Ladbrokes Tip: The Moonga Stakes serves as a nice lead-up into the Group 1 Champions Stakes field
The latest edition of the Moonga Stakes ran on Saturday October 18, 2025 as part of Melbourne’s 2025 Caulfield Cup Day program and was won in style by Joe Pride’s evergreen eight-year-old Private Eye ($2.05F).
2025 Moonga Stakes Results
The full Moonga Stakes 2025 Results & Finishing Order will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday October 18, 2025.
- 1st: No. 2 Private Eye
- 2nd: No. 11 Warnie
- 3rd: No. 8 Steparty
Joe Pride’s veteran eight-year-old Private Eye ($2.05) stormed home to salute in the 2025 Moonga Stakes results, reaffirming his class and adding another feature race to his glittering résumé. Ridden by Nash Rawiller, the former two-time The Everest placed Al Maher gelding proved too strong in the Group 3 event after settling just off the speed before cruising past the leaders and kicking clear to win by 1.5 lengths over Warnie and Steparty.
2025 Moonga Stakes Odds
The season’s latest Moonga Stakes 2025 odds and links to our Moonga Stakes betting markets will be available below the week of the race so stay tuned for the best prices on the Champions Mile-bound horses this Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
| 2. Private Eye (8) J: Nash Rawiller 59kg 3x124T: Joseph Pride | ||
| 11. Warnie (2) J: Ben Allen 57kg 54574T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 8. Steparty (9) J: John Allen 57kg 35x88T: Paul Preusker | ||
| 9. Payline (6) J: Blake Shinn 57kg 8x566T: Chris & Corey Munce | ||
| 6. Media World (5) J: Mark Zahra 58.5kg 12x31T: Peter Snowden | ||
| 1. Here To Shock (1) J: Daniel Stackhouse 60kg 2x379T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 3. Willaidow (3) J: Jordan Childs 58.5kg 048x5T: Marc & Mitchell Conners | ||
| 7. Royal Insignia (7) J: Andrea Atzeni 58.5kg 0x340T: Grahame Begg | ||
| 5. West Star (4) J: Harry Coffey 58.5kg 713x0T: Simon A Miller |
Moonga Stakes Tips
Good Moonga Stakes tips include looking for horses coming off a top three run in Group company especially any Group 1 graduates down in grade, runners with winning form over the 1400m distance and those getting in well in the weights.
2025 Moonga Stakes Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Moonga Stakes 2025 betting tips will be detailed below the week of the race so bookmark this page for the runners to back and sack in the Caulfield Cup Day showdown this spring.
To Win: No. 2 Private Eye
PRIVATE EYE (9) heads into the Moonga Stakes as the punters’ pick — and I’m happy to stick with the favourite. Joe Pride’s seasoned sprinter might be eight and lining up for his 47th start, but he’s shown this prep that he’s still got plenty to offer. Fresh, he was brilliant winning the Group 2 PB Lawrence Stakes over this track and trip by two lengths, then ran second in the Tramway behind Pericles after covering ground from a wide draw. His latest saw him finish within three lengths of Fangirl in the $1 million 7 Stakes — far from disgraced against one of Waller’s best. Back to 1400m and back to Caulfield suits, and he’s drawn to roll forward with Nash Rawiller back on board. He’s up against easier company now, and with his turn of foot and tactical speed, Private Eye looks ready to go bang again. Age might be creeping up, but he’s still got the sharpest gear change in the race. Confident he can lead and win.
|
2. Private Eye (8)
J: Nash Rawiller 59kg
3×124T: Joseph Pride
|
The Moonga Stakes is a Group 3 support race on the Caulfield Cup Day card at Caulfield Racecourse in mid-late October each Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
The meeting is headlined by the Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) and features a host of other Group status support races including the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes, Group 2 Caulfield Sprint, Group 3 Caulfield Classic, Group 3 Ethereal Stakes, and the Moonga Stakes.
Run over 1400m under set weights plus penalties, the Moonga Stakes is open to horses aged four-years-old and above and offers $240,000 in prize money.
The Moonga Stakes serves as a potential lead-up into the Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) held at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day. Boban (2013) was the last galloper to complete the Moonga Stakes – Champions Mile (then Cantala Stakes) double.
Moonga Stakes Race Info
- Date: Saturday October 18, 2025
- Track: Caulfield Racecourse
- Distance: 1400m
- Conditions: 4YOs & Upwards – Set Weights + Penalties
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $240,000
- First Run: 1982
Moonga Stakes Betting
Moonga Stakes betting markets favour in-form spring gallopers with good lead-up form in races like the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m). Streets Of Avalon (4th in 2019) was the last Moonga Stakes winner to come via the Sir Rupert having also run an 11th in the Toorak Handicap in between.
From 2023 however the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes runs after the Moonga Stakes in November.
Buffalo River ($2.70 in 2021) and Private Eye ($2.05 in 2025) are the latest Moonga Stakes betting favourites to get the job done.
There was a notable upset in 2024 with Mighty Ulysess starting at Moonga Stakes odds of $14.
