Complacent And Savvy Nature Set To Clash In The Spring Champion Stakes

Darley colt Complacent will be chasing his third straight win when he contests the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Complacent and Savvy Nature will face-off again in the Spring Champion Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Complacent and Savvy Nature will face-off again in the Spring Champion Stakes at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Photo by: Steve Hart

Complacent started his racing career with back-to-back second place finishes at Hawkesbury and Warwick Farm but stamped himself as a genuine Group 1 contender with impressive victories in the Hawkesbury Race Club Motel Maiden (1400m) and the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m).

The Authorized colt battled home strongly to upset Savvy Nature and Drago in the Gloaming Stakes and he will have the opportunity to face the classy pair once again this Saturday.

Savvy Nature is chasing his second victory at Group level this campaign after he scored a fast-finishing win in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle on September 18.

The Savabeel gelding may have been narrowly defeated by Complacent in the Gloaming Stakes but was clearly the run of the race and is now the clear favourite in 2013 Spring Champion Stakes betting markets at odds of $3.60.

Anthony Cummings-trained Drago has been the favourite for the Group 1 event for the majority of the spring, after his slashing first-up effort in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m), but failed to fire in the Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) and was a well beaten third in the Gloaming Stakes.

Patinack Farm-owned Hooked, Bjorn Baker-trained Fuerza, Street Cry colt Shikra and New Zealand-trained Fast Dragon are also backing up from the Gloaming Stakes in the Spring Champion Stakes this weekend.

The other key form race for the Spring Champion Stakes is the Listed Dulcify Handicap (1600m) that was narrowly won by Rock Hero at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

The Fastnet Rock colt recorded his second straight win, after a six and a half lengths romp at Canterbury, despite suffering interference and being held-up for a run in the final stages of the race and has been well backed to record his first victory at Group 1 level.

Also coming out of The Dulcify Handicap are Chris Waller-trained Vilanova, the Gai Waterhouse-trained duo of Equator and Liberty’s Choice and the highly-rated Thunder Fantasy.

The 2013 Spring Champion Stakes final field is rounded out by Stan Fox Stakes runner-up Criterion and Hawkesbury maiden winner Mountain View.

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.