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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