The VRC Champions Mile, registered as the ''Cantala Stakes'', is a

Group 1 Group 1 may refer to: * Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal * Group 1 (motorsport), a regulation set of the FIA for series-production touring cars used in motorsport. * Group One Thoroughbred horse races, the leading e ...

Victoria Racing Club The Victoria Racing Club was founded in 1864. It was formed following the disbanding of the Victoria Turf Club and the Victoria Jockey Club. A legacy passed from the Victoria Turf Club was the annual "race that stops a nation", the Melbourne Cup, ...

quality handicap

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

horse race run over 1,600 metres at

Flemington Racecourse Flemington Racecourse is a major horse racing venue located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is most notable for hosting the Melbourne Cup, which is the world's richest handicap and the world's richest 3200-metre horse race. The race ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( , ; Boonwurrung language, Boonwurrung/ or ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and List of cities in Australia by population, most populous city of the States and territories of Australia, Australian state of Victori ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...

on the fourth and last day during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Total prize money is A$3,000,000 Prince Cortauld

History

The race was moved in 2016 to the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival (

Victoria Derby The Victoria Derby, also known as the Penfolds Victoria Derby, is a Victoria Racing Club Group races, Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held under Set Weights conditions over a distance of 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse ...

Day) from the last day. This was swapped with the

LKS Mackinnon Stakes The VRC Champions Stakes, registered as the ''LKS Mackinnon Stakes'', is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions over a distance of 2000 metres at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia o ...

, which became the feature race on the last day of the carnival. In 2022, the race was returned to the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and renamed the VRC Champions Mile in order to align with the branding of the entire race day, which is now called Champions Day instead of Stakes Day.

Name

* 1881–1918 - Coburg Stakes * 1919–1961 - Cantala Stakes * 1962–1984 - George Adams Handicap * 1985–1988 - Ampol Stakes * 1989–1992 - Honda Stakes * 1993–1995 - Nissan Stakes * 1996–1997 - Chrysler Stakes * 1998–2015 - Emirates Stakes * 2016 - Cantala Stakes * 2017–2018 - Kennedy Mile * 2019–2021 - Kennedy Cantala Stakes * 2022–2023 - Kennedy Champions Mile * 2024 - VRC Champions Mile

Distance

* 1881–1894 - 1 miles (~1800 metres) *1895–1971 - 1 mile (~1600 metres) *1972–1993 – 1600 metres * 1994 – 1616 metres *1995–2005 – 1600 metres *2006 – 1610 metres *2007 onwards - 1600 metres

Grade

*1881–1978 - Principal Race *1979 onwards - Group 1

1953 and 1954 racebooks

File:1953 VRC Derby Racebook P1.jpg, 1953 VRC Derby racebook front cover File:1953 VRC Cantala Stakes Racebook P1.jpg, 1953 VRC Cantala Stakes page showing starters and results File:1953 VRC Cantala Stakes Racebook P2.jpg, 1953 VRC Cantala Stakes page showing the winner, Rio Janeiro File:1954 VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes Racebook P1.jpg, 1954 VRC Derby racebook front cover File:1954 VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes Racebook P2.jpg, 1954 VRC Derby raceday officials File:1954 VRC Cantala Stakes Racebook P3.jpg, 1954 VRC Cantala Stakes showing winner,

Prince Cortauld Prince Cortauld, was a brown Thoroughbred stallion, performing in Australia trained by Australian Racing Hall of Fame trainer Maurice McCarten raced from a two-year-old to a five-year-old recording 25 wins from 5 furlongs to 1¾ miles with cham ...

File:1954 VRC Cantala Stakes Racebook P4.jpg, 1954 VRC Cantala Stakes starters and results File:1954 VRC LKS Mackinnon Stakes Racebook P5.jpg, Back Cover showing enclosure information for visitors

Winners

* 2024 –

Mr Brightside "Mr. Brightside" is the debut single of American rock band the Killers. It appears on their debut studio album, ''Hot Fuss'' (2004). Written by band members Brandon Flowers and Dave Keuning, it was one of the first songs the Killers ever wrote. ...

* 2023 –

Pride Of Jenni Pride Of Jenni (foaled 21 August 2017) is a retired Group 1 winning Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse and broodmare who was named Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year in 2024. Background Bred by Cambridge thoroughbred nursery Trelaw ...

* 2022 –

Alligator Blood Alligator Blood (foaled 19 September 2016) is a seven-time Group 1 winning Australian bred thoroughbred racehorse. Background Bred by Australian entrepreneur Gerry Harvey, Alligator Blood was sold at the 2018 Magic Millions sale (Lot 22) for ...

* 2021 – Superstorm * 2020 – Yulong Prince * 2019 – Fierce Impact * 2018 – Best Of Days * 2017 – Shillelagh * 2016 – Le Romain * 2015 – Turn Me Loose * 2014 – Hucklebuck * 2013 – Boban * 2012 – Happy Trails * 2011 – Albert The Fat * 2010 – Wall Street * 2009 – All American * 2008 – All Silent * 2007 – Tears I Cry * 2006 –

Divine Madonna Divine Madonna (foaled 8 October 2002) is an Australian Thoroughbred racemare. She won four group one (G1) races, the 2006 Emirates Stakes, 2007 Queen of the Turf Stakes, 2007 Toorak Handicap and the 2007 Myer Classic. Divine Madonna had 26 rac ...

