PROFIT MOTIVE WILL BE BIDDING FOR A HAT TRICK IN THE CHAMPION FILLIES STAKES

By Graham Potter | Thursday, November 12, 2026

The $300 000 Group 3 Champion Fillies Stakes, a 1600m test at Ascot on Saturday, could provide the stage for the lightly raced, Mitchell Pateman trained Profit Motive to further enhance her reputation after showing to good advantage in all three of her starts to date, the last two of which she won in impressive fashion.

Those two wins were her Maiden success over 1200m at Belmont and in the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes over 1400m at Ascot. The Maiden win was achieved by a comfortable enough 2.20 length margin … and the Burgess Queen Stakes result was particularly impressive as she won by a decisive 3,00 length margin, completely shutting her rivals out of the contest in the run to the line.

Holly Watson, who rode Profit Motive in her two wins, stays in the saddle.

Seven of the fifteen rivals Profit Motive will face on Saturday finished behind her in the well beaten brigade in the Burgess Queen Stakes. They include the runner up Treasured Legacy, the third placed Ruthless Angel (who was soundly beaten by 5.21 lengths) and Cassandra, Quedjinup, Ladt Torque, Royal Reflection and In Good Nicc (who all finished further back).

The extra 200m of the Champion Fillies Stakes means the race on Saturday does set up differently, but that is unlikely to be enough of a point of difference to see any of the beaten runners in the Burgess Queen Stakes reverse the result with Profit Motive, although followers of Willie Pike will note that Perth’s top rider is back on board Treasured Legacy, a horse he has ridden twice and won twice.

There are three other last start winners in the lineup … Dixie Doo (who won over Saturday’s track and distance) … Flying In The Wind (who won over 1400m at Northam last time) … and Miss Billie Jean (who won over 1500m at Ascot).

Of these, the Adam Durrant trained Flying In The Wind, who has won two of her three starts, could be the pick.

Stern Empire is still a Maiden after eight starts, but she has finished runner-up in both of her last two starts over 1400m. If the extra ground suits she could rate as a possible upset package.