Good Will Hunting: Champions Mile

Visually, Pride Of Jenni was at her destructive best in the Empire Rose, but the clock doesn’t entirely support that theory. Yes, she ran good time, but she was afforded complete control and duly capitalised.

Declan Bates paced her beautifully to the 800 metres, only 0.7 lengths quicker than Group 1 standard over the Flemington mile, meaning runner-up Leica Lucy, who fronts up again here, was paced almost 11 lengths slower than standard to that point. The riders in the peloton simply misjudged the pace and paid the price, as Pride Of Jenni coasted home five lengths slower than standard from the 400 to the finish, still winning with ease. This time, Damian Lane and Craig Williams won’t allow her to slip away from the field so cheaply. Given that, I’m happy to take a firm stance against her, marking her closer to $8.00.

Look at her go 🙌

PRIDE OF JENNI wins the TAB Empire Rose Stakes in blistering style for the second time.

🎥 @wwos | #DerbyDay | #MelbCupCarnival pic.twitter.com/d1KCMzdQjD

— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) November 1, 2025

Mr Brightside chases his eleventh Group 1 victory and consecutive wins in the Champions Mile, having won last year’s slowly run edition. The market continually expects a level of form that places him at the forefront of calculations in any race between seven and eight furlongs anywhere in Australia. From barrier nine, Craig Williams can gradually roll across from the wide barrier, stalk Pride Of Jenni, and unravel his sprint as they swing for home. Any rain between now and race time only strengthens his hand, making him a strong and deserving favourite for the Champions Mile.

Treasurethe Moment resurrected her campaign in the Cox Plate, looming as the winner as she swung for home at The Valley. I remain doubtful that she truly sees out 2000 metres, but she hinted at her best being on the cards returning to a mile next start. Before her bout with colic, she lit up the clock with an enormous performance rating in the Memsie Stakes, and the market continues to price her off that figure. Her capacity to sustain high speed between seven and eight furlongs is what makes her elite, and provided she’s fit and well, it’s reasonable to expect a return to something close to the level she produced at Caulfield based on her Cox Plate run.

Ceolwulf was the chief beneficiary of Pride Of Jenni’s style of racing in the King Charles, staying on strongly at the end of a genuinely run mile. His form prior was underwhelming, but the addition of blinkers, coupled with Joe Pride’s ability to set his horses for their target races, appeared to spark him to life on Everest Day at Randwick. His style and profile would suggest that Flemington’s long, open straight will suit him ideally, and with good pace expected, it’s hard to take a firm stance against him.

Epsom winner Ceolwulf with a huge run wins the G1 King Charles III Stakes in front of a record crowd at Randwick!@PrideRacing | @SchofieldChad @aus_turf_club | @WorldPool pic.twitter.com/28oRVnurKS

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 19, 2024

I’ve changed my opinion on this race far too many times, and as such, it probably won’t be a betting race for me. All three Group 1s on Saturday look far better as spectacles than as betting opportunities, and I’ll be cheering on Mr Brightside for my good mates Adrian and Tyson, who have a share in the great horse.