The Champions Sprint, formerly known as the Darley Sprint Classic is a Group 1 race run over 1200m under Weight For Age at Flemington racecourse. It features the best sprinters in the land and is run on the last Saturday of Melbourne Cup week.
The 2022 Champions Sprint will be run on Saturday 5th November at Flemington racecourse. The total prize money is $3,000,000.
Is the Darley a good race to bet on?
While outright favourites in the Darley Sprint Classic only have an average record, the majority of the race’s recent winners have been well-found in the Sprint Classic betting with SANTA ANA LANE ($10 in 2018) the only double-figure winner in the last six years. This makes the Sprint Classic a terrific race to bet on for astute punters. The all-conquering NATURE STRIP has won the race twice in the last three years and will once again be the horse to beat if connections decide to run him in the race after he competes in The Everest a few weeks earlier.
The race is run down the “straight six” at Flemington which lends itself to exciting finishes with the field likely to spread out across the width of the track as they approach the winning post. The large prize money on offer ensures a great field and presents astute bettors with wonderful opportunities.
Do’s & Don’ts of betting on the Darley Sprint Classic
Do the form! Historically, the Group 1 Manikato Stakes which is run at Moonee Valley over 1200m a few weeks earlier is the best lead-in-form race to take note of for the Darley Sprint. Six of the last 15 winners have come through that race. However, Australia’s richest race The Everest which is run in Sydney is taking precedence, with the best sprinters heading to Sydney for that race and then returning to Melbourne for the Champions Sprint. REDZEL (2017) and NATURE STRIP (2021) have both notched up the Everest/Champions Sprint double in recent years. Smart punters expect that pattern to continue into the future.
Astute form students will also place a lot of weight on the past performances of sprinters racing down the straight at Flemington. As straight racing is not common in Australia, some gallopers thrive in the relatively open spaces at Flemington, with others struggling and getting “lost” in their surroundings. One thing is certain, the 2022 Champions Sprint will once again be an exciting race!
2022 Champions Sprint Predictions & Odds
With $3 Million in prize money on offer, it is not surprising that the Champions Sprint attracts a field of the best sprinters in the land. The majority of the best sprinters in Australia are more mature geldings who thrive on racing. NATURE STRIP has taken all before him in recent times including a win at Royal Ascot in the winter. He is likely to start as a favourite in the Champions Sprint after running in The Everest a few weeks prior. It could be a profitable few months for his connections.
Keep up to date with all the latest racing information by reading the Palmerbet Blog. It has updated Champions Sprint online racing odds and all the information about the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival for 2022. Download the Palmerbet app via the app store for more.
