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The Chris Waller-trained Atishu made up floor from the again in an explosive efficiency that went towards the day’s development of front-running winners to attain a formidable upset within the Group 1 $3 million Champions Stakes (2000m) to complete up elite stage racing for an additional Melbourne Cup Carnival.
2023 Champions Stakes winner Atishu was too good making up late floor to blow up residence within the Group 1. Photograph: Steve Hart.
Waller opted to present his six-year-old mare the possibility towards a well-credentialed subject within the marquee Stakes Day race at Flemington over a neater project within the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m).
She would have been an ethical within the Group 2 however because it turned out she was a superb upset winner within the Group 1 coming from off the tempo to hit the entrance a furlong out and dash residence for a 1 3/4 size success off a superbly timed journey by James McDonald.
Atishu was on the short back-up after a courageous second on Derby Day within the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).
Relishing one other run at headquarters over additional with the health edge she was in a position to go one higher and additional frank the shape out of that race following Delight Of Jenni finishing the Empire Rose – Champions Mile double on successive Saturdays for the Maher/Eustace steady.
Favorite in Champions Stakes betting was the UK raider West Wind Blows who was down in distance off a second to subsequent Melbourne Cup winner With out A Battle within the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) final month.
Jamie Spencer learn the lay of the day and tried to steal the present whipping his mount spherical the sector to guide.
West Wind Blows was gone on the prime of the straight nonetheless because the challengers got here.
In the long run it was the eye-catching Atishu coming away victorious at $8.50 whereas jockey Damien Oliver ran second on the Edward Cummings-trained Duais in his remaining Group 1 journey at Flemington earlier than his pending retirement on the finish of the spring.
“Horses don’t run that nicely and never win, so to run second behind a horse (final week) that franked the shape within the earlier, once I walked out to Chris for the directions I stated, ‘we’re on a winner, I reckon’,” McDonald instructed Racing.com after driving Atishu to victory.
“We’ve simply obtained to do the little issues proper and get the splits after we want it. She was implausible, unbelievable.”
Younger Werther was wonderful in one other Group 1 inserting ending third at $51 simply forward of the Annabel Neasham-trained nine-year-old Zaaki who completed fourth after momentarily wanting an opportunity at a 3rd straight win earlier than getting run down.
2023 Champions Stakes Outcomes
| End | No. | Horse | Coach | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Beginning Worth | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | ATISHU (NZ) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 5 | 57kg | $8.50 | |||
| 2 | 9 | DUAIS | Edward Cummings | Damien Oliver | 1.75L | 3 | 57kg | $7 | ||
| 3 | 3 | YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | Billy Egan | 1.95L | 6 | 59kg | $51 | ||
| 4 | 1 | ZAAKI (GB) | Annabel Neasham | Ms Jamie Kah | 2.05L | 10 | 59kg | $4.40 | ||
| 5 | 7 | BUCKAROO (GB) | Joseph O’Brien | Blake Shinn | 2.15L | 8 | 59kg | $26 | ||
| 6 | 11 | PROWESS (NZ) | Roger James & Robert Wellwood | Mark Zahra | 2.65L | 4 | 56.5kg | $5.50 | ||
| 7 | 2 | HUETOR (FR) | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 2.85L | 11 | 59kg | $61 | ||
| 8 | 8 | MONTEFILIA | Chris Waller | Michael Dee | 3.25L | 1 | 57kg | $26 | ||
| 9 | 4 | WEST WIND BLOWS (IRE) | Simon & Ed Crisford | Jamie Spencer | 3.35L | 2 | 59kg | $2.80F | ||
| 10 | 5 | ZEYREK (FR) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Ben Melham | 4.85L | 7 | 59kg | $61 | ||
| 11 | 6 | PINSTRIPED | Enver Jusufovic | Ben Allen | 5.35L | 9 | 59kg | $81 |
Desk Credit score: Racing Australia.
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