This season the 2026 the VRC Champions Stakes runs at Flemington Racecourse on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
The spotlight returns to Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival as Australia’s elite middle-distance stars clash in the Champions Stakes 2026, one of the nation’s premier weight-for-age contests. Formerly run as the Mackinnon Stakes, this rich feature has evolved into a genuine championship race, attracting proven Group 1 performers, Cox Plate graduates, interstate raiders, and international talent looking to add another marquee victory to their spring résumé. With no handicap conditions to level the playing field, the Champions Stakes is often a pure test of class, separating the genuine champions from the rest.
For punters, the race is a fascinating betting challenge with established stars often facing off against emerging weight-for-age contenders at the peak of their preparation. The latest Champions Stakes odds 2026 provide an early guide to the leading hopes, while movements in the Champions Stakes betting 2026 markets can reveal which runners are attracting the strongest support from both bookmakers and punters. Whether you’re backing a proven Group 1 winner, following a Cox Plate form line, or hunting value among the improvers, the Champions Stakes consistently delivers one of the highest-quality betting races of the Melbourne spring.
Right here you’ll find the latest Champions Stakes odds, betting updates, market movers, race history, fields, results, and everything you need to know before placing your Champions Stakes betting selections on one of the final Group 1 highlights of the carnival.
2026 VRC Champions Stakes Odds
The season’s best VRC Champions Stakes 2026 odds and Melbourne Cup Carnival betting market links to the weight-for-age clash will be available the week of the race so stay tuned for the top prices on this year’s runners followed by the official finishing order after the event.
| 5. Birdman (1) 59kgx6132 | |||
| 1. Cosmic Crusader (10) 59kg32141 | |||
| 3. Sir Delius (7) 59kg1×446 | |||
| 10. Aeliana (4) 57kgx0233 | |||
| 11. Treasurethe Moment (2) 57kg40257 | |||
| 4. Attrition (9) 59kg90319 | |||
| 6. Land Legend (8) 59kgx0010 | |||
| 2. Light Infantry Man (5) 59kgx4820 | |||
| 7. Von Hauke (3) 59kg3×700 | |||
| 9. Omni Man (6) 59kg543×3 | |||
| 8. Sabaj (10)SCRATCHED: | |||
2026 VRC Champions Stakes Predictions & Best Bets
Our Ladbrokes’ insider VRC Champions Stakes 2026 tips and Group 1 Flemington exotic betting selections will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned for the end-of-spring stars to back and sack in the $3 million showdown.
| 1. Cosmic Crusader (10) 59kg32141 |
| 5. Birdman (1) 59kgx6132 |
| 11. Treasurethe Moment (2) 57kg40257 |
Latest Champions Stakes News
The Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes – previously known as the Emirates Stakes and the Mackinnon Stakes – is a $3 million feature held on the final day of the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
In a bid to attract graduates of the Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) from late October at Moonee Valley Racecourse, the updated event takes place over 2000m under weight-for-age conditions on the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup runs on the first Tuesday of November.
Via Sistina (2024) was the last to complete the Cox Plate – Champions Stakes double by a combined winning margin of 10.75 lengths! She would repeat the double again in 2025.
Previously worth $1 million in prize money, in 2016 the race offered a lucrative $2 million in total stakes before stakes were boosted again ahead of the 2022 event to $3 million.
The VRC Champions Stakes now attracts the top tier of both local and international WFA stars. The race formerly known as the Mackinnon Stakes is one of three Group 1 races on the card along with the $3 million Champions Sprint (1200m) – formerly the VRC Sprint Classic – and the $3 million Champions Mile (1600m) – formerly the Cantala Stakes held on Derby Day.
The Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m) and the Group 3 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) are the other Group status features on the card.
VRC Champions Stakes Race Info
- Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Former Race Name: Mackinnon Stakes
- Track: Flemington Racecourse
- Distance: 2000m
- Conditions: Weight-for-age
- Status: Group 1
- Prize Money: $3 million
- First Run: 1869
Champions Day 2026 Race Schedule
There are nine races on the Champions Day 2026 card at Flemington, headlined by the Group 1 VRC Champions Sprint, VRC Champions Mile, and TAB Champions Stakes. The official Champions Day 2026 race schedule is outlined below.
