Ladbrokes Tip: The Schillaci Stakes serves as a good lead-up to the Group 1 VRC Classic (Champions Sprint) during the Cup Carnival
The latest edition of the Schillaci Stakes ran on Saturday October 11, 2025 as part of Melbourne’s popular Caulfield Guineas Day card and saw Clayton Douglas’s 2022 The Everest champ Giga Kick ($7) return to winning form in a sensational late charge.
2025 Schillaci Stakes Results
The official Schillaci Stakes 2025 Results & Finishing Order will be detailed below once the race takes place on Saturday October 11, 2025.
- 1st: No. 1 Giga Kick
- 2nd: No. 6 Tropicus
- 3rd: No. 9 Niance
Two-time Group 1 winner and former The Everest champ Giga Kick ($7) returned to winning form with a powerful last-to-first victory in the 2025 Schillaci Stakes results at Caulfield, marking his first win in over two years and boosting his career earnings past $13 million. Trained by Clayton Douglas and ridden by Mark Zahra, the six-year-old gelding unleashed his trademark turn of foot to defeat Tropicus and Niance in the 1100m sprint, reigniting his spring campaign. Douglas, emotional after the race, praised the horse’s resilience and hinted at future targets like the Champions Sprint and C.F. Orr Stakes, noting that Giga Kick is now stronger and more versatile than ever.
2025 Schillaci Stakes Odds
The updated Schillaci Stakes 2025 betting odds and links to our Caulfield Guineas Day markets on the Group 2 sprint feature will be available below once open so stay tuned for access to the top prices on the season’s short-distance spring runners.
| 1. Giga Kick (5) J: Mark Zahra 58.5kg 7x36xT: Clayton Douglas | ||
| 6. Tropicus (7) J: Damian Lane 58.5kg 1x7x1T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | ||
| 9. Niance (1) J: Jordan Childs 56.5kg 1x1x7T: Grahame Begg | ||
| 10. Devil Night (4) J: Craig Williams 53kg 15x56T: M, W & J Hawkes | ||
| 3. Queman (8) J: Jamie Mott 58.5kg 70x10T: Shane & Cassie Oxlade | ||
| 8. Arabian Summer (6) J: Harry Coffey 56.5kg 159x3T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | ||
| 7. Benedetta (2) J: Jamie Melham 56.5kg 2547xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 2. Golden Boom (3) J: Blake Shinn 58.5kg 10x34T: Tony Gollan | ||
| 5. Sir Sway (9) J: Lachlan Neindorf 58.5kg 22x08T: Sue & Jason Jaensch |
Schillaci Stakes Tips
Good Schillaci Stakes tips include looking for first-up runners with previous experience in Group 2 or Group 1 fields, proven Melbourne performers and those drawn close to the rails.
Single-figure fancies have strong form in the race so taking those under $10 in betting is also a Schillaci Stakes tip to consider, as is seeking out the class sprinters in the race that could head into the VRC Classic next race.
2025 Schillaci Stakes Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Schillaci Stakes 2025 tips and Caulfield betting tips this Guineas Day will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned for the sprinters to back and sack in your exotic betting.
To Win: No. 1 Giga Kick
GIGA KICK (5) has eased in Schillaci Stakes betting but now looks a genuine value play to return to winning form in the Group 2 sprint at Caulfield. The former The Everest champion is searching for his first victory since the 2023 Doomben 10,000, and while that’s a slight concern, his class at this level is undeniable. The Scissor Kick gelding has already proven his ability at Caulfield, having won the Group 3 Vain Stakes as a three-year-old back in 2022. Since then, he’s consistently held his own against Australia’s elite sprinters — finishing runner-up in last year’s $20 million The Everest and third when resuming in The Goodwood at Morphettville during his last campaign. He was last seen finishing sixth to Joliestar in the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup in Brisbane but has looked sharp in his lead-up work, including a narrow defeat in a recent Caulfield trial behind Tropicus. The fact he resumes over his preferred trip and goes well fresh only adds to his appeal. With Mark Zahra, currently in superb form, back aboard, Giga Kick looks ready to reignite his spark and remind punters why he’s still one of the country’s best short-course specialists. Class runner first-up at his pet track – I’m backing him to bounce back in style.
