Champions Stakes

The VRC Champions Stakes, registered as the LKS Mackinnon Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions over a distance of 2000 metres at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup.^[1][2] Total prize money is A$3,000,000.

Champions Stakes (VRC)
registered as the LKS Mackinnon Stakes

1932 and 1934 winner – Peter Pan
Class	Group 1
Location	Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia
Inaugurated	1869; 156 years ago (1869) (as Melbourne Stakes)
Race type	Thoroughbred
Sponsor	TAB (since 2022)
Race information
Distance	2,000 metres
Surface	Turf
Qualification	Three year olds and older that are not maidens
Weight	Weight for Age
Purse	$3,000,000 (2024)

History

The race is named after a former chairman of the Victoria Racing Club, Lauchlan Kenneth Scobie ("L.K.S.") MacKinnon (1861–1935).^[3] It was originally held on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Victoria Derby Day. In 2016, the VRC moved the race as the feature of the last day of the carnival, and moved the Cantala Stakes (the then feature of the last day of the carnival and at the time known as the Emirates Stakes) to the first day of the carnival. After the swap, the race would be known as simply the Emirates Stakes until 2017.^[1]

Prior to 2016, many horses with a ranking high enough to avoid the ballot for the Melbourne Cup used the race as a lead-in to the 3,200 metre Cup, run on the first Tuesday in November (otherwise they race in the longer Hotham Handicap). The VRC believed that placing the race on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival would attract quality horses, that raced in the W. S. Cox Plate, to run at the distance, rather than using the race to prepare for the Melbourne Cup.^[1] In 2022, the race was renamed the VRC Champions Stakes in order to align with the branding of the entire race day, which is now called Champions Day instead of Stakes Day.^[4]

The attendance record for the race day was set in 2011, with 85,112 in attendance.^[5]

Delta,1951 winner

Tranquil Star, 1942, 1944, 1945 winner

Flight, 1946 winner

1933 winner – Rogilla; Darby Munro up

Rising Fast, 1954 & 1955 winner

Gothic, 1928 winner

Gloaming, 1924 winner

Name

In 1937 the VRC moved the Melbourne Stakes to earlier in the spring, running it in September, over a shorter distance of 1 mile (1.6 km). The race was the predecessor to the Turnbull Stakes.

• 1869–1936 - Melbourne Stakes
• 1937–1986 - LKS Mackinnon Stakes
• 1987–1989 - Occidental Mackinnon Stakes
• 1990 - LKS Mackinnon Stakes
• 1991–2000 - Louis Vuitton Mackinnon Stakes
• 2001–2004 - Thrifty Mackinnon Stakes
• 2005–2006 - Motorola Mackinnon Stakes
• 2007 - L'Oreal Paris Mackinnon Stakes
• 2008 - Crown Mackinnon Stakes
• 2009 - LKS Mackinnon Stakes
• 2010–2015 - Longines Mackinnon Stakes
• 2016–2017 - Emirates Stakes
• 2018–2020 - Seppelt Mackinnon Stakes
• 2021 - Paramount+ Mackinnon Stakes
• 2022– - TAB Champions Stakes

Distance

• 1869–1971 - 11⁄4 miles (~2000 metres)
• 1972 onwards - 2000 metres

Grade

• 1869–1978 - Principal Race
• 1979 onwards - Group 1

Doubles wins

The following thoroughbreds have won the LKS MacKinnon Stakes – Melbourne Cup in the same year.

