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.
| Group 1 race | |
 1932 & 1934 winner – Peter Pan | |
| Location | Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1869 (as Melbourne Stakes) |
| Race type | Thoroughbred |
| Sponsor | Paramount+ (2021) |
| 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 (2022) |
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]
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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)
Attendance[6]
- 2023 – 58,021[7]
- 2022 – 54,019
- 2021 – 10,000 (restricted attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
- 2020 – 0 (no attendance due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions)
- 2019 – 57,268
- 2018 – 67,567
- 2017 – 68,873
- 2016 – 70,351
- 2015 – 68,711
- 2014 – 70,051
- 2013 – 65,047
- 2012 – 74,546
- 2011 – 85,112
- 2010 – 77,506
- 2009 – 78,478
- 2008 – 81,652
- 2007 – 84,067
- 2006 – 78,158
- 2005 – 61,382
- 2004 – 45,734
- 2003 – 55,793
- 2002 – 47,593
- 2001 – 42,760
- 2000 – 42,311
- 1999 – 31,728
- 1998 – 31,249
- 1997 – 26,357
- 1996 – 25,736
- 1995 – 25,318
- 1994 – 22,624
- 1993 – 22,162
- 1992 – 21,495
- 1991 – 22,587
- 1990 – 21,414
- 1989 – 23,712
- 1988 – 23,341
- 1987 – 22,196
- 1986 – 21,051
- 1985 – 18,675
- 1984 – 19,739
- 1983 – 22,162
- 1982 – 19,725
- 1981 – 24,378
- 1980 – 25,262
Winners since 2000
| Year[8] | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer | Owner | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Oliver Twist | 6 | Greg Childs | Brian Mayfield-Smith | Gainsborough Lodge Syndicat | 2:04.48 |
| 2001 | La Bella Dama | 4 | Scott Seamer | Graeme Rogerson | Mrs C & Mrs D Howell et al | 2:01.57 |
| 2002 | Lonhro | 4 | Darren Beadman | John Hawkes | Woodlands Stud | 2:02.64 |
| 2003 | Casual Pass | 3 | Glen Boss | Peter Morgan | Contract Racing Syndicate | 2:05.86 |
| 2004 | Grand Armee | 6 | Damien Oliver | Gai Waterhouse | A R Bell | 2:00.91 |
| 2005 | Lad of the Manor | 6 | Greg Childs | Simon Stout | David Thomas & Lorraine Smith | 2:01.72 |
| 2006 | Desert War | 6 | Chris Munce | Gai Waterhouse | Gooree Pastoral Company | 2:02.38 |
| 2007 | Sirmione | 4 | Peter Mertens | Bart Cummings | Xipell, Covington & Smith | 2:02.32 |
| 2008 | Theseo | 5 | Nash Rawiller | Gai Waterhouse | Mike Townsend, P Evans et al | 2:03.84 |
| 2009 | Scenic Shot | 7 | Shane Scriven | Dan Morton | D L Morton, E A Galante et al | 2:03.46 |
| 2010 | So You Think | 4 | Steven Arnold | Bart Cummings | Dato Tan Chin Nam | 2:04.92 |
| 2011 | Glass Harmonium | 6 | Damien Oliver | Mike Moroney | R & C Legh Racing, Lorne Bloodstock | 2:02.72 |
| 2012 | Alcopop | 8 | Craig Williams | Jake Stephens | J A Stephens, J P & Mrs S K Kelton et al | 2:01.26 |
| 2013 | Side Glance | 7 | Jamie Spencer | Andrew Balding | Pearl Bloodstock | 2:03.59 |
| 2014 | Happy Trails | 7 | Damien Oliver | Paul Beshara | Peter & Erica Dickmann | 2:02.28 |
| 2015 | Gailo Chop | 5 | Ben Melham | Antoine De Watrigant | OTI Management, Werrett Bloodstock et al | 2:03.56 |
| 2016 | Awesome Rock | 5 | Stephen Baster | Leon & Troy Corstens | Stan Saric, Mrs J C Saric et al | 2:02.49 |
| 2017 | Tosen Stardom | 7 | Damian Lane | Darren Weir | Australian Bloodstock, Doonaree Racing et al | 2:01.22 |
| 2018 | Trap For Fools | 5 | John Allen | Jarrod McLean | Distinct Racing | 2:02.31 |
| 2019 | Magic Wand | 5 | Ryan Moore | Aidan O'Brien | Tabor, Smith & Magnier | 2:01.82 |
