Spring Champion Stakes
Spring Champion Stakes
Group One Betting Guide
| Date: | Saturday, October 25, 2025 |
| Location: | Randwick Racecourse – Sydney, New South Wales |
| Prize Money: | $2,000,000 |
| Distance: | 2000m |
Run over 2000m for $2,000,000 at Rosehill, the Spring Champion Stakes is typically won by nicely-bred horses which have been earmarked for races such as the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup the following season. The Victoria Derby also plays a big part in the race with three Derby winners taking out the Spring Champion Stakes earlier in their preparations.
It’s run in mid-late October en route to the Victoria Derby a week later so punters should be looking towards horses which are on the improve.
2025 Spring Champion Stakes odds
Spring Champion Stakes 2025 betting markets are currently unavailable.
Spring Champion Stakes bookmakers
Markets open for the Spring Champion Stakes around August/September. Australian online bookmakers will identify which horses have been nominated for the spring carnival staying races and frame a market accordingly.
It’s not the most popular betting race in Australia, but the value punters get great odds throughout the year and that’s when the best value is available. The bookmakers below offer Spring Champion Stakes markets. Most of the top betting sites in Australia have also got downloadable bet apps available to customer, with these free to sign up at.
The best Spring Champion Stakes bookmakers for 2022 are:
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Latest Spring Champion Stakes News
Spring Champion Stakes betting guide
The well-bred horses have a good record in the Spring Champion Stakes. Punters should be looking towards the horses which are bred to see out a strong 2000m-2400m and also horses which are on the path towards the Victoria Derby and the VRC Oaks.
This is a key betting strategy as the stronger three-year-olds will be in top form at this time of the year and the stronger types have a great record in the race.
There have been some notable favourites win the Spring Champion Stakes with Platinum Scissors, Universal Prince, Tie The Knot and Magic Of Sydney.
Recent history has favoured punters who can spot value in a strong three-year-old. Recent winners have included Hampton Court, Complacent and It’s A Dundeel – all three strong types which were all serious thoroughbreds over the longer staying distances.
Add Monaco Consul to that list which won in 2009 at ridiculous odds of $50. The New Zealand runner would later become a top stayer and it gave punters reason to start looking away from the 1600m-2000m horses and more towards the staying types.
Some of the best middle distance horses have finished in the placings behind the staying types which has included First Seal, Sweynesse, Criterion and Proisir.
Teranaba also won in 2006 at odds of $50.
The best trainer to follow is Gai Waterhouse who has won four times. Waterhouse has a great record during the Sydney spring carnival and she gets her stayers going very early in their preparation.
In 2016, Yankee Rose became the first filly to win the Spring Champion Stakes after many failed attempts by some of Australia’s best fillies.
The Gloaming Stakes has proved to be the key lead-up race, with seven of the last 14 winners of the Gloaming; Dundeel (2012), Complacent (2013), Vanbrugh (2015) Ace High (2017), Shadow Hero (2019), Sharp ‘N’ Smart (2022) and El Castello (2024) going on to win the Spring Champion Stakes.
2025 Spring Champion Stakes Final Field
HorseBetting will update this page when the 2025 Spring Champion Stakes final field is released.
Previous Spring Champion Stakes Fields
Plenty of future Group 1 superstars have gone on to win the Spring Champion Stakes. Check the previous fields of the Spring Champion Stakes here.
