Overview
- Flemington’s Champions Day on Saturday features three marquee $3 million Group 1 races: the Champions Sprint (1200m), Champions Mile (1600m) and Champions Stakes (2000m).
- Trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald will ride Joliestar, Autumn Glow and Aeliana in quick succession, running three top chances over about 80 minutes.
- Autumn Glow is the short-priced favourite for the Champions Mile after winning 14 of 15 starts and is being positioned as extremely adaptable to tactics and track conditions.
- Tempted enters the Champions Sprint as favourite off The Everest win but has never raced down the Flemington straight, creating a tactical question for connections and punters.
- The Champions Stakes reunites the Cox Plate top finishers — Cosmic Crusader, Birdman and Aeliana — with UK raider Omni Man entered and Sheza Alibi withdrawn, a mix that changes race dynamics and betting markets.