Moonga Stakes Field
The Moonga Stakes race field attracts a collection of the season’s exciting miler types that may be eyeing a Derby Day run in the Champions Mile (formerly the Kennedy Cantala).
The Moonga Stakes final field is announced the Wednesday of race week following the nominations taken the Monday leading-up to Caulfield Cup Day.
2025 Moonga Stakes Field
The official Moonga Stakes 2025 Final Field & Barriers will be released on the Wednesday of race week and detailed in full below so stay tuned to see what older horses make the starting line-up.
The Moonga Stakes 2025 final field has attracted a strong line-up of gallopers potentially heading towards a Group 1 target over the upcoming Melbourne Cup Carnival with markets led by Joe Pride’s last start $1 million 7 Stakes fourth placegetter in Sydney – Private Eye.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Here To Shock
J: Daniel Stackhouse
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
12x379 | G | 1 | 60kg | |
|
2. Private Eye
J: Nash Rawiller
T: Joseph Pride |
x3x124 | G | 8 | 59kg | |
|
3. Willaidow
J: Jordan Childs
T: Marc & Mitchell Conners |
2048x5 | G | 3 | 58.5kg | |
| 4. Mighty Ulysses (4) Scratched: | |||||
|
5. West Star
J: Harry Coffey
T: Simon A Miller |
1713x0 | G | 4 | 58.5kg | |
|
6. Media World
J: Mark Zahra
T: Peter Snowden |
112x31 | H | 5 | 58.5kg | |
|
7. Royal Insignia
J: Andrea Atzeni
T: Grahame Begg |
70x340 | H | 7 | 58.5kg | |
|
8. Steparty
J: John Allen
T: Paul Preusker |
235x88 | G | 9 | 57kg | |
|
9. Payline
J: Blake Shinn
T: Chris & Corey Munce |
98x566 | G | 6 | 57kg | |
| 10. Star Patrol (10) Scratched: | |||||
|
11. Warnie
J: Ben Allen
T: Ciaron Maher |
354574 | G | 2 | 57kg | |
2025 Moonga Stakes Nominations
The Moonga Stakes 2025 Nominations are first taken on the Monday leading-up to Caulfield Cup week.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1105x0488x | CHARTRES | G | 7 | Matt Laurie | 80 |
| 2 | 35x2065x35 | DAGGERS | G | 4 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 75 |
| 3 | 253112×030 | DEPTH OF CHARACTER | G | 4 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 96 |
| 4 | 1908211263 | EL ROCKO | G | 7 | John McArdle | 95 |
| 5 | 62×1280431 | HE’LL RIP | G | 6 | Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin | 76 |
| 6 | 110112×379 | HERE TO SHOCK (NZ) | G | 8 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 111 |
| 7 | 115×123031 | KEEP YOUR COOL | M | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 88 |
| 8 | 536x112x31 | MEDIA WORLD | H | 4 | Peter Snowden | 101 |
| 9 | 740x59400x | MIGHTY ULYSSES (GB) | G | 7 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 99 |
| 10 | 11xD69559x | OUR BENEFACTOR (NZ) | H | 4 | Bevan Laming | 75 |
| 11 | x69398x566 | PAYLINE | G | 5 | Chris & Corey Munce | 103 |
| 12 | 542487745x | POISON CHALICE (NZ) | G | 6 | Paul Preusker | 95 |
| 13 | 5814x3x124 | PRIVATE EYE | G | 8 | Joseph Pride | 114 |
| 14 | 3×32042284 | ROGUE ROCKER | G | 8 | Matt Laurie | 72 |
| 15 | 11x170x340 | ROYAL INSIGNIA | H | 4 | Grahame Begg | 88 |
| 16 | 1x1122x | SABAJ | G | 4 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 78 |
| 17 | 1x38x53621 | SHADHAVAR | M | 4 | Tom Dabernig | 78 |
| 18 | 441x1x0x79 | SHADIZI (FR) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 90 |
| 19 | 1679x0665x | ST LAWRENCE (NZ) | G | 7 | Gavin Bedggood | 94 |
| 20 | x110x90x23 | STAR PATROL | G | 7 | Clinton McDonald | 103 |
| 21 | 3332235×88 | STEPARTY | G | 5 | Paul Preusker | 104 |
| 22 | 7x51x1 | THEBELMONTGANGSTER (IRE) | G | 4 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 71 |
| 23 | 230x1x55x0 | TUVALU | G | 8 | Lindsey Smith | 109 |
| 24 | 22x371813x | VERDAD | G | 5 | Robbie Griffiths | 91 |
| 25 | 32×4354574 | WARNIE (IRE) | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 97 |
| 26 | x21x1713x0 | WEST STAR | G | 4 | Simon A Miller | 102 |
| 27 | 1x152048x5 | WILLAIDOW | G | 7 | Marc & Mitchell Conners | 102 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Moonga Stakes Form Guide
The Moonga Stakes form guide gives punters all the crucial information from trainers, jockeys and barriers to the lead-up runs and track / distance records of the horses in the race.
The 2021 Moonga Stakes form was franked with the third placegetter Justacanta winning the Group 2 Linlithgow Stakes(1200m) next start.