1. El Castello (8)
- T: Anthony Cummings
- J: Joshua Parr
- W: 56.5kg
- F: x111
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Castelvecchio
- Dam: Word Games
2. Swiftfalcon (11)
- T: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
- J: Jay Ford
- W: 56.5kg
- F: x112
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Exceedance
- Dam: Tempting Delight
3. Henlein (1)
- T: Anthony & Sam Freedman
- J: Tommy Berry
- W: 56.5kg
- F: x626
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Dundeel (NZ)
- Dam:/span> Time Awaits
4. Firm Agreement (10)
- T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
- J: Tom Sherry
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 213
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Yes Yes Yes
- Dam: Money Magic
5. Duvana (4)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Joao Moreira
- W: 56.5kg
- F: x510
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Dundeel (NZ)
- Dam: Stay With Me
6. Due Calzini (3)
- T: Danielle Seib
- J: Kerrin McEvoy
- W: 56.5kg
- F: x839
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay/Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: D’argento
- Dam: Terminally Pretty
7. Flying Argento (2)
- T: Gary Portelli
- J: Zac Lloyd
- W: 56.5kg
- F: x683
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: D’argento
- Dam: Misstiflying
8. Harlem Queen (7)
- T: Nathan Doyle
- J: Sam Clipperton
- W: 54.5kg
- F: x112
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay/Brown
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Brutal (NZ)
- Dam: Harlem River
9. Rag Queen (6)
- T: David Payne
- J: Chad Schofield
- W: 54.5kg
- F: x074
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: D’argento
- Dam: Victory Day
10. Pleasure Artist (5)
- T: Richard & Will Freedman
- J: Jason Collett
- W: 54.5kg
- F: 412
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay/Brown
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Trapeze Artist
- Dam: Perfect Pleasure
No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Raf Attack Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Regan Bayliss 11 56.5kg 2 Tom Kitten James Cummings Adam Hyeronimus 1 56.5kg 3 Ganbare Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Brett Prebble 4 56.5kg 4 Kintyre Gary Portelli Dylan Gibbons 3 56.5kg 5 Glad You Think So John Sargent Jean Van Overmeire 2 56.5kg 6 Port Lockroy Annabel Neasham Ryan Maloney 8 56.5kg 7 Ravello John O’Shea Tommy Berry 12 56.5kg 8 Cap Ferrat Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 9 56.5kg 9 Longe Genes Edward Cummings Tyler Schiller 10 56.5kg 10 Medatsu Chris Waller Joshua Parr 7 56.5kg 11 Ramble On Kerry Parker Jay Ford 6 56.5kg 12 Tutta La Vita Chris Waller Jason Collett 5 54.5kg No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Elliptical Anthony & Sam Freedman Blake Shinn 1 56.5kg 2 Promitto David Atkins Joshua Parr 5 56.5kg 3 Sharp ‘N’ Smart Graeme & Deborah Rogerson Hugh Bowman 8 56.5kg 4 Williamsburg Gerlad Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Kerrin McEvoy 2 56.5kg 5 Matcha Latte Mark Newnham Tom Sherry 7 56.5kg 6 Owen County John Sargent Keagan Latham 11 56.5kg 7 Conqueror Chris Waller Jason Collett 4 56.5kg 8 Coppleson Chris Waller Brenton Avdulla 3 56.5kg 9 Manzoice Chris Waller William Pike 12 56.5kg 10 Bunker Hut Michael Freedman Regan Bayliss 6 56.5kg 11 She’s Extreme Anthony Cummings Glyn Schofield 10 54.5kg 12 Renaissance Woman Bjorn Baker Rachel King 9 54.5kg No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Head Of State Chris Waller James McDonald 9 56.5kg 2 Profondo Richard Litt Robbie Dolan 10 56.5kg 3 Alegron James Cummings Kerrin McEvoy 2 56.5kg 4 Benaud John O’Shea Hugh Bowman 7 56.5kg 5 French Emperor David Payne Tim Clark 11 56.5kg 6 Raging Bull David Payne Andrew Adkins 4 56.5kg 7 Inverell Clayton Douglas Nash Rawiller 13 56.5kg 8 Patton Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Tommy Berry 1 56.5kg 9 Clyde Gary Portelli Joshua Parr 12 56.5kg 10 Satirical Glory John Sargent Sam Clipperton 6 56.5kg 11 Never Been Kissed Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Regan Bayliss 8 54.5kg 12 ChillAnthony CummingsAlysha Collett354.5kg13 Bulloo Stuart Kendrick Rachel King 5 54.5kg No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Cherry Tortoni Patrick Payne Ryan Maloney 4 56.5kg 2 Global QuestChris WallerGlen Boss956.5kg3 Love Tap Richard & Michael Freedman Nash Rawiller 14 56.5kg 4 Street Dancer Anthony Cummings Regan Bayliss 15 56.5kg 5 Bucharest Chris Waller Kathy O’Hara 10 56.5kg 6 Lion’s Roar John O’Shea Brenton Avdulla 7 56.5kg 7 Achiever Chris Waller Kathy O’Hara 10 56.5kg 8 AlbaradoTrent Busutiin & Natalie YoungTim Clark1156.5kg9 Choir James Cummings Rachel King 2 56.5kg 10 Wertheimer Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Tommy Berry 8 56.5kg 11 Socrates John O’Shea Kerrin McEvoy 5 56.5kg 12 Gorshin Anthony Cummings Louise Day 6 56.5kg 13 Montefilia David Payne Jason Collett 1 54.5kg 14 Miravalle Mark Newnham Joshua Parr 13 54.5kg 15 Favreau John Sargent Sam Clipperton 12 54.5kg
2024 Spring Champion Stakes result
1st – El Castello (+210)
2nd – Henlein (-133.33)
3rd – Firm Agreement (+340)
Recent Spring Champion Stakes winners
- The Anthony Cummings-trained El Castello ($3.10) kept his undefeated record intact for the campaign, securing victory in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick. The Castelvecchio colt picked up his fourth-consecutive win of the preparation, fending off the late challenge of Henlein ($5.00), and proving the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) on October 12 was no fluke. Joshua Parr managed to navigate his way to the one-one throughout as the Brad Widdup-trained Noises ($81.00) launched across the field from barrier eight and stretched out at a strong tempo. Henlein had no excuses after landing on the leaders’ back throughout, while Swiftfalcon ($3.80) was ridden cold once again after drawing out in barrier 10. There was a mid-race move by Zac Lloyd aboard rank outsider Flying Argento ($151.00), leaving a few key chances chasing a long way out. El Castello worked his way to the lead with 300m left to travel; however, Henlein loomed large to his outside and appeared ready to stroll straight past. It simply never eventuated, however, with El Castello kicking into another gear to boot clear to put pave to his rivals to secure the $2 million prize.
