Champions Stakes form guide: 'Different direction' emerges as Via Sistina crunched into unbackable odds

All eyes will be on fabulous Flemington this weekend, with superstar Cox Plate winner Via Sistina back in action for the TAB Champions Stakes over 2000m.

The six-year-old mare dominated a strong field last month to seal yet another Group 1 triumph for jockey James McDonald and will return to the track on Saturday afternoon.

Via Sistina is a near-unbackable favourite in the feature race, but according to racing expert Ben Way, there could be some value elsewhere in the field.

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"She bumps into a horse like Without A Fight, who has been off the scene for a year, but probably the best horse in the race if the real Via doesn't rock up," he said.

"I'm happy to go with Atishu, who loves the track and is a proven Group 1 performer and is $2.10 to place as opposed to $1.50 for Via Sistina to win.

"She's got to regress off that Cox Plate win and she's the one to beat - but I will go a different direction." 

Watch the 2024 TAB Champions Stakes Day LIVE on Nine and 9Now.

Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa will also be competing in the $3 million race.

Odds courtesy of TAB. Correct as of November 8.

1. Without A Fight (9)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: A & S Freedman

Jockey: Mark Zahra

Career: 23: 11-3-4

Last 6: 1x611x

Earnings: $9,465,387

Odds: $10 / $2.30

2. Duke De Sessa (4)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Jockey: Harry Coffey

Career: 24: 5-2-5

Last 6: 552441

Earnings: $3,870,068

Odds: $17 / $3.30

3. Arapaho (10)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: Bjorn Baker

Jockey: Ben Melham

Career: 37: 8-5-3

Last 6: x75x04

Earnings: $2,019,897

Odds: $41 / $6

4. Nugget (7)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Jockey: Michael Dee

Career: 30: 7-5-5

Last 6: 07x803

Earnings: $1,535,888

Odds: $41 / $6

5. Future History (5)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Jockey: Dylan Browne Mcmonagle

Career: 25: 7-5-2

Last 6: 6x3201

Earnings: $772,532

Odds: $61 / $9

6. Eliyass (2)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: G Waterhouse & A Bott

Jockey: Nash Rawiller

Career: 13: 9-2-1

Last 6: 1x1137

Earnings: $764,840

Odds: $12 / $2.60

7. Docklands (6)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: Harry Eustace

Jockey: Declan Bates

Career: 12: 3-5-1

Last 6: 22x7x5

Earnings: $734,024

Odds: $18 / $3.40

8. Royal Champion (8)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: A & S Freedman

Jockey: Craig Williams

Career: 15: 4-2-3

Last 6: 3x2x62

Earnings: $566,819

Odds: $23 / $4

10. Via Sistina (3)

Weight: 57kg

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: James McDonald

Career: 19: 9-4-2

Last 6: 2x1511

Earnings: $6,826,472

Odds: $1.60 / $1.08

11. Atishu (1)

Weight: 57kg

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Jye McNeil

Career: 46: 11-7-8

Last 6: x96631

Earnings: $5,087,724

Odds: $9 / $2.20

12. Deny Knowledge (11)

Weight: 57kg

Trainer: A & S Freedman

Jockey: Damian Lane

Career: 37: 9-4-4

Last 6: 21x515

Earnings: $1,700,793

Odds: $26 / $4.40

Darley Champions Sprint

On top of the feature race of the day, Flemington will host two other Group 1 events.

First on the agenda will be the Darley Champions Sprint over the 1200m straight, with some incredible horses confirmed in the field.

Bella Nipotina, who last month took out The Everest, will come down to Melbourne for the race, while Giga Kick and Overpass are also prominent in the betting market.

But according to Way, there's one runner that could be a real sneaky find for punters.

"Interesting race," he said.

"Do you go first past the post and hope that you get a bit of a return out of it, or do you look for the value? I think the value is Baraqiel and the horse to beat is clearly Bella.

"She is the best sprinter in the land, there's no doubt about it. That being said, it's all about price - I probably think there are a few chances in there that could mix it up.

"I'm happy to go with Baraqiel each-way. I'm just happy to take her on at the price - I could entertain Giga Kick and kind of entertain Overpass."

Fellow expert Ally Mosely is sticking with the favourite in a wide-open sprint.  

"I'm with Bella - she hasn't shown any signs that she's not still going well," she said.

"The mare is in a purple patch of form … if the team are happy with her, I am too." 

VRC Champions Mile

The other Group 1 on Saturday will see some of the best mile-distance runners in action.

There's been plenty of drama in the lead-up, with jockey Declan Bates dumped from riding Pride Of Jenni despite producing some incredible wins on board the mare.

While the eccentric seven-year-old sits atop the market from the likes of Mr Brightside, Antino and Broadsiding, who are also popular options in the market.

But it could be a horse from the Chris Waller camp that proves too strong.

"What do we do with Jenni? That's the question," Way said.

"She popped in the Cox Plate and now we drop back to a more ideal trip, but it feels like the third or fourth grand final of her preparation - I'm not a huge fan of that.

"You've got proven milers, you've got Mr. Brightside who is dropping back. I'm happy to take a kind of fresher approach - Another Wil, who was fantastic the other day in winning and feels a horse on the up.

"Fangirl we can completely forgive what happened last time out, she just seems to need an ideal race shape … she's the one who can launch over the top of them late."

Mosely likes the look of the Godolphin inclusion over 1600m at an each-way price.

"I think it could be any number of horses' day ... I think Mr. Brightside could win, but I'm with Broadsiding each-way," she said.