Spring Champion Stakes 2024 Group 1 preview & tips | October 26

The time-honoured Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) headlines the action at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with a quality field of 11 set to stake their claims on the $2 million prize. 7 of the 11 runners engaged come through the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) where the Anthony Cummings-trained El Castello proved victorious. Can one of his key rivals turn the tables? Or perhaps there’s a differing form-lines punters need to be wary of.

2024 Spring Champion Stakes odds

Swiftfalcon was all the rave pre-barrier draw, and barrier 11 hasn’t deterred horse racing bookmakers installing him as the current $3.40 favourite. El Castello is on the second line of betting at $3.70 and is the big firmer in the market post-barrier draw, while Henlein has drifted out to the third line of betting as a $4.80 chance. Harlem Queen ($6.00) is the best backed filly in the race, coming through the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) behind Lady Shenandoah on October 5. Double figures are available for every other runner, including Pleasure Artist ($11.00) and Rag Queen ($16.00) which appear best of the rest.

2024 Spring Champion Stakes speed map

There seems to be a lack of tempo in this year’s Spring Champion Stakes, with the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained Firm Agreement the only natural leader engaged. He’s drawn in barrier 10 and Tom Sherry should have no issues sliding across to find the rail. Henlein will be ridden much closer from barrier one this time around, while El Castello (8) and Harlem Queen (7) should land into mid-field positions with cover. Swiftfalcon hasn’t shown any early speed in the past, so favourite backers can expect Jay Ford to bel dragging back towards the rear of the field from barrier 10.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Spring Champion Stakes.

Spring Champion Stakes 2024 preview & form

The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Henlein has been prepped to peak fourth-up into the 2024 Spring Champion Stakes. He was closing well from an unwinnable position in the Gloaming Stakes on October 12, finishing a modest 4.5 lengths away in sixth, but suggests the 2000m would suit the son of Dundeel. He gets serious map favours from barrier one, with Tommy Berry likely to lob onto the leaders’ back throughout, and with this seemingly grand final day, Henlein should prove hard to hold out.

Harlem Queen warrants plenty of respect heading into this, with the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) a terrific lead-up into this three-year-old feature. She hit the line best of the rest behind Lady Shenandoah, with the form already being franked courtesy of Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) favourite Powers Of Opal destroying maiden company at the mid-weeks since. Harlem Queen beat her home convincingly, and provided she can hold that form stepping to 2000m, punters shouldn’t want to lose on this progressive filly.

The price of Rag Queen simply doesn’t make sense. She’s been crying out for a step up in trip and finally gets to the 2000m she’s been craving. She was as good as anything through the line in the Gloaming, and though the likes of El Castello and Swiftfalcon had her measure, she was gallant in defeat. You can mark her much shorter than the $16.00 currently available and is worth keeping safe.

There’s no knocking Swiftfalcon outside of the price. He’s a rising star and has the ability to swoop over the top of his rivals despite the likelihood of being the last one turning for home, however, if they go at such a sedate tempo early, he may have his work cut out for him in the concluding stages.

Spring Champion Stakes 2024 selections & best bets

• 3
  

  HENLEIN

• 8
  

  HARLEM QUEEN

• 9
  

  RAG QUEEN

• 2
  

  SWIFTFALCON

Spring Champion Stakes 2024 final field

1. El Castello (8)

• T: Anthony Cummings
• J: Joshua Parr
• W: 56.5kg
• F: x111
• Age: 3YO
• Colour: Bay
• Sex: Colt
• Sire: Castelvecchio
• Dam: Word Games

+260
-181.82

2. Swiftfalcon (11)

• T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
• J: Jay Ford
• W: 56.5kg
• F: x112
• Age: 3YO
• Colour: Bay
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Exceedance
• Dam: Tempting Delight

+260
-181.82

3. Henlein (1)

• T: Anthony & Sam Freedman
• J: Tommy Berry
• W: 56.5kg
• F: x626
• Age: 3YO
• Colour: Bay
• Sex: Colt
• Sire: Dundeel (NZ)
• Dam:/span> Time Awaits

+360
-142.86

4. Firm Agreement (10)

• T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
• J: Tom Sherry
• W: 56.5kg
• F: 213
• Age: 3YO
• Colour: Brown
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: Yes Yes Yes
• Dam: Money Magic

+2500
+400

5. Duvana (4)

• T: Chris Waller
• J: Joao Moreira
• W: 56.5kg
• F: x510
• Age: 3YO
• Colour: Bay
• Sex: Colt
• Sire: Dundeel (NZ)
• Dam: Stay With Me

+1400
+250

6. Due Calzini (3)

• T: Danielle Seib
• J: Kerrin McEvoy
• W: 56.5kg
• F: x839
• Age: 3YO
• Colour: Bay/Brown
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: D’argento
• Dam: Terminally Pretty

+10000
+1600

7. Flying Argento (2)

• T: Gary Portelli
• J: Zac Lloyd
• W: 56.5kg
• F: x683
• Age: 3YO
• Colour: Bay
• Sex: Gelding
• Sire: D’argento
• Dam: Misstiflying

+20000
+2700

8. Harlem Queen (7)

• T: Nathan Doyle
• J: Sam Clipperton
• W: 54.5kg
• F: x112
• Age: 3YO
• Colour: Bay/Brown
• Sex: Filly
• Sire: Brutal (NZ)
• Dam: Harlem River

+500
-105.26

9. Rag Queen (6)

• T: David Payne
• J: Chad Schofield
• W: 54.5kg
• F: x074
• Age: 3YO
• Colour: Brown
• Sex: Filly
• Sire: D’argento
• Dam: Victory Day

+1400
+250

10. Pleasure Artist (5)

• T: Richard & Will Freedman
• J: Jason Collett
• W: 54.5kg
• F: 412
• Age: 3YO
• Colour: Bay/Brown
• Sex: Filly
• Sire: Trapeze Artist
• Dam: Perfect Pleasure

+1000
+180

11. Noises (9)

• T: Brad Widdup
• J: Andrew Adkins
• W: 54.5kg
• F: 2112
• Age: 3YO
• Colour: Brown
• Sex: Filly
• Sire: Microphone
• Dam: Beetobee

+5000
+800

Horse racing tips