The next edition of the VRC Champions Mile runs on Saturday, November 7, 2026 as part of the final day of Flemington’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The Champions Mile 2026 is set to deliver one of the most competitive betting races of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, with a select field of Australia’s elite middle-distance performers and specialist milers chasing Group 1 glory at Flemington. Contested over the famous 1600m journey on Champions Day, the race has a reputation for attracting horses that have excelled throughout the spring in major weight-for-age and handicap features, creating a fascinating clash of proven class and peak-season form. For punters, the beauty of Champions Mile betting 2026 lies in assessing whether established stars can maintain their form deep into the carnival or if an emerging contender is ready to take the next step on racing’s biggest stage. With strong form lines converging from the country’s premier spring races, the Champions Mile consistently produces a high-quality betting contest and remains one of the standout betting opportunities of the season. Whether you’re hunting value, following market movers, or backing a Group 1 star, Ladbrokes has all the latest odds, betting updates, field news, and expert analysis for the Champions Mile 2026.
2026 Champions Mile Odds
The season’s latest Champions Mile 2026 odds and betting market links will be available below as soon as open so stay tuned for the best Champions Mile betting prices on your favourite spring milers followed by the official finishing order after the event.
| 1. Autumn Glow | ||
| 2. Pride Of Jenni (Doubtful) | ||
| 3. Sepals | ||
| 4. Lady Shenandoah | ||
| 5. Skyhook | ||
| 6. Autumn Boy | ||
| 7. Just Folk | ||
| 8. Surfin Bird | ||
| 9. Gringotts | ||
| 10. Another Wil | ||
| 11. Birdman | ||
| 12. Gods Window | ||
| 13. Headley Grange | ||
| 14. Linebacker | ||
| 15. Pericles | ||
| 16. Tom Kitten | ||
| 17. Zambardo | ||
| 18. Attica | ||
| 19. Evaporate | ||
| 20. Feroce |
Champions Mile Tips
Looking at top international contenders, strong milers and horses with form over the 1600m are good Champions Mile race tips. Because of the testing Flemington straight (1200m), this Group 1 is suited to genuine milers and or stayers more than horses coming up from 1400m in distance.
Other key Champions Mile tips include looking for the top performing spring gallopers out of traditional lead-up races like the Crystal Mile and Toorak Handicap.
Fierce Impact (2019) was the last horse to complete the Toorak Handicap – Champions Mile double.
In 2024 the Toorak Handicap winner Antino ran a brave second in the Champions Mile results behind Mr Brightside.
Another good lead-up into the Champions Mile race is the Group 3 Coongy Handicap (2000m) held at Caulfield on Cup Day, a double recently completed by Best Of Days (2018).
Ladbrokes Tip: The Champions Mile odds are often led by the best of that year’s Cox Plate graduates!
2026 Champions Mile Predictions & Best Bets
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Champions Mile 2026 betting tips and race selections will be detailed below the week of the showdown so stay tuned for the 1600m specialists to back and sack in the VRC Champions Stakes Day support act.
The Champions Mile is a $3 million showdown moved to run on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington.
Run under a host of different names due to sponsorship purposes in recent years, the event is now officially known as the Champions Mile and takes place on the Saturday following the Melbourne Cup, which always runs on the first Tuesday of November each year.
The event was previously known under its registered name, the Cantala Stakes, and has recently been referred to as the Kennedy Cantala due to the sponsorship by luxury retail group Kennedy.
It was held on Victoria Derby Day for a number of years but was moved ahead of the 2022 edition to join the Group 1 $3 million VRC Champions Stakes (2000m) on VRC Champions Stakes Day at HQ. The Group 1 $3 million Champions Sprint (1200m) for The Everest graduates is the other key race on the program.
The Group 3 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) is the other Group status feature on the card.
Champions Mile Race Info
- Former Race Name: Kennedy Cantala
- Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Track: Flemington Racecourse
- Distance: 1600m
- Conditions: Weight-for-age
- Status: Group 1
- Prize Money: $3 million
- First Run: 1881 (as the Emirates Stakes); 2022 as the Champions Mile
2026 Champions Mile Results
The official VRC Champions Mile 2026 Results & Finishing Order will be published below when the race takes place on Saturday, November 7, 2026 as part of VRC Champions Stakes Day 2026.
