The Championships Day 1 results will be updated throughout the afternoon at horseracing.com.au and we can’t wait for a huge afternoon of race at Royal Randwick.

Kementari is currently a clear favourite in Doncaster Mile betting. Photo by: Steve Hart

Every race on the opening day of The Championships is absolutely packed full of quality and some of the most talented horses in Australia will contest the four Group 1 races this afternoon.

The obvious highlight is the Doncaster Mile and it is talented colt Kementari that is top of the Doncaster Mile betting market with Ladbrokes, while there has been support for Happy Clapper ($5), D’argento ($7.50) and Humidor ($9.50).

Redzel is a clear favourite in the TJ Smith Stakes betting market with Ladbrokes at $2.40 and there has been a big move for Oohood in Sires Produce Stakes betting, while Ace High and Vin De Dance are locked in a battle for favouritism in the Australia Derby.

Keep coming back to horseracing.com.au for all the results on the opening day of The Championships!

The Championships Day 1 Results

Race 1 (11:30am) Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes Results

Paquirri upstaged his rivals to record a big upset in the 2018 Kindergarten Stakes at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Jockey Andrew Adkins gave Paquirri a dream run in transit and the I Am Invincible colt showed a nice turn-of-foot when he was asked for an extra effort.

There was a big betting move for Lean Mean Machine and he finished a credible third, while the big drifter Enbihaar was never in the race.

  • 1st – Paquirri
  • 2nd – Legend Of Condor
  • 3rd – Lean Mean Machine

Race 2 (12:10pm) Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes Results

Muraaqeb ended a losing streak with a classy performance in the Carbine Club Stakes at Royal Randwick this morning.

Muraaqeb had raced well without winning during his Autumn campaign and a lovely ride from Damien Oliver helped him return to winning form.

Holy Snow started the Carbine Club Stakes as favourite, but he missed the start and didn’t find clear running until the 200 metre mark.

  • 1st – Muraaqeb
  • 2nd – Dissolution
  • 3rd – Holy Snow

Race 3 (12:45pm) Group 3 PJ Bell Stakes Results

Houtzen showed plenty of fight to record a brave victory in the 2018 PJ Bell Stakes at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Houtzen looked like a sitting duck when the likes of Problem Solver and Manicure loomed on the outside, but she kept on finding to return to winning form.

Connections are keen to win a Group 1 win Houtzen and she will contest the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville in Adelaide.

  • 1st – Houtzen
  • 2nd – Manicure
  • 3rd – Problem Solver

Race 4 (1:20pm) Country Championships Final Results

Victorem received a dream run up the inside of the Royal Randwick track to win the Country Championship.

Ben Looker rolled the dice on Victorem and elected to look for runs on the inside, which proved to be a winning play as he found clear running and finished stronger than his rivals.

Victorem ran away from his rivals late and has every possible chance of developing into a genuine Saturday class horse.

  • 1st – Victorem
  • 2nd – Don’t Give A Damn
  • 3rd – O’So Hazy

Race 5 (1:55pm) Group 2 Chairman’s Handicap Results

Sir Charles Road will head into the 2018 Sydney Cup as a genuine chance after outstaying his rivals to win the Chairman’s Handicap at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Ventura Storm looked set to storm past Sir Charles Road and claim a maiden race win in Australia, but Sir Charles Road refused to give in and kept finding the line.

Sir Charles Road finished a credible sixth in the Auckland Cup last start and he won the City Of Auckland Cup earlier in the year.

  • 1st – Sir Charles Road
  • 2nd – Ventura Storm
  • 3rd – Peribsen

Race 6 (2:30pm) Group 1 Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes Results

El Dorado Dreaming stormed down the outside to record an upset win in the 2018 Inglis Sires’ Produce Stakes at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Oohood popped out of the main pack at the 150 metre mark and looked as though she would finally record a maiden race win, but El Dorado Dreaming finished over the top of her late to record a scintillating win.

The victory of El Dorado Dreaming gave young trainer Ben Smith a maiden Group 1 win – following the victory of In Her Time in The Galaxy – and he admitted that he was surprised to see his filly win.

  • 1st – El Dorado Dreaming
  • 2nd – Oohood
  • 3rd – Outrageous

Race 7 (3:10pm) Group 1 Australian Derby Results

Levendi got his nose in front at the right time to record an outstanding victory in the 2018 Australian Derby at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Ace High hit the front at the 250 metre mark, but jockey Mark Zahra timed his run to perfection on Levendi.

Ace High was in for the fight and he didn’t give up, but Levendi got the bob in on the line to win the Australian Derby.

  • 1st – Levendi
  • 2nd – Ace High
  • 3rd – Tangled

Race 8 (3:50pm) Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes Results

Trapeze Artist finished over the top of Redzel to record an upset win in the 2018 TJ Smith Stakes at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Redzel took up the running in his usual fashion and gave a tick at the top of the straight, but Trapeze Artist emerged from the pack and always looked to have his rivals measure.

Trapeze Artist went past Redzel and raced away from his rival in the last 100 metres to claim a second Group 1 victory.

  • 1st – Trapeze Artist
  • 2nd – Redzel
  • 3rd – In Her Time

Race 9 (4:30pm) Group 1 Doncaster Mile Results

A brilliant ride from Blake Shinn helped Happy Clapper record a third Group 1 victory in the 2018 Doncaster Mile at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Shinn settled Happy Clapper just behind the leader in the early stages of the Doncaster Mile and the classy galloper always travelled like the winner.

Comin’ Through loomed on the outside and D’argento flew home late, but they were never going to catch Happy Clapper and he completed the Epsom Handicap/Doncaster Mile double.

  • 1st – Happy Clapper
  • 2nd – Comin’ Through
  • 3rd – Arbeitsam

Race 10 (5:10pm) Group 3 Adrian Knox Stakes Results

Luvaluva will go into the Australian Oaks as a genuine contender following a strong staying performance in the Adrian Knox Stakes.

Luvaluva missed the Vinery Stud Stakes last weekend due to a viral infection and she was forced to lump a big weight, but she was still able to outstay her rivals in the final stages.

Trainer John Sargent confirmed that Luvaluva will back-up in the Australian Oaks at Royal Randwick next weekend.

  • 1st – Luvaluva
  • 2nd – Pretty To Sea
  • 3rd – Chilly Cha Cha

About The Author

Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.