The key act on All Aged Stakes Day in Sydney on Saturday sees the two-year-old middle distance youngsters face off in the Champagne Stakes 2018, betting tips and updated odds on the clash found below.
Long Leaf is the Races.com.au tip to win the 2018 Champagne Stakes over the Randwick mile this weekend in Sydney. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Set to run as Royal Randwick Race 6 at 2:55pm (AEST), this year’s Group 1 $500,000 Champagne Stakes (1600m) field features 13 hopefuls.
The latest Champagne Stakes odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au are a relatively open affair with money continuing to roll in for the firming Hawkes Racing-trained favourite Outrageous ($7.50 into $4.80).
Drawn a treat in barrier three with Brenton Avdulla retaining the ride, the All Too Hard colt comes off a last start third in the Group 1 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) when a length beaten as a $26 roughie following a luckless run.
Punters won’t find Outrageous at anywhere near that price in Champagne Stakes betting, the bookies tipping the horse to relish the step-up to a mile and set to get a better run from the barrier on Saturday.
The dangers looking at the markets include the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Not A Single Cent ($5.50) looking to improve on his lead-up 10th in the Sydney equivalent after a tough run from barrier 15 of 15 and the Mick Price-trained Hinchinbrook filly Seabrook ($6.50) who ran ninth in the same lead-up only three lengths beaten.
Earlier in the week we published our comprehensive Champagne Stakes 2018 Form Guide Analysis & Betting Preview, our below tips on the juveniles’ classic based on the facts and stats uncovered there.
1st
#2 Long Leaf ($7.50)
The ATC Sires’ has produced 10 of the past 12 Champagne Stakes winners and one of the best runs in that lead-up came from this Lindsay Park-trained Fastnet Rock colt who was under on and a half lengths beaten for fourth. He hasn’t won since late January and is yet to salute outside of Melbourne, but is improving each Sydney start. Golden Slipper sixth two back three lengths off the winner as a $14 roughie and closer over 1400m in the Sires’. Mile then should suit following that form. Since 2005 just two Champagne Stakes winners have jumped at double-figures and Long Leaf fits that brief at his current price, still representing value and boasting the 50% winning strike rate to boot.
2nd
#13 Seabrook ($6.50)
One-time favourite Seabrook has eased out in the markets following her barrier 12 of 13 draw. Don’t think the gate is a bad thing for this filly however as she didn’t love the rails drawn when ninth in the ATC Sires’ last time out. Three lengths beaten there on the back of the excellent Slipper fifth, which followed her Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m) win at Randwick. She’s got class, Damien Oliver retains the ride, she’s one of only two with previous winning form at the track and if she runs out a mile with a clear age she’s a genuine threat.
3rd
#1 Encryption ($15)
Good price on offer for the James Cummings-trained Lonhro colt who won Canberra’s Group 3 Black Opal Stakes (1200m) two back before the sixth in the ATC Sires’. He had barrier 13 that day and was under two lengths off the winner after an on-speed run. Similar draw here (10) with dual Champagne Stakes winning hoop Hugh Bowman coming on. Strong Place Rate (67%), option to get back if Bowman decides that’s needed and if the mile proves his go is a chance for Godolphin.
Whether you are backing or sacking our exclusive Champagne Stakes 2018 tips, access the best Sydney Saturday racing odds through Ladbrokes.com.au.
