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: #10 Via Sistina
- 2nd: #11 Atishu
- 3rd: #1 Without A Fight
VRC Champions Stakes (Mackinnon Stakes) News
- Via Sistina Leads Star-Studded 2024 Champions Stakes Field & Odds
- 2023 Champions Stakes Results: Atishu and J Mac Beat Duais and Ollie
- 2023 VRC Champions Stakes Field & Betting: West Wind Blows Favourite
- Cox Plate Winner Anamoe Tops 2022 Champions Stakes Field & Odds
- 2022 Cox Plate Results: Anamoe Beats I’m Thunderstruck, El Bodegon Third
The 2024 VRC Champions Stakes is a weight-for-age classic run the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup each November.
2024 VRC Champions Stakes Results
- 1st: #10 Via Sistina ($1.60F)
- 2nd: #11 Atishu
- 3rd: #1 Without A Fight
Chris Waller’s eight-length Cox Plate winning mare Via Sistina ($1.60F) was too good again making it a hat-trick with an easy victory for the punters as the odds-on elect in the 2024 Champions Stakes results at Flemington.
Click here for the full story.
Champions Stakes 2024 Odds & Results
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
10. Via Sistina (3)
J: James McDonald 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
2nd
11. Atishu (1)
J: Jye McNeil 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
3rd
1. Without A Fight (9)
J: Mark Zahra 59kg
T: A & S Freedman |
||
|
4th
5. Future History (5)
J: Dylan Browne McMonagle 59kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
5th
3. Arapaho (10)
J: Ben Melham 59kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
||
|
6th
7. Docklands (6)
J: Declan Bates 59kg
T: Harry Eustace |
||
|
7th
12. Deny Knowledge (11)
J: Damian Lane 57kg
T: A & S Freedman |
||
|
8th
6. Eliyass (2)
J: Nash Rawiller 59kg
T: G Waterhouse & A Bott |
||
|
9th
2. Duke De Sessa (4)
J: Harry Coffey 59kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
10th
8. Royal Champion (8)
J: Craig Williams 59kg
T: A & S Freedman |
||
|
11th
4. Nugget (7)
J: Michael Dee 59kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
Data retrieved: 21/11/2024 04:58:40 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).
Atishu returned to win the 2024 Empire Rose Stakes before a second in that year’s VRC Champions Stakes results behind her eight-length Cox Plate winning stablemate Via Sistina.
The 2024 VRC Champions Stakes ran on Saturday, November 9, 2024 offering $3 million in prize money and was won in an impressive 2.75 length victory by Chris Waller’s Cox Plate winning mare Via Sistina ($1.60F).
| 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 Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | VIA SISTINA (IRE) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 3 | 57kg | $1.60F | |||
| 2 | 11 | ATISHU (NZ) | Chris Waller | Jye McNeil | 2.75L | 1 | 57kg | $8 | ||
| 3 | 1 | WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Mark Zahra | 4.75L | 9 | 59kg | $13 | ||
| 4 | 5 | FUTURE HISTORY (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Dylan Browne McMonagle | 5.21L | 5 | 59kg | $81 | ||
| 5 | 3 | ARAPAHO (FR) | Bjorn Baker | Ben Melham | 5.96L | 10 | 59kg | $71 | ||
| 6 | 7 | DOCKLANDS (GB) | Harry Eustace | Declan Bates | 6.06L | 6 | 59kg | $20 | ||
| 7 | 12 | DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Damian Lane | 6.26L | 11 | 57kg | $15 | ||
| 8 | 6 | ELIYASS (FR) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Nash Rawiller | 7.01L | 2 | 59kg | $11 | ||
| 9 | 2 | DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Harry Coffey | 8.76L | 4 | 59kg | $21 | ||
| 10 | 8 | ROYAL CHAMPION (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Craig Williams | 10.76L | 8 | 59kg | $26 | ||
| 11 | 4 | NUGGET (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Michael Dee | 10.82L | 7 | 59kg | $61 | ||
| 9 | KINGSWOOD (GB) | Gavin Bedggood | John Allen | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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), Zaaki ($2.25 in 2021) – who also returned and won the 2022 Champions Stakes at $8 odds – and Via Sistina ($1.60 in 2024) are the last Champions Stakes Stakes favourites to salute for the punters.
