One of the highlights on a day that is packed with great races is the Champions Sprint Stakes. This six furlong sprint is one of four Group 1 races on Ascot’s British Champions Day and has total prize money of £600,000. Champions Day is arguably the biggest single day of the flat racing season and we have some great sorts going to post here in this, the second race of the day.
Open to all horses aged three and over, this was won by Muhaarar last year, with the superb Slade Power winning in 2013. It was run as a Group 1 for the first time last season, having first been contested back in 1946. There have been various changes over the years. However, with its promotion to Group 1 last year and the improved prize money, it really does now attract the best sprinters around and is a fitting way to help close the flat season.
Trends To Look Out For
In relatively recent racing times this was very much dominated by the three and four year olds. The split was quite equal, with nine four year olds winning between 1979 and 2000 and younger horses taking the glory on 13 occasions.
However, in 2001 five year old Nice One Clare won with Johnny Murtagh in the saddle. In the 15 races (including that one) up until last year, five year olds have won thrice, there was a six year old taking the glory in 2014 (Gordon Lord Byron) and three year olds won just five times, with horses aged four winning six.
Aside from age stats, there isn’t too much to go on in terms of trainers or jockeys, although Wayne Lordan rode the winners in both 2013 and 2014. Amazingly each of the last 19 winners have been saddled by a different trainer.
Fillies generally do not have a good record, with just one winner in the last 10 years despite a strong representation. All of those 10 winners were previous winners at the distance, with all also having raced at least three times that season. The draw could also be pivotal, with a high draw favoured, especially if the forecast rain creates going any softer than good.
Betting Tips
- Main Pick – Quiet Reflection at 4/1 with Betfair
- Alternative Tip – Meccas Angel at 10/1 with Betfair
Obviously there are a number of horses that can make a solid case here and the most obvious of them all has to be the favourite, Limato. Henry Candy’s four year old ticks a lot of the right boxes and is unbeaten over this trip this season. He is perhaps the real class act in the field and walked away with the Prix De La Foret on the day of the Arc last time out.
Priced at odds of 11/4 with Coral, Limato is just about a worthy favourite. However, although the weather forecast has improved a little over the past day or so, there remains some rain predicted. At the current odds, that rain makes Limato too much of a risk and we feel the better value is Quiet Reflection.
Karl Burke’s filly will have to overturn a two length defeat to Limato in the July Cup and the poor record of fillies but she has the class. She won the Commonwealth Cup at this track and Haydock’s Sprint Cup in good style earlier in the year and with ground better suited and a little extra freshness in her legs, she can deliver at solid odds of 4/1 here.
Those wanting an each way punt should opt for Meccas Angel at 10/1 with Betfair. She is another who would have to outperform the stats of her gender but she beat Limato two months ago. Admittedly, that was over five furlongs and she has only raced once over this slightly longer trip but the Irish grey ran on very strongly when defeating Limato in the Nunthorpe Stakes and that suggests the timing of this return to six furlongs is wise.