* 2005 – Valedictum * 2004 – Sky Cuddle * 2003 – Titanic Jack * 2002 – Scenic Peak * 2001 – Desert Eagle * 2000 – Testa Rossa * 1999 – Bonanova * 1998 – Bezeal Bay * 1997 – Catalan Opening * 1996 – Miss Margaret * 1995 – Seascay * 1994 – Seascay * 1993 – Primacy * 1992 – Planet Ruler * 1991 – Pontormo * 1990 –

Shaftesbury Avenue Shaftesbury Avenue is a major road in the West End of London, named after The 7th Earl of Shaftesbury. It runs north-easterly from Piccadilly Circus to New Oxford Street, crossing Charing Cross Road at Cambridge Circus. From Piccadill ...

* 1989 –

Better Loosen Up Better Loosen Up (foaled 29 August 1985 – died 15 March 2016) was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse that won the Japan Cup in 1990 and was named Australia's champion racehorse in 1991. He campaigned from two to seven years of age, and won ...

* 1988 – Our Westminster * 1987 – Warned * 1986 – Chanteclair * 1985 – Dazzling Duke * 1984 – Riverdale * 1983 – Honest Promise * 1982 – Magari * 1981 – Tower Belle * 1980 – Silver Bounty * 1979 – Bit Of A Skite * 1978 – Family Of Man * 1977 – Galway Bay * 1976 – Maybe Mahal * 1975 – Kiwi Can * 1974 – Skyjack * 1973 – Taj Rossi * 1972 – All Shot * 1971 –

Gunsynd Gunsynd (4 October 1967 – 29 April 1983) was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who won 29 races and A$280,455 in prize money. In his seven starts over he was only once defeated, by half-a-head in the Epsom Handicap. Breeding F ...

* 1970 – Levian * 1969 –

Vain Vain may refer to: * Vain (band), an American glam metal band formed in 1986 * Vain (horse) (1966–1991), an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse * Vain Stakes, an Australian Thoroughbred horse race * Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia, a medical dis ...

* 1968 – Cyron * 1967 – Heroic Stone * 1966 – Storm Queen * 1965 – Heroic Stone * 1964 – Brandy Lad * 1963 –

Wenona Girl Wenona Girl (foaled 1957) was a leading Australian Thoroughbred horse racemare that had 27 wins over distances ranging from 4½ furlongs to 1½ miles. She won 22 principal races, 15 of which were later designated group one (G1) races. Wenona Girl ...

* 1962 – Woambra * 1961 – Aquanita * 1960 – Aquanita * 1959 – Wheat King * 1958 – Droll Prince * 1957 – Landy * 1956 – Matrice * 1955 – Kosciusko * 1954 –

* 1953 – Rio Janeiro * 1952 – Phaethon * 1951 – Kintail * 1950 – Ellerslie * 1949 – Comedy Prince * 1948 – Beau John * 1947 – Money Moon * 1946 – St. Fairy * 1945 –

Royal Gem Royal Gem (foaled 1942 in Australia) was a versatile Thoroughbred racehorse that won 23 races ranging from 5 furlongs (1,000 metres) to 12 furlongs (2,400 m). He was later a successful sire in the United States. Breeding He was a brown stallion b ...

* 1944 – Gay Revelry * 1943 – Burberry * 1942 – Queen Baccha * 1941 – Burrabil * 1940 – Gold Salute * 1939 – Manrico * 1938 – St. Constant * 1937 – Mohican * 1936 – Gay Lover * 1935 – Hostile * 1934 – L'elite * 1933 – Care Free * 1932 – Denis Boy * 1931 – Dermid * 1930 – Mystic Peak * 1929 –

Amounis Amounis was an Australian Thoroughbred Hall of Fame racehorse. He won 33 races over distances ranging from 6 to 12 furlongs (1,200 to 2,400 metres). Of these wins, 27 were in "Principal Races" (equivalent to today's Group races or "Black Type" ra ...

* 1928 – Highland * 1927 – Vaals * 1926 –

* 1925 – Waranton * 1924 – The Night Patrol * 1923 – Claro * 1922 –

Violoncello The violoncello ( , ), commonly abbreviated as cello ( ), is a middle pitched bowed (sometimes plucked and occasionally hit) string instrument of the violin family. Its four strings are usually tuned in perfect fifths: from low to high, C ...

* 1921 – Beeline * 1920 – Ethiopian * 1919 – Chal *1918 – Fitness *1917 – De Gama *1916 – Colugo *1915 – Fidelio *1914 – De Gama *1913 – Ireland *1912 – Walter Tyrril *1911 – Ladies' Man *1910 – Perilous *1909 – Kerlie *1908 – Iolaire *1907 – Iolaire *1906 – Benbow *1905 – Debenture *1904 – P.K. *1903 – Graft *1902 – Kinglock *1901 – Caledonia *1900 – Nitre *1899 – Security *1898 – Sailor Boy *1897 – The Grafter *1896 – Ayrshire *1895 – Hindoo *1894 – Escapade *1893 – Rosebrook *1892 – Cooya *1891 – Cardoness *1890 – Crown Jewel *1889 – Boz *1888 – Plutarch *1887 – Quintin Matsys *1886 – Day Star *1885 – The Bohemian *1884 – Josephine *1883 – Paul *1882 – Wizard *1881 – Courtenay

References

{{reflist, 30em Open mile category horse races Group 1 stakes races in Australia Flemington Racecourse The Emirates Group