Spring Champion Stakes

The Group 1 $2 million Spring Champion Stakes will be held at Randwick Racecourse in October on the same day as Melbourne's Cox Plate Day card at The Valley.

2023 Spring Champion Stakes Results

  • 1st: #2 Tom Kitten
  • 2nd: #8 Cap Ferrat
  • 3rd: #3 Ganbare



Held during the prestigious Sydney Spring Racing Carnival the Spring Champion Stakes is a Group 1 race run at Royal Randwick in mid to late October.

The Spring Champion Stakes is run over 2000m under set weight conditions. It is one of the premier races for three-year-olds at the carnival and is worth $2 million as of 2022.

This middle distance event attracts fine quality competitors every year and runners may have come via the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) earlier in the spring at Rosehill or the Listed Dulcify Quality (2000m). Ace High (2017) followed by Shadow Hero (2019) and Sharp ‘N’ Smart (2022) are the last horses to complete the Gloaming Stakes – Spring Champion Stakes double.

Previously run earlier in October in 2022 the Spring Champion Stakes was moved to run on the same Saturday as Melbourne’s iconic $5 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley.

The recently created $2 million The Invitation (1400m) race for fillies and mares, and the Group 2 $1 million Callander-Presnell (1600m) – formerly the Stan Fox Stakes – are the other key races on the new-look Spring Champion Stakes Day card from 2022 onwards.

Horses that perform well in the Spring Champion Stakes may be aimed at some of the other illustrious events held in spring at the Melbourne Racing Carnival including Flemington’s Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m). The last horses to complete the Spring Champion Stakes – VRC Derby double were Monaco Consul (2009) and Ace High (2017).

History was made in 2020 with Montefilia became the first filly to complete the Flight Stakes – Spring Champion Stakes double in the same calendar year. She went on to also run third in that year’s VRC Oaks and the following autumn’s Rosehill Guineas results.

In 2021 the Flight Stakes winning filly Never Been Kissed ran a next-up second in the Spring Champion Stakes results.

The 2021 Spring Champion Stakes form was further franked with the third-placed Alegron running second next-up in the VRC Derby. He also returned the following autumn to place third in the 2022 ATC Derby.

The 2022 Spring Champion Stakes winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart ran second next-up in the Victoria Derby results before a summer campaign the next year in New Zealand that saw him win back-to-back Group 1s including the NZ Derby. He also placed fourth in the 2023 ATC Derby results back in Sydney that autumn.

The Spring Champion 2022 form was further franked with the third-placed filly She’s Extreme going on to win that year’s VRC Oaks at Flemington.

The Spring Champion Stakes 2023 ran on Saturday October 28, 2023, the same day as Melbourne’s Cox Plate Day card, and was won in a demolition job by the James Cummings-trained favourite Tom Kitten ($2.50F). 

Spring Champion Stakes
Date: Saturday October 28, 2023
Track: Randwick Racecourse
Distance: 2000m
Conditions: 3YO at Set Weights
Weights: Colts & Geldings- 56.5kg / Fillies- 54.5kg
Status: Group 1
Prize Money: $2,000,000
Inaugurated: 1971

2023 Spring Champion Stakes Results

  • 1st: #2 Tom Kitten ($2.50F)
  • 2nd: #8 Cap Ferrat
  • 3rd: #3 Ganbare

The James Cummings-trained Tom Kitten ($2.50F) was at his best saluting for the punters with an all-too-easy romp home after coming wide under Adam Hyeronimus in the 2023 Spring Champion Stakes results ahead of a potential VRC Derby bid on November 4 at Flemington.

Click here to read more on the huge Spring Champion Stakes 2023 win by Tom Kitten.

2023 Spring Champion Stakes Results & Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 2 TOM KITTEN James Cummings Adam Hyeronimus 1 56.5kg $2.50F
2 8 CAP FERRAT Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 3.68L 9 56.5kg $16
3 3 GANBARE Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Brett Prebble 4.58L 4 56.5kg $14
4 12 TUTTA LA VITA Chris Waller Jason Collett 4.77L 5 54.5kg $6
5 6 PORT LOCKROY Annabel Neasham Ryan Maloney 5.63L 8 56.5kg $9
6 1 RAF ATTACK (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Regan Bayliss 7.28L 11 56.5kg $7.50
7 4 KINTYRE Gary Portelli Dylan Gibbons (a) 10.57L 3 56.5kg $21
8 7 RAVELLO (NZ) John O’Shea Tommy Berry 12.19L 12 56.5kg $21
9 11 RAMBLE ON Kerry Parker Jay Ford 13.01L 6 56.5kg $151
10 5 GLAD YOU THINK SO John Sargent Jean Van Overmeire 16.37L 2 56.5kg $21
11 10 MEDATSU (NZ) Chris Waller Joshua Parr 31.79L 7 56.5kg $17
12 9 LONG GENES Edward Cummings Tyler Schiller 145.64L 10 56.5kg $61

