Zahra and Maher shine bright on Howden Victoria Derby Day

A total of 86,112 racegoers - an increase of 5.51 per cent on 2024 - were trackside to see Observer land the $2 million Group 1 Howden Victoria Derby (2500m) for jockey Mark Zahra, trainer Ciaron Maher and the powerful Godolphin stable. 

Zahra (four wins) and Maher (three wins), who took the 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup together with Gold Trip, both had remarkable days as they dominated the racing action on Howden Victoria Derby Day. 

Zahra also rekindled his fruitful Melbourne Cup Carnival relationship with Anthony and Sam Freedman, landing the $2 million Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) aboard exciting sprinter Tentyris. The victory continued an association which reached its pinnacle when they combined to win the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup with Without A Fight.

The jockey’s four winners came across four consecutive races, also adding the Group 2 The ABC Bullion Damien Oliver (1400m) on Warnie and the Group 2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes (2000m) aboard Crown Oaks favourite Getta Good Feeling in addition to his two Group 1 wins.

Perhaps the win of the day, though, came from Maher’s remarkable Pride Of Jenni as she became the first two-time winner of the Group 1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes (1600m). The 2023-24 Australian Horse of the Year was ridden in her customary front-running style and scooted clear for a big triumph for jockey Declan Bates.

Pride Of Jenni followed champions Black Caviar and Makybe Diva who were the last mares to win the same Group 1 race on multiple occasions over the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Her strapper Sammi Waters was awarded World Pool’s Moment Of The Day.

Both Tentyris and Pride Of Jenni may be seen next weekend on TAB Champions Stakes Day; Pride Of Jenni successfully ran in the G1 Champions Mile the week after her first Empire Rose victory.

The world-famous Birdcage Enclosure played host to a who’s who of entertainment, sport,  business and media including exclusive guests of LANDMARK by Lexus, Hollywood Actress Michelle Monaghan, Lexus Ambassador Kate Waterhouse, and Friend of Lexus Elliot Garnaut. In the G.H Mumm Marquee, trailblazing Australian sailor Jessica Watson OAM will be on-course alongside AFL footballer Josh Daicos and fiancée Annalise Dalins. Guests of Crown, including Rebecca Judd, Pip Edwards and Karl Stefanovic alongside Olympic gold medallist Ariarne Titmus.

Now in its 63^rd year, Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions on the Field presented by Lexus made a stunning return to Flemington's famous front lawn with the traditional black and white palette dominating the opening day of Australia’s most famous fashion competition. In hotly contested finals, the top three for both categories were selected with the Best Dressed winners Holly Keenan, Viera Macikova and Erin Smith and along with the Best Suited winners Peta Bell, Giaan Keir and Courtney Moore all heading straight into the grand final on Crown Oaks Day. 

The creative and design-led Emerging Designer Award presented by Vogue was judged by an elite panel including fashion designer Jason Grech, Melbourne Cup Carnival Ambassador Michelle Payne OAM and Melbourne Fashion Festival CEO Caroline Ralphsmith.  The winner was Melbourne based creative Caroline Caroline whose design was inspired by the architecture of dollhouses and her family's wooden home in Borneo.  The stunning design showed a combination of delicacy with metres of chiffon fabric and rigidness with amoora wood used to create the eye-catching bow. 

The new Elms Live Stage, presented by Maccas played host to Australian rock legends and ARIA Hall of Fame members, ICEHOUSE. The sensational performance enjoyed by thousands of racegoers and music fans included their unofficial Australian anthem, Great Southern Land, Crazy and Hey Little Girl. 

Victoria Racing Club Chief Executive Officer Kylie Rogers said the first day of the 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival exceeded expectations and showcased Flemington at its finest.

"Howden Victoria Derby Day delivered everything we could have hoped for - 86,112 passionate racegoers, perfect conditions, and a sea of black and white that transformed Flemington into something truly special," Ms Rogers said.

"Our guests experienced exceptional racing alongside outstanding food, fashion and entertainment that showcased the very best of what this day represents.

"When Mark Zahra guided Observer across the line to claim the 2025 Howden Victoria Derby, the roar from the crowd said it all.

“We look forward to doing it all again on Tuesday for the Lexus Melbourne Cup.”

The Victoria Racing Club’s Pin & Win campaign, which saw pins sold throughout Flemington for charity partner Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria & Tasmania, proved popular with racegoers, with Pin & Win Ambassadors including Rudi Ellis, Tim English, Lisa Davenport, Mikayla Crisp, Jack Crisp and Ross Stevenson all on track to promote the campaign. 

At the conclusion of the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Zahra leads the Ron Hutchinson Award for the week’s leading jockey on 15 points, well clear of Tommy Berry on six points and John Allen on four points. 

Maher leads the trainers’ equivalent, the J B Cummings Award, on 10 points ahead of Chris Waller on five points.

The eyes of Australia will turn to Flemington on Tuesday for the race that stops a nation® on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day (4 November), followed by Crown Oaks Day (Thursday 6 November) and TAB Champions Stakes Day (Saturday 8 November).