Ladbrokes Tip: The Bill Ritchie Handicap serves as a key lead-up into the Group 1 Epsom Handicap
The latest edition of the Bill Ritchie Handicap ran on Saturday, September 20, 2025 with the John Thompson trained winner With Your Blessing ($4.20) likely to skip the Epsom and be kept fresh for The Hunter at Newcastle in November.
2025 Bill Ritchie Handicap Results
The official Bill Ritchie Handicap 2025 race results and full finishing order will be available below once the Group 3 Randwick race is run on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
- 1st: #8 With Your Blessing
- 2nd: #4 Bosustow
- 3rd: #12 Depth Of Character
John Thompson’s in-form seven-year-old With Your Blessing ($4.20) improved on his lead-up third in the Tramway Stakes to lead throughout and salute in the 2025 Bill Ritchie Handicap results thanks to a brilliant front-running ride by Alysha Collett. While a key lead-up to the Group 1s of the spring, Thompson indicated his Bill Ritchie winner was more likely to be freshened up for a shot at The Hunter at Newcastle in November.
2025 Bill Ritchie Handicap Odds
The season’s best Bill Ritchie Handicap 2025 betting odds and links to our markets will be made available to punters right here the week of the race so stay tuned for the top Group 3 Randwick racing markets.
| 8. With Your Blessing (8) J: Alysha Collett 55.5kg 2x523T: John P Thompson | ||
| 4. Bosustow (9) J: Josh Parr 57kg x165xT: Annabel & Rob Archibald | ||
| 12. Depth Of Character (6) J: Andrew Adkins 53kg 112x0T: Annabel & Rob Archibald | ||
| 13. Matusalem (5) J: Rachel King 53kg 2813xT: Chris Waller | ||
| 17. Royal Patronage (10) J: Tim Clark 61kg 1420xT: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | ||
| 19. Pocketing (2) J: Tyler Schiller 54kg 118x5T: Richard & Will Freedman | ||
| 2. Yellow Brick (4) J: Andrew Mallyon 59.5kg x02x4T: Tony & Maddysen Sears | ||
| 10. Kintyre (3) J: Jason Collett 54kg 7x59xT: Gary Portelli | ||
| 14. Imperialist (1) J: Zac Lloyd 53kg 0915xT: Chris Waller | ||
| 16. Geriatrix (7) J: Kerrin McEvoy 53kg 68x50T: Chris Waller |
Bill Ritchie Handicap Tips
Good Bill Ritchie Handicap tips include looking for runners coming off a top three run in Sydney last time out, proven Randwick performers and those suited to at least 1400m.
Any Chris Waller-trained runners also make a good bet in Bill Ritchie Handicap tipping with the star Sydney horseman preparing six winners from 2012-25 most recently with 25/1 outsider Mchale in 2024.
2025 Bill Ritchie Handicap Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Bill Ritchie Handicap 2025 betting tips and exotic selections will be detailed below leading up to the race so stay tuned for the horses to get behind in The Shorts Day support act this September.
To Win: #17 Royal Patronage ($2.80 at time of publish)
There have been several scratchings from the Bill Ritchie, including my original pick HEADLEY GRANGE (16), leaving us with a reduced field of 10. Despite the smaller line-up, there’s still quality on show—headed by the new, hard-to-knock favourite ROYAL PATRONAGE (10), who jumps from the outside gate. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained import is a proven fresh performer, boasting a strong first-up record (5:3-0-0), and this distance looks ideal for his spring return (4:3-1-0).
First-up last prep, he took out the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick before two more solid autumn runs, including a Doncaster Mile second. His Sha Tin run in the Champions Mile was disappointing, finishing second last, but this is his first start since. He’s looked sharp in recent trials and drops in grade here, finding a winnable race to regain confidence.
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17. Royal Patronage (10)
J: Tim Clark 61kg
1420xT: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
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The Bill Ritchie Handicap is a Group 3 race for horses aged three and above held at Royal Randwick Racecourse in September on The Shorts Day during the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival.
The day’s racing is headlined by the Group 2 $1 million The Shorts (1100m) for the spring sprint stars heading towards the $20 million The Everest.
Added to the card for the first time in 2023 is the unlisted $1 million 7 Stakes (1600m) which replaces the George Main Stakes as the mile feature on the card and offers the winner an Epsom Handicap ballot exemption.
