A deep dive into the G1 Spring Champion Stakes

Cover image courtesy of Sportpix

In 2024, the G1 Spring Champion S. for 3-year-olds over 2000 metres will take place on G1 Cox Plate Day, a race over 2040 metres for 3-year-olds and up, where last year’s Champion 2YO Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) will represent this year’s crop of 3-year-olds.

“This is the final Saturday at Royal Randwick of the Spring and in the wake of the TAB Everest gives Sydney another chance to feel the electric atmosphere of a feature race day,’’ Australian Turf Club Head of Racing and Wagering Nevesh Ramdhani said.

“The Group 1 $2 million Moët & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes and $2 million The Invitation are part of a race day full of feature races right across the afternoon. The ATC is again delighted with Racing NSW to honour two media icons in Kenny Callander and Max Presnell who have covered Sydney racing with great distinction in print and across TV and radio for many decades.’’

The 2024 field

Eleven runners accepted for the G1 Spring Champion S. of 2024, and of note, all are from different stables with no trainer having two runners. When the nominations closed, the early favourite was Swiftfalcon (Exceedance) trained by Team Hawkes.

“He just needs to draw a barrier and it's his for the taking,” Michael Hawkes told racingandsports.com.au on Monday. “It's always been there but until you really stretch them out, you don't really know. He gave every indication that he's wanted the 2000. When he won the Dulcify, he had a great turn of foot and really put them to the sword.”

Swiftfalcon, winner of three of his six starts has been very consistent this spring. He won first up at Flemington, then won the Listed Dulcify S. before running second at his most recent start in the G3 Gloaming S. His sire won the G1 Coolmore Stud S. but his damline brings some stamina to the equation with his second dam being Zabeel (NZ) mare Hansuyen (NZ) who was a winner at 1500 metres and is the dam of Group 2 winner Champagne Harmony (Choisir), dam of Grace And Harmony (Sebring). Hansuyen is a full sibling to G1 New Zealand Derby winner St Reims and G1 LKS Mackinnon S. winner Champagne. New Zealand Horse Of The Year and dual Oaks winner Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) is also in this family.

The second favourite is El Castello (Castelvecchio) who is unbeaten in three runs this season. He placed twice at two, including in the Listed Fernhill S. and has improved at three with a last start win in the G3 Gloaming S. over 1800 metres.

A $220,000 purchase by his trainer from Cambridge Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, El Castello is the first stakes winner for his sire, Castelvecchio who is a son of Dundeel (NZ) who has Henlein and Duvana in the race. El Castello is the second foal of winning mare Word Games (Fastnet Rock) who is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Fiveandahalfstar (Hotel Grand).

Gallery: The current favourites for the G1 Spring Champion S., images courtesy of Sportpix

Henlein touted as stallion prospect

With successful stallions coming through the G1 Spring Champion S. such as Dundeel (NZ), Savabeel, and Danewin, as well as other good stallions like Ace High, Vanbrugh, Complacent, Platinum Scissors, Viking Ruler, and Nothing Leica Dane, this race has the potential to showcase a future stallion of note.

Henlein is the current third favourite and has a stallion’s pedigree being by past G1 Spring Champion S. winner Dundeel (NZ) who is now a successful stallion. “We didn’t feel he was going to be sharp enough for a Guineas prep or anything like that,” co-trainer Sam Freedman told Sky Sports Radio on Wednesday morning.

“We went through past runners and winners of the race for the last 15 years and nearly all of them had been campaigned in Sydney, running in Sydney the whole way through. He’s on track and this is his grand final so hopefully he’s there to peak. Hopefully we’re dealing with a stallion prospect after Saturday, and we can put him away and go for the autumn.”

Purchased by Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) from Milburn Creek Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $300,000, Henlein is a half-brother to Group 1 winner Magic Time (Hellbent) and their dam is Group 3 winner Time Awaits (Nicconi) who won three races at two, including two at black type level.

“We were negative enough I suppose from that barrier and dragged him right back,” Freedman said of his last start sixth in the G3 Gloaming S.

“We were a little bit critical, thought he might have been able to tack on to the eventual second horse and if he’d finished third probably, we would have walked away and gone 'he’s bang on track'. He closed it off very well, but he’s still got a few things to iron out. He just wanted to get on one rein down the straight a touch, he’s still a bit green and inexperienced, we have the visors going on for Saturday. He worked very sharp in them. I’m sure he can make the improvement needed.”

The D’Argento influence

Second crop sire D’Argento has the most runners in the G1 Spring Champion S. with three, being Due Calzini, Flying Argento and Rag Queen. Dundeel has two, being Henlein and Chris Waller trained Duvana, who was unplaced in the G3 Gloaming S. last start. All other sires have just the sole representative.

Unbeaten in two starts at two, D’Argento improved at three to win the G1 Rosehill Guineas in the autumn and trained on at four to place at Group 1 level twice. His oldest progeny are 3-year-olds and he has seven winners including stakes-placed Silva ‘N’ Sauve and Rag Queen.

Trained by David Payne, 3-year-old filly Rag Queen won on debut then ran third in the R. Listed Inglis Millennium S. at two. This season at three, she has had three starts including a last start fourth in the G3 Gloaming S.

Danielle Sieb trained 3-year-old gelding Due Calzini was a winner and placed twice in five starts at two. This season at three, his three starts have included a placing at Rosehill two starts ago, and he was ninth in the G3 Gloaming S. last start.

Flying Argento, a gelding trained by Gary Portelli, was deemed good enough to run in the G3 TL Baillieu S. at two and at three, he ran third at Goulburn at his most recent start to take his record to one third from five starts.

Gallery: Some of D'argento's runners in the G1 Spring Champion S.

The best of the rest

The rest of the G1 Spring Champion S. field for 2024 is Firm Agreement (Yes Yes Yes), Harlem Queen (Brutal {NZ}), Pleasure Artist (Trapeze Artist) and Noises (Microphone).

The best of the rest is Nathan Doyle trained Harlem Queen who comes into this race off a different formline to many of the others, having not run in the G3 Gloaming S. Harlem Queen placed on debut at two, and this season at three, she won her first two starts before a strong second placing in the G1 Flight S. last start.

“It’s something I always wanted to achieve, it feels good,’’ Doyle told racingnsw.com.au about having a Group 1 runner. “It’s good to have a horse with enough ability, and she always showed stakes class ability, so it’s good to get there.

“She was very strong through the line last start, I thought her last 100 metres was the best. I think the gate will suit her, her best runs have been when she’s able to get to the outside and let roll into it. We were dictated to by circumstances in the Flight where we had to be third on the fence.”

Pleasure Artist, trained by Richard and Will Freedman, has had just the three starts, winning at Kembla Grange two starts ago, then second in the Listed Dulcify S. last start.

Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald trained Firm Agreement comes into this with a consistent record, being a winner and twice placed from three starts, while Brad Widdup trained Noises has been consistent at lower grades with two wins and two seconds in her last four starts.