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2026 VRC Champions Sprint Preview
Established in 1960 as the Craven 'A' Stakes, but is known these days as the Champions Sprint, having previously been known as the Sprint Classic.
The race takes place on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival as one of three 'Champions' races, which is the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup. This Group 1 is run over a distance of just 1,200m and is open to runners who are aged three or older.
VRC Champions Sprint Information:
- VRC Champions Sprint Past Winners
- VRC Champions Sprint Trainer Statistics
- VRC Champions Sprint Jockey Statistics
To see which runners the OLBG racing tipsters are tipping throughout the card that includes this race, head over to the Flemington tips on the day of the race. Do they agree with the runners on the trend shortlist, or are they predicting other runners? You may also be interested in other preview blogs that we have packed full of information. Head down to the Races Covered during the Melbourne Cup Carnival section for links to these.
Best Horse Racing Betting Sites 2025
How competitive is the VRC Champions Sprint market? When looking at the over-rounds for the last 10 renewals, the most competitive market was in 2017 when the race had an over-round of 113%. The race in 2022 was a race that was most in the bookie's favour with an over-round of 119%, whilst on average over the last 10 renewals of the VRC Champions Sprint, the over-round has been 116%, which means the bookie expects to pay out ÂŁ100 for every ÂŁ116 which is bet.
Below you will find the 2026 VRC Champions Sprint Trends. See which patterns have occurred over the recent renewals that you may be able to use for the next renewal. We also have a section that looks at the VRC Champions Sprint Trend Analysis.
These are the top three quickest-run VRC Champions Sprint races over the last 10 renewals:
- Santa Ana Lane (1:08.66) in 2018
- Bivouac (1:08.69) in 2020
- Redzel (1:08.74) in 2017
Looking at the future form, is the winner worth following next time out? Over the past 10 renewals, if you had followed the winner of the VRC Champions Sprint next time out, then you would have backed a total of 1 winner. Backing all 9 runners who have been out since their win at SP next time out would have returned an LSP of -7.40. Remember to use the racing predictions along with the information on this page to find a bet on the 2026 VRC Champions Sprint.
Over the last 10 renewals, it was Santa Ana Lane, trained by Anthony Freedman and ridden by Mark Zahra, who set the fastest winning time in the VRC Champions Sprint. That runner won the race in a time of 1:08.66 in 2018. At the other end of the scale, it was the combination of trainer Clayton Douglas and jockey Mark Zahra with Giga Kick who set the slowest winning time; the race-winning time was 1:13.30 in the 2025 renewal.
VRC Champions Sprint Past Winners
Here are the VRC Champions Sprint past winners for the last 10 renewals. Each row details the year of the race, the horse which won, along with the age & weight of the horse. Also detailed is the stall from which the horse came and the total number of runners in the race. The horse's trainer and the jockey at the time of winning the VRC Champions Sprint are also displayed, along with the starting price at which the horse was sent off.
| Year | Horse (Drawn) | Info |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 1:13.30 | Giga Kick (AUS) 6yo 9-3 (3 of 9) 4/1 | Mark Zahra Clayton Douglas (AUS) |
| 2024 1:09.25 | Sunshine In Paris (AUS) 5yo 8-13 (9 of 12) 4/1 | James McDonald Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald (AUS) |
| 2023 1:09.08 | Imperatriz (AUS) 5yo 8-13 (8 of 11) 23/20F | Opie Bosson Mark Walker (SIN) |
| 2022 1:09.19 | Roch N Horse (NZ) 6yo 8-13 (6 of 14) 19/1 | Jamie Mott Michael Moroney (AUS) |
| 2021 1:08.78 | Nature Strip (AUS) 7yo 9-3 (2 of 9) 2/7F | James McDonald Chris Waller (AUS) |
| 2020 1:08.69 | Bivouac (AUS) 4yo 9-3 (6 of 10) 11/5F | Glen Boss James Cummings (AUS) |
| 2019 1:09.23 | Nature Strip (AUS) 5yo 9-3 (9 of 9) 13/5 | James McDonald Chris Waller (AUS) |
| 2018 1:08.66 | Santa Ana Lane (AUS) 6yo 9-3 (5 of 14) 9/1 | Mark Zahra Anthony Freedman (AUS) |
| 2017 1:08.74 | Redzel (AUS) 5yo 9-3 (9 of 13) 3/1F | Kerrin McEvoy Peter & Paul Snowden (AUS) |
| 2016 1:10.25 | Malaguerra (AUS) 5yo 9-3 (11 of 12) 17/2 | Ben Melham Peter Gelagotis (AUS) |
Where have the winning runners come from?