- Tom Kitten ($2.40) demolished his rivals in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick, courtesy of an elite steer from Adam Hyeronimus. He was the beneficiary of regularly appointed jockey Nash Rawiller out with a suspension, as Hyeronimus took his chance with open arms, circling the top-half of the field aboard the son of Harry Angel. It never looked in doubt for favourite backers, with the three-year-old able to hold a mid-field position from barrier one, and as the race unfolded, the gaps appeared perfectly for the Godolphin colt. Raf Attack ($7.00) ensured a genuine gallop as he strode to the lead under Reagan Bayliss, with the stablemate Ganbare ($14.00) able to lob in the one-one position, given every chance by Brett Prebble. Cap Ferrat ($15.00) finished off gamely into the quinella spot, while Ganbare and Tutta La Vitta ($6.00) rounded out the top four. In the end, it was all about the winner, as Tom Kitten secured his first-ever Group 1 victory
- Graeme Rogerson has returned to his old stomping ground to take out the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick with Sharp ‘N’ Smart, whom he trains in partnership with wife Debbie, giving the Rogerson’s their first Australian Group 1 since Shootoff captured the 2011 Queensland Derby. Having been forced to travel three wide with no cover throughout, Hugh Bowman managed to have the Kiwi in clear air throughout the home straight and when asked to knuckle down inside the final furlong, Sharp ‘N’ Smart managed to get his head down at the right time to blouse Elliptical in the shadows of the winning post.
- Richard Litt’s $1.9 million colt Profondo gave Irish hoop Robbie Dolan his first career Group 1 victory in the 2021 Spring Champion Stakes. At just his third career start, the three-year-old son of Deep Impact started a heavily supported $2.80 favourite with the punters in the $1 million race and raced away to win by 2.2 lengths over the Flight Stakes winner Never Been Kissed. Having partnered the colt in all four of his trials and his first two race starts, Profondo’s owners showed their faith in Robbie Dolan and kept him on board in the Group 1 event, which saw the jockey ride the race of his life and has shown these two together are a force to be reckoned with.
- Just seven days after claiming the Flight Stakes at Group 1 level, David Payne’s filly, Montefilia, saluted in the Spring Champion Stakes against the boys. Starting as a $2.70 favourite over Cherry Tortoni ($4.60) and Love Tap ($4.80), Montefilia was able to give favourite backers back-to-back success in the race. After settling sixth on the fence under Hugh Bowman, Montefilia was edged out into clear air at the top of the straight and fought hard to fend off the challenge from Lion’s Roar, with that pair putting four lengths on Bucharest who ran third. The victory gave the fillies’ trainer his second Spring Champion Stakes win, after Ace High won in 2017.
- In what looked like a match race between market favourite Shadow Hero and the well backed Castelvecchio, it was the Mark Newnham and Joshua Parr combination who made sure favourite punters were a happy bunch as Shadow Hero wins G1 Spring Champion Stakes. With Just Thinkin’ setting a genuine tempo up in front, the winner had to have plenty left in the tank when entering the home straight and Shadow Hero had just that. Josh Parr asked the colt for an effort at the top of the straight and he produced what was needed to make up the four lengths to the leader and had enough in the tank to hold out Castelvecchio in the process.
- In one of the more sentimental wins in Spring Champion Stakes history, Rachael King and Mark Newnham combined to deliver a win with Maid of Heaven. Newnham, who actually convinced King to switch back to flat racing after piloting the jumpers, prepared the horse to produce one withering burst when race favourite Thinkin’ Big wilted in the final 200m following a torrid run.Aramayo and Maid of Heaven separated from the field with the latter just getting the better of the Godolphin runner as the line approached. It was just the second time in the race’s history that the race was taken out by a filly.