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Spring Champion Stakes Betting Odds

The latest Spring Champion Stakes 2023 betting markets on the hopeful three-year-olds facing off in the late Sydney Spring Racing Carnival classic, Spring Champion Stakes odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au, will be provided below as soon as released.

Shadow Hero ($1.90 in 2019), Montefilia ($2.70 in 2020), Profondo ($2.80 in 2021), and Tom Kitten ($2.50 in 2023) are the latest favourites in Spring Champion Stakes betting to salute for the punters.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 SPRING CHAMPION STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Spring Champion Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 SPRING CHAMPION STAKES FORM GUIDE 

2023 Spring Champion Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Spring Champion Stakes 2023 Tips on the $2 million showdown this spring.

  • To Win: #12 Tutta La Vita ($6.50 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Tom Kitten is obviously the one to beat but going out on a limb and have the filly on top. Chris Waller’s progressive daughter of The Autumn Sun takes on the boys over 2000m after her Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) third. A little freshen-up since, looked beautiful in a subsequent Rosehill trial win, down in weight, and from barrier five think she can surprise.

2023 Spring Champion Stakes Field

The Spring Champion Stakes field traditionally features many of the same runners as the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill earlier in the spring.

The Gloaming Stakes has produced more Spring Champion Stakes winners than any other lead-up and the double has recently been achieved by Sharp ‘N’ Smart (2022), Shadow Hero (2019), Ace High (2017), Vanbrugh (2015), Complacent (2013), and It’s A Dundeel (2012).

The official 2023 Spring Champion Stakes Final Field & Barriers are announced by Racing NSW on the Wednesday of race week and will be provided in full below once released.

The Spring Champion Stakes 2023 field features a quality line-up of three-year-olds with the Godolphin-raced Tom Kitten leading the markets as he looks to return to winning form off a string of good runs fifth-up now and fit for the 2000m test.

Click here to read more on the key contenders in the 2023 Spring Champion Stakes field and betting markets.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 61641 RAF ATTACK (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Regan Bayliss 11 56.5kg 85
2 41514×1332 TOM KITTEN James Cummings Adam Hyeronimus 1 56.5kg 84
3 1786×4118 GANBARE Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Brett Prebble 4 56.5kg 83
4 257×212584 KINTYRE Gary Portelli Dylan Gibbons (a) 3 56.5kg 73
5 783115 GLAD YOU THINK SO John Sargent Jean Van Overmeire 2 56.5kg 70
6 33151 PORT LOCKROY Annabel Neasham Ryan Maloney 8 56.5kg 70
7 176×169 RAVELLO (NZ) John O’Shea Tommy Berry 12 56.5kg 69
8 57x335x973 CAP FERRAT Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 9 56.5kg
9 71297 LONG GENES Edward Cummings Tyler Schiller 10 56.5kg 64
10 53331 MEDATSU (NZ) Chris Waller Joshua Parr 7 56.5kg 64
11 9×431 RAMBLE ON Kerry Parker Jay Ford 6 56.5kg 58
12 221×673 TUTTA LA VITA Chris Waller Jason Collett 5 54.5kg 86

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Spring Champion Stakes Nominations

Nominations for the Spring Champion Stakes in 2023 are taken the Monday of race week and the full list of early entries will be published below.

