VRC Champions Stakes (Mackinnon Stakes)

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.

2024 VRC Champions Stakes Results

  • 1st: #10 Via Sistina
  • 2nd: #11 Atishu
  • 3rd: #1 Without A Fight



The 2024 VRC Champions Stakes is a weight-for-age classic run the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup each November.

2024 VRC Champions Stakes Results

  • 1st: #10 Via Sistina ($1.60F)
  • 2nd: #11 Atishu
  • 3rd: #1 Without A Fight

Chris Waller’s eight-length Cox Plate winning mare Via Sistina ($1.60F) was too good again making it a hat-trick with an easy victory for the punters as the odds-on elect in the 2024 Champions Stakes results at Flemington.

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Champions Stakes 2024 Odds & Results

Flemington R8
Champions Stakes (G1)
Final Race time:  1731132657
Runner DetailsWinPlace
1st
10. Via Sistina (3) J: James McDonald 57kg
T: Chris Waller
2nd
11. Atishu (1) J: Jye McNeil 57kg
T: Chris Waller
3rd
1. Without A Fight (9) J: Mark Zahra 59kg
T: A & S Freedman
4th
5. Future History (5) J: Dylan Browne McMonagle 59kg
T: Ciaron Maher
5th
3. Arapaho (10) J: Ben Melham 59kg
T: Bjorn Baker
6th
7. Docklands (6) J: Declan Bates 59kg
T: Harry Eustace
7th
12. Deny Knowledge (11) J: Damian Lane 57kg
T: A & S Freedman
8th
6. Eliyass (2) J: Nash Rawiller 59kg
T: G Waterhouse & A Bott
9th
2. Duke De Sessa (4) J: Harry Coffey 59kg
T: Ciaron Maher
10th
8. Royal Champion (8) J: Craig Williams 59kg
T: A & S Freedman
11th
4. Nugget (7) J: Michael Dee 59kg
T: Ciaron Maher
Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing.
Data retrieved: 09/12/2024 10:05:21 AM (Australia/Brisbane)

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).

Atishu returned to win the 2024 Empire Rose Stakes before a second in that year’s VRC Champions Stakes results behind her eight-length Cox Plate winning stablemate Via Sistina.

The 2024 VRC Champions Stakes ran on Saturday, November 9, 2024 offering $3 million in prize money and was won in an impressive 2.75 length victory by Chris Waller’s Cox Plate winning mare Via Sistina ($1.60F).

VRC Champions Stakes (Mackinnon Stakes) 2024
Date: Saturday, November 9, 2024
Track: Flemington Racecourse
Distance: 2000m
Race Type: Weight-For-Age
Status: Group 1
Prize Money: $3,000,000

2024 VRC Champions Stakes Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 10 VIA SISTINA (IRE) Chris Waller James McDonald 3 57kg $1.60F
2 11 ATISHU (NZ) Chris Waller Jye McNeil 2.75L 1 57kg $8
3 1 WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman Mark Zahra 4.75L 9 59kg $13
4 5 FUTURE HISTORY (GB) Ciaron Maher Dylan Browne McMonagle 5.21L 5 59kg $81
5 3 ARAPAHO (FR) Bjorn Baker Ben Melham 5.96L 10 59kg $71
6 7 DOCKLANDS (GB) Harry Eustace Declan Bates 6.06L 6 59kg $20
7 12 DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman Damian Lane 6.26L 11 57kg $15
8 6 ELIYASS (FR) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Nash Rawiller 7.01L 2 59kg $11
9 2 DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) Ciaron Maher Harry Coffey 8.76L 4 59kg $21
10 8 ROYAL CHAMPION (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman Craig Williams 10.76L 8 59kg $26
11 4 NUGGET (GB) Ciaron Maher Michael Dee 10.82L 7 59kg $61
9 KINGSWOOD (GB) Gavin Bedggood John Allen 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 VRC Champions Stakes Betting

The 2024 VRC Champions Stakes betting odds on the event formerly known as the Mackinnon Stakes will be available at Ladbrokes.com.au and published here at Races.com.au for you to lock in your 2024 VRC Champions Stakes betting tips in at the right price.

Check out our VRC Champions 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), Zaaki ($2.25 in 2021) – who also returned and won the 2022 Champions Stakes at $8 odds – and Via Sistina ($1.60 in 2024) are the last Champions Stakes Stakes favourites to salute for the punters.

2024 Champions Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 VRC CHAMPIONS STAKES FORM GUIDE

2024 Champions Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our exclusive VRC Champions Stakes 2024 Tips on the $3 million feature race of Stakes Day at Flemington this spring!

