Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
One of three Group 1 races on Saturday’s card is the Champions S., held as Race 8. In the bygone era, the 154-year-old race was known as the LKS Mackinnon S. and, before that, simply the Melbourne S. Aptly renamed the Champions S. in 2022, the race has always been a ‘good horses race’.
Zaaki (GB) winning the 2022 edition of the G1 Champions S., his second victory in the feature | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
A scroll through the vast honour roll will see there is rarely a name racing fans wouldn’t recognise, even if they raced many moons ago.
On Saturday, a field of 11 is set to face the starter. Among them is the grand galloper Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}). The Annabel Neasham-trained 9-year-old is searching for his third consecutive victory in this event; if successful, Zaaki will equal the Champions Mare Wakeful (Trenton {NZ}) as a three-peat winner.
Zaaki will be joined by the likes of the multiple Group 1-winning mares Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}), Duais (Shamus Award) and Prowess (NZ) (Proisir).
Gallery: multiple Group 1-winning mares in the 2023 G1 Champions S. field
Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko {USA}) and Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) have also saluted at the elite level. While the classy internationals, West Wind Blows (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock), bring plenty of intrigue to the $3 million feature.
Early days
First run in 1869, the Champions S. was won by the chestnut stallion Glencoe, the son of Lord Of The Hills (GB), who had won the G1 Melbourne Cup the year prior and started a trend of Cup winners successful in the feature.
The Melbourne Cup winners and talented conveyances Tim Whiffler and Warrior followed Glencoe.
The year 1872 saw the first mare win the Champions S., a daughter of Vagabond (GB) named Contessa. In 1875, the stallion Kingsborough saluted. Retired to stud; he had a handful of stakes winners. However, one of his daughters, Rubina, proved a successful producer, with the Australian Stud Book crediting her with two individual stakes winners of 11 stakes races.
Robinson Crusoe arguably became the first prominent stallion to win the Champions S. in 1877. The son of Angler is credited with 20 stakes winners of 59 stakes races. Among them the good gallopers Trident and Navigator. While Robinson Crusoe’s daughter Emmie’s foals would incur an impressive haul of 15 stakes races, his other daughter, La Tosca, also got in on the action, producing the hugely capable F.J.A. (Wallace).
The brilliant Chester won in 1880. He proved an outstanding stallion with his progeny acquiring 104 stakes races. Champions such as Abercorn, Autonomy and Camoola counted Chester as their sire. Trieste, a daughter of Chester foaled in 1889, produced four individual stakes winners, including the Haut Brion (GB)-sired pair of Istria and Eleanor. The former won a VRC Oaks, while the latter saluted in a Doncaster H.
Chester, winner of the Champions S. in 1880, went on to be a successul sire | Image courtesy of Wikipedia
In 1884, Trenton (NZ), a son of Musket (GB), took out the race and left his mark on the thoroughbred. Trenton is credited with 83 stakes winners on the Australian Stud Book. At the same time, his daughter Lady Trenton, a victress of the Sydney Cup, produced a remarkable four individual stakes races of 20 stakes victories. Lady Trenton’s son, Lord Cardigan, upset the great Wakeful in the 1903 Melbourne Cup.
Significant influences on and off the track
One of the inaugural Australian Hall of Fame inductees, Carbine (NZ), won the Champions S. days after winning the Melbourne Cup with a weight-carrying record. He proved a significant influence of his day, with his son Wallace and Spearmint (GB) both siring multiple stakes winners.
Wakeful won in 1901, 1902 and 1903. Retired to stud, she was the dam of the Melbourne Cup victor, Night Watch (St. Alwyne {GB}) and the Oakleigh Plate winner, Blairgour. Traquette (Traquair {GB}), the 1915 winner of the Champions S., was an outstanding broodmare, with her sons Powerscourt and Salatis proving capable stallions.
Wakeful won the Champions S., then Melbourne S. in 1901, 1902 and 1903 | Image courtesy of Wikipedia
Salatis sired winners of 17 stakes races, while Powerscourt sired 13 individual stakes winners of 59 stakes races, including the champion Comic Court, who emulated his sire’s dam by winning the Champions S. in 1949 and 1950.
