Champions Stakes Explained

Surface:Turf
Class:Group 1
Horse Race:Champions Stakes (VRC)
registered as the LKS Mackinnon Stakes
Location:Flemington Racecourse,
Melbourne, Australia
Inaugurated: (as Melbourne Stakes)
Race Type:Thoroughbred
Sponsor:TAB (since 2022)
Distance:2,000 metres
Qualification:Three year olds and older that are not maidens
Weight:Weight for Age
Purse:$3,000,000 (2024)

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.

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]

Name

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

Distance

Grade

Doubles wins

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

Winners since 2000

Year[6] WinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwnerTime
2024Via Sistina7James McDonaldChris WallerYu Long Investments (Mgr: Y Zhang)2:01.86
2023Atishu6James McDonaldChris WallerA J A Bosma, Mrs P J Clark et al.2:02.01
2022Zaaki8Jamie KahAnnabel NeashamC E Holt et al.2:02.00
2021Zaaki7James McDonaldAnnabel NeashamC E Holt et al.2:02.94
2020Arcadia Queen5Luke CurrieGrant & Alana WilliamsPeters Investments Pty Ltd2:03.53
2019Magic Wand5Ryan MooreAidan O'BrienTabor, Smith & Magnier2:01.82
2018Trap For Fools5John AllenJarrod McLeanDistinct Racing2:02.31
2017Tosen Stardom7Damian LaneDarren WeirAustralian Bloodstock, Doonaree Racing et al2:01.22
2016Awesome Rock5Stephen BasterLeon & Troy CorstensStan Saric, Mrs J C Saric et al2:02.49
2015Gailo Chop5Ben MelhamAntoine De WatrigantOTI Management, Werrett Bloodstock et al2:03.56
2014Happy Trails7Damien OliverPaul BesharaPeter & Erica Dickmann2:02.28
2013Side Glance7Jamie SpencerAndrew BaldingPearl Bloodstock2:03.59
2012Alcopop8Craig WilliamsJake StephensJ A Stephens, J P & Mrs S K Kelton et al2:01.26
2011Glass Harmonium6Damien OliverMike MoroneyR & C Legh Racing, Lorne Bloodstock2:02.72
2010So You Think4Steven ArnoldBart CummingsDato Tan Chin Nam2:04.92
2009Scenic Shot7Shane ScrivenDan MortonD L Morton, E A Galante et al2:03.46
2008Theseo5Nash RawillerGai WaterhouseMike Townsend, P Evans et al 2:03.84
2007Sirmione4Peter MertensBart CummingsXipell, Covington & Smith2:02.32
2006Desert War6Chris MunceGai WaterhouseGooree Pastoral Company2:02.38
2005Lad of the Manor6Greg ChildsSimon StoutDavid Thomas & Lorraine Smith2:01.72
2004Grand Armee6Damien OliverGai WaterhouseA R Bell2:00.91
2003Casual Pass3Glen BossPeter MorganContract Racing Syndicate2:05.86
2002Lonhro4Darren BeadmanJohn HawkesWoodlands Stud2:02.64
2001La Bella Dama4Scott SeamerGraeme RogersonMrs C & Mrs D Howell et al2:01.57
2000Oliver Twist6Greg ChildsBrian Mayfield-SmithGainsborough Lodge Syndicat2:04.48

Earlier winners

Melbourne Stakes (1869 - 1936)

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Significant changes to the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Just Horse Racing Australia. 2016. 6 June 2016.
  2. Web site: Winners and Past Results for the Winners and Past Results for the MacKinnon Stakes. Pro Group Racing Australia. 2014. 26 October 2014.
  3. News: MR. L.K.S. MACKINNON V.R.C. Chairman Dead. . 26 August 1935. 26 October 2014. The Canberra Times. Trove Digital. 1 col. 5.
  4. Web site: VRC Champions Stakes . punters.com.au . 23 October 2022.
  5. Web site: Track records and attendances . Victorian Racing Club . 22 June 2022.
  6. Web site: History of VRC MACKINNON STAKES | Breednet. www.breednet.com.au.
  7. Web site: 1999 Result  - L K S Mackinnon Stks (held 30 October 1999). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  8. Web site: 1998 Result  - L K S Mackinnon Stks (held 31 October 1998). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  9. Web site: 1997 Result  - L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 1 November 1997). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  10. Web site: 1996 Result  - L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 2 November 1996). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  11. Web site: 1995 Result  - Mackinnon Stks (held 4 November 1995). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  12. Web site: 1994 Result  - L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 29 October 1994). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  13. Web site: 1993 Result  - L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 30 October 1993). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  14. Web site: 1992 Result  - L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 31 October 1992). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  15. Web site: 1991 Result  - Mackinnon Stakes (held 2 November 1991). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  16. Web site: 1990 Result  - L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 3 November 1990). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  17. Web site: 1989 Result  - L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 4 November 1989). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  18. Web site: 1988 Result  - L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 29 October 1988). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  19. Web site: 1987 Result  - L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 31 October 1987). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  20. Web site: 1986 Result  - L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 1 November 1986). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  21. Web site: 1985 Result  - L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 2 November 1985). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  22. Web site: 1984 Result  - L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 3 November 1984). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  23. Web site: 1983 Result  - L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 29 October 1983). breednet.com. 25 October 2015.
  24. News: Flemington Results  - Mackinnon Stks (held 4 November 1972). The Sydney Morning Herald. News (Google) . 26 October 2015. 5 November 1972. 78 col 3 - 6.
  25. News: Ajax Too Good For Rivals - Race Results section L.K.S. MACKINNON STAKES (held 29 October 1938). The Barrier Miner. Trove. 29 October 1938. 26 October 2015. 1 col. 1 - 4.

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