Other events on the program including the Flight Stakes-bound fillies facing off in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes (1400m) and the Group 3 Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) offering a ballot exemption to the winner into the Group 1 The Metropolitan.
There is also plenty of interest in the Bill Ritchie Handicap, a quality handicap race run over 1400m and offering $250,000 in prize money as of 2023. The Billi Ritchie Handicap winner also earns a ballot exemption for that season’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) run at Royal Randwick a fortnight later.
Kolding (2019) – subsequent winner of the inaugural Golden Eagle – followed the next year by smart New Zealand-trained mare Probabeel (2020), Top Ranked (2022), and Rediener (2023) are the latest horses to complete the Bill Ritchie Handicap – Epsom Handicap double.
Bill Ritchie Handicap Race Info
- Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025
- Track: Royal Randwick Racecourse
- Distance: 1400m
- Conditions: 3YOs & upwards – Quality Handicap
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $250,000
- First Run: 1867
Bill Ritchie Handicap Betting
Bill Ritchie Handicap odds are led by the in-form middle-distance performers of the spring coming off good lead-up runs in Sydney races against similar company.
A good lead-up into the event that impacts Bill Ritchie Handicap betting is August’s Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) and Probabeel (2nd in 2020) was the last Bill Ritchie Handicap winner to come out of that event.
Probabeel ($2.45 in 2020) followed by Atishu ($3.50 in 2021) were the latest favourites in Bill Ritchie Handicap betting to win.
Mchale scored a big upset in the 2024 Bill Ritchie Handicap results saluting at $26 odds for Chris Waller.
Bill Ritchie Handicap Field
The Bill Ritchie Handicap race field attracts the season’s best middle-distance gallopers heading towards a run in the Epsom Handicap over a mile back at the track a fortnight later. The runners that line-up in the Bill Ritchie Handicap field each spring can come off a number of earlier races including the previous month’s Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m).
The Group 2 Tramway Stakes (1400m) held at the same track and distance two weeks prior also serves as a solid Bill Ritchie Handicap lead-up race with With Your Blessing (3rd in 2025) the last to improve and win the Bill Ritchie.
2025 Bill Ritchie Handicap Field
The official Bill Ritchie Handicap 2025 final field and barrier draw will be available below once announced on the Wednesday of The Shorts Day.
The Bill Ritchie Handicap 2025 field features a line-up of potential Epsom Handicap bound gallopers including the returning Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott trained Group 1 winner Royal Patronage the consistent With Your Blessing coming off a Group 2 Tramway Stakes third.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Pinstriped (19) Scratched: | |||||
|
2. Yellow Brick
J: Andrew Mallyon
T: Tony & Maddysen Sears |
5x02x4 | G | 4 | 59.5kg | |
| 3. Port Lockroy (9) Scratched: | |||||
|
4. Bosustow
J: Josh Parr
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
2x165x | H | 9 | 57kg | |
| 5. Tavi Time (8) Scratched: | |||||
| 6. Al Mubhir (14) Scratched: | |||||
| 7. Headley Grange (16) Scratched: | |||||
|
8. With Your Blessing
J: Alysha Collett
T: John P Thompson |
12x523 | G | 8 | 55.5kg | |
| 9. Mchale (4) Scratched: | |||||
|
10. Kintyre
J: Jason Collett
T: Gary Portelli |
07x59x | G | 3 | 54kg | |
| 11. Vivy Air (18) Scratched: | |||||
|
12. Depth Of Character
J: Andrew Adkins
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
3112x0 | G | 6 | 53kg | |
|
13. Matusalem
J: Rachel King
T: Chris Waller |
62813x | G | 5 | 53kg | |
|
14. Imperialist
J: Zac Lloyd
T: Chris Waller |
20915x | G | 1 | 53kg | |
| 15. Movin Out (15) Scratched: | |||||
|
16. Geriatrix
J: Kerrin McEvoy
T: Chris Waller |
368x50 | G | 7 | 53kg | |
|
17. Royal Patronage
J: Tim Clark
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
x1420x | H | 10 | 61kg | |
| 18. Shadizi (11) Scratched: | |||||
|
19. Pocketing
J: Tyler Schiller
T: Richard & Will Freedman |
3118x5 | G | 2 | 54kg | |
2025 Bill Ritchie Handicap Nominations
The early Bill Ritchie Handicap 2025 nominations are announced on the Monday of race week and will be published below once released.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 383x6035x0 | AL MUBHIR (GB) | G | 7 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 103 |
