Attack seeking to do the double – just as Sharp ‘N’ Smart did last year.

There’s just one filly accepted for this year’s Spring Champions Stakes, as Tutta La Vita takes on the boys after facing her own sex in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) on September 30.

SPRING CHAMPION STAKES 2023 ODDS

The Gloaming Stakes has been labelled the form to follow into this event; however, it’s not the winner that the market is gravitating towards. Online bookmakers have installed Tom Kitten as the Spring Champion Stakes favourite after powering into the runner-up spot, and he’s been well-found at +125 as the money continues to flow his way. Tutta La Vita and Raf Attack share the second line of betting at +550, while Ganbare rounds out the horses in single digits at +800. Port Lockroy (+900) and Cap Ferrat (+1500) are the only other runners to gain any early support.

SPRING CHAMPION STAKES 2023 SPEED MAP

Raf Attack led all the way in the Gloaming Stakes, and although he’s drawn out in barrier 11, the son of Satono Aladdin will likely try to dictate terms once again. Kintyre and Ganbare both sat on his hammer throughout that contest, and it could be much the same this weekend with the pair drawing barriers three and four, respectively. Tutta La Vita has lacked early speed so far this preparation but should be able to press forward from barrier five, while Tom Kitten should lob just in behind the first four on the rail from barrier one. A few of these will be forced to drag back, with Ravello (12), Long Genes (10) and Cap Ferrat (9) all drawing poorly.

SPRING CHAMPION STAKES 2023 FORM & BETTING PREVIEW

Tom Kitten should’ve won the Gloaming Stakes last start. He was near-last turning for home and got into a pumping duel with Tannhauser with 400m to run. That would’ve spelled the end for most; however, the Godolphin runner continued to battle through the line, somehow finishing runner-up. The 2000m should be no issue, and with a soft run all but assured from barrier one under Adam Hyeronimus, Tom Kitten should be winning the 2023 Spring Champion Stakes.

Tutta La Vita appears to be the main danger. Her differing form reference against the girls in the Flight Stakes is a big plus, and with a tick-over trial keeping her up to the mark, she’ll be closing powerfully with Jason Collett in the saddle.

Port Lockroy missed a start in the Gloaming and instead secured victory in a BM72 on the Kensington circuit on October 18. He’s progressing through the grades nicely for the Annabel Neasham barn, and if there’s a blowout chance at double-figure odds, it could be him.

Raf Attack will look the winner a long way out, and his breeding suggests the trip shouldn’t be an issue. He just keeps savaging the line, so he should be there when the whips are cracking.