Ladbrokes Tip: The Caulfield Classic is a key Victoria Derby lead-up each spring
The latest edition of the Caulfield Classic ran on Saturday October 18, 2025 as part of the Caulfield Cup Day race card and was won in a strong late surge by the now VRC Derby second favourite Autumn Mystery ($4.60).
2025 Caulfield Classic Results
The full Caulfield Classic 2025 Results & Finishing Order will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday October 18, 2025.
- 1st: No. 3 Autumn Mystery
- 2nd: No. 2 Miewa
- 3rd: No. 6 Amazake
Jockey Blake Shinn timed his run to perfection to get the Rory Hunter trained improver Autumn Mystery ($4.60), a last start Flemington winner in easier grade, home by three-quarters of a length in the 2025 Caulfield Classic results. Darting back to the inside the closing stages, the son of The Autumn Sun surged ahead of the pack for a deserving Group 3 win. He has now firmed in from $26 to $7 in all-in VRC Derby betting for November 1.
2025 Caulfield Classic Odds
The season’s latest Caulfield Classic 2025 odds and links to our Caulfield Classic betting markets will be available below the week of the race so stay tuned for the best prices on the VRC Derby-bound three-year-olds this Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
| 3. Autumn Mystery (2) J: Blake Shinn 57kg x5221T: Rory Hunter | ||
| 2. Miewa (7) J: Jordan Childs 57kg x4412T: Nick Ryan | ||
| 6. Amazake (4) J: Andrea Atzeni 57kg 27x67T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 9. Deal Done Fast (3) J: Daniel Stackhouse 57kg 24T: Matt Cumani | ||
| 8. Mcwoody (6) J: Patrick Moloney 57kg 1T: Mark Walker | ||
| 7. Arabian Prince (8) J: Luke Currie 57kg 3x5T: Michael Kent | ||
| 5. Engine Of War (1) J: Mark Zahra 57kg 3x12T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 10. Fabulous Fiano (5) J: Jamie Mott 57kg 54T: Gavin Bedggood |
Caulfield Classic Tips
Good Caulfield Classic tips include looking for a three-year-old coming off a top three run in Group company, runners with winning form over the distance and the colts who have a better record over any fillies taking on the boys in the race with Sacred Eye (2015) the last filly to win.
Looking for the best in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington earlier in the spring is another key Caulfield Classic betting tip with that race producing the past four winners most recently Sunsets (4th in 2023).
2025 Caulfield Classic Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Caulfield Classic 2025 betting tips will be detailed below the week of the race so bookmark this page for the three-year-olds to back and sack in the Caulfield Cup Day support act this season.
To Win: No. 3 Autumn Mystery
AUTUMN MYSTERY (2) steps out early on Caulfield Cup Day and looks a genuine winning chance in a small but competitive Caulfield Classic field. Drawn perfectly, the Autumn Sun gelding comes off a narrow win over Engine Of War at Flemington in easier grade, charging home late to claim the Derby Preview by a nose. That closing effort was enormous, and he now stretches to 2000m for the first time — a trip that looks ideal given his staying profile. Blake Shinn sticks, and trainer Rory Hunter has made no secret of his Derby ambitions. This progressive type has upside, timing, and a platform to launch from. Happy to be with him again.
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3. Autumn Mystery (2)
J: Blake Shinn 57kg
x5221T: Rory Hunter
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The Caulfield Classic is an important Group 3 race run and won at Caulfield Racecourse each October over the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
The 2000m event currently offers $240,000 in stakes and is a set weights race open only to three-year-olds.
The Caulfield Classic takes place on Caulfield Cup Day with racing at the meeting headlined by the Melbourne Cup hopefuls facing off in the Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m).
The Caulfield Classic was first run in 1971 as the Wallace Stakes and is officially registered as the Norman Robinson Stakes.
Up until 1990 it was a handicap event before changing to its current set weights conditions.
The race has held its current Group 3 status since 2005.
The Caulfield Classic remains a key lead-up into Flemington’s Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) run at headquarters on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup.
To date five horses have completed the Caulfield Classic – Victoria Derby double: Omnicorp (1987), Nothin’ Leica Dane (1995), Blackfriars (1999), Amalfi (2001), and most recently Polanski (2013).
The last Victoria Derby winner to come out of the Caulfield Classic was the ill-fated Riff Rocket (2nd in 2023).
Caulfield Classic Race Info
- Date: Saturday October 18, 2025
- Track: Caulfield Racecourse
- Distance: 2000m
- Conditions: 3YOs- Set Weights
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $240,000
- First Run: 1971
Caulfield Classic Betting
Caulfield Classic betting odds are led each season by quality three-year-old staying types with proven Melbourne form, ability over at least a mile, and those coming off a run in a lead-up race against similar rivals.
Gunstock ($3.80 in 2021) and Mr Maestro ($1.70 in 2022) are the latest favourites in Caulfield Classic betting to salute for the punters.