| 2 | 30930x97x8 | BERKSHIRE SHADOW (GB) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher | 94 |
| 3 | 42612x165x | BOSUSTOW | H | 4 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 104 |
| 4 | 13234425×7 | CHORLTON LANE (IRE) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 99 |
| 5 | x5253112x0 | DEPTH OF CHARACTER | G | 4 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 95 |
| 6 | x5407x6057 | DETONATOR JACK (NZ) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher | 102 |
| 7 | 0x02368x50 | GERIATRIX | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 87 |
| 8 | 21122×1161 | HEADLEY GRANGE | G | 5 | Joseph Pride | 103 |
| 9 | x73320915x | IMPERIALIST (NZ) | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 91 |
| 10 | 1x2380x132 | IT’S A KNOCKOUT | M | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 87 |
| 11 | 549407x59x | KINTYRE | G | 5 | Gary Portelli | 92 |
| 12 | 2211191×2 | LORD PENMAN (NZ) | G | 4 | Chris Waller | 86 |
| 13 | 0x9962813x | MATUSALEM | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 95 |
| 14 | 53403x10x2 | MCHALE | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 100 |
| 15 | x211x311x2 | MISS ROUMBINI | M | 5 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | |
| 16 | 13x491534x | MOVIN OUT (NZ) | M | 4 | Chris Waller | 90 |
| 17 | 1121×19211 | OH DIAMOND LIL | M | 5 | David Pfieffer | 92 |
| 18 | 7376x97x79 | PINSTRIPED | G | 7 | Enver Jusufovic | |
| 19 | 21293118×5 | POCKETING | G | 4 | Richard & Will Freedman | 86 |
| 20 | 6610x897x0 | PORT LOCKROY | H | 5 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 105 |
| 21 | 99x841180x | PUNCH LANE | G | 6 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | |
| 22 | 8131x7690x | REAL CLASS (NZ) | M | 4 | Chris Waller | 84 |
| 23 | 3337x1420x | ROYAL PATRONAGE (FR) | H | 7 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 114 |
| 24 | 231x97x091 | RUBY FLYER | G | 7 | Brad Widdup | 91 |
| 25 | 0x0x30069x | SCARLET OAK | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 90 |
| 26 | x1441x1x0x | SHADIZI (FR) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 90 |
| 27 | 4331x2512x | TAVI TIME (NZ) | G | 6 | Kris Lees | 104 |
| 28 | 26x974522x | VIVY AIR | M | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 97 |
| 29 | 04081x64x0 | WATERFORD (IRE) | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 101 |
| 30 | 310x2000x1 | WELL TIMED | G | 5 | Kerry Parker | 81 |
| 31 | 9x1412x523 | WITH YOUR BLESSING (NZ) | G | 7 | John Thompson | |
| 32 | 143x5x02x4 | YELLOW BRICK | G | 6 | Tony & Maddysen Sears | 109 |
| 33 | 1270×51114 | ZOU SENSATION | G | 6 | Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin | 98 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Bill Ritchie Handicap Form Guide
The Bill Ritchie Handicap form guide features all the crucial information for punters like the jockeys, trainers, barriers and lead-up runs.
Bill Ritchie Handicap form has held up more often than not in the Epsom Handicap the following month as well as Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival Group 1s later in the season.
Along with Kolding completing that year’s Bill Ritchie – Epsom double, the Bill Ritchie Handicap form in 2019 was further franked with the runner-up Fierce Impact heading to Melbourne to win both the Group 1 Toorak Handicap and Group 1 Cantala Stakes that spring.
The 2021 Bill Ritchie form was franked with the third placed Aramayo finishing second next-up in the Epsom Handicap quinella.
In 2023 Rediener franked the form becoming the latest horse to complete the Bill Ritchie – Epsom double.
In 2024 Gringotts ran second in the Bill Ritchie before a huge campaign that included a $1.5 million Allan Brown second and wins in both The Big Dance and The Gong. He would go on to become an autumn Group 1 winner claiming the following year’s George Ryder Stakes.
2025 Bill Ritchie Handicap Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Bill Ritchie Handicap 2025 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Bill Ritchie Handicap Results
Notable horses to dominate the Bill Ritchie Handicap race results in recent years include dual champion Zabarra (2002-03), Steps In Time (2012), Boban (2013), Manawanui (2014), Kolding (2019, and Probabeel (2020).
Atishu (2021) was the last Bill Ritchie Handicap winning mare.
