TAB Champions Stakes Preview

Cox Plate winner Cosmic Crusader returns to Flemington unbeaten at the course and distance, where he will meet Cox Plate placegetters Aeliana and Birdman once again.

Add in the talented Sir Delius, VRC Oaks winner Treasurethe Moment and Geelong Cup placegetter Omni Man, and the final Group 1 of the Carnival shapes as a fittingly competitive finale.

Chris Waller and James McDonald are looking a fourth consecutive win in the race and combine with star mare Aeliana.

We take a look at some of the main players to end an incredible Melbourne Cup Carnival. 

Race 8 – TAB Champions Stakes (2000m) – 5:10pm

Group 1. Of $3,000,000. 1st $1,800,000, 2nd $540,000, 3rd $270,000, 4th $135,000, 5th $75,000, 6th $60,000, 7th $60,000, 8th $60,000.

Standard Weight for Age. For Three-Years-Old and Upwards. Apprentices cannot claim.

Chris Waller brings top-class mare Aeliana into the TAB Champions Stakes following her gallant third behind Cosmic Crusader in the Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m). Cosmic Crusader has had the better of her in two 2000-metre Flemington Group 1s this spring, and she has come up favourite to finally turn the tables on Bob Peters’ star.

She is yet to return to the winner’s stall this spring, but has raced against the best available and been right in the mix. Aeliana heads to Flemington for the sixth time this Saturday and has drawn perfectly to chase a second win at the track. James McDonald rides again after reuniting with her in the Cox Plate.

Cosmic Crusader has gone from strength to strength this campaign, placing in all but one of his seven outings, his only blemish was far from that, a credible fourth in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) behind Kingswood. He has recorded four wins this preparation, including two at Group 1 level, remarkably beginning his campaign with a 1200-metre win in the Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes.

With Western Australian star hoop William Pike in the saddle, the son of Maurice delivered an emotional win for trainer Andrea Leek, when he surged from the back of the field to run down the Waller pair of Birdman and Aeliana. He is unbeaten at the course and distance and will look to extend that record for legendary Western Australian owner-breeder Bob Peters.

Birdman has enjoyed a successful spring campaign, winning the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m), finishing third in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m), and running second in the Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m). Now in his third spring campaign since joining Chris Waller from Jessica Harrington in Ireland, he has established himself as a genuine weight-for-age campaigner at and around 2000 metres.

He was held up for a large portion of the straight in the Cox Plate but attacked the line strongly once clear, only to be grabbed by Cosmic Crusader, who had all the momentum from the outside. He could be the one to knock off the top two fancies and will give his followers a great sight.

Of the others.....

Handsome stallion Sir Delius returns looking for a better showing than his Cox Plate performance. He led the second division into the race but could not go with Cosmic Crusader, Birdman and Aeliana and was disappointing. If he bounces back to form, he will be right in this.

Treasurethe Moment returns to Flemington after a strong effort in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m). The Crown Oaks winner drops back to 2000 metres and should be somewhere handy in the run. Joseph O’Brien sends Omni Man to Flemington after he missed getting a run in this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup, having been impressive when surging home behind Cup winner Point Of Law in the Geelong Cup. Sabaj was a popular winner on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day over 1800 metres and won on this day last year over a mile.