The 2025 Victoria Derby winner will be determined when the $2 million feature runs at Flemington on Saturday November 1!
The Victoria Derby is the feature race on Day 1 of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, and it generates betting interest throughout the year as one of the key spring Group 1 races for three-year-olds.
Bet on the 2025 Victoria Derby Winner
| 1. Observer (4) J: Mark Zahra 57kg 5x231T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 8. Arcora (11) J: John Allen 57kg 31005T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | ||
| 16. Deal Done Fast (1) J: Daniel Stackhouse 57kg 244T: Matt Cumani | ||
| 13. One Step Closer (2) J: Jye McNeil 57kg x5104T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | ||
| 6. Providence (12) J: Craig Williams 57kg 60382T: Chris Waller | ||
| 14. Savisanta (3) J: Ben Melham 57kg 2223T: Chris Waller | ||
| 4. Miewa (8) J: Jordan Childs 57kg 44122T: Nick Ryan | ||
| 3. Autumn Mystery (15) J: Blake Shinn 57kg 52211T: Rory Hunter | ||
| 9. O'sheamus (5) J: Kerrin McEvoy 57kg x4613T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | ||
| 5. Options (7) J: Harry Coffey 57kg 11315T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | ||
| 11. Engine Of War (9) J: Tommy Berry 57kg 3x127T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 2. Highvol (13) J: Jamie Mott 57kg 76402T: Nick Ryan | ||
| 10. Amazake (6) J: Declan Bates 57kg 7x673T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 15. Mcwoody (14) J: Jamie Melham 57kg 15T: Mark Walker | ||
| 12. Matsuda (16) J: Thomas Stockdale 57kg 24814T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 7. Azazel (10) J: Michael Dee 57kg 141T: Mark Walker |
Past Victoria Derby winners include some of the biggest names in the business, as the 3YO runners look to make a name for themselves over the 2500m journey at Flemington. It’s a test of speed and stamina, and it’s also a good betting guide to races like the Melbourne Cup held back at the track just three days later on the first Tuesday of November.
First run in 1855, it’s one of the oldest Group 1 races on the Australian racing calendar, and it’s also one of the best betting races for punters to enjoy.
List of Victoria Derby Winners by Year
| Year | Winner | Trainer | Jockey | Time | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Goldrush Guru | Andrew Gluyas | Jamie Kah | 2:37.78 | $8 |
| 2023 | Riff Rocket | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 2:39.38 | $2.20 |
| 2022 | Manzoice | Chris Waller | Mick Dee | 2:40.86 | $21 |
| 2021 | Hitotsu | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | John Allen | 2:37.32 | $4.00 |
| 2020 | Johnny Get Angry | Denis Pagan | Lachlan King | 2:41.91 | $21 |
| 2019 | Warning | Anthony Freedman | Damien Oliver | 2:40.83 | $9.50 |
| 2018 | Extra Brut | Darren Weir | John Allen | 2:34.31 | $10 |
| 2017 | Ace High | David Payne | Tye Angland | 2:37.55 | $7 |
| 2016 | Prized Icon | James Cummings | Glyn Schofield | 2:36.16 | $17 |
| 2015 | Tarzino | Mick Price | Craig Newitt | 2:38.39 | $2.90 |
| 2014 | Preferment | Chris Waller | Damien Oliver | 2:37.81 | $8.50 |
| 2013 | Polanski | Robbie Laing | Hugh Bowman | 2:38.66 | $5.50 |
| 2012 | Fiveandahalfstar | Anthony Cummings | Damien Oliver | 2:35.92 | $41 |
| 2011 | Sangster | Trent Busuttin | Hugh Bowman | 2:40.33 | $13 |
| 2010 | Lion Tamer | Murray & Bjorn Baker | Hugh Bowman | 2:46.43 | $13 |
| 2009 | Monaco Consul | Michael Moroney | Corey Crown | 2:41.68 | $4.40 |
List of the most successful Victoria Derby winning jockeys
There have been some champion jockeys to win multiple Victoria Derby races, but no more than Bobby Lewis, who rode eight Victoria Derby winners. More recently, Damien Oliver and Hugh Bowman have dominated Flemington with six and three wins respectively.
Below is a list of the jockeys with the most Victoria Derby winners.
- Bobby Lewis x8 (1900, 1901, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1914, 1921, 1927)
- Damien Oliver x6 (1992, 2001, 2003, 2012, 2014, 2019)
- Hugh Bowman x3 (2010, 2011, 2013)
- John Allen x2 (2018, 2021)
List of the most successful Victoria Derby winning trainers
James Scobie trained eight Victoria Derby winners, starting in 1900, before training his last winner in 1937. In modern times, Bart Cummings and T.J. Smith dominated the 3YO staying race in the training ranks.
