2023 PB Lawrence Stakes Results: Cox Plate Hope Mr Brightside Salutes First-Up
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The VRC Champions Stakes is a $3 million weight-for-age feature run at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival each November formerly known as the Mackinnon Stakes.
The 2023 VRC Champions Stakes, formally known as the Mackinnon Stakes, is a weight-for-age classic run the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup each November.
In 2022 the race formerly known as the Mackinnon Stakes was renamed the VRC Champions Stakes and the prize money boosted to $3 million.
Held on the new-look VRC Champions Stakes Day or ‘Family Day’ card at Flemington, the VRC Champions Stakes is the feature race on the final day of the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival and shares the card with the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m) – formerly the VRC Sprint Classic – for spring sprinters. In 2022 the Cantala Stakes was renamed the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) and moved from the Derby Day card the Saturday prior to add further prestige to the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The Mackinnon Stakes / VRC Champions Stakes is usually targeted by horses who have previously contested the Ladbrokes Cox Plate a fortnight before at The Valley. The Cox Plate – Mackinnon Stakes (Champions Stakes) double is a popular punt with So You Think (2010) the last to do the double.
Held at Flemington Racecourse on the first Saturday of November, the VRC Champions Stakes is a 2000m weight for age race.
The 2021 Mackinnon Stakes form was franked with the winner Zaaki, scratched from that year’s Cox Plate as the favourite on race morning, going on to win the following year’s $5 million The All-Star Mile in 2022.
Zaaki returned in 2022 off a lead-up fourth in the Cox Plate and became the latest back-to-back Mackinnon Stakes / Champions Stakes winner.
The 2023 Champions Stakes was won in an upset by the Chris Waller-trained mare Atishu on the quick back-up off a second on Derby Day in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).
The 2023 VRC Champions Stakes ran on Saturday November 11, 2023 offering $3 million in prize money and was won in an explosive upset by Chris Waller’s impressive mare Atishu ($8.50) thanks to a perfectly-timed ride by the master James McDonald.
VRC Champions Stakes (Mackinnon Stakes) 2023 | |
---|---|
Date: | Saturday November 11, 2023 |
Track: | Flemington Racecourse |
Distance: | 2000m |
Race Type: | Weight-For-Age |
Status: | Group 1 |
Prize Money: | $3,000,000 |
The Chris Waller-trained Atishu ($8.50) improved on her lead-up second in the Empire Rose Stakes behind subsequent Champions Mile winner Pride Of Dubai, relishing the quick back-up and extra distance to power home late over a quality field to score an upset win in the 2023 Champions Stakes results.
Stay tuned for the official 2023 Mackinnon Stakes results and finishing order, the $3 million showdown run as the VRC Champions Stakes.
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 10 | ATISHU (NZ) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 5 | 57kg | $8.50 | |||
2 | 9 | DUAIS | Edward Cummings | Damien Oliver | 1.75L | 3 | 57kg | $7 | ||
3 | 3 | YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | Billy Egan | 1.95L | 6 | 59kg | $51 | ||
4 | 1 | ZAAKI (GB) | Annabel Neasham | Ms Jamie Kah | 2.05L | 10 | 59kg | $4.40 | ||
5 | 7 | BUCKAROO (GB) | Joseph O’Brien | Blake Shinn | 2.15L | 8 | 59kg | $26 | ||
6 | 11 | PROWESS (NZ) | Roger James & Robert Wellwood | Mark Zahra | 2.65L | 4 | 56.5kg | $5.50 | ||
7 | 2 | HUETOR (FR) | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 2.85L | 11 | 59kg | $61 | ||
8 | 8 | MONTEFILIA | Chris Waller | Michael Dee | 3.25L | 1 | 57kg | $26 | ||
9 | 4 | WEST WIND BLOWS (IRE) | Simon & Ed Crisford | Jamie Spencer | 3.35L | 2 | 59kg | $2.80F | ||
10 | 5 | ZEYREK (FR) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Ben Melham | 4.85L | 7 | 59kg | $61 | ||
11 | 6 | PINSTRIPED | Enver Jusufovic | Ben Allen | 5.35L | 9 | 59kg | $81 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
The 2023 VRC Champions Stakes odds on the event formerly known as the Mackinnon Stakes complete with links to the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au for you to lock in your 2023 VRC Champions Stakes betting tips in at the right price will be published closer to Melbourne Cup week 2023.
