Editor Rob Plumbridge takes a look at the QIPCO Champions Sprint Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.
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Champions Sprint Stats
- Four of the last five winners won at double-figure odds.
- Creative Force can become the joint most successful horse in the race if he follows up his win from last year.
- 11 of the last 12 winners rated 111+.
- Four of the last six winners drawn in stalls 5 or less.
The Favourite – Creative Force
CREATIVE FORCE was declared to defend his crown as Champion Sprinter on Thursday, and he looks a worthy favourite for the all-conquering Charlie Appleby yard.
The Godolphin inmate will be a warm order here despite coming here without a win in 2022. He has run creditably when 2nd to stablemate Naval Crown at Royal Ascot, before finishing 4th in the July Cup. That’s still good form and he clearly has a liking for Ascot, and he won this emphatically last year so has a favourites chance.
Ascot Specialist – Rohaan
Another who has a penchant for the Berkshire track is ROHAAN from the David Evans yard. He has a superb record here having won 4/5 in his career. That includes an emphatic win in the Bengough Stakes at the beginning of the month where he found a gap in the closing stages and powered to victory.
He needs things to fall right, and the key for him is a strong pace. Should he get a bit of luck in running he’ll certainly be a player in this. He’s placed twice in Group 1 company this season and certainly isn’t out of his depth.
Royal Winners – Perfect Power / Naval Crown
Both Perfect Power (Commonwealth Cup) and Naval Crown (Platinum Jubilee) won at the Royal meeting in June. Neither have won since however, and will be hoping to revive themselves back to the form of the summer. Perfect Power has disappointed the last twice, however, both of those races were not run to suit and he could be revived by a break. He’s a top class sprinter on his day.
Naval Crown has had some solid runs since his Ascot victory which includes a good 2nd in the July Cup. He’s shown he can mix it in this company and is in with a chance.
Outsiders
The Champions Sprint Stakes has traditionally featured plenty of shocks. Winners of the last five runnings have been priced 11/2, 16/1, 33/1, 28/1 and 10/1. So don’t be afraid to look away from the top of the market.
Brad The Brief is in the form of his life having won the Group 2 Greenland Stakes in Ireland last time. Prior to that he beat the 2020 winner of this race Glen Shiel by 3 1/2 lengths. Hugo Palmer could have had more than one in this race, so it might say something that this is his only runner.
Ventura Diamond I think is a really interesting speculative play in this at 80/1! He was 7th in this last year, and dwelt at the stalls. Richard Fahey loves a winner on Champions Day and won this with Sands Of Mali at 28/1 in 2018. He goes with an each way chance at big odds.
King’s Lynn would be a popular winner for King Charles and has won at Group 2 level. He has run well several times at this venue and isn’t without hope.
Go Bears Go is a Course and Distance winner who has been mixing it in Group company throughout his short career. As a 3yo he may have more to come.
Verdict
The most open race of day, and traditionally one that throws up a surprise. 2021 winner Creative Force is the correct favourite, but everything fell right last year and he was in better form coming into the race. Rohaan loves Ascot and should get his pace so is a big danger. However, PERFECT POWER comes back to the scene of his brilliant Commonwealth Cup win and has since run in races that didn’t suit. He can put things right with Richard Fahey a master at getting them right on Champions Day. Of the outsiders to back each, Brad The Brief looks set for a big run and Ventura Diamond can outrun enormous odds having gone well in this last year.
Selections
Perfect Power to win
Brad The Brief – e/w
Ventura Diamond – small e/w