2025 - Moments, milestones & masterclasses

Summer & Autumn Racing

Group 1 Black Caviar Lightning (1000m)

Skybird delivered a memorable victory for Mitch Freedman, handing the Ballarat trainer his second Group 1 triumph. Backed from $41 into $26, the filly defied expectations to upset the heavily favoured three-year-olds, Switzerland and Growing Empire.

Group 1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m)

Feroce delivered trainer Dom Sutton’s first Group 1 victory in the Australian Guineas. After building his stable with consistent performances, this win marked a breakthrough at the highest level and signalled Sutton’s arrival among Australia’s elite trainers.

Group 1 All-Star Mile (1600m)

Back at Flemington, where the race will remain for the next three years, Tom Kitten outgunned Flemington mile specialist, Mr Brightside, to score by the narrowest of margins in what was a cracking edition of the race. A statement win for outgoing Godolphin Australia lead trainer, James Cummings, who will commence training in Hong Kong in the new season.

Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m)

Basilinna claimed a coveted golden ticket in the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup with her stellar win in the Lexus Andrew Ramsden, thrilling her connections. Unfortunately, she faced a setback and was unable to take her place in this year’s Cup.

Winter Racing

The Winter Race Series had heats conducted at Flemington throughout May and June, culminating in the nine finals of each series on Flemington Finals Race Day on July 5.

VOBIS Gold Mile (1600m)

In one of the season’s feel-good stories, Oh Too Good gave the self-proclaimed ‘Australia’s smallest trainer’, Kevin Daffy, a memorable win in the VOBIS Gold Mile. Daffy, overcome with emotion after the victory, said the result was one he’d dreamed about for years. Oh Too Good went on to the Spring, finishing second in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) and claimed the Ladies Day Vase (1600m) at Caulfield on Caulfield Guineas Day.

Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m)

Buccleuch was an impressive winner of the Taj Rossi Series Final for the training partnership of Patrick and Michelle Payne, standing out among the stable’s eleven winners in 2025. The promising galloper has now won three of his five career starts and appears to have a bright future ahead. He was the shortest-priced favourite to salute the judge in 2025 a $1.45.

Listed VRC-CRV Winter Championship Final (1600m)

Jimmy The Bear added to his remarkable record at Flemington, securing his fourth win at Headquarters. The gelding followed up his impressive success in The David Bourke (1620m) by claiming the Listed winter feature, lifting his career earnings beyond the $1 million mark.

Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m)

Marble Nine captured two heats of the Winter Series before rounding out a Flemington hat trick with victory in the Final on Flemington Finals Day. He went on to finish third in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) in August.

Spring Racing

Group 1 Crown Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m)

The great mare herself, Makybe Diva, was on hand to witness Flemington mile specialist Mr Brightside claim back-to-back victories in the race named in her honour. He defeated a small but high-quality field featuring Group 1 performers Via Sistina, Aeliana, Tom Kitten and Antino. Jockey Craig Williams elected to take up the running, controlling a moderate tempo before quickening stylishly into the Flemington straight to open up a winning margin.

Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m)

Hall of Fame trainer Gai Waterhouse, in partnership with Adrian Bott, may have produced one of the top weight-for-age performers of the year. Sir Delius was coming off the back of a gritty win the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) when he stepped out in the Turnbull against a star-studded field.

The Melbourne Cup Carnival

The 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival drew 286,746 attendees, the highest since 2018, with more than 2.3 million Australians tuning in to watch the Lexus Melbourne Cup. Across 37 races and eight Group 1s, a total of $30 million in prizemoney was shared among 26 different stables and 20 different jockeys.

Howden Victoria Derby Day

Group 1 Howden Victoria Derby (2500m)

Godolphin colt, Observer, produced a brave Derby victory for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Mark Zahra taking up the lead in the early stages and setting a solid tempo before dropping the tempo mid-race. From the 800 metres, Zahra asked his mount to lift, and Observer responded bravely, fending off all challengers to the line. The win capped a remarkable Derby Day for Zahra, marking his fourth successive victory on the card.

Group 1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes (1600m)

Bold front-runner, Pride Of Jenni, etched her name into history as the first dual winner of the race, dominating by 4.5 lengths in her trademark front-running style. The victory marked the twelfth of her career and her fourth at Group 1 level. She was once again ridden by Declan Bates, who has partnered the mare in 19 of her 43 starts, combining for seven wins together.

Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m)

From what looked like an impossible position at the 500-metre mark of this time-honoured race, Tentyris produced a blistering turn of foot and bravely burst through the pack to descend upon the field and win in what was one of the best performances of the week. He was the first of two Group 1 winners for jockey Mark Zahra on the day.

Lexus Melbourne Cup Day

Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m)

Half Yours took the $10 million feature, becoming the thirteenth horse to complete the Caulfield Cup–Melbourne Cup double for the McEvoy stable with jockey Jamie Melham aboard, writing a fairytale in the process. Half Yours became the second successive Australian-bred horse to win the Cup after Knight’s Choice twelve months earlier.

Crown Oaks Day

Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m)

Thirteen days after breaking her maiden over 1400 metres, Strictly Business produced a stunning performance to win the Group 1 Crown Oaks, defying her inexperience. Jockey John Allen secured his first VRC Oaks triumph with a superb ride from the outside barrier. Fellow Irishman and Ballarat-based trainer Thomas Carberry celebrated his maiden Group 1 victory, completing an all-Irish success story alongside County Kerry breeder Martin Falvey, who bred the filly after buying her dam for just $600 in an Inglis Online Sale in August 2023.

TAB Champions Stakes Day

Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes (2000m)

Not even a damp Flemington could stop the freight train that is Via Sistina, the now dual Cox Plate winner returned to defend her TAB Champions Stakes crown and did so in emphatic fashion. Again sent out a short-priced favourite, she proved she is one of the world’s premier middle-distance mares in training. The win marked a third consecutive success in the race for the trainer/jockey combo of Chris Waller and James McDonald. The world’s best jockey had a quieter Cup Carnival by his lofty standards, with three winners for the week, a year removed from riding a record 11 winners at the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Group 1 Lexus Champions Mile (1600m)

Ceolwulf made his first interstate venture a memorable one, claiming the Lexus Champions Mile in thrilling fashion against a star-studded field. The gelding, having contested all 24 of his previous starts in New South Wales, rose to the occasion at Flemington under regular rider Chad Schofield. The Sydney-based jockey, a former Melbourne champion apprentice in 2013, rode with trademark confidence, knowing exactly what he had beneath him as Ceolwulf edged out Pericles in a gripping finish.

Group 1 VRC Champions Sprint (1200m)

Giga Kick returned to his brilliant best with a devastating win in the VRC Champions Sprint. The Clayton Douglas-trained star stalked the leaders before unleashing his trademark acceleration, even in the testing conditions, to get the better of star sprint mares Magic Time and Joliestar. It signalled a return to the upper echelon of Australian sprinting, where he has resided most of his career.