Howden Victoria Derby Day an incredible start to 2025 Melbourne Cup Carnival

The racing action is headlined by three outstanding Group 1 features on a nine-race card which consists entirely of Group races. Many of Australia’s best horses will be at Flemington today, with Group 1 glory on the line in the nation’s oldest classic, the $2 million Howden Victoria Derby (2500m) for the staying three-year-olds.

Trainer Ciaron Maher, successful in 2022 with Hitotsu, saddles up TAB favourite Observer in a bid to give the Godolphin operation its first Howden Victoria Derby. Godolphin will also be represented by the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Options.

Other trainers looking to win the Victoria Derby again include Chris Waller, who will send out Providence and Savisanta, and Trent Busuttin, who prepares Arcora in partnership with Natalie Young.
In a David vs Goliath battle, Mornington trainer Rory Hunter will saddle up his first Group 1 runner in G3 Caulfield Classic winner Autumn Mystery.

The sprinting three-year-olds will star in the $2 million Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m), one of the most anticipated races of the spring.

Godolphin’s Beiwacht, an emphatic last-start winner of the G1 Golden Rose, will aim to give jockey Adam Hyeronimus his first ever success in Victoria. Another Godolphin three-year-old, Tentyris, is considered his main danger by TAB while Peter Snowden-trained Beadman - named for two-time Melbourne Cup winner Darren Beadman - makes the trip down from Sydney.

The card also features the $1 million Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) and a tantalising clash between two of Australia’s greatest mares, Fangirl and Pride Of Jenni - both who have won on this day previously.

Other races include the Group 2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes (2000m), a key lead-up to next Thursday’s $1 million Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m), and the Group 2 The ABC Bullion Damien Oliver (1400m).

All nine races on the card will be covered by World Pool, taking  Howden Victoria Derby Day to the world.

The world-famous Birdcage Enclosure will play host to a who’s who of entertainment, sport, business and media. Exclusive guests of LANDMARK by Lexus include Hollywood Actress Michelle Monaghan, Lexus Ambassador Kate Waterhouse, and Friend of Lexus Rozalia Russian. 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, AFL Premiership players Kai Lohmann, Levi Ashcroft and Will Ashcroft.

The Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions On The Field, presented by Lexus, returns to the famous front lawn with an all-new enclosed precinct close to The Birdcage. Registrations for the Best Dressed and Best Suited categories are open to all racegoers between 10:30am and 11:30am, while the competition officially kicks off at 12:25pm.

The Best Dressed and Best Suited daily finals take place throughout the afternoon with three winners from each category going through to the grand final on Crown Oaks Day. The design and creative led category, the Emerging Designer Award presented by Vogue Australia, will also be judged with the overall winner announced at 2:15pm.

Fashions on the Field judges include Melbourne Cup Carnival Ambassador Michelle Payne, Nine Network The Block judge, Marty Fox, Melbourne Fashion Festival CEO Caroline Ralphsmith, AFL player Issac Quaynor, milliners Rebecca Share, Jill Humphries and Melissa Jackson and designer Jason Grech.

The Elms Live Stage, presented by Maccas and set beneath Flemington’s iconic elm trees at the end of the straight, will host an extraordinary array of global and local music icons across Cup Week. Day one of the Melbourne Cup Carnival will feature Australian rock legends ICEHOUSE as they perform global hit songs including Great Southern Land and Electric Blue.

This year, The Park is the ultimate family friendly destination with a dedicated Equine Wellbeing Zone, home to Racing Victoria’s Off The Track, Equine Pathways Australia and Riding for the Disabled Victoria.

The Victoria Racing Club’s Pin & Win campaign has raised more than $9 million for charities since it was introduced in 1995. This year, pins will be sold across the course for charity partner, Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria & Tasmania, assisting them as they help seriously ill and injured children and their families stay together and close to hospital by providing accommodation, living support, education and scholarships.

Through the Pin & Win partnership, the charity will be aiming to raise a record amount to cover 4,000 nights of accommodation.
The commemorative pins sell for $10 for the Lexus Melbourne Cup pin and $15 for the diamante horseshoe, with all purchasers eligible to enter the draw to win over $214,000 worth of prizes including a brand new 2025 Lexus RX 450h+ car.

Pin & Win Ambassadors Lorinska Merrington, Harry Garside, Rory Lobb, Lexi Lobb, Rudi Ellis, Tim English, Lisa Davenport, Elly Wicks, Mikayla Crisp, Jack Crisp and Ross Stevenson will all be on track to promote the campaign.

The Victoria Racing Club is proud to partner with DrinkWise to raise awareness amongst racing enthusiasts about the importance of moderation if choosing to consume alcohol. The Victoria Racing Club wholeheartedly supports the DrinkWise messaging which will be seen on digital and social channels, as well on the big screen and 800m track signage, in bars, the entry and exit to Flemington Station, in the race book and at all licensed venues around the track.

The VRC encourages all racegoers coming to Flemington Racecourse to enjoy the sensational racing on offer during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, respect one another and moderate their consumption so they can leave in the same classy manner in which they arrived.

At the conclusion of racing, the Lexus Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw will be held from 6:00pm at the Fashions on the Field Stage. The official draw will be live streamed on the Nine Network.