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1. Giga Kick (5)
J: Mark Zahra 58.5kg
7x36xT: Clayton Douglas
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The Schillaci Stakes is a short-distanced sprint clash run at Caulfield Racecourse on
Caulfield Guineas Day in early or mid-October during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
The meeting is headlined by four Group 1 races with the running of the Caulfield Guineas (1600m), Might And Power Stakes (2000m), and the Toorak Handicap (1600m).
Also on the lucrative race card is the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) for Caulfield Cup types and the sprinters facing off in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m), plus two Group 3 events led by the Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m).
A weight-for-age clash, the Schillaci Stakes race offers $300,000 in total prize money and makes a gun lead-up to the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) – now run as the Champions Sprint – at Flemington on Champion Stakes Day in November.
The last sprinter to complete the Schillaci Stakes – VRC Sprint Classic double was the mighty Black Caviar who did it in both 2010 and 2011. The following year’s Schillaci Stakes winner Buffering (2012) went on to win the Darley Classic the following year when the Group 1 ran as the VRC Sprint Classic in 2013 – as it is again now.
There was increased interest in the 2019 Schillaci Stakes following the announcement that the winner would back-up in Sydney at Randwick the following Saturday representing the ATC / MRC slot holders in the The Everest (1200m). Trekking won the event and placed third in The Everest 2019 results.
In 2023 the Schillaci Stakes ran in Melbourne on the same day as the $20 million The Everest race took place in Sydney.
Since 2024 the Schillaci Stakes has run in Melbourne on the same day as the Group 2 $2 million Hill Stakes (1900m) in Sydney.
The 2025 Schillaci Stakes winner Giga Kick previously claimed The Everest glory in 2022.
Schillaci Stakes Race Info
- Date: Saturday October 11, 2025
- Track: Caulfield Racecourse
- Distance: 1100m
- Conditions: Weight-for-age
- Status: Group 2
- Prize Money: $300,000
- First Run: 1970
Schillaci Stakes Betting
Schillaci Stakes betting opens on the Wednesday before the race runs on the Saturday once final acceptances and the barrier draw is released.
Short-distance specialists with previous winning form in Melbourne races, Group 1 experience and a good barrier draw in the 1100m showdown usually dominate the Schillaci Stakes odds.
Favourites have a good recent record in the race so looking for the single-figure starters in the Schillaci Stakes markets can prove profitable. The strike-rate of Schillaci Stakes favourites is enhanced by the dual victories of the iconic super sprinter Black Caviar (2010-11).
The latest favourites in Schillaci Stakes betting to win are Trekking ($4 in 2019) followed by the fellow Godolphin-raced Paulele ($2.15 in 2022) and then the classy mare Asfoora ($2.10 in 2023).
Schillaci Stakes Field
The Schillaci Stakes race field attracts a smart line-up of the spring’s top performing sprinters heading towards a Group 1 run in the Champions Sprint during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
A possible lead-up race a number of race hopefuls have come via in recent years is the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley the previous month, which Kuroshio won in 2013 before a third in the Schillaci next start.
The previous year Buffering (2012) completed the Moir Stakes – Schillaci Stakes double when the former only held Group 2 status.
Paulele (6th in 2022) and Asfoora (2nd in 2023) are the last Moir Stakes graduate to win the Schillaci Stakes next start.
Runners out of the field often back-up next start in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) a fortnight later at Moonee Valley. In 2008 the Schillaci Stakes runner-up Lucky Secret won the Group 2 Schweppes Stakes (1200m) on Cox Plate Day next start. The following year Lucky Secret returned to win the 2009 Schillaci Stakes, which also produced that season’s Schweppes Stakes winner Apache Cat (2nd) and the Darley Classic (then Patinack Classic) runner-up Wanted (3rd).
In 2016 the Schillaci Stakes winner was three-year-old Star Turn who went on to run third in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) against his own age at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day. That year’s Schillaci Stakes runner-up meanwhile was Malaguerra who won the Darley Classic next race.
More recently the 2020 Schillaci Stakes winner Dirty Work ran a good next-up third in the Manikato Stakes at The Valley.
The 2021 Schillaci Stakes third place-getter Bella Nipotina ran second next-up in the Manikato Stakes and was third to Nature Strip in that year’s VRC Sprint Classic.
The Schillaci Stakes nominations close the Monday before the race runs on the Saturday with the final field and barriers out on the Wednesday.