Champions Mile Betting
Champions Mile betting odds are dominated by proven milers with a good record over the 1600m and those horses that could be dropping back from a 2000m run in a race like the Cox Plate.
Previous Flemington experience doesn’t usually shorten a galloper’s odds, rather their class and ability over the 1600m as well as previous weight-for-age form are the better indicators of Champions Mile betting market positions.
Favourites in Champions Mile betting have a good recent record, but upsets are not uncommon including in 2017 when Le Romain saluted at $12 odds in the race then known as the Cantala Stakes.
In 2017 the Kennedy Cantala odds on the winner Shillelagh were also generous, $12, while the favourite in betting that year Tosen Stardom ($4.80) only managed to run eighth. Best Of Days ($12 in 2018) also scored an upset at double-figure Cantala Stakes betting, as did Yulong Prince ($10 in 2020). In 2021 Superstorm won the Kennedy Cantala at $8 odds before the event was renamed the Champions Mile for 2022.
Cascadian posted his third consecutive top three run in the Kennedy Cantala results in 2021. The Godolphin galloper ran 3rd in 2019, 2nd in 2020 and 3rd again in 2021.
Alligator Blood won the first official running of the Champions Mile at $5.50 odds.
Alligator Blood returned to run third in the 2023 Champions Mile results behind impressive upset winner Pride Of Jenni ($13).
In 2024 Mr Brightside won the Champions Mile at $5 after a 3rd in 2022 and 2nd in 2023.
Champions Mile Field
The VRC Champions Mile field features a class line-up of top milers from both local and international stables.
The decision by the Victoria Racing Club (VRC) and Racing Victoria back in 2016 to turn the old Emirates Stakes into the then Cantala Stakes and bring the race forward a week was made with the hope overseas connections would bring milers to Australia along with their Melbourne Cup horses during the carnival.
The race was renamed in 2017 as the Kennedy Cantala and in 2019 ran as the Kennedy Cantala, accounting for the event’s registered name as well as the sponsor with Kennedy. The race was subsequently moved back to the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival in 2022 and renamed the Champions Mile.
Horses come into the race field via earlier spring lead-ups in Victoria including Moonee Valley’s Group 2 Crystal Mile (1600m) on Cox Plate Day. In 2015 when the event was run as the ‘Emirates Stakes’ a week later on the spring carnival calendar, Turn Me Loose completed the Crystal Mile – Emirates Stakes (now Champions Mile) double.
Another possible lead-up run for horses heading into the Champions Mile field is Caulfield’s Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) run in mid-October, which the 2014 Emirates Stakes runner-up Lucky Hussler won on way to his Group 1 placing behind Hucklebuck.
Cox Plate horses that aren’t heading towards the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (now known as the VRC Champions Stakes) on the same day could also drop back in distance for a shot at the event.
Mr Brightside (4th in 2024) was the last Cox Plate graduate to win the Champions Mile.
Nominations close the Monday before the race runs on a Saturday early November, with the field and barriers released on the Wednesday.
2026 Champions Mile Final Field & Barrier Draw
The official Champions Mile 2026 Final Field & Barrier Draw will be published below once announced on the Wednesday of race week so stay tuned to see what gun spring milers contest the $3 million feature.
2026 Champions Mile Nominations
The early Champions Mile 2026 Nominations close on the Monday leading-up to the race with the full list of entries to be listed below.
Champions Mile Form Guide
The Champions Mile form guide lists all the must know facts like saddlecloth numbers, jockeys, barriers and the lead-up runs of the horses in the field.
Checking the form guide for strong performers over the distance coming off lead-up runs in races like the Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley or Caulfield’s Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) is important when placing bets on the VRC Champions Mile Day clash.
Alligator Blood franked the Champions Mile 2022 form returning in the autumn of 2023 to take out the Group 1 Futurity Stakes. Mr Brightside meanwhile ran third in the 2022 Champions Mile and second to Alligator Blood in the 2023 Futurity Stakes before completing the All-Star Mile / Doncaster Mile interstate double.
