Champions Sprint (VRC)

The Champions Sprint, registered as the Victoria Racing Club Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group One Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over, under weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1200 metres held at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on the last day of the VRC Spring Carnival.^[1] Total prize money for the race is A$3,000,000.

Champions Sprint (VRC)
registered as VRC Stakes

Group 1 race
Location	Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia
Inaugurated	1960
Race type	Thoroughbred
Sponsor	Darley (since 2019)
Race information
Distance	1,200 metres
Surface	Turf
Track	straight
Qualification	Three years old and older Maidens non eligible
Weight	Weight for age
Purse	$3,000,000 (since 2022)

History

The race is considered one of the major sprints of the spring racing calendar. Prior to 2006 the race was held on the first day of the VRC Spring Carnival, Victoria Derby day, but was moved the following year to the last day of the carnival. In 2007 the sprint was also changed to weight-for-age conditions.^[1]

Name

• 1960–1979 - Craven 'A' Stakes
• 1980–1984 - Pure-Pak Stakes
• 1985–1993 - Gadsden Stakes
• 1994–1995 - Southcorp Packaging Stakes
• 1996–2006 - Salinger Stakes
• 2007 - The Age Classic
• 2008–2012 - Patinack Farm Classic
• 2013 - VRC Sprint Classic
• 2014–2017 - Darley Classic
• 2018 - VRC Sprint Classic
• 2019–2021 - Darley Sprint Classic
• 2022– Darley Champions Sprint

Distance

• 1960–1971 - 6 furlongs (~1200 metres)
• 1972 onwards - 1200 metres

Grade

• 1960–1978 - Principal Race
• 1979 onwards - Group 1

Winners

• 2024 - Sunshine In Paris^[2]
• 2023 - Imperatriz^[3]
• 2022 - Roch 'n' Horse^[4]
• 2021 - Nature Strip^[5]
• 2020 - Bivouac^[6]
• 2019 - Nature Strip^[7]
• 2018 - Santa Ana Lane^[8]
• 2017 - Redzel^[9]
• 2016 - Malaguerra^[10]
• 2015 - Delectation^[11]
• 2014 - Terravista^[12]
• 2013 - Buffering^[13]
• 2012 - Mental^[14]
• 2011 - Black Caviar^[15]
• 2010 - Black Caviar^[16]
• 2009 - All Silent^[17]
• 2008 - Swick^[18]
• 2007 - Miss Andretti^[19]
• 2006 - Dance Hero^[20]
• 2005 - Glamour Puss^[21]
• 2004 - Takeover Target^[22]
• 2003 - Ancient Song^[23]
• 2002 - Rubitano^[24]
• 2001 - Sudurka^[25]
• 2000 - Easy Rocking^[26]
• 1999 - Pharein^[27]
• 1998 - Flavour^[28]
• 1997 - Notoire^[29]
• 1996 - Gold Ace
• 1995 - Brawny Spirit
• 1994 - Hareeba
• 1993 - Alishan
• 1992 - Unspoken Word
• 1991 - Final Card
• 1990 - Planet Ruler
• 1989 - Planet Ruler
• 1988 - Special
• 1987 - Sky Filou
• 1986 - Taj Quillo
• 1985 - Lord Ballina
• 1984 - River Rough
• 1983 - River Rough
• 1982 - Forgone Conclusion
• 1981 - Zegna
• 1980 - Watney
• 1979 - Rooney
• 1978 - Always Welcome
• 1977 - Galway Bay
• 1976 - Maybe Mahal
• 1975 - Miss Lockleys
• 1974 - Scamanda
• 1973 - Century
• 1972 - Beaches^[30]
• 1971 - Welsh Prince
• 1970 - Dual Choice
• 1969 - Vain
• 1968 - Snub
• 1967 - Iga Ninja
• 1966 - Marmion
• 1965 - Picca
• 1964 - Star Of Heaven
• 1963 - Ripa
• 1962 - Samson
• 1961 - Bengal Tiger
• 1960 - Karina

See also

• List of Australian Group races
• Group races

References

1. "Winners and Past Results for the Patinack Farm Classic". Pro Group Racing Australia. 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
2. "2024 Result – Darley Champions Sprint (held 9 November 2024)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
3. "Full Result 4.50 Flemington (AUS) | 11 November 2023 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com.
4. "2022 Result – Darley Champions Sprint (held 5 November 2022)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
5. "2021 Result – Darley Sprint Classic (held 6 November 2021)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
6. "2020 Result – Darley Sprint Classic (held 7 November 2020)". breednet.com. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
7. "2019 Result – Darley Sprint Classic (held 9 November 2019)". breednet.com. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
8. "2018 Result – VRC Sprint Classic (held 10 November 2018)". breednet.com. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
9. "2017 Result – Darley Classic (held 11 November 2017)". breednet.com. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
10. "2016 Result – Darley Classic (held 5 November 2016)". breednet.com. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
11. "2015 Result – Darley Classic (held 7 November 2015)". breednet.com. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
12. "2014 Result – Darley Classic (held 8 November 2014)". breednet.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
13. "2013 Result – Vrc Sprint Classic (held 9 November 2013)". breednet.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
14. "2012 Result – Patinack Farm Classic (held 10 November 2012)". breednet.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
15. "2011 Result – Patinack Farm Classic (held 5 November 2011)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
16. "2010 Result – Patinack Farm Classic (held 6 November 2010)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
17. "2009 Result – Patinack Farm Classic (held 7 November 2009)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
18. "2008 Result – Patinack Farm V.R.C. Classic (held 8 November 2008)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
19. "2007 Result – The Age Classic (held 10 November 2007)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
20. "2006 Result – Salinger Stakes (held 4 November 2006)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
21. "2005 Result – Salinger Stks (held 29 October 2005)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
22. "2004 Result – Salinger Stks (held 30 October 2004)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
23. "2003 Result – Salinger Stks (held 1 November 2003)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
24. "2002 Result – Salinger Stks (held 2 November 2002)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
25. "2001 Result – Salinger Stks (held 3 November 2001)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
26. "2000 Result – Salinger Stks (held 4 November 2000)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
27. "1999 Result – Salinger Stks (held 30 October 1999)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
28. "1998 Result – Salinger Stks (held 31 October 1998)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
29. "1997 Result – Salinger Stks (held 1 November 1997)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
30. "Flemington Results – Craven 'A' Stks (held 4 November 1972)". News (Google). The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 November 1972. p. 78 col 3–6. Retrieved 26 October 2015.