The 2023 Melbourne Cup Carnival officially concludes at Flemington on Champions Day!
It has been an absolutely enormous week at HQ, with new Derby, Oak and Melbourne Cup winners crowed, and another three Group 1 feature races lie ahead of us.
Check out my complete 2023 Champions Day Tips below!
Australian Childhood Foundation Trophy (1600m) – 12:40pm AEDT
Von Hauke looks to be in peak order and can win the first on Stakes Day.
The Savabeel returned win a winner in BM64 company at Sandown back in September, and he has since returned two nice performances in features company at Flemington and Geelong.
He’s hard fit, the mile is ideal, and I think that this is the perfect Saturday metro target for him.
Suggested Bet: No. 6 Von Hauke
Listed Resimax Group Always Welcome Stakes (1200m) – 1:15pm AEDT
Parisal faded late over the 1400m at Randwick last time out, and I thought that dropping back to the 1200m this week should prove ideal.
The Astern mare returned a winner of the Group 3 Toy Show Quality back in August, before consecutive second placings in the Cockram Stakes and the Nivison.
She’s hard fit and is drawn to receive every chance under James McDonald.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Parisal
Listed The Amanda Elliott (1400m) – 1:50pm AEDT
I’m going to have something on the third-up Schwarz in the Amanda Elliott at Flemington on Saturday.
Schwarz showed some ability at the trials prior to debuting, and he stamped himself as one to watch with a dominant performance at Gosford at the beginning of October.
He franked that performance with about smart one to finish fourth behind Archo Nacho in the Red Anchor Stakes on Cox Plate Day, and with further improvement, I thought that something like this would be ideal for him.
Suggested Bet: No. 6 Schwarz
Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) – 2:30pm AEDT
Luncies really got going late in the Geelong Cup last time out, and I can’t wait to see him out to 2600m on the big Flemington track this week.
The Group 1 performed gelding has improved with each of three starts back from a break, and I thought that his last effort, with topweight in tow, suggested that he is nearing peak order.
He drops a couple of kgs from that run, and he the booking of Mark Zahra certainly doesn’t hinder his chances of winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Suggested Bet: TBA
Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) – 3:10pm AEDT
Steinem is ready to peak in the Matriarch Stakes, and I am of the opinion that she is a genuine Group 2 calibre horse.
The Frankel mare finished at the tail of the field in the Memsie Stakes first-up from a spell, before finishing well off the pace again in the Stocks Stakes.
She was far better into fourth in the Neds Coongy Cup last time out, and I think that getting back to Flemington is going to be the making of her this week.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Steinem
Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) – 3:50pm AEDT
Eleven quality sprinters have accepted into the first of three Group feature races on Champions Day, including Imperatriz.
Check out my full races preview and complete 2023 Champions Sprint Tips RIGHT HERE.
Suggested Bet: No. 8 Imperatriz
Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) – 4:30pm AEDT
Some of the best milers in the country will contest this race, including Mr Brightside, Alligator Blood and Fangirl.
I’ve put Mr Brightside on top, but check out my full race preview and 2023 Champions Mile Tips RIGHT HERE.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Mr Brightside
Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) – 5:10pm AEDT
This is almost certainly the best race on the program, and we’ll get to see several spring stars step out again in the Champions Stakes.
I have landed on Prowess, but check out my full race preview and complete 2023 Champions Stakes Tips RIGHT HERE.
Suggested Bet: No. 11 Prowess
World Horse Racing Grand Handicap (1100m) – 5:50pm AEDT
I’m sticking with Bews in the last on Champions Day.
Bews has returned to the races a model of consistency this time, and only just missed in a couple of metro races before returning to the winners stall out at Seymour at his latest.
This is obviously harder, but he’s hard fit now, and he’s drawn to receive a lovely run under Blake Shinn.
Suggested Bet: No. 7 Bews