| Race | Start Time (AEDT) | Race Name (Group Status) | Conditions | Prize Money | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12:40 PM | Inglis Banner (RL) | Set Weights, 2YO Inglis Race Series Qualified Horses | $400,000 | 1000m |
| 2 | 1:15 PM | Ronald McDonald House VIC/TAS Mile | Benchmark 84 Handicap, 4YO & Upwards | $150,000 | 1600m |
| 3 | 1:50 PM | Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G3) | Quality Handicap, 3YO & Upwards | $300,000 | 2600m |
| 4 | 2:30 PM | Fisher Stakes (LR) | Handicap, 3YO & Upwards | $200,000 | 1200m |
| 5 | 3:10 PM | TAB One Pool Matriarch Stakes (G2) | Set Weights Plus Penalties, Mares | $300,000 | 2000m |
| 6 | 3:50 PM | VRC Champions Sprint (G1) | Weight-for-Age, 3YO & Upwards | $3,000,000 | 1200m |
| 7 | 4:30 PM | VRC Champions Mile (G1) | Weight-for-Age, 3YO & Upwards | $3,000,000 | 1600m |
| 8 | 5:10 PM | TAB Champions Stakes (G1) | Weight-for-Age, 3YO & Upwards | $3,000,000 | 2000m |
| 9 | 5:50 PM | HKJC World Pool Grand Handicap | Benchmark 80 Handicap, 3YO & Upwards | $150,000 | 1100m |
Champions Day 2026 Key Times
- First Race: 12:40 PM (Inglis Banner)
- Feature Sprint: Race 6, 3:50 PM (VRC Champions Sprint)
- Feature Mile: Race 7, 4:30 PM (VRC Champions Mile)
- Feature Race: Race 8, 5:10 PM (TAB Champions Stakes)
- Last Race: 5:50 PM (HKJC World Pool Grand Handicap)
Champions Day 2026 Group Race Program
- Group 1 VRC Champions Sprint – 1200m – $3 million
- Group 1 VRC Champions Mile – 1600m – $3 million
- Group 1 Champions Stakes – 2000m – $3 million
- Group 2 Matriarch Stakes – 2000m – $300,000
- Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes – 2600m – $300,000
This nine-race program concludes the 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival, with more than $10 million in prizemoney on offer across the meeting and three elite Group 1 weight-for-age championships taking centre stage at Flemington.
2026 Champions Stakes Results
The official Champions Stakes 2026 Results & Finishing Order will be available below once the race is run and won on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
- #5 Birdman
- #1 Cosmic Crusader
- #3 Sir Delius
VRC Champions Stakes Betting
VRC Champions Stakes odds are dominated by proven weight-for-age performers with previous experience in Melbourne during the spring.
A race like the Cox Plate run under the same conditions makes the ideal lead-up and the best performers in that Moonee Valley race sit highly up the VRC Champions Stakes betting markets.
As of 2016 the Cox Plate – Mackinnon Stakes (VRC Champions Stakes) is a popular betting double for punters with the races spaced an ideal two weeks apart.
In 2016 the first new-look edition of the Mackinnon Stakes was won in an upset with the winner Awesome Rock improving on a lead-up Cox Plate fifth to salute at Mackinnon Stakes odds of $19. The single-figure fancies were back in winning form the following year with the victory of Tosen Stardom ($6.50) in 2017. In 2018 there was a notable upset with the winner Trap For Fools winning at Mackinnon Stakes odds of $26!
The 2019 Mackinnon Stakes winner was Irish raider Magic Wand ($4.80) who ran fourth in the Cox Plate and 10th in the Melbourne Cup.
In 2020 Cox Plate fifth placegetter Arcadia Queen ($2.45) backed up to win for the punters, before Zaaki ($2.25F) atoned for his Cox Plate scratching to win the 2021 Mackinnon Stakes and become the latest favourite to win the event at the time, as well as the last before the race was renamed the VRC Champions Stakes in 2022.
Zaaki returned off a Cox Plate fourth in 2022 to salute in his second Mackinnon Stakes / Champions Stakes at $8 odds.
In 2024 Via Sistina won the Cox Plate in record time by eight lengths before her 2.75 length romp home as the odds-on $1.60 favourite in the Champions Stakes.
Via Sistina did the Cox Plate – Champions Stakes double again in 2025 before retiring.
VRC Champions Stakes Tips
VRC Champions Stakes tips include looking for horses with winning form up to 2000m, experience in Melbourne during the spring carnival and Cox Plate graduates that ran well in the lead-up weight-for-age showdown.
International gallopers have been making more of an impact in the event from 2016 onwards, so another good tip is to look at the in-form raiders especially those that contested the Cox Plate.
Magic Wand (2019) was the latest international to dominate the race saluting on a quick back-up out of the Melbourne Cup for Ireland.