- James Scobie x8 (1900, 1901, 1903, 1904, 1908, 1912, 1927, 1937)
- T.J. Smith x5 (1957, 1959, 1970, 1981, 1984)
- Bart Cummings x5 (1972, 1973, 1977, 1983, 1987)
- Colin Hayes x4 (1974, 1976, 1978, 1988)
- David Hayes x2 (1994, 2007)
- Chris Waller x2 (2022, 2023)
Chris Waller has been the most successful recent trainer, scoring wins with Manzoice and Riff Rocket in 2022 and 2023. We recommend looking for his runners for the upcoming Victoria Derby.
Famous Victoria Derby Winners
The Victoria Derby is an incredible staying race. It not only secures a stud future for colts, but it also provides an insight into what runners could mature into cups horses later in life. The Derby is an excellent Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup form guide, and the winner has often backed up three days later in the Melbourne Cup field.
Of all the past winners, we have selected three famous Victoria Derby winners, including Efficient’s 2006 win in front of a record crowd.
Efficient – 2006
A record Victoria Derby Day crowd embarked at Flemington, with 129,089 in attendance. Flemington was packed, and they witnessed a tremendous win from Efficient. The well-bred son of Zabeel was bred to be a Victoria Derby winner, and after settling back in the field, he made a searching run to score by 2.5 lengths. It was an expected win as the $2.25 favourite, so the roaring crowd was elated with the result, leaving bookmakers licking their wounds.
Tulloch – 1957
Tulloch’s win in the 1957 Victoria Derby goes down in history as one of the best of all time. The war horse won just about every major race on the Australian racing calendar, including the Cox Plate, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and Caulfield Cup. His Victoria Derby win came by six lengths, and he smashed Phar Lap’s race record time by 2.1 seconds. It proved to the world that he’s the best, and he followed it up with a string of victories. Tulloch remains one of the greatest thoroughbreds in history, and his Derby win is a must-watch.
Riff Rocket – 2023
We’ll go with something more recent. Riff Rocket is the classic story of what could have been. He won the 2023 Victoria Derby as the $2.20 favourite, and he had a great running action. He was a big bloke in the Waller stable, and unfortunately, his life would come to an end just a year later after complications from colic. However, his Victoria Derby win showcased his fighting abilities. The favourite took the lead with 100m to go before holding off a big finish from Apulia. The win gave owner Debbie Kepitis, who also owned Winx, her first Derby victory.
Victoria Derby Information
The Victoria Derby is worth $2 million, so it’s not as rich as other Group 1 and slot races such as the $20 million The Everest in Sydney during October. However, it’s an important race for the breeding future of any colt who wins. Therefore, the prize money plays second fiddle to the long-term picture.
Run over 2500m, it’s a true test of speed and stamina, and it catches out many horses. Most, if not all, of the 3YO runners haven’t raced past 2400m, so the extra distance makes for an exciting finish and a sense of the unknown.
It’s the feature race on Derby Day, the first day of the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival. It’s considered the best betting day of the year, as punters get value odds from bookmakers throughout the day, and especially in the Derby.
Betting on the Victoria Derby
As with any staying race, there are always upsets. Lion Tamer, Sangster, Prized Icon, Johnny Get Angry, and Manzoice paid double-figure odds to win the Victoria Derby. It’s a good race to find value, but there have been some short-priced winners.
Riff Rocket won at $2.20 in 2023, and Hitotsu franked his form when winning at $4. The 2013-2015 winners Polanski, Preferment, and Tarzino were all well-fancied chances, with Tarzino running at $2.90 with the books.
With many different form lines, it’s a unique race. Horses with form at Donald can easily match up with horses coming off wins in Sydney, which makes it the best betting race on the calendar.
FAQs about Victoria Derby winners
Which horse has the fastest Victoria Derby time?
Star of the Realm won the 1991 Victoria Derby in 2:33.06, which still stands as the fastest Victoria Derby race time.
Has a filly won the Victoria Derby?
The last filly to win the Victoria Derby was Frances Tressady in 1923. It’s a race suited to colts and geldings, so we recommend staying away from fillies.
How much does the winner of the Victoria Derby get?
The Victoria Derby winner gets $1.2 million of the $2 million purse. Second place gets $360,000, with third getting $180,000.