From the race’s inauguration back in 1869 right through until 2026 we have a complete list of past Mackinnon Stakes winners, the race previously known as the Emirates Stakes and as of 2022 the VRC Champions Stakes.
View every previous Mackinnon Stakes champion throughout history, plus extra details including the age, gender and weight carried to victory of the Mackinnon Stakes winners going back to the year 1963.
As of 2022 the Mackinnon Stakes winners are officially known as the VRC Champions Stakes winners.
Glencoe was the inaugural winner of the race, which was run as the Melbourne Stakes from 1869 – 1936.
There have been 15 multiple Mackinnon Stakes winners throughout history most recently Via Sistina (2024 & 2025), Zaaki (2021 & 2022), Belmura Lad (1980 & 1981), Rising Fast (1954 & 1955), Comic Court (1949 & 1950), Tranquil Star (1942, 1944 & 1945), Beau Vite (1940 & 1941), Peter Pan (1932 & 1934), Phar Lap (1930 & 1931), Eurythmic (1920 & 1921), Cetigne (1917 & 1919), Wakeful (1901, 1902 & 1903), Battalion (1897 & 1898), Chester (1878 & 1880), and Dagworth (1873 & 1874).
Of those, two horses have won the event three times with champion mares Tranquil Star (1942, 1944 & 1945), and Wakeful (1901, 1902 & 1903).
Mackinnon Stakes / Melbourne Cup double winners (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).
The 2021 Mackinnon Stakes winner Zaaki, who enjoyed a consolation victory after being scratched on race morning as favourite for that year’s Cox Plate, franked the form going on to win the following autumn’s $5 million The All-Star Mile (1600m) in 2022.
Zaaki returned in the 2022 Champions Stakes to successfully defend his title as an $8 shot in betting off a lead-up fourth in the Cox Plate.
The 2023 Champions Stakes winner was the Chris Waller-trained Atishu ($8.50) who improved on her lead-up second in the Empire Rose Stakes behind subsequent Champions Mile winner Pride Of Dubai, relishing the quick back-up and extra distance to power home late over a quality field to score an upset win.
The 2024 Champions Stakes winner was the Chris Waller-trained Via Sistina ($1.60F) who came off a historic eight-length Cox Plate victory to salute for the punters by 2.75 lengths as the odds-on favourite when defeating her stablemate and the defending champion Atishu with ease.
The 2025 Champions Stakes winner was Chris Waller’s defending champion Via Sistina ($1.80F) who successfully went back-to-back as the odds-on favourite with a big 2.75 length romp home over Zambardo. She was ridden to victory by James McDonald from barrier 10 completing the Cox Plate – Champions Stakes double for the second year running before retiring. The 2025 Champions Stakes was officially Via Sistina’s last race start.
The 2026 VRC Champions Stakes winner is TBC and will be known when the $3 million feature of Stakes Day runs at Flemington on Saturday November 7, 2026, on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Bet on the VRC Champions Stakes 2026 Winner
Champions Stakes Winners 1963 – the Present
| Year | Winner | Weight | Time | Colour | Sex | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (VRC Champions Stakes) | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2025
(VRC Champions Stakes) | Via Sistina | 57kg | 2:07.91 | Bay | Mare | 8 |
| 2024
(VRC Champions Stakes) | Via Sistina | 57kg | 2:01.86 | Bay | Mare | 7 |
| 2023
(VRC Champions Stakes) | Atishu | 57kg | 2:02.01 | Brown | Mare | 6 |
| 2022
(VRC Champions Stakes) | Zaaki | 59kg | 2:02.00 | Bay | Gelding | 8 |
| 2021 | Zaaki | 59kg | 2:02.94 | Bay | Gelding | 7 |