The VRC Champions Stakes makes a nice target for Cox Plate graduates with Via Sistina (2024 & 2025) twice doing the double!
VRC Champions Stakes Field
The VRC Champions Stakes field attracts the highest-rated weight-for-age runners from around the globe looking for a late Group 1 win during the annual Melbourne Cup Carnival in Victoria.
Many horses in the field are graduates of Australasia’s weight-for-age championship, the Cox Plate, held over a very similar distance a couple of weeks earlier at Moonee Valley.
Mares in the race field may also be on the short turnaround off a run in the previous Saturday’s Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) on Derby Day. In 2019 the Empire Rose Stakes winner Melody Belle jumped favourite in the Mackinnon Stakes field and finished a brave second to the Irish-trained winner Magic Wand.
Melody Belle also returned for the 2020 Mackinnon Stakes and ran a brave third to fellow mare Arcadia Queen.
In 2023 the Champions Stakes winner was Atishu on the quick back-up off a second in the Empire Rose Stakes behind Pride Of Jenni who further franked the form winning the Champions Mile earlier at the meeting.
Atishu went on to win the 2024 Empire Rose Stakes and then on the quick back-up was second to her star stablemate Via Sistina in the Champions Stakes results.
VRC Champions Stakes nominations are taken on the Monday prior to the race running on the first Saturday of November, with the final field and barrier draw released on the Wednesday.
2026 VRC Champions Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
The official VRC Champions Stakes 2026 field and barriers are available on the Wednesday before race day, one day after the coveted Melbourne Cup is run and won and will be provided in full once released.
The 2026 Champions Stakes field is now out featuring a cracking line-up of WFA champions led in betting by the Cox Plate winning Cosmic Crusader drawn the outside alley (11) chasing the double Via Sistina completed in both 2024 and 2025.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Cosmic Crusader
J: William Pike
T: Andrea Leek |
132141 | G | 10 | 59kg | |
|
2. Light Infantry Man
J: Mark Zahra
T: Ciaron Maher |
5×4820 | G | 5 | 59kg | |
|
3. Sir Delius
J: Craig Williams
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
31×446 | H | 7 | 59kg | |
|
4. Attrition
J: Jamie Mott
T: Mitchell Freedman |
x90319 | H | 9 | 59kg | |
|
5. Birdman
J: Ben Melham
T: Chris Waller |
1×6132 | G | 1 | 59kg | |
|
6. Land Legend
J: Ethan Brown
T: Ciaron Maher |
9×0010 | G | 8 | 59kg | |
|
7. Von Hauke
J: Damian Lane
T: Cliff Brown |
03×700 | G | 3 | 59kg | |
| 8. Sabaj (10) Scratched: | |||||
|
9. Omni Man
J: Dylan Browne Mcmonagle
T: Joseph O’brien |
8543×3 | G | 6 | 59kg | |
|
10. Aeliana
J: James McDonald
T: Chris Waller |
1×0233 | M | 4 | 57kg | |
|
11. Treasurethe Moment
J: Daniel Stackhouse
T: Matt Laurie |
x40257 | M | 2 | 57kg | |
2026 VRC Champions Stakes Nominations
The early VRC Champions Stakes nominations close the Monday of race week – a day before Melbourne Cup Day – and will be published below once confirmed.
The 2026 Champions Stakes nominations are now out featuring 24 weight-for-age stars led in all-in betting by Andrea Leek’s flying Cox Plate hero Cosmic Crusader and the two Chris Waller-trained placegetters in that same key lead-up Birdman and Aeliana.
VRC Champions Stakes Form Guide
The VRC Champions Stakes form guide features all the key information for punters including the saddlecloth numbers, barriers, jockeys, trainers and lead-up runs of all the horses in the field.
The race, prior to 2016, was considered a key lead-up to the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on the first Tuesday of November and provided recent winners of the ‘race that stops a nation’ including Rogan Josh (1999) who completed the double.
In 2019 Magic Wand improved on her 10th in the Melbourne Cup just four days earlier to win the then-Mackinnon Stakes on the last day of the carnival.
Now run after the Melbourne Cup, the Mackinnon Stakes (currently known as the VRC Champions Stakes) is likely to be the last run of the horses’ spring campaigns and good lead-up races to look at the form of include the Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Stakes and of course the Cox Plate.
In 2020 Arcadia Queen completed the Caulfield Stakes – Mackinnon Stakes double.
