MACKINNON STAKES - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

* $2 million Group One, 2000m weight-for-age. Run at Flemington on Saturday, November 10.

HISTORY:

* The 2000m-race was formerly held on Victoria Derby Day and used as a Melbourne Cup lead-in

* The Victoria Racing Club decided its importance as a Cup pathway had diminished and announced in 2016 it would be transferred to the final day of the Cup carnival

* That race is now called the Kennedy Mile (1600m) on day one and the Emirates Stakes (2000m) is on the last of the four days

NOTABLE WINNERS:

* Carbine (1890), Wakeful (1901-02-03), Gloaming (1924), Phar Lap (1930-31-32), Peter Pan (1934), Ajax (1938), Tranquil Star (1942, 1944-45), Flight (1946), Comic Court (1949-50), Rising Fast (1954-55), Tulloch (1960), Tobin Bronze (1966), Dulcify (1979), At Talaq (1986), Better Loosen Up (1990), Let's Elope (1991), Lonhro (2002) So You Think (2010)

TALKING POINTS

* The race has an international flavour with Blair House and Latrobe. Blair House is from the stable of Melbourne Cup-winning Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby and Latrobe is trained by Joseph O'Brien who won last year's Cup with Rekindling

* The Chris Waller-trained Shillelagh is also scheduled for a quick back-up after her Group One win in the Empire Rose Stakes last Saturday

* Extra Brut's trainer Darren Weir won the race last year with Tosen Stardom

WHAT SOME OF THE KEY PLAYERS ARE SAYING

* "He looks in great order and if he turns up in the form he was in the Caulfield Stakes I think they've got him to beat" - Charlie Appleby on Blair House

* "Very happy with him, he seems to have travelled down well and we're looking forward to the race now" - Joseph O'Brien on Latrobe