• Malua (1884), Carbine (1890), Phar Lap (1930), Peter Pan (1932, 1934), The Trump (1937), Comic Court (1950), Delta (1951), Dalray (1952), Rising Fast (1954), Rain Lover (1968), At Talaq (1986), Empire Rose (1988), Let's Elope (1991), Rogan Josh (1999)

1946 and 1954 racebooks

• 
  1946 VRC Derby racebook front cover
• 
  1946 VRC Derby raceday officials
• 
  1946 VRC L.K.S. Mackinnon Stakes page and winner, Flight
• 
  1954 VRC Derby racebook front cover
• 
  1954 VRC Derby raceday officials
• 
  1954 VRC L.K.S. Mackinnon Stakes starters and results
• 
  1954 VRC L.K.S. Mackinnon Stakes page showing the winner, Rising Fast
• 
  Back cover showing enclosure information

Winners since 2000

Year[6]	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Time
2024	Via Sistina	7	James McDonald	Chris Waller	Yu Long Investments (Mgr: Y Zhang)	2:01.86
2023	Atishu	6	James McDonald	Chris Waller	A J A Bosma, Mrs P J Clark et al.	2:02.01
2022	Zaaki	8	Jamie Kah	Annabel Neasham	C E Holt et al.	2:02.00
2021	Zaaki	7	James McDonald	Annabel Neasham	C E Holt et al.	2:02.94
2020	Arcadia Queen	5	Luke Currie	Grant & Alana Williams	Peters Investments Pty Ltd	2:03.53
2019	Magic Wand	5	Ryan Moore	Aidan O'Brien	Tabor, Smith & Magnier	2:01.82
2018	Trap For Fools	5	John Allen	Jarrod McLean	Distinct Racing	2:02.31
2017	Tosen Stardom	7	Damian Lane	Darren Weir	Australian Bloodstock, Doonaree Racing et al	2:01.22
2016	Awesome Rock	5	Stephen Baster	Leon & Troy Corstens	Stan Saric, Mrs J C Saric et al	2:02.49
2015	Gailo Chop	5	Ben Melham	Antoine De Watrigant	OTI Management, Werrett Bloodstock et al	2:03.56
2014	Happy Trails	7	Damien Oliver	Paul Beshara	Peter & Erica Dickmann	2:02.28
2013	Side Glance	7	Jamie Spencer	Andrew Balding	Pearl Bloodstock	2:03.59
2012	Alcopop	8	Craig Williams	Jake Stephens	J A Stephens, J P & Mrs S K Kelton et al	2:01.26
2011	Glass Harmonium	6	Damien Oliver	Mike Moroney	R & C Legh Racing, Lorne Bloodstock	2:02.72
2010	So You Think	4	Steven Arnold	Bart Cummings	Dato Tan Chin Nam	2:04.92
2009	Scenic Shot	7	Shane Scriven	Dan Morton	D L Morton, E A Galante et al	2:03.46
2008	Theseo	5	Nash Rawiller	Gai Waterhouse	Mike Townsend, P Evans et al	2:03.84
2007	Sirmione	4	Peter Mertens	Bart Cummings	Xipell, Covington & Smith	2:02.32
2006	Desert War	6	Chris Munce	Gai Waterhouse	Gooree Pastoral Company	2:02.38
2005	Lad of the Manor	6	Greg Childs	Simon Stout	David Thomas & Lorraine Smith	2:01.72
2004	Grand Armee	6	Damien Oliver	Gai Waterhouse	A R Bell	2:00.91
2003	Casual Pass	3	Glen Boss	Peter Morgan	Contract Racing Syndicate	2:05.86
2002	Lonhro	4	Darren Beadman	John Hawkes	Woodlands Stud	2:02.64
2001	La Bella Dama	4	Scott Seamer	Graeme Rogerson	Mrs C & Mrs D Howell et al	2:01.57
2000	Oliver Twist	6	Greg Childs	Brian Mayfield-Smith	Gainsborough Lodge Syndicat	2:04.48