Via Sistina went on to frank the 2024 Champions Stakes form when returning in 2025 to win a host more Group 1 races including Sydney’s $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the autumn. She further franked the form completing the Cox Plate – Champions Stakes double again in 2025.
VRC Champions Stakes Form Facts
- The Cox Plate has been the key lead-up race into the race producing 12 of the 16 winners between 2008 – 2025 most recently Via Sistina (2024 & 2025) who did the double two years running.
- Only one winner in over 30 years came off a Sydney lead-up with Desert War (Epsom Handicap 2nd, 2006).
- So You Think (2010), Arcadia Queen (2020), Zaaki (2021), and Via Sistina ($1.60 in 2024 and $1.80 in 2025) are the only favourites to salute for the punters since 2005.
2026 VRC Champions Stakes Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive VRC Champions Stakes 2026 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Past VRC Champions History & Results
The old Emirates Stakes was a mile handicap race run at Flemington Racecourse on the fourth and final meeting of the Melbourne Cup Carnival on the first Saturday in November.
From 2016 onwards, the race still takes place as the namesake event of Mackinnon Stakes Day – known as VRC Champions Stakes Day in 2023 – or ‘Family Day’ at Victoria’s premier race track on this date, but the conditions and prize money differ. In 2016 the 1600m handicap previously known as the Emirates Stakes moved to Victoria Derby Day, the opening Melbourne Cup Carnival meeting the Saturday prior to Emirates Stakes Day, and was known as the Kennedy Mile before changing in 2022 to the Champions Mile and moving back to the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup.
VRC Champions Stakes / Mackinnon Stakes race results up until 2016 are those of the race formerly known as the Emirates Stakes which are listed below.
Notable recent winners include the latest dual champion Via Sistina (2024-25), Zaaki (2021-22), Arcadia Queen (2020), Magic Wand (2019), Galio Chop (2015), So You Think (2010), Desert War (2006), Grand Armee (2004), and Lonhro (2002).
Casual Pass (2003) is the latest three-year-old Mackinnon Stakes winner.
Via Sistina (2024 & 2025) is the last Mackinnon Stakes winning mare.
From 2022 the Mackinnon Stakes winners are officially registered as the VRC Champions Stakes winners.
Recent VRC Champions Stakes Winners
Recent Champions Stakes 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 | Via Sistina | Zambardo | Tom Kitten | 2:07.91 |
| 2024 | Via Sistina | Atishu | Without A Fight | 2:01.86 |
| 2023 | Atishu | Duais | Young Werther | 2:02.01 |
| 2022 | Zaaki | Mo’unga | Hezashocka | 2:02.0 |
| 2021 | Zaaki | Cascadian | Mo’unga | 2:02.9 |
| 2020 | Arcadia Queen | Fifty Stars | Melody Belle | 2:03.5 |
| 2019 | Magic Wand | Melody Belle | Hartnell | 2:01.8 |
| 2018 | Trap For Fools | Latrobe | Extra Brut | 2:02.3 |
| 2017 | Tosen Stardom | Happy Clapper | It’s Somewhat | 2:01.2 |
| 2016 | Awesome Rock | Hauraki | Seaburge | 2:02.4 |
| 2015 | Gailo Chop | Rising Romance | Contributer | 2:03.5 |
| 2014 | Happy Trails | He’s Your Man | Farraaj | 2:02.2 |
| 2013 | Side Glance | Dear Demi | Moriarty | 2:03.5 |
| 2012 | Alcopop | Glass Harmonium | Ocean Park | 2:01.2 |
| 2011 | Glass Harmonium | Mourayan | Rekindled Interest | 2:02.7 |
| 2010 | So You Think | Descarado | Ginga Dude | 2:04.9 |
| 2009 | Scenic Shot | Miss Maren | Viewed | 2:03.4 |
| 2008 | Thesio | Barbaricus | Sirmione | 2:03.8 |
| 2007 | Sirmione | Princess Coup | Zipping | 2:02.3 |
| 2006 | Desert War | Growl | Aqua dAmore | 2:02.3 |
| 2005 | Lad of The Manor | Our Smoking Joe | Lachlan River | 2:01.7 |
| 2004 | Grand Armee | Confectioner | Vouvray | 2:00.9 |
| 2003 | Casual Pass | Pentastic | Fields of Omagh | 2:05.8 |
| 2002 | Lonhro | Royal Code | Distinctly Secret | 2:02.6 |
| 2001 | La Bella Dama | Hill of Grace | Emission | 2:01.5 |
| 2000 | Oliver Twist | Camarena | Slavonic | 2:05.4 |