Check out our VRC Champions Stakes (Mackinnon Stakes) Betting page for more information on the bet types available and how to pick the VRC Champions Stakes results this Cup Carnival.
Arcadia Queen ($2.45 in 2020) followed by Zaaki ($2.25 in 2021) are the last Mackinnon Stakes favourites to salute for the punters.
Zaaki returned and also won the 2022 Champions Stakes at $8 odds.
Stay tuned for our exclusive VRC Champions Stakes 2023 Tips on the $3 million feature race of Stakes Day at Flemington this spring!
A stellar edition of the VRC Champions Stakes and have the Simon & Ed Crisford-trained international West Wind Blows on top. A former stablemate to this year’s Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup champion Without A Fight, this UK-based Teofilo five-year-old is third-up down under for the spring and well acclimatised now. He has an excellent record over the distance (7:3-2-2) and comes off back-to-back Group 1 seconds behind some very good horses in Australia. Fresh was second to last year’s Melbourne Cup champ Gold Trip in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at this track and distance. Rose to 2400m and was narrowly beaten by Without A Fight in the Caulfield Cup. That form was franked on Tuesday with Without A Fight blasting his rivals away with a stellar Melbourne Cup win by over two lengths. Think West Wind Blows can do the same back to 2000m and fit now. Jamie Spencer stays on, barrier two, just needs to prove he is a genuine WFA horse with the 59kg.
The Mackinnon Stakes field is now known as the VRC Champions Stakes field as of 2022 and attracts the best weight-for-age spring gallopers coming off a lead-up run in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) over the same distance and run under the same conditions two weeks earlier at Moonee Valley.
The Cox Plate produced ten winners from 2008 – 2023 most recently Zaaki (4th in 2022) for his second Mackinnon Stakes victory.
The official VRC Champions Stakes 2023 Final Field & Barriers are announced on the Wednesday of race week and will be available in full below once announced.
The 2023 VRC Champions Stakes final field features a cracking line-up of spring gallopers including UK raider West Wind Blows coming off a Caulfield Cup second behind subsequent Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight, dual defending champion Zaaki after his third success as a nine-year-old now, and classy Group 1 winning Kiwi mare Prowess coming off a win in the Group 2 Crystal Mile at The Valley.
Click here to read more on the key runners in the Champions Stakes 2023 field and betting markets.
No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 41x217x326 | ZAAKI (GB) | Annabel Neasham | Ms Jamie Kah | 10 | 59kg | 116 | ||
2 | 0653216×06 | HUETOR (FR) | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 11 | 59kg | 110 | ||
3 | 746×403116 | YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | Billy Egan | 6 | 59kg | 106 | ||
4 | 13×3123222 | WEST WIND BLOWS (IRE) | Simon & Ed Crisford | Jamie Spencer | 2 | 59kg | 110 | ||
5 | 1735×45401 | ZEYREK (FR) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Ben Melham | 7 | 59kg | 108 | ||
6 | 34113×2150 | PINSTRIPED | Enver Jusufovic | Ben Allen | 9 | 59kg | 107 | ||
7 | 216x143x27 | BUCKAROO (GB) | Joseph O’Brien | Blake Shinn | 8 | 59kg | 107 | ||
8 | 5229×86310 | MONTEFILIA | Chris Waller | Michael Dee | 1 | 57kg | 112 | ||
9 | 0x43x79334 | DUAIS | Edward Cummings | Damien Oliver | 3 | 57kg | 112 | ||
10 | x216Px5202 | ATISHU (NZ) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 5 | 57kg | 110 | ||
11 | 3311111×21 | PROWESS (NZ) | Roger James & Robert Wellwood | Mark Zahra | 4 | 56.5kg | 110 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Early nominations for the VRC Champions Stakes 2023 are taken on the Monday of race week – one day before the coveted Melbourne Cup Day card at Flemington.