2025 Schillaci Stakes Field
The official Schillaci Stakes 2025 Final Field & Barriers will be available below as soon as announced on the Wednesday of race week so stay tuned to see what sprinters make the starting line-up.
The 2025 Schillaci Stakes final field features a quality line-up of sprinters including former The Everest winner Giga Kick and the Anthony & Sam Freedman trained Tropicus coming off a Group 3 The Heath 1100 win at the track.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Giga Kick
J: Mark Zahra
T: Clayton Douglas |
27x36x | G | 5 | 58.5kg | |
|
2. Golden Boom
J: Blake Shinn
T: Tony Gollan |
210x34 | G | 3 | 58.5kg | |
|
3. Queman
J: Jamie Mott
T: Shane & Cassie Oxlade |
170x10 | G | 8 | 58.5kg | |
| 4. Nadal (7) Scratched: | |||||
|
5. Sir Sway
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Sue & Jason Jaensch |
822x08 | G | 9 | 58.5kg | |
|
6. Tropicus
J: Damian Lane
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
21x7x1 | H | 7 | 58.5kg | |
|
7. Benedetta
J: Jamie Melham
T: Ciaron Maher |
02547x | M | 2 | 56.5kg | |
|
8. Arabian Summer
J: Harry Coffey
T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
3159x3 | M | 6 | 56.5kg | |
|
9. Niance
J: Jordan Childs
T: Grahame Begg |
11x1x7 | M | 1 | 56.5kg | |
|
10. Devil Night
J: Craig Williams
T: M, W & J Hawkes |
215x56 | C | 4 | 53kg | |
2025 Schillaci Stakes Nominations
The early 2025 Schillaci Stakes nominations are taken the Monday leading-up to the race.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3x5427x36x | GIGA KICK | G | 6 | Clayton Douglas | 1 | 58.5kg | 115 | ||
| 2 | 18x302547x | BENEDETTA | M | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 2 | 56.5kg | 110 | ||
| 3 | 434×221116 | IN FLIGHT | M | 5 | Joseph Pride | 3 | 56.5kg | 105 | ||
| 4 | 212x13074x | REY MAGNERIO | G | 6 | Robbie Griffiths | 4 | 58.5kg | 105 | ||
| 5 | 17x1170x10 | QUEMAN | G | 7 | Shane & Cassie Oxlade | 5 | 58.5kg | 105 | ||
| 6 | 2x31210x34 | GOLDEN BOOM | G | 6 | Tony Gollan | 6 | 58.5kg | 104 | ||
| 7 | x1x13159x3 | ARABIAN SUMMER | M | 4 | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 7 | 56.5kg | 103 | ||
| 8 | 151x11x1x7 | NIANCE (NZ) | M | 6 | Grahame Begg | 8 | 56.5kg | 103 | ||
| 9 | 306x41417x | NADAL | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 9 | 58.5kg | 102 | ||
| 10 | 678x21x7x1 | TROPICUS | H | 4 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 10 | 58.5kg | 101 | ||
| 11 | 1x12822x08 | SIR SWAY | G | 5 | Sue & Jason Jaensch | 11 | 58.5kg | 101 | ||
| 12 | 215×56 | DEVIL NIGHT | C | 3 | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | 12 | 53kg | 100 | ||
| 13 | 11382458×5 | PRAIRIE FLOWER | M | 6 | Will Clarken | 13 | 56.5kg | 96 | ||
| 14 | 5335x760x4 | JIGSAW | G | 7 | Cindy Alderson | 14 | 58.5kg | 95 | ||
| 15 | 40432196×5 | PHILOSOPHER | G | 6 | Enver Jusufovic | 15 | 58.5kg | 89 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Schillaci Stakes Form Guide
The Schillaci Stakes form guide features information like the jockeys, trainers, barriers and lead-up runs of the horses in the field to help punters uncover the value in the markets.
A number of runners have won the Schillaci Stakes first-up so looking for sprinters resuming off a short break that run well fresh can be a good guide.
Giga Kick (2025) was the last first-up Schillaci Stakes winner.
The Schillaci Stakes form has stacked up in other Group races in Melbourne many times over the years including in the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m).
Another example of the Schillaci Stakes form holding was when the 2016 winner Star Turn went on to run third in four straight Group 1 Melbourne races in the 2016 Coolmore Stud Stakes; and the 2017 Lightning Stakes, Newmarket Handicap and William Reid Stakes.
