Why tantalising Cox Plate rematch could flip in huge $3m race

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It’s one of the best racing events on the Australian calendar and Melbourne Cup week will again conclude with a jam-packed TAB Champions Stakes Day.

Headlined by three Group 1 contests, all dubbed as “Champions” races – the sprint, mile and stakes – it promises to be another epic day at Flemington.

The main event will see a handful of Cox Plate runners backing up a fortnight later, with Cosmic Crusader and Aeliana finishing top-two in that historic race and will be in the mix again over the 2000m trip on Saturday afternoon.

After taking out one of the country’s most famous races, Cosmic Crusader is on the second line of betting to his main rival in the $3 million Champions Stakes.

“He’s hard to tip against, deep into the prep but there are no signs of stopping,” Gately said on Wide World Of Sports’ Champions Stakes preview.

“There’s plenty of money for Aeliana to turn the tables and she does draw better this time and may have a little head-start on him.

“I’ve leant to Aeliana, I was happily with Cosmic Crusader in the Cox Plate and you would think, why are you switching? I just think she might have a little head-start on him this time in a race that will have perhaps a little bit more tempo.

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“It depends on the track conditions a little bit, it looks a fearsome speed again as we saw in the Cox Plate. I think Sir Delius can run well without winning.

“The left-field one is Omni Man, who just chased Point Of Law, so it’s obviously fabulous form – but he can step up to weight-for-age back in trip? Not sure.”

In the VRC Champions Mile, the short-priced favourite will be Autumn Glow, fresh off a dominant performance in the King Charles III Stakes at Randwick.

“I think she is Australia’s best horse, she took the mantle off Via Sistina when she retired this time last year and she’s done nothing but win her whole career, bar from one go at 2000m” Gately said of the unbackable $1.20 favourite.

“She is simply better than them and the market is telling you she is.”

Gately believes Tom Kitten is one to include as an each-way or exotics bet, but there’s very little chance of anyone stopping the Chris Waller-trained mare.

In the VRC Champions Sprint, superstar mare Tempted comes in after winning The Everest a few weeks ago and clearly looks the horse to beat.

In an enormous upset at Royal Randwick, the in-form Ciaron Maher-trained sprinter knocked off Hong Kong import Ka Ying Rising in the $20m race.

“She’s gonna take some beating and her winning The Everest had a lot of merit, she was exposed a long way from home and still beat them,” Gately said.

“I’m more than happy to stick with her and if she can beat the world’s best sprinter [Ka Ying Rising], she can probably win this.”

The main danger appears to be Joliestar, who gets gun jockey James McDonald on board over the 1200m trip, while Giga Kick won this race last year and could relish the wet track, if the weather forecast for Melbourne is correct.

Elsewhere on the card, Gately is tipping Too Darn Discreet in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes, which comes in race five on the Flemington card.

Here’s every runner competing in the TAB Champions Stakes. Odds courtesy of TAB, correct at 1.30pm (AEDT) Friday, November 6.

1. Cosmic Crusader (11)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: Andrea Leek

Jockey: William Pike

Career: 24: 12-3-4

Last start: Won the Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington

Odds: $3.30

2. Light Infantry Man (5)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Jockey: Mark Zahra

Career: 39: 7-6-4

Last start: 11th in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington

Odds: $26

3. Sir Delius (7)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott

Jockey: Craig Williams

Career: 16: 7-2-3

Last start: 6th in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington

Odds: $8

4. Attrition (9)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: Mitchell Freedman

Jockey: Jamie Mott

Career: 34: 5-5-5

Last start: 9th in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington

Odds: $101

5. Birdman (1)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: Ben Melham

Career: 26: 7-5-2

Last start: 2nd in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington

Odds: $6

6. Land Legend (8)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Jockey: Ethan Brown

Career: 31: 4-3-2

Last start: 12th (last) in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington

Odds: $71

7. Von Hauke (3)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: Cliff Brown

Jockey: Damian Lane

Career: 32: 5-4-3

Last start: 10th in the Crystal Mile (1600m) at Flemington

Odds: $151

8. Sabaj (10)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr

Jockey: Blake Shinn

Career: 16: 6-3-0

Last start: Won the Cup Day Plate (1800m) at Flemington

Odds: $41

9. Omni Man (6)

Weight: 59kg

Trainer: Joseph O’Brien

Jockey: Dylan Browne McConagle

Career: 14: 2-1-5

Last start: 3rd in the Geelong Cup (2400m) at Geelong

Odds: $12

10. Aeliana (4)

Weight: 57kg

Trainer: Chris Waller

Jockey: James McDonald

Career: 22: 6-7-3

Last start: 3rd in the Cox Plate (2040m) at Flemington

Odds: $2.50

11. Treasurethe Moment (2)

Weight: 57kg

Trainer: Matt Laurie

Jockey: Daniel Stackhouse

Career: 24: 11-5-3

Last start: 7th in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield

Odds: $21