The 2023 Champions Stakes nominations feature 21 hopefuls led in pre-field markets by the likes of Simon & Ed Crisford’s Caulfield Cup runner-up West Wind Blows, Edward Cummings’ multiple Group 1 winning mare Duais, evergreen nine-year-old Zaaki who is the dual defending champion, and star miler Mr Brightside coming off a devastatingly close Cox Plate second.
Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 5211×11122 | MR BRIGHTSIDE (NZ) | G | 6 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 1 | 59kg | 118 | ||
2 | x140x42113 | ALLIGATOR BLOOD | G | 7 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 2 | 59kg | 118 | ||
3 | x3227x1317 | FANGIRL | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 3 | 57kg | 117 | ||
4 | 41x217x326 | ZAAKI (GB) | G | 9 | Annabel Neasham | 4 | 59kg | 116 | ||
5 | 5229×86310 | MONTEFILIA | M | 6 | Chris Waller | 5 | 57kg | 112 | ||
6 | 0x43x79334 | DUAIS | M | 6 | Edward Cummings | 6 | 57kg | 112 | ||
7 | 3311111×21 | PROWESS (NZ) | M | 4 | Roger James & Robert Wellwood | 7 | 56.5kg | 110 | ||
8 | 13×3123222 | WEST WIND BLOWS (IRE) | G | 5 | Simon & Ed Crisford | 8 | 59kg | 110 | ||
9 | x216Px5202 | ATISHU (NZ) | M | 6 | Chris Waller | 9 | 57kg | 110 | ||
10 | 0653216×06 | HUETOR (FR) | G | 7 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 10 | 59kg | 110 | ||
11 | 241111×739 | VICTORIA ROAD (IRE) | H | 4 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 11 | 57.5kg | 109 | ||
12 | 3950×61146 | MUSTANG VALLEY (NZ) | M | 5 | Andrew Forsman | 12 | 57kg | 108 | ||
13 | 1735×45401 | ZEYREK (FR) | G | 7 | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 13 | 59kg | 108 | ||
14 | x426256x94 | NUMERIAN (IRE) | G | 8 | Annabel Neasham | 14 | 59kg | 108 | ||
15 | 3x907x0090 | EL BODEGON (IRE) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 15 | 59kg | 107 | ||
16 | 34113×2150 | PINSTRIPED | G | 5 | Enver Jusufovic | 16 | 59kg | 107 | ||
17 | 216x143x27 | BUCKAROO (GB) | H | 5 | Joseph O’Brien | 17 | 59kg | 107 | ||
18 | 746×403116 | YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) | G | 6 | Danny O’Brien | 18 | 59kg | 106 | ||
19 | 26844×4078 | HINGED | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 19 | 57kg | 105 | ||
20 | 362598×735 | BANKERS CHOICE (NZ) | G | 6 | Michael Moroney | 20 | 59kg | 103 | ||
21 | 05420×8070 | HEZASHOCKA (NZ) | G | 6 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 21 | 59kg | 100 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
First run in 1869, the first winner of the Mackinnon Stakes was the famous racehorse Glencoe. Named after former VRC chairman L.K.S. Mackinnon, the event has seen many winners go on to win the Melbourne Cup including At Talaq in 1986, Empire Rose in 1998, Let’s Elope in 1991 and Rogan Josh in 1999.
The triple win was claimed by Wakeful after winning the Mackinnon Stakes three years in a row in 1901 to 1903. However plenty of horses have managed to dually win the race including: Eurythmic in 1920-21; Phar Lap in 1930-31; Peter Pan in 1932, 1934; Beau Vite in 1940-41; Tranquil Star in 1944-45; Comic Court in 1949-50; Rising Fast in 1954-55; Belmura Lad in 1980-81; and Zaaki in 2021-22.
