The 2025 Spring Champion Stakes headlines a big day of racing at Royal Randwick this Saturday, featuring a quality line-up of three-year-olds stepping up to the testing 2000m distance.
Gloaming Stakes winner Shangri La Boy is the 3YO to beat in Saturday’s Spring Champion Stakes. Photo: Bradley Photos.
This $2 million Group 1 contest is a crucial staying test, often shaping future stars and providing a definitive guide to the VRC Derby and Oaks over the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
With form lines sharply converging from the Gloaming and Flight Stakes, all eyes are on which youngster possesses the stamina and class to claim elite-level glory over the Randwick rise.
Co-Faves Set for Tactical Clash
It’s currently a tight contest at the top of the Spring Champion Stakes odds at Ladbrokes with Attica and Shangri La Boy fighting for favouritism at an equal quote of $3.60.
Joe Pride’s consistent galloper, Attica, has firmed back into co-favourite despite drawing a wide barrier 13.
The classy Lonhro colt comes in with confidence after dominating the Listed Dulcify Quality over the Randwick mile on October 4.
“Attica overcame the outside barrier to win the Dulcify last start so gate 13 in the Spring Champion shouldn’t present too tough a task,” a racing analyst at races.com.au noted.
He looped the field in a huge effort from the outside gate, winning by nearly two lengths. The step-up in distance looks ideal, and with his turn of foot and progressive profile, he looks primed to produce another strong late surge under the airborne Adam Hyeronimus.
The obvious danger is Shangri La Boy, who put the writing on the wall with his two-length romp home in the traditional lead-up for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott. The Pierro colt was outstanding taking out the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes and looks cherry-ripe for the rise in trip chasing a hat-trick.
“Shangri La Boy is out to emulate El Castello from last year in completing the Gloaming – Spring Champion Stakes double,” races.com.au confirmed.
He showcased sharp tactical speed when claiming a stylish win over 1800m in the Gloaming, and with an ideal draw, he is perfectly set up to control the tempo. If he gets things his way up front, he’ll be tough to run down, looking to repeat the Gloaming Stakes – Spring Champion double last achieved by El Castello (2024).
Filly Factor: Within The Law Ready for a Fight
Outside of the dominant duo, the next best in Spring Champion Stakes betting and the only other runner at single figures is Bjorn Baker’s well-tried filly Within The Law at $4.50 and firming.
This early market mover has been terrific across her career, though she chases her first victory since the Group 2 Sweet Embrace as a two-year-old.
Crucially, she is rock-hard fit after five runs this prep, showing plenty of fight despite fading late when three lengths off Ceolwulf in last weekend’s Group 1 King Charles III Stakes at WFA.
Prior to that, she was second best behind Apocalyptic in the Group 1 Flight Stakes.
Only a handful of fillies, including Montefilia (2020), have beaten the boys in the Spring Champion over the years. There’s money for Within The Law to relish the quick back-up and overcome her wide alley on Saturday to become the next.
The other filly with genuine claims at a very appealing price is the rails-drawn The Pearls ($15.00) for Chris Waller.
This daughter of Proisir only broke her maiden two starts back but handled a sharp rise in grade to finish runner-up in the Gloaming at 60/1—a tough form line to ignore.
Waller saddles up four in the field, with The Pearls joined by stablemates Officiate ($23.00) (third in the Listed Super Impose Stakes), Master Of The Air ($21.00) (a son of 2012 champion Dundeel), and perennial runner-up Crusader Voyage ($31.00).
The 2025 Spring Champion Stakes is set to run as Randwick Race 8 at 4:30pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s 10-race card in Sydney.
2025 Spring Champion Stakes Field & Barrier Draw
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Weight | Age | Sex | Last Starts | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Attica | Adam Hyeronimus | Joseph Pride | 13 | 56.5kg | 3 | C | 121 | $195,450 |
| 2 | Shangri La Boy | Nash Rawiller | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 2 | 56.5kg | 3 | C | 311 | $341,500 |
| 3 | San Giovanni | Andrew Adkins | Michael Freedman | 5 | 56.5kg | 3 | G | 11933 | $97,600 |
| 4 | Officiate | Kerrin McEvoy | Chris Waller | 4 | 56.5kg | 3 | C | 8×213 | $83,975 |
| 5 | Master Of The Air | Tommy Berry | Chris Waller | 12 | 56.5kg | 3 | C | 8×116 | $59,800 |
| 6 | Federalist | Tyler Schiller | M, W & J Hawkes | 14 | 56.5kg | 3 | C | 76×04 | $32,400 |
| 7 | Champagne Hero | Regan Bayliss | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 11 | 56.5kg | 3 | C | 1×817 | $50,950 |
| 8 | Tambeloa | Jay Ford | Kristen Buchanan | 6 | 56.5kg | 3 | C | 33159 | $62,500 |
| 9 | Southern Prince | Tom Sherry | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 7 | 56.5kg | 3 | G | 52×11 | $58,300 |
| 10 | Crusader Voyage | Dylan Gibbons | Chris Waller | 3 | 56.5kg | 3 | C | 5×222 | $53,350 |
| 11 | Within The Law | Jason Collett | Bjorn Baker | 15 | 54.5kg | 3 | F | 25629 | $1,679,200 |
| 12 | Queen Of Clubs | Ashley Morgan | Gary Portelli | 8 | 54.5kg | 3 | F | 1×348 | $142,700 |
| 13 | The Pearls | Tim Clark | Chris Waller | 1 | 54.5kg | 3 | F | x3412 | $148,975 |
| 14 | Sheeza Diva | Rachel King | Mitchell & Desiree Kearney | 9 | 54.5kg | 3 | F | x6134 | $81,700 |
| 15 | Pinot Nero | Grant Buckley | John Ramsey | 10 | 56.5kg | 3 | G | 53132 | $31,525 |
THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team.
