Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
The G1 Spring Champion Stakes has long been the yardstick for emerging staying talent — a race where raw potential meets pedigree. This year’s $2 million edition brings together an eclectic mix of 3-year-olds: bluebloods bred for greatness, bargain buys chasing headlines, and a few whose families have already left their mark at the top level.
With 15 runners representing 12 sires and 11 trainers, it’s a deep field that promises both intrigue and discovery.
This year’s edition shapes as a wide-open affair, with some of the country’s best 3-year-olds stepping up to Group 1 level over 2000 metres for the first time. The 15-strong field features 12 different sires represented and 11 trainers with runners, with champion trainer Chris Waller having four runners accepted, while Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have two runners accepted.
Five fillies will line up alongside seven colts and three geldings with their 2kg weight advantage, adding further intrigue to the contest.
Expensive in the sales ring
Of the 15 runners in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes, 12 were sold at one of Australia’s major yearling sales, or at a 2-year-old sale in the case of Officiate (Justify {USA}), who sold at the Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO & 3YO In-Training Sale for $700,000 to the bid of Yulong, after originally selling at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale earlier in the year for $300,000 to the bid of KO Thoroughbreds, Munce Racing, and Arthur Hoyeau.
Officiate | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Attica (Lonhro) was a homebred for Godolphin, while Southern Prince (Trapeze Artist) and Pinot Nero (Pierro) were passed in, falling short of their reserves.
The 12 purchased runners fetched an aggregate of $4.785 million, with an average price of $398,750. Buying one of these Group 1 contenders clearly did not come cheap at last year's sales.
The priciest was Federalist (I Am Invincible), purchased for $1 million by Hawkes Racing from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, while the most affordable was Sheeza Diva (Pierro), bought by Kearney Racing for just $15,000 from Tyreel Stud's draft at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Federalist | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Siblings to stars
Several contenders boast illustrious siblings, adding extra pressure to perform and enhancing their potential stud appeal.
Shangri La Boy (Pierro), trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, cost $375,000 at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Days later, he received a significant pedigree boost when his brother Storm Boy demolished the field in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.
Shangri La Boy | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Storm Boy then went on to gain further success with wins in the G2 Skyline Stakes, and the G3 San Domenico Stakes, and run strong top four placings in the G1 Golden Slipper, G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes, G2 Run To The Rose, and the G1 Golden Rose. He now stands at Coolmore Stud, serving his first crop of mares at a fee of $16,500 (inc GST).
Crusader Voyage (Camelot {GB}) also has high-class siblings - and not only siblings, but his dam is Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock), a three-time Group 1 winner. His sister Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was a three-time Group 1 winner and Champion Older Female Miler in Ireland, claiming victories in the G1 Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational Stakes, G1 Yorkshire Oaks, and G1 Prix Vermeille, as well as placings in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf and the G1 Hong Kong Vase.
Crusader Voyage as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Another sibling, Bremen (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), won five times including at Listed level and was Champion 3YO Colt in Poland last year.
Superstar mums who did the job on the track
Over half the field is out of non-stakes-winning dams, but a number of runners come from exceptional mares. Federalist and Crusader Voyage are prime examples.
Federalist looks a live chance even though he hasn’t even placed in any of his five starts, his form is stronger than it looks at first glance after running in strong races throughout his career. As an immature juvenile, he was beaten three lengths or less at Group 1 level, and was a last-start fourth in the Listed Dulcify Stakes.
He is out of Arcadia Queen (Pierro), an eight-time winner of just under $4 million, with Group 1 victories in the MacKinnon Stakes, Caulfield Stakes, and Kingston Town Classic.
Arcadia Queen | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Crusader Voyage is out of the aforementioned Sea Siren, victorious in the G1 Manikato Stakes, G1 Doomben Ten Thousand, and G1 BTC Cup, as well as a Listed race in Ireland. Attica is out of Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}), a 12-time winner for Godolphin who picked up five Group 2 races, a Group 3, a Listed race, and three G1 placings; he recently won the Listed Dulcify Stakes.
Other notable dams include Don’t Doubt Mamma (Not A Single Doubt); the dam of Master Of The Air (Dundeel {NZ}), she was a four-time stakes winner including the G2 Let’s Elope Stakes and G2 Stocks Stakes. A dual winner before his leap into Group 3 grade last start, Master Of The Air’s pedigree suggests the step up in distance will suit him better.
Don’t Doubt Mamma | Image courtesy of Inglis
Granny Red Shoes, also by Not A Single Doubt, won the Listed Winning Edge Stakes and the Listed Oxlade Stakes in Queensland, and she is the dam of the dual winner and Group-placed San Giovanni (Zoustar), who will attempt to better Shangri La Boy after running third to the colt in the G3 Gloaming Stakes last start.
Champagne Hero (Maurice {Jpn}) and The Pearls (NZ) (Proisir) are out of mares who won at Listed level, and Tambeloa (Tagaloa) is out of Gamble Me (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who was a dual Group 3 winner and a dual Listed winner.
A stallion in the making?
The G1 Spring Champion Stakes has produced a number of colts who went on to stud with varying success.
The 1994 winner Danewin sired 30 stakes winners, including five Group 1 stars such as Theseo and County Tyrone.
Danewin | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Savabeel, victorious in 2004, went on to dominate the G1 Cox Plate and became a multiple Champion sire at Waikato Stud, and he has so far produced 151 stakes winners, including 35 at Group 1 level with stars such as Kawi (NZ), Probabeel (NZ), Atishu (NZ), Orchestral (NZ), and I Wish I Win (NZ).
Savabeel | Standing at Waikato Stud
Dundeel (NZ), winner in 2012, has been a revelation at Arrowfield Stud, siring 39 stakes winners, nine of them at Group 1 level. His sons Super Seth and Castelvecchio are also Group 1 sires, while Celestial Legend has started his stud career this season after wins in the G1 Randwick Guineas and G1 Doncaster Handicap on the track.
Several winners have found homes at stud in New Zealand. Ace High, Vanbrugh, and Viking Ruler have all went on to sire Group 1 winners. Proisir, has become a Champion sire in New Zealand, although he had to settle for the runner-up position in this race behind Dundeel, and Profondo, a son of Deep Impact (Jpn) standing at Windsor Park Stud, has been extremely busy in the three seasons he has stood at stud since winning this race at his third start in 2021.
Dundeel (NZ) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
In 2025, eight colts line up, by leading stallions including I Am Invincible, Lonhro, Pierro, Justify, Dundeel, Maurice, Camelot (GB), and Tagaloa. Whoever emerges victorious is no doubt a potential future sire in waiting.
