Over 286,000 celebrate world-class racing and entertainment at the Melbourne Cup Carnival

A total of 286,746 racegoers attended Flemington across the four days, including 65,021 on TAB Champions Stakes Day, where fans witnessed three championship races and an exciting nine-race card headlined by reigning Australian Horse of the Year Via Sistina. 

The four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival recorded the four highest attendances at Australian race meetings in 2025 as international and interstate visitors descended on Victoria to attend the world famous event. 

Chris Waller’s champion Via Sistina defended her title to land the $3 million Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes (2000m), becoming the first mare since Tranquil Star in 1944 and 1945 to win the race back-to-back. Ridden by James McDonald, Via Sistina won her sixth Group 1 race of the calendar year worldwide; no other horse globally has won more than four.

Top Sydney miler Ceolwulf made a successful Victorian debut with a fighting victory in the $3 million Group 1 Lexus Champions Mile (1600m). The Joe Pride-prepared Ceolwulf defeated Bjorn Baker pair Pericles and Stefi Magnetica in one of the finishes of the week, giving jockey Chad Schofield his first Carnival win in a decade. 

It was third time lucky for Giga Kick as the popular chestnut won his first $3 million Group 1 VRC Champions Sprint at his third attempt. Trained at Mornington by Clayton Douglas, it was the six-year-old’s first Group 1 success in Victoria and it gave top jockey Mark Zahra his third feature race success of the Carnival.

Zahra rode a total of eight winners across the week, including a double on TAB Champions Stakes Day, and secured his first Ron Hutchinson Award as the Carnival’s leading rider. He dethroned the reigning ‘World’s Best Jockey’ McDonald, who has won the title the last four years. 

Tallied on a 3-2-1 basis across all 37 races, Zahra scored 32 points - twice as many as runner-up McDonald (16) - while Ben Melham finished third on 15 points.

The trainer’s equivalent, the J B Cummings Award, went to Ciaron Maher for the second consecutive year. Maher won five races, including a treble on Howden Victoria Derby Day, and just edged out six-time J B Cummings Award winner Chris Waller, 25 to 20. Anthony and Sam Freedman finished third on 14 points.

It is the culmination of a week when Victorian-bred horses have starred on the track. It was the first time since 1944 that the winners of the Howden Victoria Derby (Observer), Lexus Melbourne Cup (Half Yours) and Crown Oaks (Strictly Business) have been bred in Victoria, while Coolmore Stud Stakes hero Tentyris also counts Victoria as his birthplace.

It was a week where Jamie Melham was crowned the new queen of the turf, joining Michelle Payne OAM on the honour roll of Lexus Melbourne Cup-winning jockeys. Her victory aboard the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Half Yours will be replayed for years to come and is a defining memory of the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival

Melham also took out the FISHER Stakes on Need Some Luck and was embraced by the international superstar ahead of his Carnival-ending performance.

Victoria Racing Club CEO Kylie Rogers said she was thrilled with how the week concluded.

 “What a spectacular conclusion to an unforgettable week of world-class racing and entertainment at Flemington.

“Despite the weather, the energy and enthusiasm from the crowd was unwavering, a real testament to the growing popularity of TAB Champions Stakes Day and the exceptional quality of racing on offer.

“With more than 286,000 racegoers attending across the four days, the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival has been a resounding success, and we extend our thanks to our members, partners, and every guest who joined us in making this week so memorable.”

The world-famous Birdcage Enclosure played host to a who’s who of entertainment, sport,  business and media including Lexus Ambassador Kate Waterhouse and husband Luke Ricketson, former Rugby League player. Hosted in the G.H Mumm Marquee was TV personality, Brodie Harper, while Crown hosted Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus.

Flemington’s home for global headline acts, The Elms Live Stage presented by Maccas, hosted a spectacular performance by FISHER to close the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival.   FISHER, one of the world’s most in demand DJs and music producers performed an electrifying and energetic 90-minute DJ set as part of the Off the Rails party after the last race.  Energising the crowd ahead of FISHER was his regular support act and renowned Australian DJ, Little Fritter. 

In its 63rd year, Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions on the Field presented by Lexus made a stunning return to Flemington's famous front lawn with the competition coming to a spectacular close on Crown Oaks Day.

The Best Dressed competition was won by Holly Keenan from Perth.  Ms Keenan was wearing a hand-made laser cut dress inspired by art deco tiles and a hat by Peacock Millinery.  Jenny Beard from Langwarrin South won the Best Suited category in a hand-made 3-piece suit and hat. 

This year’s competition had a prize pool of over $300,000.  The Best Dressed and Best Suited winners each take away over $41,000 in prizes, with each overall winner receiving an ABC Bullion Gold Bar valued at $17,500 and $10,000 in cash, along with fantastic prizes from VRC partners including Crown, Schweppes, TAB and TCL Electronics.  

The finals of the creative and design categories commenced on Howden Victoria Derby Day with the notable Emerging Designer Award presented by Vogue, won by Melbourne-based creative Caroline Caroline who is currently studying at LCI Melbourne.  The Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery Award was won by Melbourne-based milliner and first-time winner Fiona Cooper. 

The Melbourne Cup Carnival’s Pin & Win campaign continues to be a great community contributor with over $9 million raised for charities since it was introduced in 1995. 

This year, pins were sold across the course for charity partner, Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria & Tasmania. Today the major prize winner was announced as 91-year-old VRC Member, Gerald Jongebled from East Keilor.

2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival Group 1 winners

2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival attendances