Juveniles To Toast in Champagne

Saturday’s G1 Champagne S. puts a wrap on the Sydney 2-year-old Triple Crown, and while that title isn’t on the line this year–G1 Golden Slipper winner Vancouver (Aus) (Medaglia d’Oro) and G1 Sires’ Produce S. victor Pride of Dubai (Aus) (Street Cry {Ire}) are both in the spelling paddock–this lineup nonetheless boasts some intriguing juveniles stepping up to a mile. The Champagne has often served as an indicator for classy 3-year-olds down the road, with recent past winners including Pierro (Aus) (Lonhro {Aus}) and Helmet (Aus) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). Both of those colts won the Sires’ Produce previously, and in fact the Sires’ has produced all but two of the Champagne winners since 1999.Odyssey Moon (Aus) (Snitzel {Aus}) got going late to be a dead-heat second in the Sires’ Produce two weeks ago, and that run suggests the added furlong could be within his reach. One who certainly looked like he wanted more real estates in the Sires’ was Godolphin’s Tarquin (Aus) (Hard Spun), who lost his unbeaten record in his third outing but stayed on strongly to be fifth. Also finishing with a flourish in the Sires’ was the filly Pasadena Girl (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}), who finished fourth three weeks after she had won Flemington’s G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. Claire Cunningham, Sydney foreman to trainer Peter Moody, explained Pasadena Girl only gained traction near the end of the Sires’ once she became accustomed to the heavy going. Cunningham did not express concern about the added distance. 

“She has always been running through the line so it should be OK,” Cunningham said. “She is a good galloper and she’s very competitive, which is her biggest asset.” 

The only one in the field with a win over the distance is The Barrister (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}), who looks to run his record to three straight after taking the Fernhill H. over this strip two weeks ago.