Champions Sprint 2026 Tips & Betting Advice
The Champions Sprint is a 1200m feature ran on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Run down the Flemington straight, the VRC Sprint is known as the Champions Sprint and is a weight for age contest with a total prize pool of $3 million.
Bets.com.au provides punters with betting tips for the Champions Sprint and previews, along with a complete guide to the Group 1.
Champions Sprint Betting Odds
Check back here closer to the race start date for the latest 2026 Champions Sprint betting odds.
Champions Sprint Betting Tips
Our experts provide their free Champions Sprint tips and betting preview in the lead up to the Spring Carnival Group 1.
Our early preview and Champions Sprint best bets will be available in advance of the race as our tipsters pick out the best value from the futures markets and the final field.
Champions Sprint Bookmaker Promotions
Champions Sprint bookmaker offers come thick and fast given it is a key Flemington race during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The biggest and best Australian betting sites all have special offers for customers ahead of the race and you can grab boosted and enhanced odds specials in the build up.
If you are looking to sign up with a bookmaker ahead of the Champions Sprint, check out our top five below.
Champions Sprint 2025 - Barriers & Final Field
| No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giga Kick | Clayton Douglas | Mark Zahra | 4 | 58.5kg |
| 2 | Jedibeel (NZ) | Brad Widdup | Ethan Brown | 8 | 58.5kg |
| 3 | Caballus | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 9 | 58.5kg |
| 4 | Libertad | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Tom Marquand | 1 | 58.5kg |
| 5 | Tropicus | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Damian Lane | 6 | 58.5kg |
| 6 | Joliestar | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 7 | 56.5kg |
| 7 | Magic Time | Grahame Begg | Michael Dee | 5 | 56.5kg |
| 8 | Benedetta | Ciaron Maher | Jamie Melham | 10 | 56.5kg |
| 9 | Flying For Fun | Bryce Heys | Jordan Childs | 2 | 56.5kg |
| 10 | Tentyris | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Craig Williams | 3 | 53.5kg |
Champions Sprint 2025 Betting Insights, Stats & Trends
- 2024 Winner: Sunshine In Paris (Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald), ridden by James McDonald, produced a powerful late run to edge Right to Party by a nose — winning at around $5.00
- Sunshine In Paris was four runs into her spring campaign after strong form during her Everest–Victoria Cup prep season
- Favourites win only 25–30% of the time; many winners come from mid-priced runners ($5–$15). Elite sprinters like Nature Strip (2021), Imperatriz (2023), and Sunshine In Paris (2024) tend to be well-backed but not always odds-on
- Flemington’s long straight lessens bias; inside/mid barriers help early positioning, but wide gate success is common, especially for blast-racing sprinters
- Key preps include Manikato Stakes, Moir Stakes, and The Everest performances. For instance, Imperatriz (2023) led from Moir to Manikato and then sprinted to Champions success. Recent winner Sunshine In Paris ran well through Everest prep before lifting the Sprint
- Proven sprinters aged 4–6 years dominate. Horses like Imperatriz, Nature Strip, and Sunhine In Paris exemplify maturity and consistency in WFA sprint form
- Since 2000, only four horses aged four years and under have won the race
Champions Sprint Live Stream
Want to watch a live stream of the Champions Sprint? A number of bookmakers including Dabble stream Australian horse racing live online and you can watch on your PC, Tablet or Smartphone.
Check out our live streaming section to find where you watch the Champions Sprint.
Sprint Classic History
The Champions Sprint was inaugurated in 1960 and became a Group One race less than 20 years later.
The race is considered Melbourne’s best sprint races and one is Australia’s finest short course events.
Run under weight-for-age conditions, the Darley Champions Sprint has gone by the names the Patinack Farm Classic, the Darley Classic and the Salinger Stakes over the journey.
The stake of $2 million is enough to attract the big players and after being originally run on the first day of the carnival, it was changed to the final day in 2006.
One of the most famous wins came from Black Caviar who recorded back-to-back wins in 2010 and 2011.
Champions Sprint Previous Winners
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Giga Kick |
| 2024 | Sunshine In Paris |
| 2023 | Imperatriz |
| 2022 | Roch N Horse |
| 2021 | Nature Strip |
| 2020 | Bivouac |
| 2019 | Nature Strip |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | Redzel |
| 2016 | Malaguerra |
| 2015 | Delectation |
| 2014 | Terravista |
| 2013 | Buffering |
| 2012 | Mental |
| 2011 | Black Caviar |
| 2010 | Black Caviar |
| 2009 | All Silent |
| 2008 | Swick |
| 2007 | Miss Andretti |
| 2006 | Dance Hero |
| 2005 | |
| 2004 | |
| 2003 | Ancient Song |
| 2002 | Rubitano |
| 2001 | Sudurka |
| 2000 | Easy Rocking |
Champions Sprint News
To get all the Champions Sprint social news you should visit the Flemington social media channels.
Flemington's Twitter account can be found at @FlemingtonVRC while their Facebook page is at FlemingtonVRC.
The official site can be found at Flemington.com.au.
Champions Sprint 2025 - Replay & Result
1st - Giga Kick.
2nd - Magic Time.
3rd - Joliestar.
Champions Sprint FAQ
How to bet on the Champions Sprint?
To place a bet on the Champions Sprint you'll need to be signed up with an online bookmaker.
Bookies provide betting markets on the Champions Sprint in advance of the race date with tote and fixed odds markets coming out in the week leading into the event.
Who to bet in the Champions Sprint?
The Champions Sprint showcases the best sprinting talent Australia has to offer.
In recent years Redzel & Nature Strip have won this event after taking out the Everest, while Black Caviar took out the race in consecutive years.
Following the sprint features leading into the Champions Sprint is your best bet with the Everest one of the most notable events.
Best way to bet on the Champions Sprint?
Is there a better way to bet than from the comfort of your own couch?
All you need to do these days is have a smartphone or laptop and you can sign up to an online bookmaker, with corporates allowing punters to wager on the Champions Sprint.
How to live stream the Champions Sprint?
Punters can get all the information on how to live stream not only the Champions Sprint but all other Australian horse races by visiting our live streaming hub.
When is the Champions Sprint?
The 2025 Champions Sprint is held on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival on November 8.
How long is the Champions Sprint?
Ran over the sprint distance at Flemington, the Champions Sprint is a 1200m contest.
