Champions Stakes Field

2023 VRC Champions Stakes Results

  • 1st: #10 Atishu
  • 2nd: #9 Duais
  • 3rd: #3 Young Werther



2023 VRC Champions Stakes Results

  • 1st: #10 Atishu ($8.50)
  • 2nd: #9 Duais
  • 3rd: #3 Young Werther

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.

Click here to read more on the big win by Atishu in the VRC Champions Stakes 2023 in the final Group 1 of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Stay tuned for the official 2023 Mackinnon Stakes results and finishing order, the $3 million showdown run as the VRC Champions Stakes.

2023 Champions Stakes Results & Finishing Order

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 VRC Champions Stakes field faces off on a Saturday in early to mid November on the closing Melbourne Cup Carnival meeting at Flemington Racecourse, four days after the famous Melbourne Cup.

Formerly known as the Mackinnon Stakes, the Champions Stakes field runs over 2000m under weight-for-age conditions chasing a share in the $3 million prize money on offer in the classic as of 2022.

Open to horses aged three-years-old and above, the Champions Stakes field is released the Wednesday before the race each year following the Champions Stakes nominations on the Monday.

Futures Champions Stakes betting is often open at bookmakers around the country like Ladbrokes.com.au a few weeks out from VRC Champions Stakes Day.

Bet on the 2023 Champions Stakes Field

As soon as the VRC Champions Stakes 2023 field and betting markets are out, you’ll be able to back your tips on the race below.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 CHAMPIONS STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Champions Stakes Field

Check out the official VRC Champions Stakes Field 2023 below complete with the Champions Stakes barrier draw as soon as it is released on the Wednesday of race week.

For a guide on what horses to back in the Champions Stakes field, check out our Champions Stakes Tips page.

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.

2023 Champions Stakes Nominations

The VRC Champions Stakes 2023 nominations close the Monday of race week.

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.

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