Bella Nipotina, Giga Kick headlines Champions Sprint

Wandering Eyes · November 6

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Bella Nipotina winning the Russell Balding Stakes. Photo: Bradleyphotos.com.au

The Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) has attracted a quality field of 12 set burn the turf down the Flemington straight course on Saturday afternoon.

The Everest (1200m) winner and runner-up are set to go head-to-head once again, with Bella Nipotina and Giga Kick locking horns after a ding-dong battle in the $20 million feature on October 19.

It’s the Ciaron Maher-trained mare that holds the call with horse racing bookmakers at $4.00, however, after securing back-to-back wins for the first time when careering away with the Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill last Saturday.

Craig Williams will be legged aboard the ultra-consistent seven-year-old and has drawn the favourable grandstand side of the course in gate 12.

Giga Kick is on the second line of betting at $4.20 as he tackles the Flemington straight for the first time since tasting defeat in the 2022 edition of the Champions Sprint behind Roch ‘N’Horse.

The Bjorn Baker-trained Overpass ($7.50) was unfortunate to miss out on a slot for the Everest but picked up a consolation prize in the form of the Group 3 Sydney Stakes (1200m) on the same day.

The son of Vancouver only knows one way, and with Joshua Parr taking the reins from gate two, punters can expect this guy to roll along on speed.

Baraqiel ($9.00) torched his rivals in the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley a fortnight ago and deserves his place in this field after his 2.8-length demolition.

Meanwhile, the Mark Walker-trained Bellatrix Star ($13.00) looks well placed on the one-week backup after closing off impressively behind Switzerland in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).

The 2024 Champions Sprint is the first leg of the Flemington quaddie and is set to jump at 3:50pm local time.