{{Short description|Horse race in Melbourne, Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox horseraces | surface = Turf | class = Group 1 | horse race = Champions Sprint (VRC)<br /><small>registered as VRC Stakes</small> | image = | caption = | location = Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia | inaugurated = 1960 | last run = | race type = Thoroughbred | sponsor = Darley (since 2019) | website = | distance = 1,200 metres | track = straight | qualification = Three years old and older<br /> Maidens non eligible | weight = Weight for age | purse = $3,000,000 (since 2022) | bonuses = }}
The '''Champions Sprint''', registered as the '''Victoria Racing Club Stakes''', is a Victoria Racing Club Group One Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over, under weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1200 metres held at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia, on the last day of the VRC Spring Carnival.<ref name="VRC_Stakes">{{cite web|url=http://www.progroupracing.com.au/group-races/victoria-racing-club/patinack-farm-classic|title=Winners and Past Results for the Patinack Farm Classic|work = Pro Group Racing Australia|date=2014|access-date=3 November 2014}}</ref> Total prize money for the race is A$3,000,000.
==History==
The race is considered one of the major sprints of the spring racing calendar. Prior to 2006 the race was held on the first day of the VRC Spring Carnival, Victoria Derby day, but was moved the following year to the last day of the carnival. In 2007 the sprint was also changed to weight-for-age conditions.<ref name="VRC_Stakes"/>
===Name=== *1960–1979 - Craven 'A' Stakes *1980–1984 - Pure-Pak Stakes *1985–1993 - Gadsden Stakes *1994–1995 - Southcorp Packaging Stakes *1996–2006 - Salinger Stakes *2007 - The Age Classic *2008–2012 - Patinack Farm Classic *2013 - VRC Sprint Classic *2014–2017 - Darley Classic *2018 - VRC Sprint Classic *2019–2021 - Darley Sprint Classic *2022– Darley Champions Sprint ===Distance=== *1960–1971 - 6 furlongs (~1200 metres) *1972 onwards - 1200 metres
===Grade=== *1960–1978 - Principal Race *1979 onwards - Group 1
==Winners== {{refbegin|20em}} *2025 - Giga Kick<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2025-11-08/907972|title= 2025 Result – Darley Champions Sprint ''(held 8 November 2025)'' |publisher=racingpost.com |access-date=8 November 2025}}</ref> *2024 - Sunshine In Paris<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2024-11-09/881553 |title= 2024 Result – Darley Champions Sprint ''(held 9 November 2024)'' |publisher=racingpost.com |access-date=13 November 2024}}</ref> *2023 - Imperatriz<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2023-11-11/854499|title=Full Result 4.50 Flemington (AUS) | 11 November 2023 | Racing Post|website=www.racingpost.com}}</ref> *2022 - Roch 'n' Horse<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2022-11-05/825832 |title= 2022 Result – Darley Champions Sprint ''(held 5 November 2022)'' |publisher=racingpost.com |access-date=5 November 2022}}</ref> *2021 - Nature Strip<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.breednet.com.au/stakes-race-results/result?v=Flemington&d=2021-11-06&race=Darley+Sprint+Classic |title= 2021 Result – Darley Sprint Classic ''(held 6 November 2021)''|publisher=breednet.com|access-date=6 November 2021}}</ref> *2020 - Bivouac<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.breednet.com.au/stakes-race-results/result?v=Flemington&d=2020-11-07&race=Darley+Sprint+Classic |title= 2020 Result – Darley Sprint Classic ''(held 7 November 2020)''|publisher=breednet.com|access-date=5 November 2021}}</ref> *2019 - Nature Strip<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.breednet.com.au/stakes-race-results/result.aspx?v=Flemington&d=2019-11-09&race=Darley+Sprint+Classic |title= 2019 Result – Darley Sprint Classic ''(held 9 November 2019)''|publisher=breednet.com|access-date=9 November 2019}}</ref> *2018 - Santa Ana Lane<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.breednet.com.au/stakes-race-results/result.aspx?v=Flemington&d=2018-11-10&race=Vrc+Sprint+Classic |title= 2018 Result – VRC Sprint Classic ''(held 10 November 2018)''|publisher=breednet.com|access-date=11 November 2018}}</ref> *2017 - Redzel<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.breednet.com.au/stakes-race-results/result?v=Flemington&d=2017-11-11&race=Darley+Classic |title= 2017 Result – Darley Classic ''(held 11 November 2017)''|publisher=breednet.com|access-date=11 November 2017}}</ref> *2016 - Malaguerra<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.breednet.com.au/stakes-race-results/result?v=Flemington&d=2016-11-05&race=Darley+Classic |title= 2016 Result – Darley Classic ''(held 5 November 2016)''|publisher=breednet.com|access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref> *2015 - Delectation<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.breednet.com.au/stakes-race-results/result?v=Flemington&d=2015-11-07&race=Darley+Classic |title= 2015 Result – Darley Classic ''(held 7 November 2015)''|publisher=breednet.com|access-date=7 November 2015}}</ref> *2014 - Terravista<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.breednet.com.au/stakes-race-results/result?v=Flemington&d=2014-11-08&race=Darley+Classic |title= 2014 Result – Darley Classic ''(held 8 November 2014)''|publisher=breednet.