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. Total prize money is A$3,000,000.

History The race is named after a former chairman of the Victoria Racing Club, Lauchlan Kenneth Scobie ("L.K.S.") MacKinnon (1861–1935). 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.

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. 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.

The attendance record for the race day was set in 2011, with 85,112 in attendance.

Name In 1937 the VRC moved the Melbourne Stakes to earlier in the spring, running it in September, over a shorter distance of . 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 - 1 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)

1944 and 1946 racebooks

1953 and 1954 racebooks

Winners since 2000 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Time 2025 Via Sistina 8 James McDonald Chris Waller Yu Long Investments (Mgr: Y Zhang) 2:07.91 2024 Via Sistina 7 James McDonald Chris Waller Yu Long Investments (Mgr: Y Zhang) 2:01.86 2023 Atishu 6 James McDonald Chris Waller A J A Bosma, Mrs P J Clark et al. 2:02.01 2022 Zaaki 8 Jamie Kah Annabel Neasham C E Holt et al. 2:02.00 2021 Zaaki 7 James McDonald Annabel Neasham C E Holt et al. 2:02.94 2020 Arcadia Queen 5 Luke Currie Grant & Alana Williams Peters Investments Pty Ltd 2:03.53 2019 Magic Wand 5 Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien Tabor, Smith & Magnier 2:01.82 2018 Trap For Fools 5 John Allen Jarrod McLean Distinct Racing 2:02.31 2017 Tosen Stardom 7 Damian Lane Darren Weir Australian Bloodstock, Doonaree Racing et al 2:01.22 2016 Awesome Rock 5 Stephen Baster Leon & Troy Corstens Stan Saric, Mrs J C Saric et al 2:02.49 2015 Gailo Chop 5 Ben Melham Antoine De Watrigant OTI Management, Werrett Bloodstock et al 2:03.56 2014 Happy Trails 7 Damien Oliver Paul Beshara Peter & Erica Dickmann 2:02.28 2013 Side Glance 7 Jamie Spencer Andrew Balding Pearl Bloodstock 2:03.59 2012 Alcopop 8 Craig Williams Jake Stephens J A Stephens, J P & Mrs S K Kelton et al 2:01.26 2011 Glass Harmonium 6 Damien Oliver Mike Moroney R & C Legh Racing, Lorne Bloodstock 2:02.72 2010 So You Think 4 Steven Arnold Bart Cummings Dato Tan Chin Nam 2:04.92 2009 Scenic Shot 7 Shane Scriven Dan Morton D L Morton, E A Galante et al 2:03.46 2008 Theseo 5 Nash Rawiller Gai Waterhouse Mike Townsend, P Evans et al 2:03.84 2007 Sirmione 4 Peter Mertens Bart Cummings Xipell, Covington & Smith 2:02.32 2006 Desert War 6 Chris Munce Gai Waterhouse Gooree Pastoral Company 2:02.38 2005 Lad of the Manor 6 Greg Childs Simon Stout David Thomas & Lorraine Smith 2:01.72 2004 Grand Armee 6 Damien Oliver Gai Waterhouse A R Bell 2:00.91 2003 Casual Pass 3 Glen Boss Peter Morgan Contract Racing Syndicate 2:05.86 2002 Lonhro 4 Darren Beadman John Hawkes Woodlands Stud 2:02.64 2001 La Bella Dama 4 Scott Seamer Graeme Rogerson Mrs C & Mrs D Howell et al 2:01.57 2000 Oliver Twist 6 Greg Childs Brian Mayfield-Smith Gainsborough Lodge Syndicat 2:04.48

Earlier winners

1999 - Rogan Josh 1998 - Champagne 1997 - Ebony Grosve 1996 - All Our Mob 1995 - Danewin 1994 - Paris Lane 1993 - The Phantom 1992 - Veandercross 1991 - Let's Elope 1990 - Better Loosen Up 1989 - Horlicks 1988 - Empire Rose 1987 - Rubiton 1986 - At Talaq 1985 - Rising Prince 1984 - Bounty Hawk 1983 - Veloso 1982 - My Axeman 1981 - Belmura Lad 1980 - Belmura Lad 1979 - Dulcify 1978 - Family Of Man 1977 - Silver Lad 1976 - Gold and Black 1975 - Kiwi Can 1974 - Leilani 1973 - Australasia 1972 - Stormy Seas 1971 - Skint Dip 1970 - Voleur 1969 - Roman Consul 1968 - Rain Lover 1967 - Winfreux 1966 - Tobin Bronze 1965 - Yangtze 1964 - Sir Dane 1963 - Summer Fair 1962 - Aquanita 1961 - Sky High 1960 - Tulloch 1959 - Trellios 1958 - Monte Carlo 1957 - Sailor's Guide 1956 - Sir William 1955 - Rising Fast 1954 - Rising Fast 1953 - Hydrogen 1952 - Dalray 1951 - Delta 1950 - Comic Court 1949 - Comic Court 1948 - Snowstream 1947 - Don Pedro 1946 - Flight 1945 - Tranquil Star 1944 - Tranquil Star 1943 - Amana 1942 - Tranquil Star 1941 - Beau Vite 1940 - Beau Vite 1939 - Ortelle's Star 1938 - Ajax 1937 - The Trump

Melbourne Stakes (1869–1936)

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‡ / Boolka 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

Key: ‡ Won dead heat run off.

See also List of Australian Group races Group races

References