The 2023 Spring Champion Stakes nominations attracted 18 potential VRC Derby-bound three-year-olds led in all-in betting by James Cummings’ last start Group 3 Gloaming Stakes runner-up Tom Kitten.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 0105 BULAWAYO C 3 Pat Carey & Harris Walker 62
2 57x335x973 CAP FERRAT C 3 Chris Waller
3 1786×4118 GANBARE C 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 83
4 783115 GLAD YOU THINK SO C 3 John Sargent 70
5 411×974 KING COLORADO C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 96
6 257×212584 KINTYRE G 3 Gary Portelli 73
7 2321 KONING C 3 Richard & Will Freedman 63
8 71297 LONG GENES C 3 Edward Cummings 64
9 2569×80772 MAKE A CALL C 3 Peter & Paul Snowden
10 247×318 MATUSALEM C 3 Chris Waller 60
11 53331 MEDATSU (NZ) G 3 Chris Waller 64
12 33151 PORT LOCKROY C 3 Annabel Neasham 70
13 61641 RAF ATTACK (NZ) C 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 85
14 9×431 RAMBLE ON G 3 Kerry Parker 58
15 176×169 RAVELLO (NZ) C 3 John O’Shea 69
16 5x5x13216 SNOWMAN C 3 Chris Waller 68
17 41514×1332 TOM KITTEN C 3 James Cummings 84
18 221×673 TUTTA LA VITA F 3 Chris Waller

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Spring Champion Stakes History

The Spring Champion Stakes is one of the younger thoroughbred races conducted in Australia, and it was first run in 1971 when Gay Icarus claimed victory. It began as a principal race run over 2000m and reached Group 1 status in 1979. For one year in 2001 the race distance was set at 1800m.

A number of champion gallopers have got their start in the Spring Champion Stakes. Classy winners include Universal Prince (2000), Dignity Dancer (1998), Tie The Knot (1997), Nothin’ Leica Dane (1995), Kinjite (1991), and Kingston Town (1979).

More recently standout Spring Champion Stakes winners include Montefilia (2020), Ace High (2017) and Yankee Rose (2016).

Spring Champion Stakes Records
Time Record (for 2000m): 2:00.1 set by Hampton Court (2014)
Most Successful Jockey: R. Quinton won four times with Gold Brick (1973), Veloso (1982), Sir Dapper (1983) and Easter (1985).

Recent Spring Champion Stakes Winners

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Tom Kitten 2 minutes 01.28 seconds
2nd Cap Ferrat
3rd Ganbare
2022
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Sharp ‘N’ Smart 2 minutes 07.56 seconds
2nd Elliptical
3rd She’s Extreme
2021
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Profondo 2 minutes 01.75 seconds
2nd Never Been Kissed
3rd Alegron
2020
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Montefilia 2 minutes 01.47 seconds
2nd Lion’s Roar
3rd Bucharest
2019
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Shadow Hero 2 minutes 00.79 seconds
2nd Castelvecchio
3rd Battenburg
2018
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Maid Of Heaven 2 minutes 5.59 seconds
2nd Aramayo
3rd Thinkin’ Big
2017
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Ace High 2 minutes 3.94 seconds
2nd Tangled
3rd Sully
2016
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Yankee Rose 2 minutes 2.4 seconds
2nd Swear
3rd Prized Icon
2015
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Vanbrugh 2 minutes 2.8 seconds
2nd I’m Belucci
3rd Man Of Choice
2014
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Hampton Court 2 minutes 0.19 seconds
2nd First Seal
3rd Sweynesse
2013
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Complacent 2 minutes 3.34 seconds
2nd Criterion
3rd Savvy Nature
2012
Spring Champion Stakes
1st It’s A Dundeel 2 minutes 2.63 seconds
2nd Proisir
3rd Honorius
2011
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Doctor Doom 2 minutes 5.88 seconds
2nd Darci Be Good
3rd Sangster
2010
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Erewhon 2 minutes 2.95 seconds
2nd Retrieve
3rd Shootoff
2009
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Monaco Consul 2 minutes 9.9 seconds
2nd Gathering
3rd Viking Legend
2008
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Sousa 2 minutes 6.2 seconds
2nd Predatory Pricer
3rd Excelltastic
2007
Spring Champion Stakes
Race Not Held
2006
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Teranaba 2 minutes 4.5 seconds
2nd All Black Gold
3rd He?s No Pie Eater
2005
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Hotel Grand 2 minutes 4.8 seconds
2nd Pendragon
3rd Duelled
2004
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Savabeel 2 minutes 7.2 seconds
2nd Outback Prince
3rd Cedar Manor
2003
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Niello 2 minutes 3.4 seconds
2nd November Dreaming
3rd Tsuimai
2002
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Platinum Scissors 2 minutes 4.3 seconds
2nd Soprana
3rd Maskerado
2001
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Viking Ruler 1 minute 49.5 seconds
2nd Evander
3rd Silver Baron
2000
Spring Champion Stakes
1st Universal Prince 2 minutes 5.1 seconds
2nd Falls The Shadow
3rd Go Bint

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