This weekend two Group 1s headline the Sydney racing action at Royal Randwick including the two-year-olds’ feature clash – the 2014 Champagne Stakes.

A 10-horse field of youngsters is engaged to face off in this year’s $400,000 Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m), the current favourite of which is last start ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Peggy Jean.

Gerald Ryan’s Myboycharlie filly is after the two Randwick Group 1s then, paying $3 in the latest Champagne Stakes odds to do so.

The next best in Champagne Stakes betting is another last start winner, Northern Meteor filly Veuvelicious backing up from their smart three and a half length Listed Fernhill Handicap (1600m) win here last weekend.

Others in the top half of betting then include recent Group 3 winner Bachman ($5) in gate three with Bowman aboard, and the lightly raced Adelaide raider Go Indy Go ($7) in her maiden Sydney run.

This is what the betting markets say, but what about the Champagne Stakes form guide and history?

2014 Champagne Stakes Form Facts & Stats

• Last year’s Champagne Stakes winner was the Peter Snowden-trained Guelph who came off a Sires Produce win at the track a fortnight before

• This year Snowden is back with #4 Kumaon ($17) to be ridden by last year’s winning hoop Kerrin McEvoy from the inside alley
• Guleph was Snowden’s third Champagne Stakes winner in the past four years too following victories by Helmet (2012) and Skilled (2010)
• Race favourite #6 Peggy Jean ($3) is then after the same ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes – Champagne Stakes Group 1 double Guelph secured last autumn
• Five have completed the double, including Guelph, in the past 10 years including the past three on the trot with Pierro (2012) and Helmet (2011)

• The Sires Produce is the most telling form for the Champagne with only two Champagne Stakes winners since 1998 not having come via the previous Randwick Group 1; it has also produced nine of the past 10 winners
• Next best over the line in the Sires this year in Saturday’s race is then runner-up #1 Scratch Me Lucky ($9.50)
• Favourites have won four of the past 10 editions of the Champagne Stakes, #6 Peggy Jean out to become the next this year
• The most successful Champagne Stakes barriers since 1983 have been six (seven winners) and seven (six winners); this year the hopefuls jumping from those gates are #9 Go Indy Go ($7) and #2 Zululand ($21) respectively
• The highest Win Rate of the field belongs to #3 Bachman (50%)
• The top Place Percentage is then 100% with #6 Peggy Jean and #9 Go Indy Go yet to finish out of the money
• #6 Peggy Jean is also undefeated at the track (2-2-0-0)
• #8 Veuvelicious ($3.30) meanwhile has won at the track and distance, the only one with winning form over the mile

2014 Champagne Stakes Tip

1^st – #6 Peggy Jean ($3)

2^nd – #3 Bachman ($5)

3^rd – #8 Veuvelicious ($3.30)

Based on the above we are sticking with the favourite Peggy Jean to make it three from three at Randwick, and back-to-back Group 1s at the track.

Bachman is our next pick as they have plenty of ability and beat a number of these home last time out while Veuvelicious is another strong chance despite being on the short turnaround as they’re already proven at the distance.

To get behind our Champagne Stakes selections or your own tips for the two-year-olds’ classic make sure you head to Ladbrokes.com.au where you’ll get the guaranteed best prices on all the Randwick races this weekend!

2014 Champagne Stakes Form Guide