  • To Win: #10 Via Sistina ($1.65 at time of publish) – BET NOW

What a great Champions Stakes field we have on Saturday! This line-up features the who’s who of racing with returning 2023 Melbourne Cup champion Without A Fight, last start Caulfield Cup champ Duke De Sessa down in distance, and Chris Waller’s incredible eight-length Cox Plate champion mare Via Sistina. The latter is at a very short odds-on quote and is impossible to tip against. What she did to her Cox Plate rivals over this distance at The Valley was heroic and she only has to turn up and I’d say she keeps the wins coming. Chasing a hat-trick she is in incredible form and has a brilliant record at this distance (11:6-4-0). Proven at Flemington having won the Turnbull in style here two back, barrier 4 and James McDonald stays on. Wins.

2024 VRC Champions Stakes Field

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 11 winners from 2008 – 2024 most recently Zaaki (4th in 2022) for his second Mackinnon Stakes victory and Chris Waller’s brilliant mare Via Sistina (2024) who did the double.

The official VRC Champions Stakes 2024 Final Field & Barriers are announced on the Wednesday of race week and will be available in full below once announced.

The 2024 VRC Champions Stakes field features an incredible start-studded line-up including returning 2023 Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight, reigning Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa, and Chris Waller’s odds-on favourite Via Sistina coming off her eight-length Cox Plate demolition job.

Click here to read more on the key runners in the Champions Stakes 2024 field and betting markets.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 20x11x611x WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman Mark Zahra 10 59kg 117
2 33×7552441 DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) Ciaron Maher Harry Coffey 5 59kg 111
3 14x0x75x04 ARAPAHO (FR) Bjorn Baker Ben Melham 11 59kg 108
4 x73407x803 NUGGET (GB) Ciaron Maher Michael Dee 8 59kg 103
5 x0656x3201 FUTURE HISTORY (GB) Ciaron Maher Dylan Browne McMonagle 6 59kg 103
6 211x1x1137 ELIYASS (FR) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Nash Rawiller 2 59kg 109
7 x3x222x7x5 DOCKLANDS (GB) Harry Eustace Declan Bates 7 59kg 110
8 9x513x2x62 ROYAL CHAMPION (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman Craig Williams 9 59kg 109
9 5x24x95x11 KINGSWOOD (GB) Gavin Bedggood John Allen 3 59kg 98
10 x2x12x1511 VIA SISTINA (IRE) Chris Waller James McDonald 4 57kg 124
11 8132×96631 ATISHU (NZ) Chris Waller Jye McNeil 1 57kg 114
12 034021×515 DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman Damian Lane 12 57kg 112

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 VRC Champions Stakes Nominations

Early nominations for the VRC Champions Stakes 2024 are taken on the Monday of race week – one day before the coveted Melbourne Cup Day card at Flemington.

The 2024 Champions Stakes nominations attracted 19 hopefuls dominated by Chris Waller’s eight-length Cox Plate winning mare Via Sistina.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 0x220x2252 AMELIA’S JEWEL M 5 Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald 112
2 14x0x75x04 ARAPAHO (FR) G 8 Bjorn Baker 108
3 8132×96631 ATISHU (NZ) M 7 Chris Waller 114
4 01x80x2741 ATTRITION H 5 Mitchell Freedman 111
5 331111×143 BROADSIDING C 3 James Cummings 112
6 4x618x4083 DEMOCRACY MANIFEST G 6 Chris Waller 106
7 034021×515 DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) M 7 Anthony & Sam Freedman 112
8 x3x222x7x5 DOCKLANDS (GB) H 5 Harry Eustace 110
9 33×7552441 DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) G 6 Ciaron Maher 111
10 211x1x1137 ELIYASS (FR) G 6 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 109
11 174x12x316 FANGIRL M 6 Chris Waller 117
12 x0656x3201 FUTURE HISTORY (GB) G 7 Ciaron Maher 103
13 2555×72733 HINGED M 6 Chris Waller 104
14 5x24x95x11 KINGSWOOD (GB) H 5 Gavin Bedggood 98
15 88x6310x01 LINDERMANN G 5 Chris Waller 109
16 x73407x803 NUGGET (GB) G 8 Ciaron Maher 103
17 9x513x2x62 ROYAL CHAMPION (IRE) G 7 Anthony & Sam Freedman 109
18 x2x12x1511 VIA SISTINA (IRE) M 7 Chris Waller 124
19 20x11x611x WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) G 8 Anthony & Sam Freedman 117

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

VRC Champions Stakes History

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.

In 2024 Via Sistina completed the Cox Plate – Champions Stakes double winning the former by eight lengths and the latter by 2.75!

Champions Stakes Winners

Look through the winners of the Emirates Stakes / Mackinnon Stakes / Champions Stakes since 2000.

Year Place Horse Time
2024
Champions Stakes
1st Via Sistina 2 minutes 1.86 seconds
2nd Atishu
3rd Without A Fight
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

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