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: #10 Via Sistina ($1.65 at time of publish) – BET NOW
What a great Champions Stakes field we have on Saturday! This line-up features the who’s who of racing with returning 2023 Melbourne Cup champion Without A Fight, last start Caulfield Cup champ Duke De Sessa down in distance, and Chris Waller’s incredible eight-length Cox Plate champion mare Via Sistina. The latter is at a very short odds-on quote and is impossible to tip against. What she did to her Cox Plate rivals over this distance at The Valley was heroic and she only has to turn up and I’d say she keeps the wins coming. Chasing a hat-trick she is in incredible form and has a brilliant record at this distance (11:6-4-0). Proven at Flemington having won the Turnbull in style here two back, barrier 4 and James McDonald stays on. Wins.
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 11 winners from 2008 – 2024 most recently Zaaki (4th in 2022) for his second Mackinnon Stakes victory and Chris Waller’s brilliant mare Via Sistina (2024) who did the double.
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.
The 2024 VRC Champions Stakes field features an incredible start-studded line-up including returning 2023 Melbourne Cup hero Without A Fight, reigning Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa, and Chris Waller’s odds-on favourite Via Sistina coming off her eight-length Cox Plate demolition job.
Click here to read more on the key runners in the Champions Stakes 2024 field and betting markets.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20x11x611x | WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Mark Zahra | 10 | 59kg | 117 | ||
| 2 | 33×7552441 | DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Harry Coffey | 5 | 59kg | 111 | ||
| 3 | 14x0x75x04 | ARAPAHO (FR) | Bjorn Baker | Ben Melham | 11 | 59kg | 108 | ||
| 4 | x73407x803 | NUGGET (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Michael Dee | 8 | 59kg | 103 | ||
| 5 | x0656x3201 | FUTURE HISTORY (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Dylan Browne McMonagle | 6 | 59kg | 103 | ||
| 6 | 211x1x1137 | ELIYASS (FR) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Nash Rawiller | 2 | 59kg | 109 | ||
| 7 | x3x222x7x5 | DOCKLANDS (GB) | Harry Eustace | Declan Bates | 7 | 59kg | 110 | ||
| 8 | 9x513x2x62 | ROYAL CHAMPION (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Craig Williams | 9 | 59kg | 109 | ||
| 9 | 5x24x95x11 | KINGSWOOD (GB) | Gavin Bedggood | John Allen | 3 | 59kg | 98 | ||
| 10 | x2x12x1511 | VIA SISTINA (IRE) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 4 | 57kg | 124 | ||
| 11 | 8132×96631 | ATISHU (NZ) | Chris Waller | Jye McNeil | 1 | 57kg | 114 | ||
| 12 | 034021×515 | DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Damian Lane | 12 | 57kg | 112 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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.
In 2024 Via Sistina completed the Cox Plate – Champions Stakes double winning the former by eight lengths and the latter by 2.75!
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 | Via Sistina | 2 minutes 1.86 seconds |
| 2nd | Atishu | ||
| 3rd | Without A Fight | ||
| 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 | ||
Race comments
It's impossible to tip against VIA SISTINA (10) who was breathtaking in the G1 Cox Plate, producing one of the best wins ever seen in Australia in ridiculously fast time. She likely regresses off that, but even her best form prior would have her a clear favourite. If she's not flat off that run, she should just win. ATISHU (11) won this last year off a slashing run in the Empire Rose and returns off a win in that race on Saturday. She's a top mare who should run well. ELIYASS (6) faded in the G1 Caulfield Cup but had been very well backed to beat VIA SISTINA in the G1 Turnbull Stakes prior and back to 2000m suits. He can take catching, as can DENY KNOWLEDGE (12) who tried hard in the Caulfield Cup off a good win at G1 level prior. ROYAL CHAMPION (8) will be fitter again and can get into the finish.