Flaming holds the current Bill Ritchie Handicap record winning in 2005 in a time of 1 minute 21:27 seconds.
Past Bill Ritchie Handicap Winners
Recent Bill Ritchie Handicap winners and placegetters dating back to the year 1978 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
| 2025 | With Your Blessing | Bosustow | Depth Of Character |
| 2024 | Mchale | Gringotts | Felix Majestic |
| 2023 | Rediener | Cuban Royale | Wild Planet |
| 2022 | Top Ranked | Purple Sector | Cross Talk |
| 2021 | Atishu | Looks Like Elvis | Aramayo |
| 2020 | Probabeel | Cuba | Brandenburg |
| 2019 | Kolding | Fierce Impact | Desert Lord |
| 2018 | Siege Of Quebec | Pierata | Music Magnate |
| 2017 | Comin’ Through | Tom Melbourne | Burning Passion |
| 2016 | Sons Of John | Torgersen | Federal |
| 2015 | Sadler’s Lake | Rudy | Heart Testa |
| 2014 | Manawanui | Rock Sturdy | Tougher Than Ever |
| 2013 | Boban | Belltone | Choice Bro |
| 2012 | Steps In Time | Said Com | Wild And Proud |
| 2011 | Thankgodyou’rehere | Startsmeup | Miss Keepsake |
| 2010 | Drumbeats | Kenny’s World | Captain Sonador |
| 2009 | McClintock | Walking or Dancing | Faulconbridge |
| 2008 | Judged | Rockwood | Kiloton |
| 2007 Race Not Held |
– | – | – |
| 2006 | Coalesce | New Edge | Flaming |
| 2005 | Flaming | Devil | Messiaen |
| 2004 | Osca Warrior | Utzon | In a Bound |
| 2003 | Zabarra | Britt’s Best | Forum Floozie |
| 2002 | Zabarra | This Manshood | Swiss Echo |
| 2001 | Fouardee | Defier | Adamantly |
| 2000 | Landsighting | Tie The Knot | Valuate |
| 1999 | Brave Prince | Al Mansour | Stanzaic |
| 1998 | Bezeal Bay | Deep Snip | Super Crest |
| 1997 | Holy Roller | Pimpala Son | Prairie |
| 1996 | Mamzelle Pedrille | Persian Flyer | Headstrong |
| 1995 | Monopolize | Juggler | Flight To Fantasy |
| 1994 | Rouslan | Over The Top | Big Dreams |
| 1993 | Belas Knap | Cohort | Telesto Mighty Tango |
| 1992 | Prince Of Praise | East Ocean Friend | Stormy Guest |
| 1991 | Rechabite | Somalia | Be Able |
| 1990 | Our Poverty Bay | Remember Peter | Mocha |
| 1989 | Royal Reel | Our Palliser | Black Routine |
| 1988 | Pleasant Flight | Gold Trump | Regal Native |
| 1987 | Royal Reel | True Reason | Piccata |
| 1986 | Full Page |
Shinakima (Dead Heat for 2nd) |
– |
| 1985 | Dinky Flyer | Eureka Stockade | Magnitude |
| 1984 | Muffler | Tandrio | Wage Freeze |
| 1983 | Leica Planet | Lord Ballina | Elroy |
| 1982 | Note Of Victory | Christian Prince | Maybe Michelle |
| 1981 | Gooree Pride | High Classic | Irish Flyer |
| 1980 | Tulip Town | The Funofit | Snow Vain |
| 1979 | Drummer | Glenfield Lad | Daddy Cool |
| 1978 | Go Mod | Le Dejeuner | Tattenham Lad |
FAQ
Who won the 2025 Bill Ritchie Handicap?
The 2025 Bill Ritchie Handicap was won by seven-year-old Vadamos gelding at $4.20 for trainer John Thompson with jockey Alysha Collett aboard for the all-the-way win on 55.5kg from barrier 8 to hit the line 0.37 lengths clear over the runner-up Bosustow on a Good (4) track in a time of 1:22.43.
When is the Bill Ritchie Handicap 2025?
Saturday, September 20, 2025What is the prize money for the Bill Ritchie Handicap 2025?
$250,000
Where is the Bill Ritchie Handicap 2025?
Randwick Racecourse, Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031.
How do I bet on the 2025 Bill Ritchie Handicap?
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 Bill Ritchie Handicap?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Bill Ritchie Handicap 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.