Earlier winners

Ajax, 1938 winner

• 1999 - Rogan Josh^[7]
• 1998 - Champagne^[8]
• 1997 - Ebony Grosve^[9]
• 1996 - All Our Mob^[10]
• 1995 - Danewin^[11]
• 1994 - Paris Lane^[12]
• 1993 - The Phantom^[13]
• 1992 - Veandercross^[14]
• 1991 - Let's Elope^[15]
• 1990 - Better Loosen Up^[16]
• 1989 - Horlicks^[17]
• 1988 - Empire Rose^[18]
• 1987 - Rubiton^[19]
• 1986 - At Talaq^[20]
• 1985 - Rising Prince^[21]
• 1984 - Bounty Hawk^[22]
• 1983 - Veloso^[23]
• 1982 - My Axeman
• 1981 - Belmura Lad
• 1980 - Belmura Lad
• 1979 - Dulcify
• 1978 - Family Of Man
• 1977 - Silver Lad
• 1976 - Gold and Black
• 1975 - Kiwi Can
• 1974 - Leilani
• 1973 - Australasia
• 1972 - Stormy Seas^[24]
• 1971 - Skint Dip
• 1970 - Voleur
• 1969 - Roman Consul
• 1968 - Rain Lover
• 1967 - Winfreux
• 1966 - Tobin Bronze
• 1965 - Yangtze
• 1964 - Sir Dane
• 1963 - Summer Fair
• 1962 - Aquanita
• 1961 - Sky High
• 1960 - Tulloch
• 1959 - Trellios
• 1958 - Monte Carlo
• 1957 - Sailor's Guide
• 1956 - Sir William
• 1955 - Rising Fast
• 1954 - Rising Fast
• 1953 - Hydrogen
• 1952 - Dalray
• 1951 - Delta
• 1950 - Comic Court
• 1949 - Comic Court
• 1948 - Snowstream
• 1947 - Don Pedro
• 1946 - Flight
• 1945 - Tranquil Star
• 1944 - Tranquil Star
• 1943 - Amana
• 1942 - Tranquil Star
• 1941 - Beau Vite
• 1940 - Beau Vite
• 1939 - Ortelle's Star
• 1938 - Ajax^[25]
• 1937 - The Trump

Beau Vite, 1940 & 1941 winner

1907 winner – Poseidon

Melbourne Stakes (1869–1936)

For Melbourne Stakes winners between 1937 and 1947, see Turnbull Stakes.

• 1936 - Gay Blonde
• 1935 - Sylvandale
• 1934 - Peter Pan
• 1933 - Rogilla
• 1932 - Peter Pan
• 1931 - Phar Lap
• 1930 - Phar Lap
• 1929 - High Syce
• 1928 - Gothic
• 1927 - Silvius
• 1926 - Manfred
• 1925 - Pilliewinkie
• 1924 - Gloaming
• 1923 - Rivoli
• 1922 - Harvest King
• 1921 - Eurythmic
• 1920 - Eurythmic
• 1919 - Cetigne
• 1918 - Magpie
• 1917 - Cetigne
• 1916 - Lavendo
• 1915 - Traquette
• 1914 - St. Carwyne
• 1913 - Anna Carlovna
• 1912 - Duke Foote
• 1911 - Trafalgar
• 1910 - Son Of The Marsh
• 1909 - Alawa
• 1908 - Peru
• 1907 - Poseidon
• 1906 - Solution
• 1905 - Tartan
• 1904 - Gladsome
• 1903 - Wakeful
• 1902 - Wakeful
• 1901 - Wakeful
• 1900 - Lancaster
• 1899 - Mora
• 1898 - Battalion
• 1897 - Battalion
• 1896 - Disfigured
• 1895 - Hova
• 1894 - Ruenalf
• 1893 - Loyalty
• 1892 - Autonomy
• 1891 - Marvel
• 1890 - Carbine
• 1889 - Abercorn
• 1888 - The Australian Peer
• 1887 - Silver Mine
• 1886 - Isonomy
• 1885 - Trenton
• 1884 - Malua
• 1883 - Commotion
• 1882 - Darebin
• 1881 - Wheatear
• 1880 - Chester
• 1879 - First King
• 1878 - Chester
• 1877 - Robinson Crusoe
• 1876 - Rapid Bay
• 1875 - Kingsborough
• 1874 - Dagworth
• 1873 - Dagworth
• 1872 - Contessa
• 1871 - Warrior
• 1870 - Tim Whiffler
• 1869 - Glencoe

See also

• List of Australian Group races
• Group races