Champions Stakes

Last updated

Champions Stakes (VRC)
registered as the LKS Mackinnon Stakes
PETER PAN lll VRC MELBOURNE CUP 1932 & 1934.JPG
1932 and 1934 winner Peter Pan
ClassGroup 1
Location Flemington Racecourse,
Melbourne, Australia
Inaugurated1869;156 years ago (1869) (as Melbourne Stakes)
Race type Thoroughbred
Sponsor TAB (since 2022)
Race information
Distance2,000 metres
SurfaceTurf
QualificationThree 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.

Contents

History

The race is named after a former chairman of the Victoria Racing Club, Lauchlan Kenneth Scobie ("L.K.S.") MacKinnon (18611935). [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 Delta 1950 VRC St Leger Flemington Racecourse Jockey Neville Sellwood Trainer Maurice McCarten.jpg
Delta,1951 winner
Tranquil Star, 1942, 1944, 1945 winner Tranquil Star 1946 Olympic Park Melbourne Farewell Jockey Scobie Breasley Trainer Ron Cameron.jpg
Tranquil Star, 1942, 1944, 1945 winner
Flight, 1946 winner Flight 1946 VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes Flemington Racecourse Jockey Jack O'Sullivan Trainer Frank Nowland.jpg
Flight, 1946 winner
1933 winner - Rogilla; Darby Munro up ROGILLA 1933 LKS MACKINNON STAKES D.MUNRO.JPG
1933 winner Rogilla; Darby Munro up
Rising Fast, 1954 & 1955 winner Rising Fast (NZ).jpg
Rising Fast, 1954 & 1955 winner
Gothic, 1928 winner Gothic 1928 VATC Caulfield Stakes Jockey Jim Pike Trainer Lou Robertson.jpg
Gothic, 1928 winner
Gloaming, 1924 winner Gloaming 1922 AJC Craven Plate Randwick Racecourse Owner George D Greenwood Trainer Richard J Mason.jpg
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.

Distance

Grade

Doubles wins

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

1946 and 1954 racebooks

Winners since 2000

Year [6] WinnerAgeJockeyTrainerOwnerTime
2024 Via Sistina 7 James McDonald Chris Waller Yu Long Investments (Mgr: Y Zhang)2:01.86
2023Atishu6 James McDonald Chris Waller A J A Bosma, Mrs P J Clark et al.2:02.01
2022 Zaaki 8 Jamie Kah Annabel NeashamC E Holt et al.2:02.00
2021 Zaaki 7 James McDonald Annabel NeashamC E Holt et al.2:02.94
2020Arcadia Queen5 Luke Currie Grant & Alana WilliamsPeters Investments Pty Ltd2:03.53
2019Magic Wand5 Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Tabor, Smith & Magnier 2:01.82
2018 Trap For Fools 5John AllenJarrod McLeanDistinct Racing2:02.31
2017Tosen Stardom7 Damian Lane Darren WeirAustralian Bloodstock, Doonaree Racing et al2:01.22
2016Awesome Rock5Stephen BasterLeon & Troy CorstensStan Saric, Mrs J C Saric et al2:02.49
2015Gailo Chop5 Ben Melham Antoine De WatrigantOTI Management, Werrett Bloodstock et al2:03.56
2014Happy Trails7 Damien Oliver Paul BesharaPeter & Erica Dickmann2:02.28
2013Side Glance7 Jamie Spencer Andrew Balding Pearl Bloodstock2:03.59
2012Alcopop8 Craig Williams Jake StephensJ A Stephens, J P & Mrs S K Kelton et al2:01.26
2011Glass Harmonium6 Damien Oliver Mike MoroneyR & C Legh Racing, Lorne Bloodstock2:02.72
2010 So You Think 4Steven Arnold Bart Cummings Dato Tan Chin Nam 2:04.92
2009Scenic Shot7Shane ScrivenDan MortonD L Morton, E A Galante et al2:03.46
2008Theseo5 Nash Rawiller Gai Waterhouse Mike Townsend, P Evans et al2:03.84
2007 Sirmione 4Peter Mertens Bart Cummings Xipell, Covington & Smith2:02.32
2006 Desert War 6 Chris Munce Gai Waterhouse Gooree Pastoral Company2:02.38
2005Lad of the Manor6Greg ChildsSimon StoutDavid Thomas & Lorraine Smith2:01.72
2004 Grand Armee 6 Damien Oliver Gai Waterhouse A R Bell2:00.91
2003Casual Pass3 Glen Boss Peter MorganContract Racing Syndicate2:05.86
2002 Lonhro 4 Darren Beadman John Hawkes Woodlands Stud2:02.64
2001La Bella Dama4Scott Seamer Graeme Rogerson Mrs C & Mrs D Howell et al2:01.57
2000Oliver Twist6Greg ChildsBrian Mayfield-SmithGainsborough Lodge Syndicat2:04.48

Earlier winners

Ajax, 1938 winner Ajax McCarten up at Rosehill, 18 September 1937.jpg
Ajax, 1938 winner
Beau Vite, 1940 & 1941 winner Beau Vite 1940 MVRC W. S. Cox Plate Jockey Ted McMenamin Trainer Frank McGrath.jpg
Beau Vite, 1940 & 1941 winner
1907 winner - Poseidon Poseidon 1906 VRC Melbourne Cup Owner Sir Hugh Denison Randwick Trainer Isaac Earnshaw.jpg
1907 winner Poseidon

Melbourne Stakes (18691936)

  • 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

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Significant changes to the Melbourne Cup Carnival". Just Horse Racing Australia. 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
  2. "Winners and Past Results for the Winners and Past Results for the MacKinnon Stakes". Pro Group Racing Australia. 2014. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  3. "MR. L.K.S. MACKINNON V.R.C. Chairman Dead". Trove Digital. The Canberra Times. 26 August 1935. p. 1 col. 5. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  4. "VRC Champions Stakes". punters.com.au. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  5. "Track records and attendances". Victorian Racing Club. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  6. "History of VRC MACKINNON STAKES | Breednet". www.breednet.com.au.
  7. "1999 Result L K S Mackinnon Stks (held 30 October 1999)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  8. "1998 Result L K S Mackinnon Stks (held 31 October 1998)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  9. "1997 Result L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 1 November 1997)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  10. "1996 Result L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 2 November 1996)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  11. "1995 Result Mackinnon Stks (held 4 November 1995)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  12. "1994 Result L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 29 October 1994)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  13. "1993 Result L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 30 October 1993)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  14. "1992 Result L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 31 October 1992)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  15. "1991 Result Mackinnon Stakes (held 2 November 1991)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  16. "1990 Result L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 3 November 1990)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  17. "1989 Result L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 4 November 1989)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  18. "1988 Result L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 29 October 1988)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  19. "1987 Result L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 31 October 1987)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  20. "1986 Result L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 1 November 1986)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  21. "1985 Result L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 2 November 1985)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  22. "1984 Result L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 3 November 1984)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  23. "1983 Result L.K.S. Mackinnon Stks (held 29 October 1983)". breednet.com. Retrieved 25 October 2015.
  24. "Flemington Results Mackinnon Stks (held 4 November 1972)". News (Google). The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 November 1972. p. 78 col 36. Retrieved 26 October 2015.
  25. "Ajax Too Good For Rivals - Race Results section L.K.S. MACKINNON STAKES (held 29 October 1938)". The Barrier Miner . Trove. 29 October 1938. p. 1 col. 14. Retrieved 26 October 2015.