Mackinnon Stakes

HELD on the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup, the Mackinnon Stakes is one of two massive Group 1 events on the same day. Run over 2000 metres at Flemington, the $2 million weight for age event inspires a flurry of betting action. First run in 1869, the Mackinnon Stakes was once a huge pointer to higher honours, with the race seen as a last minute chance for a Melbourne Cup runner.

The race was previously the last gasp opportunity to qualify for the Melbourne Cup, but has since been shuffled around to make it the final Group 1 of the Cup carnival.

The event changed to the LKS Mackinnon Stakes in 1937, and the race’s first winner in its new incarnation was named The Trump. The Trump was a bona fide star, doing the rare Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double to add to his Mackinnon win in 1937, part of a six race streak where he was first past the post.

Four Melbourne Cup winners have been spawned from this race and used to go two ways, with some horses using it as a springboard to get into the cup, while others who have managed to do enough avoid the ballot for the race that stops a nation will use it as a tune up for the major event.

Cups King Bart Cummings ran many of his 12 Melbourne Cup winners through the Mackinnon but, in 2015, none of the 15 starters in the race ran in the big one.

2020 Mackinnon Stakes odds

After almost falling in the Cox Plate, the WA superstar mare Arcadia Queen has come up a short priced favourite at odds of $2.90. On the joint second line of betting is kiwi superstar Melody Belle and after a huge run in the Cox Plate is Mugatoo and both have come up with odds of $5.50. In a field full of Group One performers, there looks to be plenty of value for runners at double figures as is the cases most years in the Mackinnon Stakes.

Betting sites and odds on the Mackinnon Stakes

If you’re going to have a crack at the popular Mackinnon Stakes, you need to find a bookie to take your wager. Don’t worry about looking, we have got you covered. For the best odds and specials, this is where you should be headed:

Sport Table

Most successful trainers and jockeys in the Mackinnon Stakes

Who else but Bart for most successful trainer? The legend’s steeds have won this race a record five times. Sydney starlet Gai Waterhouse is one behind with four, while both Graeme Rogerson and Laurie Laxon have two each. The Cummings trained Rogan Josh, Let’s Elope and Gold and Black did the Mackinnon and Melbourne Cup doubles.

Some of the sheen might have come off his glittering career of late, but top hoop Damien Oliver boasts the best record of any jockey in the Mackinnon, piloting five horses home in the race. No one else has more than two, with Greg Childs, Shane Dye, Michael Clarke and Harry White sharing the double figure.

Multiple training wins in the Mackinnon Stakes

• Five: Bart Cummings
• Four: Gai Waterhouse
• Two: Graeme Rogerson, Laurie Laxon

Tips for betting on the Mackinnon Stakes

• Bet within your means
  It’s pretty simple. If you can’t afford it, don’t punt. Make sure all your obligations are met, food is on the table, bills are paid and then have a little fun.
• Keep an eye on the four year olds
  They have won 11 of the past 27 runnings of the event. A massive strike rate. Just seems to be the cherry ripe age for this race.
• The Cox Plate is the form race
  11 of the past 13 Mackinnon Stakes winners have run in the Cox Plate. Those who run before hand are the ones you should be looking to back.

2019 Mackinnon Stakes result

Mackinnon Stakes – Recent runnings

• 2019: The Mackinnon Magic at Flemington
  On the quick five day back up after tackling the 2019 Melbourne Cup, the Aidan O’Brien trained Magic Wand got his Group One that he undoubtedly deserved by holding off a fast finishing Melody Belle to wrap up his spring carnival in fine style.
• 2018: Trap For Fools delivers memorable performance
  It had been a spring to forget for star WA galloper Trap For Fools prior to the Mackinnon Stakes. The horse famously was left out of the 2018 Cox Plate field for not being up to standard in the eyes of the Moonee Valley Racing Club, but the gelding had the last laugh on the day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Surging to an early lead, Trap For Fools led the field for the majority of the race but didn’t set a hectic pace, which left him plenty in the tank coming into the straight. The WA native looked like a sitting duck but he found something in the final 200m to hold out one-time Melbourne Cup favourite Latrobe. Even-money favourite Blair House quickened late but was never in the hunt.
• 2017: Tosen's five star performance
  Former Japanese galloper Tosen Stardom had already made a splash early in the spring carnival, taking out the Group 1 Toorak Handicap in terrific fashion and the Weir-trained horse did the business again less than a month later. As the 400m approached Tosen Stardom was a mile back with a wall of horses in front of him, but the split came and the horse obliged, unleashing a magnificent turn of foot to deliver yet another Group 1 title for Darren Weir.
• 2016: Awesome performance by Corsten-trained Rock
  Awesome Rock scored a big win at odds of $15 over the quality Hauraki and Seaburge. Awesome Rock wasn’t known for its big race wins, but it proved too good on this occasion in winning the 2016 Mackinnon Stakes.
• 2015: Gailo Chop slices up the more fancied runners
  French trainer Antoine de Watrigant became a maiden group one winner when Gailo Chop shrugged off a poor performance in the Cox Plate to salute at $8 over outsider Rising Romance at $16 and Contributor at $9.
• 2014: Happy ending for Trails
  The 2014 Mackinnon is the last time Happy Trails connections saluted, with the gun triple group one winner failing to claim victory in his next 16 starts, leaving owners considering retirement. The eight year old – purchased as a yearling for just $11000 – is one of the greatest success stories in racing, collecting more than $3.2 million from his 61 starts and owning the 2012 Emirates and the 2013 Turnbull Stakes.
• 2013: Side Glance completes the UK invasion
  English galloper Side Glance was a $12 winner in 2013, ahead of Dear Demi ($11) and Moriarty ($17), beating out $3 favourite Jet Away.
• 2012: Alcopop binges on success
  Cult figure Alcopop swooped home with a massive late sprint to claim the 2012 incarnation to claim his first group one win at the tender age of eight, finally fulfilling a potential first revealed with an eye catching sixth to Shocking in the Melbourne Cup. Glass Harmonium finished second after winning the year before.

Past Mackinnon Stakes winners list

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