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: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
VRC Champions Stakes (Mackinnon Stakes) News
The 2024 VRC Champions Stakes is a weight-for-age classic run the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup each November.
Champions Stakes 2024 Odds
Runner Details | Win | Place |
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Via Sistina
T:
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Broadsiding
T:
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Atishu
T:
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Deny Knowledge
T:
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Docklands
T:
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Duke De Sessa
T:
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Eliyass
T:
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Royal Champion
T:
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Without A Fight
T:
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Attrition
T:
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Data retrieved: 05/11/2024 06:24:35 PM (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).
The 2024 VRC Champions Stakes runs on Saturday, November 9, 2024 offering $3 million in prize money.
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 Results
- 1st: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
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) 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.
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: TBD
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 ten winners from 2008 – 2023 most recently Zaaki (4th in 2022) for his second Mackinnon Stakes victory.
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.
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.
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 | TBD | TBD |
2nd | TBD | ||
3rd | TBD | ||
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 |