| 2020 | Arcadia Queen | 57kg | 2:03.53 | Bay | Mare | 5 |
| 2019 | Magic Wand | 57kg | 2:01.82 | Bay | Mare | 5 |
| 2018 | Trap For Fools | 59kg | 2:02.31 | Chestnut | Gelding | 5 |
| 2017 | Tosen Stardom | 59kg | 2:01.22 | Bay | Horse | 7 |
| 2016 | Awesome Rock | 59kg | 2:02.49. | Bay | Horse | 5 |
| 2015 | Gailo Chop | 59kg | 2:03.56. | Chestnut | Gelding | 5 |
| 2014 | Happy Trails | 59kg | 2:02.28. | Chestnut | Gelding | 7 |
| 2013 | Side Glance | 59kg | 2:03.59. | Bay | Gelding | 7 |
| 2012 | Alcopop | 59kg | 2:01.26. | Bay | Gelding | 8 |
| 2011 | Glass Harmonium | 59kg | 2:02.72. | Grey | Horse | 6 |
| 2010 | So You Think | 58kg | 2:04.92. | Bay/Brown | Horse | 4 |
| 2009 | Scenic Shot | 59kg | 2:03.46. | Bay | Gelding | 7 |
| 2008 | Theseo | 59kg | 2:03.84. | Chestnut | Gelding | 5 |
| 2007 | Sirmione | 58.5kg | 2:02.32. | Bay | Gelding | 4 |
| 2006 | Desert War | 58kg | 2:02.38 | Brown | Gelding | 6 |
| 2005 | Lad Of The Manor | 58kg | 2:01.72. | Bay | Gelding | 6 |
| 2004 | Grand Armee | 58kg | 2:00.91. | Brown | Gelding | 6 |
| 2003 | Casual Pass | 50kg | 2:05.86. | Chestnut | Gelding | 3 |
| 2002 | Lonhro | 57.5kg | 2:02.64. | Brown | Horse | 4 |
| 2001 | La Bella Dama | 55kg | 2:01.57. | Chestnut | Mare | 4 |
| 2000 | Oliver Twist | 58kg | 2:05.48 | Chestnut | Gelding | 6 |
| 1999 | Rogan Josh | 58kg | 2.00:34 | Bay | Gelding | 7 |
| 1998 | Champagne | 54.5kg | 2:02.33 | Bay | Mare | 4 |
| 1997 | Ebony Grosve | 57kg | 2:02.67 | Brown | Horse | 4 |
| 1996 | All Our Mob | 58.5kg | 2:00.80 | Chestnut | Gelding | 7 |
| 1995 | Danewin | 57kg | 2:00.40 | Bay | Horse | 4 |
| 1994 | Paris Lane | 57kg | 2:06.0 | Bay | Gelding | 4 |
| 1993 | The Phantom | 59kg | 2:01.40 | Bay | Gelding | 8 |
| 1992 | Veandercross | 57kg | 2:04.90 | Bay | Gelding | 4 |
| 1991 | Let’s Elope | 54.5kg | 2:01.80 | Chestnut | Mare | 4 |
| 1990 | Better Loosen Up | 58.5kg | 2:02.90 | Bay | Gelding | 5 |
| 1989 | Horlicks | 56kg | 2:003.30 | Grey | Mare | 6 |
| 1988 | Empire Rose | 56.5kg | 2:00.90 | Chestnut | Mare | 6 |
| 1987 | Rubiton | 57kg | 2:02.80 | Brown | Horse | 4 |
| 1986 | At Talaq | 58.5kg | 2:01.20 | Bay | Horse | 6 |
| 1985 | Rising Prince | 58.5kg | 2:02.60 | Chestnut | Gelding | 5 |
| 1984 | Bounty Hawk | 57kg | 2:02.10 | Bay/Brown | Gelding | 4 |
| 1983 | Veloso | 57kg | 2:04.30 | Bay | Horse | 4 |
| 1982 | My Axeman | 59kg | 2:05.30 | Chestnut | Gelding | 6 |
| 1981 | Belmura Lad | 59kg | 2:02.0 | Bay | Gelding | 7 |
| 1979 | Bit Of A Skite | 51.5kg | – | Chestnut | Horse | 5 |
| 1978 | Family Of Man | 59kg | – | Bay | Horse | 5 |
| 1977 | Galway Bay | 54kg | – | Bay | Horse | 5 |
| 1976 | Maybe Mahal | 51.5kg | – | Bay | Mare | 4 |
| 1975 | Kiwi Can | 58kg | – | Bay | – | 7 |
| 1974 | Skyjack | 50.5kg | – | Chestnut | Colt | 3 |
| 1973 | Taj Rossi | 51kg | – | Bay | Colt | 3 |
| 1972 | All Shot | 59kg | – | Bay | Gelding | 4 |
| 1971 | Gunsynd | 9.3 | – | Grey | Horse | 4 |
| 1970 | Levian | 7.3 | – | Bay | Horse | 5 |
| 1969 | Vain | 8.1 | – | Chestnut | Colt | 3 |
| 1968 | Cyron | 8.1 | – | Black/Brown | Horse | 4 |
| 1967 | Heroic Stone | 7.13 | – | Bay | Gelding | 8 |
| 1966 | Storm Queen | 8 | – | Bay | Filly | 3 |
| 1965 | Heroic Stone | 8.2 | – | Bay | Gelding | 6 |
| 1964 | Brandy Lad | 8.3 | – | Brown | Gelding | 6 |
| 1963 | Wenona Girl | 9.3 | – | Chestnut | Mare | 6 |
Complete List of Past Emirates Stakes / Mackinnon Stakes / Champions Stakes Winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | TBD |
| 2025 | Via Sistina |
| 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 |