There was a notable upset in 2023 with Sunsets ($26) defeating the odds-on favourite Riff Rocket ($1.28) at big Caulfield Classic odds.
Caulfield Classic Field
The Caulfield Classic race field attracts a collection of the season’s top young stayers many eyeing a Group 1 VRC Derby run over further on Derby Day a fortnight later.
The Group 1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) makes a nice lead-up into the Caulfield Classic field.
The Caulfield Classic nominations close on the Monday of race week before final acceptances on the Wednesday before Caulfield Cup Day.
2025 Caulfield Classic Field
The official Caulfield Classic 2025 Final Field & Barriers will be released on the Wednesday of race week and detailed in full below so stay tuned to see what three-year-olds line-up in the Group 3 showdown.
The Caulfield Classic 2025 field features a small field of promising Derby hopes led in betting by Nick Ryan’s last start Listed Super Impose runner-up Miewa and the rails-drawn market mover Engine Of War to be ridden by the flying Mark Zahra.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Options (8) Scratched: | |||||
|
2. Miewa
J: Jordan Childs
T: Nick Ryan |
6x4412 | G | 7 | 57kg | |
|
3. Autumn Mystery
J: Blake Shinn
T: Rory Hunter |
9x5221 | G | 2 | 57kg | |
| 4. Kakkoii (10) Scratched: | |||||
|
5. Engine Of War
J: Mark Zahra
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
3x12 | G | 1 | 57kg | |
|
6. Amazake
J: Andrea Atzeni
T: Ciaron Maher |
27x67 | G | 4 | 57kg | |
|
7. Arabian Prince
J: Luke Currie
T: Michael Kent |
3x5 | C | 8 | 57kg | |
|
8. Mcwoody
J: Patrick Moloney
T: Mark Walker |
1 | C | 6 | 57kg | |
|
9. Deal Done Fast
J: Daniel Stackhouse
T: Matt Cumani |
24 | C | 3 | 57kg | |
|
10. Fabulous Fiano
J: Jamie Mott
T: Gavin Bedggood |
54 | G | 5 | 57kg | |
2025 Caulfield Classic Nominations
The Caulfield Classic 2025 Nominations are first taken on the Monday leading-up to Caulfield Cup week.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 27×67 | AMAZAKE | G | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 59 |
| 2 | 3×5 | ARABIAN PRINCE | C | 3 | Michael Kent | 65 |
| 3 | 20×23100 | ARCORA | C | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 69 |
| 4 | 3369×5221 | AUTUMN MYSTERY | G | 3 | Rory Hunter | 68 |
| 5 | 7x30x61 | CRACK A DEEL | C | 3 | Henry Dwyer | 62 |
| 6 | 5157 | CROWN OF RUSSIA | C | 3 | Danny O’Brien | 62 |
| 7 | 24 | DEAL DONE FAST | C | 3 | Matt Cumani | 63 |
| 8 | 3×12 | ENGINE OF WAR (NZ) | G | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 69 |
| 9 | 54 | FABULOUS FIANO | G | 3 | Gavin Bedggood | 58 |
| 10 | 11×7640 | HIGHVOL | G | 3 | Nick Ryan | 73 |
| 11 | 23×379 | JUST KICK (NZ) | F | 3 | Emma-Lee & David Browne | 64 |
| 12 | 3×510 | KAKKOII | C | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 63 |
| 13 | 2481 | MATSUDA | G | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 63 |
| 14 | 1 | MCWOODY | C | 3 | Mark Walker | 63 |
| 15 | 66×4412 | MIEWA | G | 3 | Nick Ryan | 74 |
| 16 | 1131 | OPTIONS | C | 3 | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 78 |
| 17 | 5×3100 | SUPER PARADISE | G | 3 | Andrew Forsman | 61 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Caulfield Classic Form Guide
The Caulfield Classic form guide gives punters all the crucial information from trainers, jockeys and barriers to the lead-up runs and track / distance records of the mares in the race.
The Caulfield Classic form has gone on to stack-up in tougher grade Group 1 races many times over the years especially in the VRC Derby.
Casual Pass meanwhile in 2003 franked the Caulfield Classic form going on to win that year’s Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes – now the Champions Stakes – against the older horses over the Cup Carnival.
In 2023 the Caulfield Classic winner Sunsets ran a next-up third in the VRC Derby behind Riff Rocket who improved on his 2nd in the Group 3 to win.
Riff Rocket further franked the Caulfield Classic form in 2024 winning both the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas and Australian Derby in the autumn but would sadly pass away due to surgical complications for colic that September.
The 2024 Caulfield Classic form stacked up nicely with the runner-up China Sea backing it up with a third in the VRC Derby trifecta, while the winner, Kingofwallstreet, wasn’t disgraced either, finishing a close fourth in Group 1 company next start.