The Mackinnon Stakes was originally known as the Emirates Stakes prior to being renamed in 2016. In 2016 the former Mackinnon Stakes race was renamed the Emirates Stakes and moved from Derby Day to Mackinnon Stakes Day during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
In 2022 the Mackinnon Stakes was renamed the Champions Stakes.
Look through the winners of the Emirates Stakes / Mackinnon Stakes / Champions Stakes since 2000.
Year | Place | Horse | Time |
---|---|---|---|
2023 Champions Stakes |
1st | Atishu | 2 minutes 2.01 seconds |
2nd | Duais | ||
3rd | Young Werther | ||
2022 Champions Stakes |
1st | Zaaki | 2 minutes 2.00 seconds |
2nd | Mo’unga | ||
3rd | Hezashocka | ||
2021 Mackinnon Stakes |
1st | Zaaki | 2 minutes 2.94 seconds |
2nd | Cascadian | ||
3rd | Mo’unga | ||
2020 Mackinnon Stakes |
1st | Arcadia Queen | 2 minutes 3.53 seconds |
2nd | Fifty Stars | ||
3rd | Melody Belle | ||
2019 Mackinnon Stakes |
1st | Magic Wand | 2 minutes 1.82 seconds |
2nd | Melody Belle | ||
3rd | Hartnell | ||
2018 Mackinnon Stakes |
1st | Trap For Fools | 2 minutes 2.3 seconds |
2nd | Latrobe | ||
3rd | Extra Brut | ||
2017 Emirates Stakes |
1st | Tosen Stardom | 2 minutes 1.2 seconds |
2nd | Happy Clapper | ||
3rd | It’s Somewhat | ||
2016 Emirates Stakes |
1st | Awesome Rock | 2 minutes 2.4 seconds |
2nd | DH: Hauraki | ||
2nd | DH: Seaburge | ||
2015 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | Tarzino | 2 minutes 3.5 seconds |
2nd | Rising Romance | ||
3rd | Contributer | ||
2014 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | Happy Trails | 2 minutes 2.3 seconds |
2nd | He’s Your Man | ||
3rd | Farraaj | ||
2013 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | Side Glance | 2 minutes 3.59 seconds |
2nd | Dear Demi | ||
3rd | Moriarty | ||
2012 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | Alcopop | 2 minutes 1.26 seconds |
2nd | Glass Harmonium | ||
3rd | Ocean Park | ||
2011 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | Glass Harmonium | 2 minutes 2.72 seconds |
2nd | Mourayan | ||
3rd | Rekindled Interest | ||
2010 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | So You Think | 2 minutes 4.92 seconds |
2nd | Descarado | ||
3rd | Ginga Dude | ||
2009 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | Scenic Shot | 2 minutes 3:46 seconds |
2nd | Miss Maren | ||
3rd | Viewed | ||
2008 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | Thesio | 2 minutes 3.8 seconds |
2nd | Barbaricus | ||
3rd | Sirmione | ||
2007 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | Sirmione | 2 minutes 2.3 seconds |
2nd | Princess Coup | ||
3rd | Zipping | ||
2006 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | Desert War | 2 minutes 2.3 seconds |
2nd | Growl | ||
3rd | Aqua dAmore | ||
2005 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | Lad Of The Manor | 2 minutes 1.7 seconds |
2nd | Our Smoking Joe | ||
3rd | Lachlan River | ||
2004 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | Grand Armee | 2 minutes 0.9 seconds |
2nd | Confectioner | ||
3rd | Vouvray | ||
2003 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | Casual Pass | 2 minutes 5.8 seconds |
2nd | Pentastic | ||
3rd | Fields Of Omagh | ||
2002 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | Lonhro | 2 minutes 2.6 seconds |
2nd | Royal Code | ||
3rd | Distinctly Secret | ||
2001 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | La Bella Dama | 2 minutes 1.5 seconds |
2nd | Hill Of Grace | ||
3rd | Emission | ||
2000 MacKinnon Stakes |
1st | Oliver Twist | 2 minutes 5.4 seconds |
2nd | Camarena | ||
3rd | Slavonic |