The Champions Stakes (registered as the LKS Mackinnon Stakes) is Australasia’s premier Group 1 weight-for-age middle-distance feature, run over 2000 metres at Flemington Racecourse on Champions Day (the grand finale of the Melbourne Cup Carnival). In 2025, Chris Waller’s world-class mare Via Sistina defended her crown, ridden to victory by James McDonald carrying 57.0kg.
Recent Champions Stakes Winners
- 2025 – Via Sistina: Chris Waller’s elite mare made it back-to-back Champions Stakes victories, surging home under James McDonald to score as the dominant short-priced favourite.
- 2024 – Via Sistina: Fresh off her record-breaking Cox Plate win, the superstar mare blew away her rivals under James McDonald at Flemington.
- 2023 – Atishu: Chris Waller’s talented mare unleashed a destructive finishing turn of foot down the outside under James McDonald to land her maiden Champions Stakes.
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Weight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Via Sistina | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 10 | 57.0 kg | $1.80 |
| 2024 | Via Sistina | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 3 | 57.0 kg | $1.60 |
| 2023 | Atishu | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 5 | 57.0 kg | $8.50 |
| 2022 | Zaaki | Jamie Kah | Annabel Neasham | 1 | 59.0 kg | $8.00 |
| 2021 | Zaaki | James McDonald | Annabel Neasham | 8 | 59.0 kg | $2.25 |
| 2020 | Arcadia Queen | Luke Currie | Grant & Alana Williams | 5 | 57.0 kg | $2.45 |
| 2019 | Magic Wand | Ryan Moore | Aidan O’Brien | 9 | 57.0 kg | $9.00 |
| 2018 | Trap For Fools | John Allen | Jarrod McLean | 8 | 59.0 kg | $26.00 |
| 2017 | Tosen Stardom | Damian Lane | Darren Weir | 4 | 59.0 kg | $6.50 |
| 2016 | Awesome Rock | Stephen Baster | Leon & Troy Corstens | 8 | 59.0 kg | $9.00 |
Full list of Champions Stakes Winners since 1869
Inaugurated in 1869 as the Melbourne Stakes and won by Glencoe, the race was elevated to Group 1 status in 1979. Renamed the LKS Mackinnon Stakes in 1937 and rebranded to the VRC Champions Stakes in 2022, it remains one of Australia’s most popular 2000-metre weight-for-age classics.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | TBD |
| 2024 | Via Sistina |
| 2023 | Atishu |
| 2022 | Zaaki |
| 2021 | Zaaki |
| 2020 | Arcadia Queen |
| 2019 | Magic Wand |
| 2018 | Trap For Fools |
| 2017 | Tosen Stardom |
| 2016 | Awesome Rock |
| 2015 | Gailo Chop |
| 2014 | Happy Trails |
| 2013 | Side Glance |
| 2012 | Alcopop |
| 2011 | Glass Harmonium |
| 2010 | So You Think |
| 2009 | Scenic Shot |
| 2008 | Theseo |
| 2007 | Sirmione |
| 2006 | Desert War |
| 2005 | Lad of the Manor |
| 2004 | Grand Armee |
| 2003 | Casual Pass |
| 2002 | Lonhro |
| 2001 | La Bella Dama |
| 2000 | Oliver Twist |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
Champions Stakes Records
Horses to win the Champions Stakes more than once
- Via Sistina (2 wins): 2024, 2025
- Zaaki (2 wins): 2021, 2022
- Belmura Lad (2 wins): 1980, 1981
- Tobin Bronze (2 wins): 1966, 1967
- Rising Fast (2 wins): 1954, 1955
- Tranquil Star (3 wins): 1942, 1944, 1945
- Peter Pan (2 wins): 1932, 1934
- Phar Lap (2 wins): 1930, 1931
- Wakeful (3 wins): 1901, 1902, 1903
Most Successful Champions Stakes Trainers
- Bart Cummings (5 wins): Leilani (1974), Gold and Black (1976), Belmura Lad (1981), Let’s Elope (1991), So You Think (2010).
- Gai Waterhouse (4 wins): All Our Mob (1996), Grand Armee (2004), Desert War (2006), Theseo (2008).
- Tommy Smith (4 wins): Tulloch (1960), Sky High (1961), Sir Dane (1964), Yangtze (1965).
- Chris Waller (3 wins): Atishu (2023), Via Sistina (2024, 2025).
Most Successful Champions Stakes Jockeys
- Damien Oliver (5 wins): Paris Lane (1994), Danewin (1995), Grand Armee (2004), Glass Harmonium (2011), Happy Trails (2014).
- Roy Higgins (4 wins): Tobin Bronze (1966), Australasia (1973), Leilani (1974), Belmura Lad (1980).
- James McDonald (3 wins): Atishu (2023), Via Sistina (2024, 2025).
Champions Stakes Race Winner & Odds
- Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Track: Flemington, Melbourne, VIC
- Distance: 2000m
- Conditions: WFA
- Status: Group 1
- Prize Money: $3 million
- First Run: 1869
- Current Champion: Via Sistina
Champions Stakes odds are available, so bet now on the big race.
Champions Stakes 2026 Odds
Champions Stakes 2000m (Pre-Noms)
| 1. Aeliana | ||
| 2. Birdman | ||
| 3. Cosmic Crusader | ||
| 4. Sir Delius | ||
| 5. Warwoven | ||
| 6. Omni Man | ||
| 7. Pride Of Jenni | ||
| 8. Tom Kitten | ||
| 9. Autumn Boy | ||
| 10. Blind Raise | ||
| 11. Buckaroo | ||
| 12. Light Infantry Man | ||
| 13. Lindermann | ||
| 14. Idle Flyer | ||
| 15. Middle Earth | ||
| 16. Sabaj | ||
| 17. She’s A Hustler | ||
| 18. Wootton Verni | ||
| 19. Zambardo | ||
| 20. Panova |
Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 26/10/2026 01:42:27 PM (Australia/Brisbane)