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *2013 - Buffering<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.breednet.com.au/stakes-race-results/result?v=Flemington&d=2013-11-09&race=Vrc+Sprint+Classic |title= 2013 Result – Vrc Sprint Classic ''(held 9 November 2013)''|publisher=breednet.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *2012 - Mental<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.breednet.com.au/stakes-race-results/result?v=Flemington&d=2012-11-10&race=Patinack+Farm+Classic |title= 2012 Result – Patinack Farm Classic ''(held 10 November 2012)''|publisher=breednet.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *2011 - Black Caviar<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2011-11-05/542893 |title= 2011 Result – Patinack Farm Classic ''(held 5 November 2011)''|publisher=racingpost.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *2010 - Black Caviar<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2010-11-06/518313 |title= 2010 Result – Patinack Farm Classic ''(held 6 November 2010)''|publisher=racingpost.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *2009 - All Silent<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2009-11-07/494561 |title= 2009 Result – Patinack Farm Classic ''(held 7 November 2009)''|publisher=racingpost.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *2008 - Swick<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2008-11-08/469939 |title= 2008 Result – Patinack Farm V.R.C. Classic ''(held 8 November 2008)''|publisher=racingpost.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *2007 - Miss Andretti<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2007-11-10/444677 |title= 2007 Result – The Age Classic ''(held 10 November 2007)''|publisher=racingpost.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *2006 - Dance Hero<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2006-11-04/420125 |title= 2006 Result – Salinger Stakes ''(held 4 November 2006)''|publisher=racingpost.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *2005 - Glamour Puss<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2005-11-05/397146 |title= 2005 Result – Salinger Stks ''(held 29 October 2005)''|publisher=racingpost.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *2004 - Takeover Target<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2004-10-30/361263 |title= 2004 Result – Salinger Stks ''(held 30 October 2004)''|publisher=racingpost.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *2003 - Ancient Song<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2003-11-01/341922 |title= 2003 Result – Salinger Stks ''(held 1 November 2003)''|publisher=racingpost.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *2002 - Rubitano<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2002-11-02/324744 |title= 2002 Result – Salinger Stks ''(held 2 November 2002)''|publisher=racingpost.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *2001 - Sudurka<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2001-11-03/308859 |title= 2001 Result – Salinger Stks ''(held 3 November 2001)''|publisher=racingpost.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *2000 - Easy Rocking<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/2000-11-04/293713 |title= 2000 Result – Salinger Stks ''(held 4 November 2000)''|publisher=racingpost.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *1999 - Pharein<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/1999-10-30/274320 |title= 1999 Result – Salinger Stks ''(held 30 October 1999)''|publisher=racingpost.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *1998 - Flavour<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/1998-10-31/258880 |title= 1998 Result – Salinger Stks ''(held 31 October 1998)''|publisher=racingpost.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *1997 - Notoire<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.racingpost.com/results/297/flemington/1997-11-01/245371 |title= 1997 Result – Salinger Stks ''(held 1 November 1997)''|publisher=racingpost.com|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> *1996 - Gold Ace *1995 - Brawny Spirit *1994 - Hareeba *1993 - Alishan *1992 - Unspoken Word *1991 - Final Card *1990 - Planet Ruler *1989 - Planet Ruler *1988 - Special *1987 - Sky Filou *1986 - Taj Quillo *1985 - Lord Ballina *1984 - River Rough *1983 - River Rough *1982 - Forgone Conclusion *1981 - Zegna *1980 - Watney *1979 - Rooney *1978 - Always Welcome *1977 - Galway Bay *1976 - Maybe Mahal *1975 - Miss Lockleys *1974 - Scamanda *1973 - Century *1972 - Beaches<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eCVZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=s-UDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6323%2C1828148 |title= Flemington Results – Craven 'A' Stks ''(held 4 November 1972)''|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|work= News (Google) |access-date=26 October 2015|date=5 November 1972|page=78 col 3–6}}</ref> *1971 - Welsh Prince *1970 - Dual Choice *1969 - Vain *1968 - Snub *1967 - Iga Ninja *1966 - Marmion *1965 - Picca *1964 - Star Of Heaven *1963 - Ripa *1962 - Samson *1961 - Bengal Tiger *1960 - Karina {{refend}}
==See also== * List of Australian Group races * Group races
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
Category:Group 1 stakes races in Australia Category:Flemington Racecourse Category:Sports competitions in Melbourne Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1960 Category:1960 establishments in Australia