The Mackinnon Stakes is a Group 1 weight-for-age race held annually in late October or early November at Flemington racecourse during the Melbourne spring racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 2000 metres and worth $1,000,000 in prizemoney. The 2011 Mackinnon Stakes was won by Glass Harmonium from Mourayan with Rekindled Interest third.
The Mackinnon Stakes is held on the same day as the Victoria Derby on the first day of the four day Flemington spring racing carnival, three days before the Melbourne Cup.
Derby day is one of the best days of racing anywhere in the world and is the first day of the faboulous four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival. Every race on the Derby Day card is a group race and there are three more Group 1 races alongside the Mackinnon Stakes, including the Victoria Derby, Coolmore Stud Stakes and Myer Classic.
The Mackinnon Stakes was first run in 1869 and is one of the premier weight-for-age races of the Flemington spring racing carnival and typically attracts quality gallopers due to the level weight conditions and and the timing of the race being just three days before the 3200m Melbourne Cup.
The race is widely recognised as an important final lead up race for any horse contesting the Melbourne Cup on the following Tuesday and in recent times the LKS Mackinnon Stakes has provided four Melbourne Cup winners and two Japan Cup winners.
Rogan Josh (1999) was the last galloper to score the Mackinnon Stakes & Melbourne Cup double in the same year and more recently the 2008 Melbourne Cup winner Viewed went on to win the big two mile race after finishing unplaced in this event.
Glass Harmonium (2011) finished unplaced in the Gr1 WS Cox Plate over 2040m at Moonee Valley prior to winning this race and recent Mackinnon Stakes winners include So You Think (2010) and Scenic Shot (2009).
Spring Carnival Guide
The Mackinnon Stakes has been a more than reasonable guide to the Melbourne Cup over the years although in recent times the Mackinnon has not proven to be the best guide as it once was, largely due to the Melbourne Cup attracting more international gallopers to make it a truly global event.
So You Think (2010) managed to run third in the Melbourne Cup at his next start, while Rogan Josh (1999) and Let's Elope (1991) are the last two gallopers to win the Mackinnon Stakes before going on to win the Melbourne Cup three days later, while
Others who have performed well in both races include Champagne (1998) who ran third in the Melbourne Cup, Juene (2nd in 1994) who won the Melbourne Cup and Veandercross (1992) who ran second in the Melbourne Cup.
The brilliant New Zealander Horlicks (1989) captured the Japan Cup after winning the Mackinnon Stakes and champion galloper Better Loosen Up did the same thing in 1990.
2011 Mackinnon Stakes result
1. $7.00 Glass Harmonium 59.0 Damien Oliver
2. $17.00 Mourayan 59.0 Hugh Bowman
3. $6.50 Rekindled Interest 58.0 Dwayne Dunn
then followed
4. $10.00 Southern Speed 56.0 Craig Williams
5. $6.50 Foreteller 59.0 Corey Brown
6. $41.00 Ginga Dude 59.0 Michael Walker
7. $12.00 Sincero 58.0 Kerrin McEvoy
8. $9.00 Midas Touch 59.0 Nicholas Hall
9. $26.00 Precedence 59.0 Steven Arnold
10. $7.50 Efficient 59.0 Steven King
11. $41.00 The Verminator 59.0 Craig Newitt
12. $12.00 Lights Of Heaven 56.0 Luke Nolen
Margins: 3/4 len, 1 len Time: 2:02.72
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