2024 VRC Champions Stakes Tips

VRC Champions Stakes tips are available as soon as the 2024 Champions Stakes Field is released on the first Wednesday of November.

The Group 1 $3 million VRC Champions Stakes (2000m) – formerly known as the Mackinnon Stakes – is a weight-for-age event held on at Flemington Racecourse on the first Saturday of November, four days after the Melbourne Cup.

The best Champions Stakes tip is to check out the full 2024 Champion Stakes Form Guide – looking for any betting trends and indicators that line-up for the past Mackinnon Stakes / Champions Stakes winners in recent years.

Looking over the past Champions Stakes Results – for the old Mackinnon Stakes – can also help with your Champions Stakes betting for the current Melbourne Cup Carnival.

2024 VRC Champions Stakes Tips

The 2024 Champions Stakes tips will be published below as soon as the field is released during Melbourne Cup week 2024.

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.

Champions Stakes 2024 Odds

Champions Stakes (G1)

OpenRace time: 1731132600

Runner Details	Win	Place
1. Without A Fight (9) J: Mark Zahra 59kg T: A & S Freedman
Resuming. Finished off last preparation by 2.25 len this track G1 Melb Cup November 7 over 3200m defeating Soulcombe carrying 56.5kg at $8. When resuming last campaign sixth of 15 at Caulfield in the G1 Underwood September 23 2023 over 1800m, 2.25 len behind Alligator Blood carrying 59kg at $4.50. Cups double champion fresh off an injury; might need this.
2. Duke De Sessa (4) J: Harry Coffey 59kg T: Ciaron Maher
Racing well. At the latest run won by 1.3 len at Caulfield G1 Caul Cup October 19 over 2400m on a soft track defeating Buckaroo with 52kg at $11. The race before that 4th of 16 at this track in the G1 Turnbull on October 5 over 2000m, on a slow track; 2 len behind Via Sistina with 55kg at $13. Going very well, can give some cheek.
3. Arapaho (10) J: Ben Melham 59kg T: Bjorn Baker
Third-up today and won third-up in the past. First-up ran last of 17 at Rosehill Alan Brown on October 12 over 1400m, 13 len behind Here To Shock with 58.5kg at $151. Last start 4th of 11 at Randwick in the G3 Craven Plt on October 26 over 1800m, 0.7 len behind Lindermann carrying 59kg at $51. This looks too tough.
4. Nugget (7) J: Michael Dee 59kg T: Ciaron Maher
At the latest run made ground from midfield; 3rd of 11 at Moonee Valley in the G2 Crystl Mile on October 26 over 1600m, 1.2 len behind Plenty Of Ammo carrying 57kg at $6. Before that 12th of 20 at Randwick in the G1 Epsom on October 5 over 1600m, 4.5 len behind Ceolwulf with 54kg at $26. Looks tested against this line-up.
5. Future History (5) J: Dylan Browne McMonagle 59kg T: Ciaron Maher
Useful gelding. At the latest run favourite; won by 1.5 len at Moonee Valley G3 Jra Cup October 26 over 2040m defeating Promises Kept with 58kg at $3. Before that sat behind the speed prior to fading 13th of 17 at Randwick in the G1 The Metrop on October 5 over 2400m, 8 len behind Land Legend with 51.5kg at $10. Outclassed.
6. Eliyass (2) J: Nash Rawiller 59kg T: G Waterhouse & A Bott
Most recently 7th of 18 at Caulfield in the G1 Caul Cup on October 19 over 2400m, slow going 10 len behind Duke De Sessa carrying 53kg at $6.50. Before that sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 3rd of 16 at this track in the G1 Turnbull on October 5 over 2000m, slow going 1.75 len behind Via Sistina with 56.5kg at $3.30. Back to 2000m suits, he can give a sight.
7. Docklands (6) J: Declan Bates 59kg T: Harry Eustace
Second-up today. Last outing 5th of 9 at Moonee Valley in the G1 Cox Plate on October 26 over 2040m, 11 len behind Via Sistina carrying 59kg at $26. At only start last preparation 7th of 13 at York in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes on August 21 over 2112m, 11 len behind City Of Troy with 61kg at $67. Not bad in Cox Plate but inclined to risk.
8. Royal Champion (8) J: Craig Williams 59kg T: A & S Freedman
Third-up today and won third-up previously. Resuming sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 6th of 10 at this track in the LR Headquarters on October 5 over 1400m, on a slow track; 3.5 len behind Uncle Bryn carrying 61kg at $3.80. Last start 2nd of 11 at Moonee Valley in the G2 Crystl Mile on October 26 over 1600m, 0.8 len behind Plenty Of Ammo with 57kg at $4. Better last time, can improve again although this is harder.
10. Via Sistina (3) J: James McDonald 57kg T: Chris Waller
Form hard to fault. Most recently won by 8 len at Moonee Valley G1 Cox Plate October 26 over 2040m defeating Prognosis carrying 57kg at $5. The race before that won by a head at this track G1 Turnbull October 5 over 2000m on a rain affected track defeating Buckaroo with 57kg at $4. One of the best wins you'll see last time; anything like that and she just wins.
11. Atishu (1) J: Jye McNeil 57kg T: Chris Waller
Recent form sound. At the latest run favourite; won by a head at this track G1 Empire Rose November 2 over 1600m defeating Amelia's Jewel with 57kg at $3.50. The race before that 3rd of 8 at Caulfield in the G1 Caulfield Stks on October 12 over 2000m, 1.5 len behind Deny Knowledge carrying 57kg at $4. Suited on the backup, will be running on strongly.
12. Deny Knowledge (11) J: Damian Lane 57kg T: A & S Freedman
At the latest run crossed from a wide gate to lead but couldn't hold on when 5th of 18 at Caulfield in the G1 Caul Cup on October 19 over 2400m, slow going 9 len behind Duke De Sessa with 50.5kg at $19. The run before that won by 0.8 len at Caulfield G1 Caulfield Stks October 12 over 2000m defeating Mr Brightside carrying 57kg at $8.50. Like her back in trip, she can give a big sight.
9. Kingswood (3)

Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit ladbrokes.com.au/racing.
Data retrieved: 08/11/2024 12:50:57 PM (Australia/Brisbane)

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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.

Champions Stakes Lead Up Races

There are a number of important lead-up races to check the results of when looking for what horses to back and sack in the Champions Stakes Odds for 2024.

The key Champions Stakes lead-up race producing more winners of the weight-for-age Group 1 spring feature than any other race is the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) run over the same distance and conditions at Moonee Valley a fortnight earlier.

From 2005 – 2023 the Cox Plate produced 10 Emirates (Mackinnon) Stakes / Champions Stakes winners including So You Think (2010) who completed the double – a popular punt with customers at Ladbrokes.com.au.

The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) held in mid-October over the mile and a half is another good Champions Stakes form race to follow.

Champions Stakes Favourites

The Champions Stakes results over the past decade or so haven’t been all that successful for the horses jumping favourite in the race.

From 2005 – 2023 just four Emirates Stakes (Mackinnon Stakes) / VRC Champions Stakes favourites saluted for the punters with Lad Of The Manor (2005), So You Think (2010), Arcadia Queen (2020) and Zaaki (2021).

That said, single-figure fancies in the Champions Stakes betting markets have dominated the results including five straight wins from 2010-2015 before a 2016 upset by Awesome Rock. The runners under $10 in Mackinnon Stakes betting were back in winning form in 2017 with the success of Tosen Stardom ($6.50). Another upset was on the cards in the 2018 Mackinnon Stakes results with the win by $26 outsider Trap For Fools. In 2019 the second favourite in betting Magic Wand ($4.80) beat home the top fancy Melody Belle ($3.80) in the Mackinnon Stakes quinella.

In 2022 Zaaki won the Champions Stakes at $8.

The 2022 Champions Stakes winner was Atishu at $8.50.

A top Champions Stakes betting tip then is to take the single-figure horses paying under $10 through Ladbrokes.com.au in the Champions Stakes betting markets, but to lay the favourite.