CHAMPIONS SPRINT | The G1 Blueprint

Start with the Everest. It has produced more than half the Champions Sprint winners since it began, and a top-three finish at Randwick is optional. The stronger filters for Flemington’s 1200m are a horse fourth-up and a price of $10 or shorter.

CHAMPIONS SPRINT

Distance: 1200m

Class: Group 1

Age: 3YO+

Conditions: WFA

THE EVEREST IS THE FORM TO BEAT

The Everest has supplied more than half of Champions Sprint winners since its introduction in 2017. Most of those winners missed a place at Randwick. NATURE STRIP came off a fourth and a sixth for his two wins, while SANTA ANA LANE turned a sixth in the Everest into a win down the Flemington straight.

Look at how the horse ran and how it’s likely to settle down the straight. A midfield finish in the Everest is good enough form to win this.

FOLLOW THE SCHILLACI QUINELLA

The Schillaci Stakes is the clearest alternative in the Everest era. GIGA KICK won it before winning at Flemington, while ROCH ’N’ HORSE went one better in the Champions Sprint after running second at Caulfield. MALAGUERRA also came off a Schillaci second before the Everest was introduced.

The Manikato is another proven route. IMPERATRIZ and BUFFERING completed the double, while MENTAL won at Flemington after running second in the Manikato.

FOURTH-UP IS THE SWEET SPOT

Almost 80% of winners since 2017 were fourth-up. The same share were five or six years old, and nearly 90% started at $10 or shorter. That puts a seasoned sprinter fourth-up and well found in the market at the top of the shortlist.

THE STRAIGHT SUITS MORE THAN ONE STYLE

In the Everest era, around 45% of winners settled first or second and around 45% settled seventh or worse. NATURE STRIP and REDZEL won from the front, while SANTA ANA LANE came from near last. Use the map to judge whether the speed horses can control their group and whether the closers will get enough pace to run at.

THE BLUEPRINT

Start with the Everest form and give a beaten runner another look. Put a five or six-year-old fourth-up and $10 or shorter high on the shortlist. If you’re looking outside the Everest, start with the Schillaci quinella or a strong Manikato run.

2026 CHAMPIONS SPRINT | WHO FITS THE BLUEPRINT THIS YEAR?

1 X089 GIGA KICK — Jamie Mott (7) $41

2 X102 MAZU — Rachel King (11) $34

3 2542 HEADWALL — Ethan Brown (6) $9

4 X573 CABALLUS — Blake Shinn (8) $11

5 2X54 REY MAGNERIO — William Pike (12) $34

6 X111 TEMPTED — Chad Schofield (9) $1.90

7 3X23 JOLIESTAR — James McDonald (10) $4.50

8 3X34 CHARM STONE — Damian Lane (3) $23

9 X615 SKYBIRD — Ben Melham (1) $26

10 5582 GEEGEES MISTRUTH — Craig Williams (5) $26

11 X011 POINT BARROW — Mark Zahra (2) $21

12 X498 PLAINTIFF — Jordan Childs (4) $126

THE MAP

• On pace — MAZU (11), CABALLUS (8), CHARM STONE (3). MAZU is the natural leader and gives the horses drawn out something to follow. CABALLUS led in both the Newmarket and the Russell Balding, while CHARM STONE has the speed to be prominent on the inside.

• Midfield — TEMPTED (9), JOLIESTAR (10), HEADWALL (6). TEMPTED can settle closer if she jumps as well as she did in the Everest. JOLIESTAR can follow the outside speed, while HEADWALL looks midfield to worse and could drift back if they go hard early.

• Back — GIGA KICK (7), REY MAGNERIO (12), SKYBIRD (1), GEEGEES MISTRUTH (5), POINT BARROW (2), PLAINTIFF (4). REY MAGNERIO can drop in behind the outside group. SKYBIRD and POINT BARROW are drawn low and may need the inside group to carry them into the race.

  
  

THE BARRIERS

In the Everest era, 22% of winners drew gates 1 to 4, 44% drew 5 to 8 and 33% drew 9 or wider. That’s nearly 80% from gate 5 out. Those figures show where the winners drew, without adjusting for how many runners started from each band. The case for the outside this year is the speed. MAZU and CABALLUS give TEMPTED and JOLIESTAR a tow into the race from gates nine and ten.

THE FORM LINES

The Everest is the form to beat. TEMPTED won it and comes here fourth-up. JOLIESTAR was only 0.6 lengths away in third after settling three positions behind her at the 800m. She’s a six-year-old coming through the right race and has already won over the Flemington 1200m.

TEMPTED has the stronger last-start result, while JOLIESTAR brings proven straight-track form.

HEADWALL was only 0.7 lengths off TEMPTED in the Everest and backed it up with a second in the Russell Balding.

CABALLUS ran third in that race after leading and returns to the course and distance of his Newmarket win, though he carried 55kg that day and has 58.5kg here.

GIGA KICK came from last to finish ninth in the Everest. He’s fourth-up and a past winner of this race, but needs to lift on what he’s shown this prep.

Away from the Everest, CHARM STONE brings a Manikato third and maps to get her chance. MAZU was beaten a nose in the McEwen over this course and distance, with REY MAGNERIO fourth.

SKYBIRD won the Gilgai down the straight and comes here fourth-up, while POINT BARROW is also fourth-up after consecutive Group 3 wins and faces a tougher test at weight for age. Any rain makes SKYBIRD a better bet and she's yet to miss place down the straight.

TEMPTED ticks the two strongest boxes: Everest form and fourth-up. JOLIESTAR is the main danger, and HEADWALL’s Everest margin makes him the one to keep safe.

NIC ASHMAN'S TIP #6 TEMPTED $1.90

"Marked her $1.65 and I think the only way she starts longer than $1.90 is if the track gets into the Heavy range. She could be the bet of the carnival."