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Fillies have begun to win the Spring Champion Stakes run at Randwick on Saturday.
Maid Of Heaven was one of those. Can it happen again in the 2021 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday?
2021 Spring Champion Stakes: Nominations
2021 SPRING CHAMPION STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Spring Champion Stakes is a Group 1 race run under Set Weights conditions for three year olds at Randwick conducted by the Australian Turf Club.
The Spring Champion Stakes is run over 2000m. It was first run in 1971 and was won by Gay Icarus.
When the AJC Derby was moved to the Autumn, this race became the Spring equivalent at Randwick. The race was always run on Epsom day but was pushed back one week to make a better fit for the Derby bound stayers.
The Spring Champion Stakes was known as the Australasian Champion Stakes before the Spring move.
Has always been at 2000m bar for the one running on the Kensington track in 2001 when at 1800m won by Viking Ruler.
The Spring Champion Stakes was a Principal Race until graded at Group 1 in 1979.
Those to do the Spring Champion/Victoria Derby double are Stylish Century, Nothin' Leica Dane, Monaco Consul and Ace High.
Those to do the Spring Champion/ATC Australian Derby (Autumn) double are Kingston Town, Beau Zam, Fairway, Universal Prince and Dundeel.
Savabeel won the Cox Plate three weeks after the Spring Champion but couldn't win the Derby a week later.
Gloaming Stakes/Spring Champion double – Kingston Town, Best Western, Sir Dapper, Magic Of Sydney, Tie The Knot, Fairway, Dundeel, Complacent, Vanbrugh, Ace High, Shadow Hero.
In 2016, Yankee Rose became the first filly to win the Spring Champion. Only two years later Maid Of Heaven would become the second and then two more years to Montefilia again. Montefilia did become the first Flight Stakes winner to do the double.
2020 saw the subsequent Randwick Guineas winner beat the Rosehill Guineas winner and the Australian Derby winner was back in 5th.
The 2007 race was not held due to the Equine Influenza break out.
The Spring Champion Stakes was worth $1,000,000 in 2021.
Notable winners of the Spring Champion Stakes include Montefilia (2020), Shadow Hero (2019), Ace High (2017), Yankee Rose (2016), It's A Dundeel (2012), Monaco Consul (2009), Hotel Grand (2005), Savabeel (2004), Niello (2003), Platinum Scissors (2002), Universal Prince (2000), Fairway (1999), Tie The Knot (1997), Nothin' Leica Dane (1995), Danewin (1994), Coronation Day (1992), St Jude (1990), Stylish Century (1989), Beau Zam (1987), Sir Dapper (1983), Best Western (1981) and Kingston Town (1979).
The 2020 Spring Champion Stakes was won by Montefilia from Lion's Roar and Bucharest.