Mackinnon Stakes

Winners and Past Results

The LKS Mackinnon Stakes is a Group 1 weight for age race hosted by Victoria Racing Club during the four-day Flemington spring racing carnival in October-November, which includes the prestigious Melbourne Cup.

The carnival attracts the largest racing crowd to the Flemington racetrack where horses travel over a distance of 2000 metres in the Mackinnon Stakes for a chance to bag one million dollars in prize money. The race is held on Victoria Derby day along with other Group 1 races which includes the Myer Classic and Coolmore Stud Stakes.

The event is held in honour of  LKS Mackinnon, a former chairman of Victoria Racing Club. The race has a rich history with many notable stayers etching their name on the trophy including Carbine in 1890, the mighty Phar Lap in 1930-31, Peter Pan in 1934, Ajax in 1938, Leilani in 1974, Dulcify in 1979, Rogan Josh in 1999, and Lonhro in 2002, to name a few.

Formerly known as the Melbourne Stakes, it began as a principal race over ten furlongs in 1869 and was granted Group 1 status in 1979. Horses contesting in the Melbourne Cup three days later may use the LKS Mackinnon Stakes as the final warm up before the gruelling 3200 metre race the following Tuesday. 16 of the classiest stayers have managed to win the Mackinnon Stakes/Melbourne Cup double which most recently includes At Talaq in 1986, Empire Rose in 1988, Let's Elope in 1991, and Rogan Josh in 1999. Many horses have won more than once since its inception in 1869.

Horses may make their way to the Mackinnon Stakes after a run in the Group 1 WS Cox Plate held earlier during the carnival. Most recently, Theseo, Scenic Shot, and So You Think have won both the events in 2008, 2009, and 2010 respectively. After finishing third in 2009, Viewed went on to win the Melbourne Cup. Other warm up races leading up to the event is the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes held earlier in October at Flemington and the Underwood Stakes at Caulfield Racecourse in September. Glass Harmonium ran fourth in the Underwood Stakes and finished runner up in the Turnbull Stakes before winning the 2011 Mackinnon Stakes although he remained unplaced in the WS Cox Plate in his previous outing. In 2010, So You Think came into the race with a series of Group 1 victories in the Cox Plate, Yalumba Stakes and Underwood Stakes as well and then finished an impressive third in the Melbourne Cup.

Punters ought to keep a close watch on runners in the Mackinnon Stakes. Horlicks in 1989 and Better Loosen Up in 1990 managed to win the Japan Cup as well.

2011 MacKinnon Stakes

Glass Harmonium was in dominant form, striding to the front from the start of the race and never relinquishing the lead. The six-year-old went at a good clip out front and came into the straight two lengths clear, and although Mourayan flew home, it was all too late with Glass Harmonium going to the post about a length ahead. Rekindled Interest went a solid race to finish third.

2011 MacKinnon Stakes result

1. Glass Harmonium
2. Mourayan
3. Rekindled Interest

Then came:

4. Southern Speed
5. Foreteller
6. Ginga Dude
7. Sincero
8. Midas Touch
9. Precedence
10. Efficient
11. The Verminator
12. Lights Of Heaven