Champions Stakes Sets Up Dramatic Cox Plate Rematch

Flemington is bracing for this Saturday as the Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes stages what champion hoop James McDonald dubs an outright Cox Plate rerun. Seven combatants from last month’s thriller clash once more over 2000 metres, where Andrea Leek’s barrier drawn outsider turned narrow victor, Cosmic Crusader 星辰征駕, puts his edge on the line against the Chris Waller pair he edged out: Birdman 天鳥俠義 and McDonald’s mount, Aeliana 陽光小姐. McDonald concedes William Pike’s ride holds slight favouritism, but he is determined to rewrite the script in the sequel against a stubborn old guard and fresh blood like blinkered Group 1 hunter Treasurethe Moment 珍惜當下.

The undercard brings equal star power to headquarters. McDonald pairs with 14 time winner Autumn Glow 秋暉 as the freak Sydney mare tests left handed waters for the first time in the Champions Mile, while sprinting sensation Tempted 動心 looks poised to dominate the Champions Sprint after snapping KA YING RISING’s 嘉應高昇 legendary 21 race streak in The Everest. With Melbourne Cup winning duo Ciaron Maher and Ethan Brown plotting redemption through speedster Land Legend 川河陸駒, Saturday promises high stakes closure across all three weight for age crowns.

The G1 VRC Champions Sprint (S2-4) will be run at 12:50pm (HKT) on Saturday, 7 November.