Here are the countries where the winning trainers of the VRC Champions Sprint have been based:
- AUS: 9 winners with an additional 20 placings from 102 runners
- SIN: 1 winner with an additional 0 placings from 3 runners
- IRE: 0 winners with an additional 0 placings from 4 runners
- NZ: 0 winners with an additional 0 placings from 3 runners
- GB: 0 winners with an additional 1 placing from 1 runner
2025 VRC Champions Sprint Replay
VRC Champions Sprint Trainer Statistics
The leading trainer in the VRC Champions Sprint over the last 10 renewals is Chris Waller, who has won the race two times, with those two winners coming from Nature Strip (2019 & 2021).
Here are some of the top VRC Champions Sprint trainer statistics over the last 10 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Trainer | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Waller | 11-2-5 | -6.11 | -5.25 |
| James Cummings | 6-1-3 | -2.80 | -1.58 |
| Clayton Douglas | 3-1-1 | +2.00 | +0.40 |
| Michael Moroney | 2-1-1 | +18.00 | +10.40 |
| Anthony Freedman | 2-1-1 | +8.00 | +4.40 |
| Peter Gelagotis | 2-1-1 | +7.50 | +4.10 |
| Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | 2-1-1 | +3.00 | +1.40 |
| Peter & Paul Snowden | 2-1-1 | +2.00 | +0.80 |
| Mark Walker | 2-1-1 | +0.15 | -0.31 |
| David A & B Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 5-0-0 | -5.00 | -5.00 |
VRC Champions Sprint Jockey Statistics
The leading jockey in the VRC Champions Sprint over the last 10 renewals is James McDonald, who has won the race three times, with those three winners coming from Nature Strip (2019 & 2021) and Sunshine In Paris (2024). The only other jockey to have recorded multiple wins in the VRC Champions Sprint is Mark Zahra (2 wins).
Here are some of the top VRC Champions Sprint jockey statistics over the last 10 renewals (R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places including winners, Win LSP is based on 1pt Win and EW LSP is based on 0.5pt Win & 0.5pt Place):
| Jockey | R-W-P | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| James McDonald | 8-3-6 | +1.89 | +1.12 |
| Mark Zahra | 6-2-3 | +9.00 | +10.30 |
| Ben Melham | 6-1-1 | +3.50 | +0.10 |
| Kerrin McEvoy | 4-1-1 | +0.00 | -1.20 |
| Jamie Mott | 1-1-1 | +19.00 | +11.40 |
| Glen Boss | 1-1-1 | +2.20 | +1.32 |
| Opie Bosson | 1-1-1 | +1.15 | +0.69 |
| Craig A Williams | 7-0-2 | -7.00 | -5.01 |
| Damian Lane | 6-0-0 | -6.00 | -6.00 |
| Michael Dee | 5-0-1 | -5.00 | -3.50 |
2026 VRC Champions Sprint Trends
Favourites finishing positions (oldest to latest): 10, 1, 5, 5, 1, 1, 2, 1, 3, 3
The percentage shown is the percentage of the total number of runners who fell under that factor. High percentages are less appealing than lower ones, as you would expect them to do well. The trend information is based on the available information on the Racing Post in terms of previous runs, etc.
- 10 / 10 (50%) - Achieved an RPR of 115+ (Last 3)
- 10 / 10 (50%) - Highest Won is G1
- 10 / 10 (54%) - Within the first 6 of the market
- 10 / 10 (57%) - No bigger than 19/1
- 10 / 10 (65%) - Ran in 4 - 7 races (1 Year)
- 10 / 10 (66%) - Ran in 3 - 11 races (Class)
- 10 / 10 (66%) - Break of 7 - 43 days (Last Place)
- 10 / 10 (73%) - In a field of 6 - 12 (LTO)
- 10 / 10 (75%) - Had 1 - 3 placings (180 Days)
- 10 / 10 (75%) - Highest Placed is G1
- 10 / 10 (77%) - Carried 125 - 129lbs (LTO)
- 10 / 10 (80%) - Sex is not Filly/Horse
- 10 / 10 (81%) - Had 2 - 7 placings (Season)
- 10 / 10 (88%) - Ran in 6 - 33 races (Career)
- 10 / 10 (89%) - Carried 118 - 128lbs (Debut)
Remember to use the trends listed above, along with the Flemington racing predictions, to see if you can find the winner of the VRC Champions Sprint. Did you know that we have an OLBG Betting School section on OLBG? It is a place to help you improve your betting experience with articles covering numerous topics.
Are you already a member? If not, then why not? With over ÂŁ6,000 given away each month in the tipster competition, why not get involved? Remember, it is completely FREE! So, head over to the registration page to sign up today! If you are already a member, then share your thoughts on the VRC Champions Sprint by adding a tip on the race here.