| 2020 | Arcadia Queen | 5 | Luke Currie | Grant & Alana Williams | Peters Investments Pty Ltd | 2:03.53 |
| 2021 | Zaaki | 7 | James McDonald | Annabel Neasham | C E Holt et al. | 2:02.94 |
| 2022 | Zaaki | 8 | Jamie Kah | Annabel Neasham | C E Holt et al. | 2:02.00 |
| 2023 | Atishu | 6 | James McDonald | Chris Waller | A J A Bosma, Mrs P J Clark et al. | 2:02.01 |
Earlier winners
- 1937 - The Trump
- 1938 - Ajax[9]
- 1939 - Ortelle's Star
- 1940 - Beau Vite
- 1941 - Beau Vite
- 1942 - Tranquil Star
- 1943 - Amana
- 1944 - Tranquil Star
- 1945 - Tranquil Star
- 1946 - Flight
- 1947 - Don Pedro
- 1948 - Snowstream
- 1949 - Comic Court
- 1950 - Comic Court
- 1951 - Delta
- 1952 - Dalray
- 1953 - Hydrogen
- 1954 - Rising Fast
- 1955 - Rising Fast
- 1956 - Sir William
- 1957 - Sailor's Guide
- 1958 - Monte Carlo
- 1959 - Trellios
- 1960 - Tulloch
- 1961 - Sky High
- 1962 - Aquanita
- 1963 - Summer Fair
- 1964 - Sir Dane
- 1965 - Yangtze
- 1966 - Tobin Bronze
- 1967 - Winfreux
- 1968 - Rain Lover
- 1969 - Roman Consul
- 1970 - Voleur
- 1971 - Skint Dip
- 1972 - Stormy Seas[10]
- 1973 - Australasia
- 1974 - Leilani
- 1975 - Kiwi Can
- 1976 - Gold and Black
- 1977 - Silver Lad
- 1978 - Family Of Man
- 1979 - Dulcify
- 1980 - Belmura Lad
- 1981 - Belmura Lad
- 1982 - My Axeman
- 1983 - Veloso[11]
- 1984 - Bounty Hawk[12]
- 1985 - Rising Prince[13]
- 1986 - At Talaq[14]
- 1987 - Rubiton[15]
- 1988 - Empire Rose[16]
- 1989 - Horlicks[17]
- 1990 - Better Loosen Up[18]
- 1991 - Let's Elope[19]
- 1992 - Veandercross[20]
- 1993 - The Phantom[21]
- 1994 - Paris Lane[22]
- 1995 - Danewin[23]
- 1996 - All Our Mob[24]
- 1997 - Ebony Grosve[25]
- 1998 - Champagne[26]
- 1999 - Rogan Josh[27]
Melbourne Stakes (1869–1936)
- 1869 - Glencoe
- 1870 - Tim Whiffler
- 1871 - Warrior
- 1872 - Contessa
- 1873 - Dagworth
- 1874 - Dagworth
- 1875 - Kingsborough
- 1876 - Rapid Bay
- 1877 - Robinson Crusoe
- 1878 - Chester
- 1879 - First King
- 1880 - Chester
- 1881 - Wheatear
- 1882 - Darebin
- 1883 - Commotion
- 1884 - Malua
- 1885 - Trenton
- 1886 - Isonomy
- 1887 - Silver Mine
- 1888 - The Australian Peer
- 1889 - Abercorn
- 1890 - Carbine
- 1891 - Marvel
- 1892 - Autonomy
- 1893 - Loyalty
- 1894 - Ruenalf
- 1895 - Hova
- 1896 - Disfigured
- 1897 - Battalion
- 1898 - Battalion
- 1899 - Mora
- 1900 - Lancaster
- 1901 - Wakeful
- 1902 - Wakeful
- 1903 - Wakeful
- 1904 - Gladsome
- 1905 - Tartan
- 1906 - Solution
- 1907 - Poseidon
- 1908 - Peru
- 1909 - Alawa
- 1910 - Son Of The Marsh
- 1911 - Trafalgar
- 1912 - Duke Foote
- 1913 - Anna Carlovna
- 1914 - St. Carwyne
- 1915 - Traquette
- 1916 - Lavendo
- 1917 - Cetigne
- 1918 - Magpie
- 1919 - Cetigne
- 1920 - Eurythmic
- 1921 - Eurythmic
- 1922 - Harvest King
- 1923 - Rivoli
- 1924 - Gloaming
- 1925 - Pilliewinkie
- 1926 - Manfred
- 1927 - Silvius
- 1928 - Gothic
- 1929 - High Syce
- 1930 - Phar Lap
- 1931 - Phar Lap
- 1932 - Peter Pan
- 1933 - Rogilla
- 1934 - Peter Pan
- 1935 - Sylvandale
- 1936 - Gay Blonde
* The 1932 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.
1946 &1954 racebooks
Front cover of the 1946 L.K.S. MacKinnon Stakes racebook
Inside cover showing raceday officials
Starters and results showing the winner, Flight
Front cover of the 1954 VRC L.K.S. Mackinnon Stakes racebook
Inside cover showing raceday officials
Starters and results 1954 L.K.S. Mackinnon Stakes
Starters and results showing the winner, Rising Fast
Back cover showing Enclosure Information
See also
References
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