The Spring Champion Stakes was first run in 1971, and became a Group 1 not long after in 1979. Like many three-year-old Group 1 races, some winners are never heard from again, while others like Kingston Town, Beau Zam, Nothin’ Leica Dane, Tie the Knox, Savabeel, It’s A Dundeel and Montefilia go onto have a significant impact.

The key lead-up to the Spring Champion is almost always the Gloaming Stakes, run over 1800m two weeks before, and it’s a double that has been completed several times in recent seasons, by Sharp N Smart (2022), Shadow Hero (2019), Ace High (2017), Vanbrugh (2015), Complacent (2013) and It’s A Dundeel (2012).