Mr Brightside returned in the 2023 Champions Mile to run second to Pride Of Jenni. He franked the form taking out the CF Orr – Futurity Stakes Group 1 Caulfield double in 2024.
The 2023 Champions Mile form was franked with Pride Of Jenni winning ahead of a huge autumn the next year that included wins in the All-Star Mile and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes by 6.5 lengths!
Mr Brightside returned in 2025 to run top 2 in a host more elite level races including winning the Futurity Stakes. The 2024 Champions Mile form was further franked with the runner-up Antino winning the next year’s Group 1 Doomben Cup in 2025.
Kennedy Cantala / Champions Mile Form Facts
- Only four mares have won the race since 2000 – Pride Of Jenni (2023), Shillelagh (2017), Divine Madonna (2006) and Sky Cuddle (2004).
- Favourites only have a fair strike rate in the past decade opening up value further down the markets.
- Unplaced Cox Plate graduates have a solid winning strike rate backing-up in the field.
2026 Champions Mile Form Guide
A link to comprehensive Champions Mile 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Past Kennedy Cantala / Champions Mile Results
The Kennedy Cantala race results up until 2016 are those of the old Emirates Stakes. Notable recent winners include Turn Me Loose (2015), Boban (2013), All Silent (2008), and Tesa Rossa (2000).
From 2022 onwards the event runs as the Champions Mile, results for which are detailed below.
Skyjack (1974) was the last three-year-old Champions Mile winner.
Pride Of Jenni (2023) was the last Champions Mile winning mare.
Scenic Peak holds the current Champions Mile race record winning in 2002 in a time of 1 minute 33:49 seconds.
Recent Cantala Stakes / Champions Mile Winners
Recent Champions Mile winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Third | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | Ceolwulf | Pericles | Stefi Magnetica | 1:38.94 |
| 2024 | Mr Brightside | Antino | Fangirl | 1:36.02 |
| 2023 | Pride Of Jenni | Mr Brightside | Alligator Blood | 1:34.75 |
| 2022 | Alligator Blood | Tuvalu | Mr Brightside | 1:35.6 |
| 2021 | Superstorm | Icebath | Cascadian | 1:35.2 |
| 2020 | Yulong Prince | Cascadian | Rock | 1:34.5 |
| 2019 | Fierce Impact | Fifty Stars | Cascadian | 1:38.2 |
| 2018 | Best Of Days | Le Romain | Peaceful State | 1:33.6 |
| 2017 | Shillelagh | Tom Melbourne | Wyndspelle | 1:35.0 |
| 2016 | Le Romain | McCreery | Tivaci | 1:34.9 |
| 2015 | Turn Me Loose | Politeness | Rock Sturdy | 1:36.2 |
| 2014 | Hucklebuck | Lucky Hussler | The Cleaner | 1:34.6 |
| 2013 | Boban | Smokin’ Joey | Speediness | 1:36.5 |
| 2012 | Happy Trails | Fawkner | Secret Admirer | 1:35.9 |
| 2011 | Albert The Fat | King’s Rose | Secret Admirer | 1:36.0 |
| 2010 | Wall Street | Dao Dao | Chasm | 1:36.7 |
| 2009 | All American | So You Think | Gold Salute | 1:33.9 |
| 2008 | All Silent | Sea Battle | Mimi Lebrock | 1:35.8 |
| 2007 | Tears I Cry | Bird Dancer | Shinzig | 1:35.2 |
| 2006 | Divine Madonna | Niconero | Valedictum | 1:35.5 |
| 2005 | Valedictum | Infinite Grace | Shania Dane | 1:34.9 |
| 2004 | Sky Cuddle | Lad Of The Manor | Skewiff | 1:39.1 |
| 2003 | Titanic Jack | True Glo | Crawl | 1:34.7 |
| 2002 | Scenic Peak | Crawl | Excellerator | 1:33.4 |
| 2001 | Desert Eagle | Emission | La Bella Dama | 1:37.3 |
| 2000 | Testa Rosaa | Weasel Will | Crawl | 1:35.5 |