Looking for this year’s Champions Mile betting odds, field and tips? The expert tipsters at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
2026 Champions Mile Odds
The Champions Mile odds 2026 are some of the most competitive of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, with a quality field of proven Group 1 performers and specialist milers lining up for the prestigious weight-for-age feature at Flemington. As the race approaches, the Champions Mile betting 2026 markets will be influenced by key spring form lines, recent Group 1 performances, barrier draws, and betting support for the leading contenders. Follow the latest Champions Mile odds, market movers, betting fluctuations, and runner updates with Neds to stay ahead of the action and find value in one of Australia’s premier mile races.
The latest Champions Mile 2026 odds followed by the official race finishing order after the event will be available below.
Champions Mile 2026 Tips
Our insider Champions Mile 2026 tips will be detailed right here the week of the race and a full VRC Champions Stakes Day betting preview available on the Neds Blog.
The Champions Mile has been run under the following titles: Kennedy Cantala, Cantala Stakes, Emirates Stakes, Longines Mile and Kennedy Mile.
One of the country’s premier mile races the Champions Mile is held the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup as part of VRC Champions Stakes Day at Flemington Racecourse.
Champions Stakes Day is host to three $3 million events with the Champions Mile run on the same card as the Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes (2000m) and the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m).
Key lead-up races into the Champions Mile include the Crystal Mile and Toorak Handicap. Fierce Impact (2019) was the last horse to compete the Toorak Handicap – Champions Mile double.
In 2023 Pride Of Jenni became the first mare in history to win the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes – Champions Mile double at the track and trip on successive Saturdays. She would return in the autumn and win the All-Star Mile as well as the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney by 6.5 lengths.
Mr Brightside returned for his third Champions Mile run improving off a 3rd in 2022 and 2nd in 2023 to win the 2024 edition and celebrate his eighth career Group 1 success!
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.
Champions Mile 2026 – Fast Facts
- Former Race Name: Cantala Stakes
- Race Day: Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Track Location: Flemington Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 1,600 metres
- Weight Conditions: Weight-for-age
- Qualification: Three-year-olds and over (excluding maidens)
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 1
- Operator: Victoria Racing Club
- Prize Purse: $3,000,000
- Inaugural Race: 1881
- 2026 Champions Mile Winner: TBD
Champions Mile 2026 Results
The official 2026 Champions Mile results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Champions Mile Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Champions Mile, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How to Place This Type of Bet on This Year’s Champions Mile |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Champions Mile. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers in this year’s Champions Mile. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Champions Mile, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the Champions Mile results, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Champions Mile results to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Champions Mile results to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Champions Mile results to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from Champions Mile, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How to Bet on the Champions Mile in 2026
- Log in at neds
- Make sure to check out the form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the Champions Mile in 2026?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Champions Mile in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up spring racing form, assess the barriers and look at their strike rate over the mile distance.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Champions Mile winner include:
- Boys’ Club – Since 2000 just four mares have won the event: Pride Of Jenni (2023), Shillelagh (2017), Divine Madonna (2006) and Sky Cuddle (2004).
- Lead-Ups: The Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) on Caulfield Cup Day serves as a nice Champions Mile lead-up and Boban (2013) was the last to do the double.
Champions Mile 2026 Favourites
Favourites in 2026 Champions Mile betting include the country’s best mare Autumn Glow, the 2023 winner Pride Of Jenni for Ciaron Maher and Chris Waller’s Toorak Handicap winning mare Lady Shenandoah.
Boban ($4.60 in 2013) was the last Champions Mile favourite to win.
Champions Mile 2026 Field
The official Champions Mile 2026 field of final acceptances is announced the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
Champions Mile Race Day 2026
Race day takes place on Saturday, November 7, 2026. The 2026 Champions Mile is held on VRC Champions Stakes Day 2026, which is the fourth and last of the famous four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Along with the Champions Mile the other key races on the card include the:
- Group 1 $3 million VRC Champions Stakes (2000m),
- Group 1 $3 million Champions Sprint (1200m),
- Group 2 $300,000 Matriarch Stakes (2000m), and the
- Group 3 $300,000 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m).
Champions Mile 2026 Barrier Draw
The official Champions Mile 2026 barrier draw is announced with final acceptances on the Wednesday leading-up to the race and will be published in our above Champions Mile Field section.
Champions Mile Race Time 2026
The official 2026 VRC Champions Mile race time is TBC.
Champions Mile 2026 Nominations
2026 Champions Mile nominations close on the Monday of race week will be published below.
Champions Mile 2026 Weights
Weight-for-age conditions apply to this race. Weights must be declared by 4:00PM (AEDT) on the Monday of race week. Confirmed 2026 Champions Mile weights for the final acceptances will be published in our above Champions Mile Field section.
Champions Mile 2026 Acceptances
2026 Champions Mile final acceptances must be declared before 9:30 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Champions Mile Field section.
Champions Mile Jockeys 2026
Riders must be declared later than 1 PM on the Wednesday of race week and the official Champions Mile jockeys for 2026 will be published in our above Champions Mile Field section.
