The top selections in the Stakes.

The Group 1 weight-for-age Champions Stakes will be run over 2000m at Flemington today.

Via Sistina won last year’s edition after Atishu (2023), Zaaki (2022), Zaaki (2021) and Arcadia Queen (2020) before him.

Snapshot of the race below:

The clear selection is VIA SISTINA to go back-to-back in this race.

The eight-year-old star won the Cox Plate last year, then followed it up with a Champions Stakes victory before being sent to the paddock.

And the chances are she is going to achieve that exact same feat again this year.

Fresh off the mare's 2025 Cox Plate victory, she now finds herself in arguably the weakest Group 1 field she has ever competed in.

While she should almost certainly claim her 11th Group 1 victory here, the only query is the bucketing rain.

When looking at some value in the Stakes, both PIER and GOLDEN PATH could finish in the top 3.

Pier has been calling out for 2000m and performs extremely well on wet tracks, while Golden Path is proven at the distance and loves the wet.

Via Sistina is the obvious winner here and you should expect the star to clinch her 11th Group 1.

Selections

10 - Via Sistina
6 - Pier
7 - Golden Path
1 - Tom Kitten

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