Howden Victoria Derby Day an incredible start to 2026 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 on Saturday, with Group 1 glory on the line in the nation’s oldest classic, the $3 million Howden Victoria Derby (2500m) for the staying three-year-olds.

Jockey Mark Zahra is looking to repeat his record four wins last year and go back-to-back in the Derby for the Ciaron Maher stable with his mount Vallice. 

Zahra will also ride the TAB favourite in the Coolmore Stud Stakes aboard The Next Episode.   Chris Waller-trained St Gotthard will also feature in the race and be ridden by superstar jockey James McDonald. McDonald will be looking to become the most successful jockey in the races’ history with a fourth victory. 

Four-time Group 1 winner Lady Shenandoah headlines the $1 million TAB Empire Rose Stakes, the final feature race on the card, where Pakenham trainer Charlotte Littlefield aims to capture her maiden Group 1 victory with classy mare Concord Connie.

The world-famous Birdcage will play host to local and international celebrities including supermodel Helena Christensen and Australian actor Jai Courtney at Lexus, newly married couple Andy and Rebcca Lee at Crown, jockey Jamie Melham at TAB, Today Show host Tom Steinfort at Nine, media personality Carrie Bickmore at G.H. Mumm and footballer Josh Daicos at Don Julio.

The VRC will also host footballer Zak Butters as well as the Howden Victoria Derby Day Style Squad – featuring five of Australia’s emerging fashion faces represented by Priscilla’s Model Management.

The Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions On The Field competition, presented by Lexus, returns to Flemington's famous front lawn with a striking new pavilion, with registrations for the Best Dressed and Best Suited categories open to all racegoers between 10:00am and 11:00am, while the competition officially kicks off at 11:15am.

Three winners from each category will go 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 on Howden Victoria Derby Day, with the overall winner announced at 3:20pm.

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 UK pop sensation Jess Glynne as she performs her global hit songs including Don't Be So Hard On Yourself and Hold My hand.

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 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.

The commemorative pins sell for $10 for the Lexus Melbourne Cup pin and $20 for the diamante horseshoe and limited addition bejeweled Racehorse pin for $50 with all purchasers eligible to enter the draw to win over $170,00 worth of prizes including a brand new Lexus RX 450H+Luxury.

Pin & Win Ambassadors Marc and Jessie Murphy, Chloe and Toby Pink, Lorinska Merrington, Rudi Ellis, Elly Wicks, Lexi Brandt, Jack Jenkins and Jack Reiwoldt and Billy Brownless 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 6:15pm at the Fashions on the Field Stage. The official draw will be live streamed on the Nine Network.