2025 Moonga Stakes Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Moonga Stakes 2025 Form Guide will be available for punters the week of the race.
Moonga Stakes Results
The Moonga Stakes race results are confirmed on Caulfield Cup Day and detail the Moonga Stakes winner, winning margin and time along with the placegetters in the Moonga Stakes trifecta.
Notable Moonga Stakes winners include the Vo Rogue (1988), the heaviest-weighted Moonga Stakes winner Rough Habit (1992) who carted 62.5kg to victory, Boban (2013), Voodoo Lad (2016), Streets Of Avalon (2019), and dual The Everest placegetter Private Eye (2025).
Whateverwhenever (2012) was the last Moonga Stakes winning mare.
Volitant holds the current Moonga Stakes race record winning in 2005 in a time of 1 minute 21:37 seconds.
Buffalo River (2021 & 2023) was the last multiple Moonga Stakes winner. He also ran 2nd to Mighty Ulysses at big odds in 2024.
Past Moonga Stakes Winners
Recent Moonga Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to the year 1988 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2025 | Private Eye | Warnie | Steparty | 1:24.15 |
| 2024 | Mighty Ulysses | Buffalo River | Pinstriped | 1:26.17 |
| 2023 | Buffalo River | Climbing Star | Cause For Concern | 1:23.41 |
| 2022 | Aegon | Bandersnatch | Lady Of Honour | 1:25.1 |
| 2021 | Buffalo River | King Magnus | Justacanta | 1:24.4 |
| 2020 | Wild Planet | Morrissy | Fifty Stars | 1:24.8 |
| 2019 | Streets Of Avalon | Variation | Royal Meeting | 1:23.9 |
| 2018 | Sircconi | Dreamforce | Perast | 1:24.9 |
| 2017 | Ulmann | Burning Front | Echo Effect | 1:23.4 |
| 2016 | Voodoo Lad | Takedown | Turnitaround | 1:24.5 |
| 2015 | Vashka | Under The Louvre | Coronation Shallan | 1:23.2 |
| 2014 | Lucky Hussler | Under The Louvre | Generalife | 1:23.4 |
| 2013 | Boban | Strawberry Boy | Galah | 1:23.8 |
| 2012 | Whateverwhenever | King’s Rose | Mcclintock | 1:23.7 |
| 2011 | Love Conquers All | Albert The Fat | Pinwheel | 1:21.9 |
| 2010 | Rothera | Sniper’s Bullet | Jungle Ruler | 1:25.8 |
| 2009 | McClintock | Rightfully Yours | Kiloton | 1:22.7 |
| 2008 | Royal Discretion | Turffontein | Stickpin | 1.23.6 |
| 2007 | Lord Of The Dance | Polish Clown | Solar Secret | 1:22.6 |
| 2006 | Perfectly Ready | Live In Vain | Caprizzi Strip | 1:22.3 |
| 2005 | Volitant | Yell | Shadow | 1:21.3 |
| 2004 | Amtrak | Pink Fit | Monahan Tweed | 1:24.6 |
| 2003 | Thorn Park | Lord Volksraad | Regal Roller | 1:22.5 |
| 2002 | Assertive Lad | El Nino | Prince Rubiton | 1:22.9 |
| 2001 | Flavour | Inspire | Make Mine Magic | 1:24.8 |
| 2000 | Cellar | Hire | Weasel Will | 1:21.8 |
| 1999 | Another Neptune | Strident | Weasel Will | 1:23.5 |
| 1998 | Buster Jones | Blazing Steel | Bezeal Bay | 1:24.3 |
| 1997 | Monets Cove | Delsole | Confiscate | 1:22.6 |
| 1996 | Mamzelle Pedrille | Hero Wind | Hunza Court | 1:24.6 |
| 1995 | Royal Blue | Taos | Social Rule | 1:24.2 |
| 1994 | Star Dancer | Chemin De Fer | Sportsbeat | 1:23.2 |
| 1993 | Cogitate | Cocky Beau | Unequalled | 1:22.7 |
| 1992 | Rough Habit | Rare Chance | Black Rouge | 1:30.0 |
| 1991 | Steineck | Pontormo | Prince Ormenium | 1:23.8 |
| 1990 | Royal Pay | Sioux Chief | Procol Harum | 1:27.3 |
| 1989 | Heavenly View | Better Loosen Up | Acid Print | 1:23.2 |
| 1988 | Vo Rogue | Prismatic Star | Jet Fighter | 1:23.1 |
FAQ
Who won the 2025 Moonga Stakes?
The 2025 Moonga Stakes was won by eight-year-old Al Maher gelding Private Eye at $2.05 favouritism for trainer Joesph Pride with jockey Nash Rawiller aboard on 59kg from barrier 8 to salute by 1.5 lengths on a Good (4) track in a time of 1:24.15.
When is the Moonga Stakes 2025?
Saturday October 18, 2025What is the prize money for the Moonga Stakes 2025?
$240,000
Where is the Moonga Stakes 2025?
Caulfield Racecourse, Gate 22, Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145.
How do I bet on the 2025 Moonga Stakes?
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 Moonga Stakes?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Moonga Stakes 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.