101 Ways to find Winners in Horse Racing
VRC Champions Sprint Trend Analysis
â The trend factor, which has produced 5+ winners and shows the best LSP, an LSP of +23.79, is when runners had 6 season starts.
â The worst performing factor that has failed to produce a single winner is when runners had 0 career wins in the class, when backing these, the trend shows a record of 0-56.
Here are the most recent winning draws, along with the further placings in brackets:
- 2025: Winner in 3 (4,6) [9 Runners]
- 2024: Winner in 9 (3,12) [12 Runners]
- 2023: Winner in 8 (11,5) [11 Runners]
- 2022: Winner in 6 (12,5) [14 Runners]
- 2021: Winner in 2 (9,6) [9 Runners]
The course which has produced the most winners of the VRC Champions Sprint is Randwick; there have been a total of 5 winners of this race who ran at Randwick last time out.
The race is open to both sexes, with the Male runners having produced a total of 7 winners from a total of 76 runners, whilst the Female runners have produced 3 winners from a total of 37 runners.
Looking over the past renewals, there is only one stallion whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the VRC Champions Sprint; that stallion, Nicconi, has produced 2 winners (2021,2019).
Looking over the past renewals, there is only one stallion whose offspring have been disappointed with multiple attempts but no wins in the VRC Champions Sprint; that stallion is Zoustar, who has failed to produce a winner from 6 runners.
Looking at the winning odds over the last 10 renewals, the biggest-priced winner was Roch N Horse in 2022, winning for Michael Moroney at odds of 19/1 under the guidance of Jamie Mott. Looking at the runners at the head of the market over the last 10 renewals, there have been 4 winning favourites in the race. Whilst we wait for the 2026 VRC Champions Sprint, remember you can get daily racing predictions from the top racing tipsters on the best racing tipsters page. All figures and trends above, such as the horse's previous runs, are based on the information that is available on the Racing Post.
Route to the VRC Champions Sprint
Many trainers target races as preparation for the VRC Champions Sprint. These are the races which the recent winners ran in before coming here:
| Info | Last Race |
|---|---|
| 2025 - Giga Kick Caulfield - 1st of 9 (6/1) | Henley Homes Schillaci Stakes |
| 2024 - Sunshine In Paris Rosehill - 2nd of 11 (22/5) | Russell Balding Stakes |
| 2023 - Imperatriz Moonee Valley - 1st of 6 (2/5) | Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes |
| 2022 - Roch N Horse Flemington - 2nd of 12 (5/1) | Gilgai Stakes |
| 2021 - Nature Strip Randwick - 1st of 12 (37/10) | TAB Everest |
| 2020 - Bivouac Randwick - 2nd of 12 (19/2) | TAB Everest |
| 2019 - Nature Strip Randwick - 4th of 12 (20/1) | TAB Everest |
| 2018 - Santa Ana Lane Randwick - 6th of 12 (19/2) | TAB Everest |
| 2017 - Redzel Randwick - 1st of 12 (15/2) | TAB Everest |
| 2016 - Malaguerra Caulfield - 2nd of 10 (16/1) | Mitsubishi Electric Schillaci Stakes |
Races Covered during the Melbourne Cup Carnival
Here are the other races that take place at the Flemington Racetrack during the Melbourne Cup Carnival that we also cover with blogs.
| Race | Last Winner | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Coolmore Stud Stakes | Tentyris (AUS) 3yo - 19/10 | Anthony & Sam Freedman Mark Zahra |
| Empire Rose Stakes | Pride Of Jenni (AUS) 8yo - 19/5 | Ciaron Maher Declan Bates |
| Victoria Derby | Observer (AUS) 3yo - 29/20 | Ciaron Maher Mark Zahra |
| Melbourne Cup | Half Yours (AUS) 5yo - 8/1 | Tony McEvoy & Calvin McEvoy Jamie Melham |
| Crown Oaks | Strictly Business (AUS) 3yo - 13/2 | Thomas D Carberry John Allen |
| VRC Champions Mile | Ceolwulf (NZ) 5yo - 4/1 | Joseph Pride Chad Schofield |
| VRC Champions Sprint | Giga Kick (AUS) 6yo - 4/1 | Clayton Douglas Mark Zahra |
| VRC Champions Stakes | Via Sistina (IRE) 7yo - 4/5 | Chris Waller James McDonald |
Article Contributor Information
We are fortunate to have an excellent team of specialists and experts at OLBG. Contributing to the creation and maintenance of this VRC Champions Sprint Preview are Andy and James. They both work on the Horse racing tips team, looking after the tipsters and managing the tips settlement, whilst also creating and managing all of the horse racing event previews for International racing.
James Banting
Expert Guide
Andy Powell
Expert Guide
