This year’s renewal of the Champagne Stakes headlines a quality 10-race card at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Saturday.
The 1200m Grade 3 event is dominated by leading female trainer Candice Bass-Robinson who saddles a formidable five-pronged attack in the 11-horse field, including the four best-weighted runners (all of them fillies) in the race.
Still, none makes more appeal than the stable’s exciting three-year-old sprinter October Morn, a Grade 2 winner (of the Cartier Sceptre Stakes) over the course and distance.
Justin Snaith won this contest 12 months ago with stalwart Rio Querari, who is back to defend his crown, with two of his other four runners in the race finishing second (We’re Jamming) and fourth (Speed Machine).
It is, however, Bass-Robinson with a vice-like grip on this year’s race, though bettors encouraged to follow the progress of Trippi filly October Morn, who is worthy of a confident Win bet – and to include stablemates Gold Poker Game (joint-best weighted) and Winter Could in Race 7 Swingers, Exactas and, for the more daring, even Trifecta bets too.
The yard’s quintet is completed by distance-suited Jerusalema Rain, a winner of two of his three starts over 1200m, and another smart three-year-old filly in Red Palace (joint best-weighted), runner-up in the Grade 1 Cape Guineas against male opposition.
Rio Querari, Snaith’s sole representative this year, and highly rated Vaughan Marshall-trained Questioning, who returns fresh from a nine-week break with blinkers fitted for the first time, are those rivals most likely to thwart Bass-Robinson in her bid to reclaim the title she last won in 2019 with Natergal (Iris finished third for the yard in 2021).
With Aldo Domeyer now freelancing, having relinquished his position as the stable’s first-choice rider, and unable to make weight – as he rides at a minimum of 58kg – Grant van Niekerk is the beneficiary of the ride aboard October Morn and is not likely to miss out on the opportunity.
Bass-Robinson should add to that Grade 3 success as several of the stable’s other runners on the card also have strong winning credentials. In the opener (Race 1 over 1000m), two-year-old colt Kaiboy is expected to confirm the promise of his debut second by going one better under Domeyer.
This son of One World made his introduction against winners over 1100m and was beaten by two lengths but put eight lengths between himself and the third-placed finisher. He would’ve come on appreciably with the benefit of that experience so should improve to open his account.
Cosmic Rhythm and Einstein have improved after they were gelded and, with further on the cards, look likely to fight out the finish in Race 5. Preference, however, is for the latter who Domeyer rides again for Bass-Robinson, having finished third aboard this son of What A Winter over 1000m on 5 March.
Master Of My Fate filly Saint Brigid has finished third and, in her last start, second in two starts (both over 1600m) under Domeyer and ought to continue that momentum in Race 6. Bass-Robinson’s charge is drawn widest of the 11 runners and is 1kg worse off with re-opposing National Disgrace but that may not be enough to reverse the form of their recent course-and-distance meeting in which Saint Brigid finished 2.25 lengths ahead.
Fly Futura is good value to close out a rewarding day’s racing for Bass-Robinson and Domeyer himself with a victory in Race 9 over 1600m. This maturing Futura gelding has improved markedly in five starts beyond 1600m but, with just 58.5kg on his back from a favourable No 2 gate, could return to winning ways with an anticipated frontrunning display over this shorter trip.
Clive Robinson
