According to former champion and current leading jockey, Shane ‘Canter Man’ Ellis, the Superstakes is a race of significant value and is worth winning.

Ellis, who has won the Superstakes on three occasions, said that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication to win the 2,000 – metre Grade One event. Ellis won aboard Pittacus in 2003 for trainer Anthony Nunes, and on Typewriter in 2013 and 2014 for trainer Spencer Chung.

“The Superstakes is a very important race, and one that is worth winning. In this event, the very best horses in the land are in it to compete. Open to horses of different ages and sexes, it is not limited to any age group, as the best horses will face each other and the race is wide open and it is very difficult to win as well.

“Just being in a race like that is amazing, and even entering the racetrack for that race is amazing. Winning the Superstakes, though, defines you as a good rider, it also boosts your career and your name will always be in the history books,” Ellis said.

“To win a race like the Superstakes, it takes a lot of hard work, dedication and commitment to win such a race. You have to prepare yourself well, weeks before the race and most of all, you have to have confidence in yourself. Once you are confident and tell yourself that you can do it, then everything is possible,” Ellis told the Complete Racing Guide.

Of the three Superstakes that Ellis has won, he said that the best ride was aboard Pittacus in the 2003 event.

“We weren’t the favourite in that race, but Pittacus was the upcoming three-year-old in the race and he was training pretty well. Leaving the half-mile, I just stole the race from there and went on to win fairly easy, it was a cheeky ride,” he said.

“I was so happy that day as I was winning my first Superstakes. Words alone could not explain the feeling that day as I was overjoyed,” he added.

As to his chance of repeating in this year’s Superstakes, Ellis said: “My chances of winning this year’s Superstakes is second to none. Typewriter is training excellently and I don’t see him losing his title.”

“If he wins, this will be our third consecutive victory in the event and it would mean a lot for me, Typewriter and trainer Chung” he ended.