Champions Mile Scratchings 2026
2026 Champions Mile scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Champions Mile Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Champions Mile prize purse is worth $3 million and distributed from places first through to eighth.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $1,800,000 |
| 2nd | $540,000 |
| 3rd | $270,000 |
| 4th | $135,000 |
| 5th | $75,000 |
| 6th | $60,000 |
| 7th | $60,000 |
| 8th | $60,000 |
Champions Mile Race Number 2026
The 2026 Champions Mile race number is TBC for VRC Champions Stakes Day, the last day of the VRC Spring Carnival, held on Saturday, November 7, 2026. There are nine races in total that day at Flemington Racecourse.
Champions Mile Form Guide 2026
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 Champions Mile Form Guide following final acceptances.
Champions Mile Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Champions Mile live, across the following mediums.
Telecast: Channel 9
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing.com
Mobile: Neds App
Kennedy Cantala / Champions Mile Winners
See below for the full list of Kennedy Cantala Stakes / Champions Mile winners going back to 1980. For a complete list of past winners dating back to the event’s inaugural running in 1881 – click here.
| Year | Winner | Jockey | Trainer/s | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | Ceolwulf | Chad Schofield | Joseph Pride | 1:38.94 |
| 2024 | Mr Brightside | Craig Williams | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 1:36.02 |
| 2023 | Pride Of Jenni | Declan Bates | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 1:34.75 |
| 2022 | Alligator Blood | Tim Clark | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 1:35.63 |
| 2021 | Superstorm | Damien Oliver | Danny O’Brien | 1:35.25 |
| 2020 | Yulong Prince | Damian Lane | Chris Waller | 1:34.5 |
| 2019 | Fierce Impact | Craig Williams | Matthew Smith | 1:38.2 |
| 2018 | Best Of Days | Craig Williams | James Cummings | 1:35.0 |
| 2017 | Shillelagh | Michael Dee | Chris Waller | 1:35.0 |
| 2016 | Le Romain | Hugh Bowman | Kris Lees | 1:34.9 |
| 2015 | Turn Me Loose | Kerrin Mcevoy | M P Baker | 1:36.2 |
| 2014 | Hucklebuck | Dom Tourneur | Phillip Stokes | 1:34.6 |
| 2013 | Boban | Glyn Schofield | Chris Waller | 1:36.5 |
| 2012 | Happy Trails | Damien Oliver | Paul Beshara | 1:35.9 |
| 2011 | Albert The Fat | Mark Zahra | Chris Waller | 1:36.0 |
| 2010 | Wall Street | Hugh Bowman | Jeff Lynds | 1:36.7 |
| 2009 | All American | Corey Brown | D A Hayes | 1:33.9 |
| 2008 | All Silent | Dwayne Dunn | Grahame Begg | 1:35.8 |
| 2007 | Tears I Cry | Nikita Beriman | Ciaron Maher | 1:35.2 |
| 2006 | Divine Madonna | S Baster | Mark Kavanagh | 1:35.5 |
| 2005 | Valedictum | Steven King | Danny O’Brien | 1:34.9 |
| 2004 | Sky Cuddle | J Benbow | Peter G Moody | 1:39.1 |
| 2003 | Titanic Jack | B Prebble | T J Hughes Jnr | 1:34.7 |
| 2002 | Scenic Peak | D Nikolic | J R Hawkes | 1:33.4 |
| 2001 | Grand Delight | Kerrin Mcevoy | M J Ellerton | 1:37.3 |
| 2000 | Testa Rossa | P Payne | D R Lawson | 1:35.5 |
| 1999 | Bonanova | J A Cassidy | Grahame Begg | 1:38.2 |
| 1998 | Bezeal Bay | J A Cassidy | Paul Perry | 1:35.2 |
| 1997 | Catalan Opening | D Beadman | Bart Cummings | 1:34.9 |
| 1996 | Miss Margaret | R S Dye | P C Hayes | 1:35.8 |
| 1995 | Seascay | D Taggart | P C Hayes | 1:36.0 |
| 1994 | Seascay | D Taggart | P C Hayes | 1:37.0 |
| 1993 | Primacy | Rod Griffiths | A R Bell | 1:37.2 |
| 1992 | Planet Ruler | M Clarke | D A Hayes | 1:34.2 |
| 1991 | Pontormo | P Payne | Paul Cave | 1:35.1 |
| 1990 | Shaftesbury Avenue | J A Cassidy | Bart Cummings | 1:36.8 |
| 1989 | Better Loosen Up | M Clarke | D A Hayes | 1:35.4 |
| 1988 | Westminster | P Cook | Ms N Fraser | 1:38.0 |
| 1987 | Warned | S D Marshall | D L Freedman | 1:35.5 |
| 1986 | Chanteclair | Mick Dittman | T J Smith | 1:38.0 |
| 1985 | Dazzling Duke | W Treloar | A G Curtis | 1:38.7 |
| 1984 | Riverdale | N Barker | Neil Ward | 1:37.0 |
| 1983 | Honest Promise | B S Compton | V P Sutherland | 1:35.1 |
| 1982 | Magari | – | – | 1:37.3 |
| 1981 | Tower Belle | – | – | 1:35.4 |
| 1980 | Silver Bounty | – | – | 1:35.9 |