Hampton Court has caused a Spring Champion Stakes upset, finishing over the top of the favourites First Seal and Sweynesse to claim the Group One race for three-year-olds at Randwick.
The 2000-metre race was billed as a clash between top filly First Seal and the unbeaten Sweynesse but the Gai Waterhouse-trained Hampton Court proved himself to be the strongest when it counted.
“I might want to run him in the (Victoria) Derby now,” Waterhouse said from Caulfield.
After Panzer Division set a fast tempo, First Seal and Sweynesse made their runs together.
They drew away and appeared certain to fight the race out until Hampton Court emerged on the scene for Josh Parr.
With Parr timing his run to perfection, Hampton Court ($16) beat the favourite First Seal by 2-1/4 lengths with Sweynesse ($2.80) a neck away third.
Hampton Court gave Waterhouse her third winner in the first six Randwick races.