The period of 1918 to 1927 saw the stallions Magpie, Manfred and Silvus (Ire) win the Champions S. - Each proved to be notable stallions.
Magpie, a son of Dark Ronald (GB), sired the champion Amounis and the outstanding Windbag. Manfred’s progeny are credited with winning 44 stakes races. Among them was the 1937 Melbourne Cup and Champions S. victor The Trump. In comparison, Silvus left Sylvandale, a talented runner who emulated his sire by winning the Champions S.
Golden period
The 30s and 40s’ saw a golden period of gallopers come to the fore in Champions S. the Champion Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}) won consecutive editions in 1930 and 1931, and his victories were followed by the dual Melbourne Cup victor Peter Pan in 1932, the flaxen chestnut returned in 1934 to win the Champions S. again.
Phar Lap (NZ) | Image courtesy of Wikipedia
The tenacious Rogilla (Roger De Busli {GB}) was between Peter Pan's victories, and the brilliant Ajax came along in 1938.
During the 50s and 60s the stream of champions to win the race didn’t stop. Horses of the calibre of Rising Fast (NZ) (Alonzo {GB}), Delta, Dalray (NZ), Hydrogen, Sailor's Guide and Tulloch take the race.
Champions mares leave their mark
In 1989, a grey New Zealand-bred mare named Horlicks (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}) burst onto the scene to win the Champions S. before globetrotting to Japan to become the first New Zealand-bred, only to date, to win the G1 Japan Cup.
Horlicks foaled a son of Sir Tristram (Ire) in 1994, named Brew (NZ). The gelding won the G1 Melbourne Cup in 2000 after winning the G2 Saab Quality and the Listed Japan Trophy Race. Horlicks wasn’t a one-hit wonder; a full sister to Brew, Bubble (NZ), won the Listed Avondale Guineas.
Brew (NZ) winning the G1 Melbourne Cup in 2000 | Image courtesy of Sportpix
The champion mare Let’s Elope (Nassipour {USA}) saluted in 1991 after winning the G1 Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. Let’s Elope left two stakes winners in the G2 AAMI Vase winner Ustinov, who has sired five stakes winners. While Outback Joe (Elvstroem) won the 2014 G2 Adelaide Cup.
Let’s Get Famous (Danehill {USA}), a daughter of Let’s Elope, left the Group 3 winner Let’s Make Adeal (Red Ransom {USA}).
The star mare Champagne (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) won the 1998 G1 Champions S. and retired to produce Listed winners. Among them is Martique (Danehill {USA}), the dam of the Group 1 winner Charmont (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Modern-day super sires
In 2000, the stunningly black Lonhro, a son of the Champion galloper Octagonal (NZ), took out the Champions S.
Lonhro was a champion on the track like his sire and led a successful and productive stud career at Darley before being pensioned this year. He sired 95 individual stakes winners, including Pierro, who fathered the 2020 Champions S. victress Arcadia Queen.
In the pouring rain, a handsome entire by High Chaparral (Ire) stormed to the post in the 2010 Champions S.
So You Think (NZ), winner of the G1 Champions S. in 2010 | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Named So You Think (NZ), he backed-up in the G1 Melbourne Cup where he finished a gallant third, before jet-setting across the world adding another five elite-level victories. So You Think retired to Coolmore and has shown to be an exceptional stallion.
The son of High Chapparal’s legacy is still growing. However, this season, he’s already proven his versatility by siring the winner of the $20 million The Everest, Think About It.
So You Think has also started making a move as a broodmare sire when his daughter Mull Over produced the 2022 G1 Golden Slipper victress Fireburn (Rebel Dane). So far, So You Think has sired 55 stakes winners.
The previously mentioned Arcadia Queen was sold to Arrowfield Stud for $3.2 million at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. She has not had any progeny to race, with her youngest being a yearling colt by I Am Invincible and was served again by the reigning Champion Sire.