- The punters didn’t fancy any other runner than Ace High in 2017 and their faith was vindicated. The champion galloper found the front early and dictated terms from start to finish. Tangled closed late and made it very interesting but it was Ace High who held on to deliver the first win of back-to-back successes in Group 1 races.
- David Vandyke scored one of his biggest wins as a trainer when Yankee Rose became the first filly to win the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes. The All American filly sat near the rear of the field before unleashing a sustained sprint down the outside. It was also jockey Dean Yendall’s first Group one win
- Vanbrugh was too good for its rivals in 2015, recording a 1.3-length win over I’m Belucci. An even field was presented with no major standouts and the punters backed Vanbrugh into the $2.35 favourite. It wasn’t one of the most memorable Spring Champion Stakes wins, but all credit to the young stayer.
- The Gai Waterhouse-trained Hampton Court caused an upset in 2014 by beating the likes of First Seal and Sweynesse. Punters decided it was a match-race between First Seal and Sweynesse, but they overlooked the Waterhouse factor and also its breeding. The three-year-old was by Redoute’s Choice and that strong breeding line came through on race day.
- Bred to see out the extreme staying distances, Complacent – son of Authorized, was impressive in defeating Criterion by 1.3 lengths. The Peter Snowden-trained colt had a good spot during the run before sprinting to the front over the final two furlongs. It held off the challengers and it’s still one of the better Spring Champion fields in history. Savvy Nature, Hooked, Equator, Thunder Fantasy and Vilanova were among the beaten runners.
- It was a two-horse race down the Randwick straight as Proisir and It’s A Dundeel went head-to-head. The Murray Baker-trained Kiwi It’s A Dundeel eventually got the better of its rival and it would later become the champion three-year-old of its year. The son of High Chaparral put five lengths on the rest of the field and its strong breeding line was a good guide for punters.
- Doctor Doom’s Spring Champion Stakes win didn’t seem overly impressive at the time, but it defeated future Derby winner Sangster by 1.5 lengths which makes it a strong victory. The Guy Walter-trained gelding was an $8 chance with bookmakers in a field of only nine runners. It didn’t quite kick on with it following the win, but it was a more than satisfactory career.
Spring Champion Stakes past winners list
| Spring Champion Stakes Past Winners | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2024 | El Castello | Joshua Parr | Anthony Cummings |
| 2023 | Tom Kitten | James McDonald | James Cummings |
| 2022 | Sharp ‘N’ Smart | Hugh Bowman | Graeme & Deborah Rogerson |
| 2021 | Profondo | Robbie Dolan | Richard Litt |
| 2020 | Montefilia | Jason Collett | David Payne |
| 2019 | Shadow Hero | Joshua Parr | Mark Newnham |
| 2018 | Maid Of Heaven | Rachel King | Mark Newnham |
| 2017 | Ace High | Tye Angland | David Payne |
| 2016 | Yankee Rose | Dean Yendall | David Vandyke |
| 2015 | Vanbrugh | Glyn Schofield | Chris Waller |
| 2014 | Hampton Court | Joshua Parr | Gai Waterhouse |
| 2013 | Complacent | Christian Reith | Peter Snowden |
| 2012 | Dundeel | James McDonald | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
| 2011 | Doctor Doom | Rodney Quinn | Guy Walter |
| 2010 | Erewhon | Hugh Bowman | Peter Snowden |
| 2009 | Monaco Consul | Jay Ford | Michael Moroney |
| 2008 | Sousa | Corey Brown | Peter Snowden |
| 2007 | Race Not Held | ||
| 2006 | Teranaba | Larry Cassidy | Anthony Cummings |
| 2005 | Hotel Grand | Jay Ford | Anthony Cummings |
| 2004 | Savabeel | Chris Munce | Graeme Rogerson |
| 2003 | Niello | Corey Brown | John Hawkes |
| 2002 | Platinum Scissors | Jim Cassidy | Gai Waterhouse |
| 2001 | Viking Ruler | Lenny Beasley | Clarry Conners |
| 2000 | Universal Prince | Justin Sheehan | Barry Miller |
Spring Champion Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000
| Spring Champion Stakes Past Winners Pre 2000 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Horse | ||
| 1999 | Fairway | ||
| 1998 | Dignity Dancer | ||
| 1997 | Tie the Knot | ||
| 1996 | Magic of Sydney | ||
| 1995 | Nothin’ Leica Dane | ||
| 1994 | Danewin | ||
| 1993 | Fraternity | ||
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