Victoria Derby 2025 Preview
Victoria Derby 2025 Preview
The Victoria Derby 2025 stands tall as the ultimate stamina test for three-year-olds. With 2500 metres of searching turf and a glittering $2 million purse on offer, only the toughest and most talented emerging stayers will feature in the finish.
What is the Victoria Derby?
The Victoria Derby is a Group 1 Thoroughbred race for three-year-olds run over 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. Held on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival in early November, it’s the longest and most prestigious races during the spring carnival.
When is the Victoria Derby 2025?
The Victoria Derby 2025 is set to run on Saturday 1st November.
Race History
The very first Victoria Derby was staged back in 1855, making it one of the oldest and most historic races on the Australian racing calendar. Its rich legacy includes legendary winners like Phar Lap and is a crucial part of the nation’s Thoroughbred story.
Who Won Last Year’s Victoria Derby?
In 2024, Goldrush Guru captured the Victoria Derby with a bold staying effort, giving Jamie Melham another Group 1 triumph.
Previous Winners of the Victoria Derby
The 2024 winner was Goldrush Guru, who showed plenty of promise with a strong run under Jamie Melham. In 2023, Riff Rocket took the race out with a commanding performance from barrier five. Manzoice claimed the 2022 edition with a solid effort, while Hitotsu stamped his class in 2021 with a sharp finish.
Other Winners
Johnny Get Angry powered through in 2020 to land the win, and Warning took out the 2019 race with a determined run. Extra Brut impressed in 2018 with a front-running victory, while Ace High rounded out the list with a strong showing in 2017.
Phar Lap
Legendary past winners includes Phar Lap, who went on to become the true legend of the Australian turf. The Victoria Derby remains a key highlight of the Melbourne spring and a true test for emerging staying talent.
Odds & Tips for the Victoria Derby
The Victoria Derby (2500m) headlines a ripper of an opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington this Saturday. It’s the traditional test of stamina for three-year-olds, and as history shows, it often throws up surprises — only two of the past ten Derby winners have come off a last-start victory.
Firm favourite Observer ($2.10) leads the market for Ciaron Maher and Mark Zahra after controlling the Vase from in front last week. The draw in barrier four should again see him settle handy and get the best possible chance. His stablemate Amazake ($51.00) also lines up and could improve sharply with a more genuine tempo as he looks for his first win.
Providence ($7.00) looks the obvious danger — he found the line strongly in the Vase after getting too far back and gives every indication the step to 2500m will suit.
Miewa ($26.00) has been excellent in recent lead-ups, while Options ($17.00) from the McEvoy yard brings tactical versatility and knows how to win races! Among the rougher hopes, Highvol ($26.00) and Engine Of War ($26.00) look capable of running into the minors.
Here’s the 2025 Victoria Derby field and updated odds:
- Observer – $2.10
- Highvol – $26.00
- Autumn Mystery – $13.00
- Miewa – $21.00
- Options – $17.00
- Providence – $7.00
- Azazel – $26.00
- Arcora – $56.00
- O’Sheamus – $21.00
- Amazake – $46.00
- Engine Of War – $26.00
- Matsuda – $51.00
- One Step Closer – $51.00
- Savisanta – $25.00
- McWoody – $56.00
- Deal Done Fast – $46.00
- Arabian Prince – $28.00
- Freddie Bassett – $76.00
- Crack A Deel – $156.00
- Super Paradise – $256.00
The PickaBookie.com.au selection is Observer — the favourite to continue Maher’s outstanding spring and stamp his staying credentials in the Derby
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