Champagne Toast For Invader

The third and final leg of the 2-year-old Triple Crown, the G1 Champagne S. (1600m), sees a field of 10 line up which, outside of a few runners, lacks the depth of a Group 1 contest.

Last-start G1 Sires' Produce S. winner Invader (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) is the class runner of the field and has an undeniable chance of being the only juvenile this season to record dual Group 1 victories. Already assured a lucrative position at stud upon his retirement from racing, another Group 1 on his resume will further increase his appeal as a multiple Group 1-winning son of one of the hottest stallions in the country.

Aiming to complete the Listed Fernhill S./G1 Champagne S. double for consecutive years, James Cummings will saddle up lightly raced filly Whispered Secret (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}), a close relation to Cummings's Prized Icon (Aus) (More Than Ready), a winner of the double 12 months prior.

With various form lines leading into the Group 1 contest, a 1500 metre race at Mornington could prove a pointer with the quinella in that race, Eshtiraak (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) and Aberro (Aus) (All Too Hard {Aus}) both looking to have some claims on Saturday. The Shadwell-raced Eshtiraak is a half-brother to the Australian-bred, South African-raced Delago Deluxe (Aus) (Encosta de Lago {Aus}) who stands at the Kelly family's Newhaven Park, while Aberro could supply his Vinery Stud-based sire with his first stakes winner and third winner overall.

Successful at Group 2 level two starts back before finishing ninth behind Invader (Aus) in the Sires', John Thompson's One More Honey (Aus) (Onemorenomore {Aus}) does have to improve, but with her sire capturing this very race in 2009, it would be a welcome Group 1 victory for the Emirates Park-owned filly.