2025 Caulfield Classic Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Caulfield Classic 2025 Form Guide will be available for punters the week of the race.
Caulfield Classic Results
The Caulfield Classic race results have been dominated by in-form colts with an eye on the Victoria Derby.
Sacred Eye (2015) was the last Caulfield Classic winning filly.
Lady Purpose holds the current Caulfield Classic race record winning over 2000m in 1991 in a time of 2 minutes 1 second.
Past Caulfield Classic Winners
Recent Caulfield Classic winners and placegetters dating back to the year 1988 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2025 | Autumn Mystery | Miewa | Amazake | 2:06.32 |
| 2024 | Kingofwallstreet | China Sea | Keeneland | 2:09.89 |
| 2023 | Sunsets | Riff Rocket | Gates | 2:05.5 |
| 2022 | Mr Maestro | Muramasa | Distrustful Award | 2:06.8 |
| 2021 | Gunstock | El Patroness | Teewaters | 2:05.5 |
| 2020 | Albarado | Let’s Karaka Deal | Hit The Shot | 2:07.9 |
| 2019 | Thought Of That | Warning | Brilliant Venture | 2:02.8 |
| 2018 | Thinkin’ Big | Chapada | Sikorsky | 2:06.7 |
| 2017 | Cliff’s Edge | Tangled | Main Stage | 2:02.4 |
| 2016 | Good Standing | Rocketeer | Inference | 2:04.3 |
| 2015 | Sacred Eye | Lizard Island | Etymology | 2:03.2 |
| 2014 | Fontein Ruby | Crafty | Firehouse Rock | 2:03.8 |
| 2013 | Polanski | San Diego | Epic Saga | 2:02.0 |
| 2012 | Hvasstan | Honorius | Electric Fusion | 2:03.8 |
| 2011 | Sabrage | Sangster | Niagara | 2:03.0 |
| 2010 | Retrieve | Almindoro | Digital Fortress | 2:08.3 |
| 2009 | Shamoline Warrior | Onemorenomore | Gathering | 2:03.9 |
| 2008 | Pre Eminence | Miss Scarlatti | Paddy O’Reilly | 2.04.3 |
| 2007 | Pillar Of Hercules | Down Under Boy | Villian | 2:04.5 |
| 2006 | Get Square | Ulfah | Sir Lago | 2:03.6 |
| 2005 | Pendragon | Headturner | Replicator | 2:03.5 |
| 2004 | Cedar Manor | Court Ricardo | King Durham | 2:04.5 |
| 2003 | Casual Pass | Our Court | Face Value | 2:04.5 |
| 2002 | Platinum Scissors | Hydrometer | Aint Here | 2:02.3 |
| 2001 | Amalfi | Grey Song | Tully Zeal | 2:05.3 |
| 2000 | Royale Exit | Hit The Roof | Adolescence | 2:01.2 |
| 1999 | Blackfriars | Chief Scout | Freemason | 2:04.5 |
| 1998 | Lawyer | Sky Heights | Arena | 2:04.3 |
| 1997 | Brave Prince | Danasuria | Tie The Knot | 2:03.5 |
| 1996 | Mustang Ranch | Tambour | Ebony Grosve | 2:04.4 |
| 1995 | Nothin Leica Dane | Catalan Opening | Arctic Scent | 2:05.2 |
| 1994 | Punctual | Destined | Celtic Explosion | 2:04.2 |
| 1993 | Battle Hawk | Waikikamukau | McGuane | 2:02.6 |
| 1992 | River Hero | Skilero | Queens Choice | 2:07.7 |
| 1991 | Lady Purpose | Star Of The Realm | Barrakee | 2:00.1 |
| 1990 | Big Dermott | Callao Star | Fire Oak | 2:03.6 |
| 1989 | Counterfeit | Ice Solid | Lemarque | 2:01.6 |
| 1988 | Panneria | Yarra Bay | Oakwood | 2:00.0 |
FAQ
Who won the 2025 Caulfield Classic?
The 2025 Caulfield Classic was won by three-year-old The Autumn Sun gelding Autumn Mystery at $4.60 for trainer Rory Hunter with jockey Blake Shinn aboard on 57kg from barrier 2 to win by 0.75 lengths on a Good (4) track in a time of 2:06.32.
When is the Caulfield Classic 2025?
Saturday October 18, 2025What is the prize money for the Caulfield Classic 2025?
$240,000
Where is the Caulfield Classic 2025?
Caulfield Racecourse, Gate 22, Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145.
How do I bet on the 2025 Caulfield Classic?
Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android apps with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at ladbrokes.com.au. The process is quick and easy!
Once you've created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods. Next up, head to the racing page and find the race and runner that's right for you.
Which horse will win the 2025 Caulfield Classic?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Caulfield Classic is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out ladbrokes.com.au in the lead up to the race for full form information.