The 2022 Schillaci Stakes form was franked with the winner Paulele heading west to take out the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in Perth that November.
The 2023 Schillaci Stakes winner Asfoora franked the form at the next year’s Royal Ascot Carnival in the UK winning the Group 1 King Charles III. The 2023 Schillaci third placed Chain Of Lightning meanwhile returned in the autumn of 2024 and won the prestigious Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes in Sydney.
In 2024 the Schillaci Stakes winning filly Bellatrix Star went on to run second at Flemington on Derby Day in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
2025 Schillaci Stakes Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Schillaci Stakes 2025 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
Schillaci Stakes Results
The Schillaci Stakes race results have been dominated by single-figure sprinters over the past decade.
Notable recent Schillaci Stakes winners include Giga Kick (2025), Trekking (2019), Buffering (2012), Black Caviar (2010-11), Gold Edition (2007), and Miss Andretti (2006).
Asfoora (2023) was the last Schillaci Stakes winning mare.
The filly Bellatrix Star (2024) was the last three-year-old Schillaci Stakes winner and the first since Star Turn (2016).
Trekking holds the current 1100m Schillaci Stakes race record winning in 2019 in a time of 1 minute 02:32 seconds.
Past Schillaci Stakes Winners
Recent Schillaci Stakes winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Third | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Giga Kick | Tropicus | Niance | 1:03.14 |
| 2024 | Bellatrix Star | Oscar’s Fortune | Maharba | 1:02.9 |
| 2023 | Asfoora | Uncommon James | Chain Of Lightning | 1:03.8 |
| 2022 | Paulele | Ingratiating | Zoustyle | 1:03.5 |
| 2021 | Savatoxl | Dosh | Bella Nipotina | 1:03.3 |
| 2020 | Dirty Work | Diamond Effort | Octane | 1:03.3 |
| 2019 | Trekking | Ball Of Muscle | The Bostonian | 1:02.3 |
| 2018 | Ball of Muscle | Spirit of Valor | Missrock | 1:02.5 |
| 2017 | Super Cash | Illustrious Lad | Rock Magic | 1:03.2 |
| 2016 | Star Turn | Malaguerra | Fell Swoop | 1:02.8 |
| 2015 | Alpha Miss | Cashed | Lankan Rupee | 1:03.5 |
| 2014 | Rubick | Platelet | Overreach | 0:56.6 |
| 2013 | Unpretentious | Pago Rock | Kuroshio | 57.6 |
| 2012 | Buffering | Golden Archer | Stirling Grove | 0:56.9 |
| 2011 | Black Caviar | Karuta Queen | Stirling Grove | 0:56.7 |
| 2010 | Black Caviar | Winter King | General Truce | 0:56.6 |
| 2009 | Lucky Secret | Apache Cat | Wanted | 0:55.9 |
| 2008 | Wilander | Lucky Secret | Gamble Me | 0:58.0 |
| 2007 | Gold Edition | Royal Asscher | Let Go Thommo | 0:57.3 |
| 2006 | Miss Andretti | Green Birdie | Nediyms Glow | 0:57.2 |
| 2005 | Segments | Danerich | Miss Mooney Mooney | 0:57.6 |
| 2004 | Patpong | Alizes | Regimental Gal | 0:58.2 |
| 2003 | Halibery | Dantana | Spinning Hill | 0:56.7 |
| 2002 | Spinning Hill | Falvelon | Mistegic | 0:57.1 |
| 2001 | Mistegic | Windigo | Falvelon | 0:57.6 |
| 2000 | Falvelon | Mannington | Super Elegant | 0:58.0 |
FAQ
Who won the 2025 Schillaci Stakes?
The 2025 Schillaci Stakes was won by six-year-old Scissor Kick gelding Giga Kick at $7 for trainer Clayton Douglas with jockey Mark Zahra aboard on 58.5kg from barrier 5 to win by 1 length on a Good (3) track in a time of 1:03.14.
When is the Schillaci Stakes 2025?
Saturday October 11, 2025What is the prize money for the Schillaci Stakes 2025?
$300,000
Where is the Schillaci Stakes 2025?
Caulfield Racecourse, Gate 2, Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145
How do I bet on the 2025 Schillaci 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 Schillaci Stakes?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Schillaci 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.