Champions Mile 2022

In a hurry? We’ve listed all the quick facts that you need to know about the Champions Mile:

The Champions Mile is a Group 1 race which takes place each year in October. The race in 2022 will be held on Saturday 5th November at Flemington Racecourse. Looking back to the race in 2021, it was won by Superstorm.

The Champions Mile is a 1600m Group 1 race held at the home of racing in Australia, Flemington Racecourse. It is run as a quality handicap and has a total prize pool of $3 million. In 2022, it will be run on Saturday, November 5.

In 2022 the Group 1 had a name change from the Kennedy Cantala Stakes to the Champions Mile, and the race was also moved to early November, with an increase in prizemoney as well.

Courtenay won the first edition of the Champions Mile, which was way back in 1881. Back then, it was named the Coburg Stakes and was run over 1,800m. A number of top horses have since crossed the line first in the Champions Mile, including Prince Cortauld, Better Loosen Up and Divine Madonna.

Chris Waller has had great success in the race over recent years, winning it four times between 2011 and 2020. Jockey Craig Williams has also performed well in the Champions Mile, having won it in both 2018 and 2019.

The Champions Mile, a time-honoured Australian mile race, is a mainstay of high-quality racing at Flemington Racecourse since 1881. Our expert tipsters will put together a short list of Champions Mile tips to look out for in the leadup to the big race.

Given nominations are yet to be accepted for the 2022 Champions Mile, it is hard to provide any updates at this time. However, as the Spring Carnival gets going, the horses that are targeting this race will become clearer and we will be able to provide you with updates. If you are after Champions Mile horse tips, then we will keep you informed with which horses are likely to be running, so you can place your futures bets with confidence!

We will list The Sharks’ Champions Mile best tips for the race this year closer to the time of the race. Make sure you check back on this page for updates!

Champions Mile Tips From Experts

Our tips are not out for the Champions Mile in 2022 as it is too far out from the event. But the good news is that when the final field for the Champions Mile is announced, we will provide guidance on each and every runner in the 2022 Champions Mile.

You will find all this information below, when it becomes available. Stay tuned, or alternatively you can chat to The Shark to get the best tips for every day!

Like many of the top Group 1’s in the Spring Racing Carnival, the Champions Mile has a mixed betting history and there are a lot of important factors to consider before betting at Flemington. Make sure you have a read on below before you place your bets:

Should I Bet On The Favourite in the Champions Mile?

The Champions Mile has a mixed betting history, with each of the last eight winners having a starting price between $8 and $15. The size and quality of the field makes it tough to find a winner but if you can there is value to be had.

When looking specifically at the favourite, the shortest priced horse has not won the Champions Mile since Boban in 2013, making it eight years since we’ve seen a favourite salute first in this race at Flemington.

Is Previous Form a Good Indicator of Champions Mile Success?

Like any race, the form and success of a horse entering the Champions Mile is important. When looking at the field for the upcoming Champions Mile, contenders often come through a number of lead-up races.

The type of races include such as the Makybe Diva Stakes, the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, the Toorak Handicap, the Moonga Stakes and the Crystal Mile. Keep an eye on the strong runners who comfortably see out the mile in these races when looking at the field for the Champions Mile. Superstorm finished third in the Toorak Handicap in his run prior to winning the 2021 Champions Mile.

Gender

The Champions Mile brings together some of the most high quality middle distance horses from a wide variety of lead up races irrespective of their gender. However, since 2013 we have only seen one female win the race with mare Shillelagh running victorious in 2017. Other than that, the last nine years have been dominated by geldings (five winners) and stallions (three winners).

Weight

Weight is something to strongly consider when it comes to horse racing and the Champions Mile is no different. As the race is handicapped, runners carry different weights that are allocated by the handicapper.

Since 2013, we have seen two horses win the Champions Mile carrying 52kgs, however the other six races have seen the winning horse carry 55kgs or more. Boban won the 2013 Champions Mile carrying 57kgs, the most of any winning horse in that time. Superstorm carried 56kg to victory in 2021.

Age

Age is also another distinctive factor in determining a winner of any open handicap race and the Champions Mile is no different. Since 2013, we have seen a wide variety of horses win the Champions Mile when looking at their age.

Yulong Prince (2020) and Shillelagh (2017) both won the race as a six year old, and Le Romain won the 2016 meeting at just three years of age. However, the other five races were won by horses in their ‘sweet spot’, aged either four (three winners) or five (two winners, including Superstorm in 2021).

Champions Mile Best Bets

Our tips are not out for the Champions Mile in 2022 as it is too far out from the event. But the good news is that when the final field for the Champions Mile is announced, we will provide guidance on each and every runner in the 2022 Champions Mile.

You will find all this information below, when it becomes available. Stay tuned, or alternatively you can chat to The Shark to get the best tips for every day!

As the Champions Mile is a mile long Group 1 quality handicap and a mainstay of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, bookies look to release odds for the race several months prior to the field being set.

All horses that are likely to run in the upcoming Champions Mile are given odds by bookmakers so punters can participate in what is known as futures betting. Futures betting occurs when a betting market is available before the final field is known, allowing punters to get in early on a horse that they believe will both make it into the final field and win or place in the race.

The 2022 Champions Mile odds are out, with Im Thunderstruck currently listed as the $8.00 favourite, with Mounga, Mr Brightside and Western Empire all on the second line of betting at $11. Here are the current odds, courtesy of Neds, as of mid-August:

When looking at a horse racing field, it is essentially just the lineup of horses that will be taking part in any given race. As a $3 million Group 1, the Champions Mile is a super-strong field that normally features a number of top horses. Recent history shows that overseas horses have also had great success in the race, so there is often a decent international presence.

With the race yet to be run, we still don’t know what the Champions Mile results for 2022 will be! However, check back in after the race and we will have all of the information on how the big race went and what the results are.

Looking back at last year, Superstorm was able to find a gap and burst for the line at the right moment, winning the 2021 Champions Mile in a blanket finish. Just one length separated first from eighth, with the first four horses all finishing within 0.3 lengths of each other.

The first three across the line, Superstorm, Icebath and Cascadian, found themselves 12th, 13th and 11th at the 800m respectively, but all managed to swoop their way into contention. Cascadian looked the winner at the 150m mark, shooting through on the rails but Damien Oliver knew exactly what he was doing with Superstorm, going at the right moment.

You’ve read the words, now watch the video! Have a squiz below at the 2021 Champions Mile race:

Champions Mile Stakes Winners

The results for the upcoming Champions Mile are not yet available, but in the meantime, you can have a look below at all the recent past winners: