It’s the Saturday before the first Tuesday of November, which can only mean one thing: It’s Derby Day at Flemington, one of the greatest racedays in the country.
Since 1855 the Victoria Racing Club’s VRC Derby has been run at headquarters, making it the oldest feature in Australia, pre-dating the Melbourne Cup by six years.
It’s a brilliant day, a smorgasbord of major racing, which will often draw 90,000 fans or more, roughly double that of the Everest at Randwick, and in which all nine races have Group status.
And aside from being studded by three Group 1s, it’s also the day on which the field for Australia’s greatest race – the Melbourne Cup next Tuesday – is settled, with the Archer Stakes the last chance for horses to qualify for the big one.
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While Cup Day is king, and the Cox Plate the country’s top quality race, Derby Day is where it’s at for racing purists.
It’s day one of Australia’s grandest week of horse racing – Flemington’s four-day Melbourne Cup carnival – with two other Group 1s aside from the Derby including the prestigious Coolmore Stud Stakes, a sprint up the straight 1200m for three-year-olds which will often confirm a future stud career for a young colt. This edition shapes as a must-watch classic with three quality colts heading the betting in Golden Slipper trifecta Shinzo, Cylinder and King’s Gambit.
The other Group 1 is the Empire Rose Stakes, a 1600m test for fillies and mares which will usually add a couple of zeroes to the winner’s value once she starts breeding. It includes one mare who’s already got a few – Alcohol Free – bought for a cool $10,000,000 last year out of England, where she’d won four G1s, by the ever-expanding Yulong thoroughbred empire of Chinese billionaire Zheng Yuesheng. The mare is still trying to prove she was worth it after four Australian runs, but produced her best run here yet when fourth at Randwick last Saturday, to suggest she’s getting back towards her zone.
The Derby itself shapes as our next chance to look at an excitement machine called Riff Rocket, from the stable of Winx’s trainer, Chris Waller. The gelding is the short-priced favourite, bolted home by 5.5 lengths here two runs back, but will be seeking to kiss and make up with punters after being narrowly beaten at the Winx-like odds of $1.28 last start.
There’s a strong support card of two G2s and four G3s including the Archer, named after the Melbourne Cup’s first winner, and the Wakeful Stakes, a last trial for fillies aimed at Thursday’s G1 VRC Oaks.
And the highlights don’t end with the races. After the last, there’s the announcement of Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup field, and the barrier draw which can make or break many horses’ chances in Australia’s greatest cultural institution.
It’s a feast of racing at beautiful Flemington – Australia’s oldest sporting venue, where they began racing in 1840 – with fine weather forecast.
Let’s take a look.
WHAT IS IT?
Derby Day – nine races, all of them Group Something, at headquarters. It starts Flemington’s Cup carnival, which also features Cup Day on Tuesday, Oaks Day on Thursday, and Mackinnon Stakes Day (now known as Champion Stakes Day) on the second Saturday, which also features three G1s.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
A juicy $7 million, topped by the $2 million for each of the Derby and the Coolmore.
WHEN’S IT ON?
Saturday. First race 12.20pm (AEDT), last race 5.40pm. Derby at 4.20pm.
WHERE CAN YOU WATCH IT?
Channel 10 will show it, but it’s also on Racing.com and Sky Channel. Foxsports.com.au will also provide updates through the day.
FEATURE RACES
RACE 2: 1.00pm: LEXUS ARCHER STAKES (2500m). Group 3. $300,000
This staying test holds an special place in Australian racing: 1. The winner earns the last ticket into the 24-horse Melbourne Cup, so it’s always compelling viewing. 2. The old Hotham Handicap, which it was called from 1869 till 1978, featured a famous triple dead heat in 1956 between Fighting Force, Ark Royal and Pandie Sun.
Eight winners of the race have gone on to take out the Melbourne Cup, including Shocking (2009), Brew (2000) and Think Big (1974). More recent results have been ordinary, until mighty English stayer Prince Of Arran won it in 2018 before a super third in the Big Cup. The quick back-up, over tough long distances, isn’t for everyone.
Top chances: ATHABASCAN (BlueBet approx odds: $2.40) is a French import who won two 2400m races in Sydney in September but needs to pick up from moderate runs in two 2500m Melbourne Cup lead-up races, an eighth in The Bart Cummings, and a seventh in the Moonee Valley Cup. KALAPOUR ($4.80) is an Irish import who’s been working into form after five runs this campaign, with third placings in his past two. LADIES MAN ($8) adds intrigue as a Kiwi raider. He won NZ’s prestigious G1 the Livamol Classic last start. That was only over 2040m, but early this year he was fourth and then third in two 3200m tests there – the Wellington and Auckland Cups. He’s currently 25th in line for the 24-horse Melbourne Cup field. Most likely something above him will be withdrawn in time, but a win here would be very handy.
TIPS: 1. LADIES MAN; 2. Kalapour; 3. Mostly Cloudy; 4. Athabascan.
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RACE 5: 3.00pm: WAKEFUL STAKES (2000m). Group 2. $300,000.
Fourteen three-year-old fillies go around in the last major lead-up to the G1 VRC Oaks over 2500m on Thursday.
ZARDOZI ($2.40) is a well-bred short favourite after improving off her first three starts of the prep with a dominant win in a 1600m G2 here on October 7. From the Godolphin empire under trainer James Cummings, and will be hard to beat. HARLOW MIST ($5.50) is prepared by a master trainer of staying fillies, John Sargent, and won her first three starts capped off by the 1800m Oaks Preview here on September 24. She then returned home to Sydney for a plain-looking third but that was likely just a fittener-upper for this, over an unsuitable 1550m. KONASANA ($5) comes from the powerful Waller stable, was second to Harlow Mist in the Oaks trial when making good ground from the back, then won over 1600m at Moonee Valley before a fourth in top fillies’ company in a 2000m G3 at Caulfield. AMAZONIAN LASS ($10) has run fifth and third in quality fields in her past two starts when unlucky in drawing wide barriers.
TIPS: 1. KONASANA, 2. Harlow Mist, 3. Zardozi, 4. Amazonian Lass.
RACE 6: 3.40pm. COOLMORE STUD STAKES (1200m). Group 1. $2,000,000.
A time-honoured sprint up the Flemington straight course for the three-year-olds who back in the autumn contested two-year-old features like the Golden Slipper and Blue Diamond. So it’s a large 19-horse field with plenty of chances. It started out as the Ascot Vale Stakes in 1863. And with the Slipper and Caulfield Guineas, it sits among the nation’s top three stallion-makers; a great thing to win for a horse’s later stud value. The outstanding Home Affairs strolled home by three lengths in 2021, and now stands at stud for $110,000 per mating (and will likely have about 150 of those by the end of spring!) Mind you fillies, who carry two kilos less than the males, have won three of the past five of these to upset the boys’ apple cart.
Famous winners: In Secret (2022), Home Affairs (2021), Sunlight (2018), Merchant Navy (2017), Weekend Hussler (2007), Campaign King (1985), Rancher (1982), Manikato (1978), Surround (1976), Vain (1969).
SHINZO, CYLINDER and KING’S GAMBIT ran 1-2-3 in the Golden Slipper as two-year-olds, and now they’re back as three-year-old colts putting their cases for multi-million dollar stud careers, where the real money kicks in. SHINZO ($7), however, has run ninth in two starts this campaign, and has people wondering about the “post-Slipper curse” that can beset many a young autumn star come the springtime. His second ninth was in The Everest, where CYLINDER ($3.60) ran a meritorious fifth, holding on well as a young horse amongst more seasoned rivals. KING’S GAMBIT’s ($8.00) veteran trainer Peter Snowden warned people he had come back as a powerhouse three-year-old, and he showed it last start with a blitzing win in a 1200m G2 at Rosehill. He’s also the only one of these three with vital experience up the Flemington straight, having run third over 1100m here two starts back. But it’s not all about these three. TIZ INVINCIBLE ($16) is a top-shelf filly from the Maher-Eustace yard who won three stakes races in Sydney in a row, from 1100m to 1400m, before fading to sixth in a 1600m G1 last time out. That was a tad long for her, and tiz often said that to win up the straight 1200m here you need a strong 1400m horse. So don’t rule out the chance of a filly spoiling the stallion-making party for the fourth time in six years. VEIGHT ($21) is a quality colt who ran a close second in the aforementioned Caulfield Guineas over 1600m. He mightn’t have the speed of some of these, but his toughness will take him far. MORAVIA ($17) is a well-bred colt from a fine trainer of young ‘uns in Michael Freedman who nearly beat Cylinder over 1200m two starts back before a close-up sixth in the 1400m Golden Rose, and has the retiring Damien Oliver in the saddle chasing one more Group 1. And ARKANSAW KID ($34) is a quality colt who’s had some tough luck with barriers while contesting our biggest two-year-old races but finally scored a fighting win last start over 1200m at Caulfield. Plus there’s a few other chances in a very open race including OZZMOSIS ($13), I AM UNSTOPPABLE ($12), STEPARTY ($11) and STRETAN ANGEL ($12).
TIPS: 1. ARKANSAW KID, 2. King’s Gambit, 3. Cylinder, 4. Tiz Invincible.
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RACE 7, 4.20pm VICTORIA DERBY (2500m) Group 1. $2,000,000
Not just one of the oldest races in Australia but the world. It’s for three-year-olds at set weights and is a boys-only affair again this year. Though derbies the world over are usually 2400m, or a mile-and-a-half, Flemington’s is 100m further, because 2400m would mean starting pretty too close to the first bend for the sake of safety and common sense.
As it is, those who’ve drawn wide barriers – and it’s a capacity 16-horse field this year – can struggle to move across and avoid racing wide, or will have to settle a long way back to be closer to the rail. At least the field usually thins out in the long home straight, presenting gaps for those finishing on, as these young horses tire over their longest trip to date. No one’s been beyond 2300m, so there is a bit of hit-and-hope involved, as well as consideration of how they hit the line last start.
Bear in mind favourites have only won this race twice since 2006, suggesting early assessments of staying ability can be wonky.
It’s often said the Derby may knacker a young horse, as many recent winners have failed to kick on. Either that or it favours early bloomers, and the others catch up as they mature.
Point is, often it’s class that wins this race, rather than outright staying ability. This year there’s a short priced favourite but a smattering of chances.
First winner: Rose Of May (1855). Last winner: Manzoice (2022).
Famous winners: Hitotsu (2021), Efficient (2006), Elvstroem (2003), Mahogany (1993), Stylish Century (1989), Red Anchor (1984), Dulcify (1978), Tobin Bronze (1965), Tulloch (1957), Hydrogen (1951), Comic Court (1948), Phar Lap (1929).
RIFF ROCKET ($2.00), from the Chris Waller stable, won three of his first five, ending with a 5.5 romp over 1800m here. That made him an odds-on favourite last start but he proved again there’s no such thing as a certainty, running a nose second over 2000m. One question, as with all in the field, is can they run out a strong 2500m? None have tried, so breeding gives a guide. His dad was American Triple Crown winner American Pharoah, who won to 2400m. But his mum, probably more importantly, was a sprinter who only won to 1300m. But again, this race is often won not by the best stayer but the classiest three-year-old at the time. That could be this bloke, but you’re taking a short price to find out. SUNSETS ($15) was the horse who dug deep and beat off the challenging Riff Rocket last start, and he has a great staying pedigree, with his dad being a Derby winner Dundeel and his grandmother a G1 winner to 1600m. Has drawn a bad barrier in 16, however. VERDAD ($8) is by another US Triple Crown winner in Justify, and ran well at big odds in the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) two starts back when fifth, but then disappointed as a short favourite up to 2040m at Moonee Valley last Saturday. He has to back up within a week and step up to 2500m, with the worry being this is only his fifth start. Also backing up and stepping up is the horse who beat him last Saturday APULIA ($4.40), who’s at least had eight starts and has some strong staying blood being by a Melbourne Cup winner in Fiorente, and won imposingly by two lengths last weekend. Place chances to the well-bred GATES ($14), and AIR ASSAULT ($15).
TIPS: 1. SUNSETS; 2. Riff Rocket; 3. Apulia; 4. Gates.
RACE 8: 5.00pm. EMPIRE ROSE STAKES (1600m). Group 1. $1,000,000
A relatively new race for fillies and mares, having started in 1988. Formerly known as the Myer Classic, in 2018 it was changed to honour that great, great big mare, Empire Rose, who won the Melbourne Cup in 1988. It’s weight-for-age, so the four-year-olds carry 56.5kg and the five-and-ups 57kg. Plus there’s a three-year-old this year, who just has 50kg.
Famous winners: Colette (2021), Shoals (2017), Typhoon Tracy (2009), Forensics (2007), Divine Madonna (2007).
ALCOHOL FREE ($5) is a big story wherever she goes. As mentioned up high, she was bought for a staggering $10m last year having won four G1s in England, but so far out here she’s behaved a bit like a Pom in the heat, or the buzz-killer her name would suggest. She’s run 10th of 16, fourth of eight, 12th of 12, but then improved dramatically last Saturday when fourth in a major mares’ race, The Invitation, at Randwick. In good hands at the Waterhouse-Bott stable, she might well have acclimatised. PRINCESS GRACE ($7.50) is another mare with a major pricetag, having been bought out from America for around $2.5m. In the huge Chris Waller stable. She’s performed better out here, with a win and four placings from six starts, including second in an open company WFA G1 over 1400m at Caulfield three runs ago. Last start looked a touch disappointing as an odds-on favourite when second over 1400m at Flemington, but the third horse, WROTE TO ARATAKI ($19), subsequently won, and Princess Grace’s best form in the US was over the 1600m-1700m range of this race. WROTE TO ARATAKI scored in a 1400m G2 at Caulfield last start, but may find this 1600m trip too long. ATISHU ($6) has ability, and won a 1600m mares’ G1 at Randwick in April, but is hot and cold. Ran a strong second in a 1400m G2 mares’ race at Rosehill two starts back to Espiona, who subsequently won again, but then ran an ordinary second-last, albeit up in open class at weight-for-age, in the G1 King Charles Stakes (1600m), so an amount of trust is required with her. HOPE IN YOUR HEART ($8) is a wonderfully consistent mare unlucky not to have won a G1 in Sydney yet, having run fourth, fourth and second (to Atishu) at that level in the autumn. Has been sixth and eighth in open class G1s over this trip her past two starts, but will appreciate being back against her own sex here. And Sydney form usually goes very well in Melbourne. Other chances to PRIDE OF JENNI ($17), LIFE LESSONS ($17), and WISHLOR LASS ($8).
TIPS: 1. HOPE IN YOUR HEART; 2. Princess Grace; 3, Alcohol Free; 4. Wishlor Lass.
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