<p>The Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington is the premier staying race for three-year-olds during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. It headlines the first day of the Victoria Racing Club’s four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival.</p> <p>First run in 1855, the Victoria Derby is Australia’s oldest classic. It has been won by some of the legends of the Australian turn, such as Phar Lap, Grand Flaneur, Martini Henry, Hall Mark, Tulloch, Briseis and more recently, Mahogany Red Anchor, Elvstroem and Efficient.</p> <p>Last year’s winner was the South Australian, Goldrush Guru, ridden by Jamie Melham.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Victoria Derby 2025 Preview and Details</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Track: </strong>Flemington.</p> <p><strong>Distance/type: </strong>2500m. 3YOs. Set Weights.</p> <p><strong>Date: </strong>Saturday, 1 November.</p> <p><strong>Total prizemoney:</strong> $2,000,000</p> <p><strong>First prize: </strong>$1,200,000</p> <p><strong>Victoria Derby – Race and Time: </strong>Race 7 (4.20 pm)</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Weather and Track</h2> <p>The Flemington track was rated a Good 4 on Wednesday. The warm weather – mid-20s – with some rain on Friday, up to 10mm, but fine weather for race day. Expect a close to perfect surface.</p> <p>The rail is true. Track should play fairly.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Trainers</h3> <p>Leading trainer Chris Waller has won three Victoria Derbys, including two of the past three with Riff Rocket (2023) and Manzoice (2022). Waller has a strong representation this year with Providence and Savistanta.</p> <p>Other past winners are Trent Busuttin (now training with his wife Natalie Young), who trained Sangster to win in 2011. Busuttin and Young are represented by Arcora.</p> <p>Ciaron Maher saddles up the favourite Observer as well as outsiders Matsuda and Amazake. Maher trained Hitotsu to win in 2021.&nbsp;</p> <p>Mick Price is hoping Engine Of War can give him a second Victoria Derby, after winning with Tarzino in 2015. Price now trains in partnership with Michael Kent Jnr, whose father, Michael Kent, is aiming for his first Victoria Derby with Arabian Prince.</p> <p>Nick Ryan failed to win a Victoria Derby when he was a champion apprentice, but he can make amends as a trainer with his two solid hopes, Miewa and Highvol.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Jockeys</h3> <p>Victoria Derby day in Melbourne has attracted most of the top jockeys, although a couple of headliners, such as James McDonald, Ethan Brown and Nash Rawiller are staying in Sydney to ride in the $10m Golden Eagle at Randwick.</p> <p>The now retired Damien Oliver (five wins) and the Hong Kong-based Hugh Bowman (three) have dominated the Victoria Derby in the past 20 years.&nbsp;</p> <p>Jockeys riding this year who have won the Victoria Derby in the past include last year’s winner Jamie Melham, who rides McWoody and Michael Dee (Azazel), who caused an upset in 2022 when he won on Manzoice. Craig Williams, who won on Kibbutz in 2007, rides the highly regarded maiden Arabian Prince. Two-time winner, John Allen, rides Arcora.&nbsp;</p> <p>Mark Zahra, who rides the hot favourite Observer, is chasing his first Victoria Derby win, as, too, are Kerrin McEvoy (O’Sheamus), Tommy Berry (Engine Of War), Blake Shinn (Autumn Mystery), Harry Coffey (Options) and Ben Melham (Savisanta).</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>The Speed Map</h3> <p><strong>Tempo prediction: </strong>good</p> <p>Observer will step out a warm favourite, and he will go forward like he did last Saturday to win the G2 The Vase (2040m) at the Valley. With solid speed around him with his stablemates Matsuda and Amazake, and Engine Of War, Highvol, Arcora and Azazel likely to press forward, don’t be surprised if jockey Mark Zahra takes a sit behind the pace on Observer.</p> <p>The run-on horses who will appreciate a genuine tempo include Miewa, Options, Autumn Mystery and Arabian Prince, who will be storming home.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Points of Interest</h3> <p>Significant gear changes: The following horses will wear blinkers for the first time – Engine Of War and Freddie Bassett – and those with winkers added are Matsuda and One Step Closer. The addition of a tongue tie for Amazake and Highvol gets blinkers off.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h2>Victoria Derby 2025 Racing Tips</h2> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Victoria Derby Top Tip&nbsp;</h3> <p><strong>Observer</strong></p> <p>Probably should have won the Caulfield Guineas (1600m) and then dominated his rivals from the front&nbsp; in last Saturday’s Vase (2040m). He’s the class horse, with the bonus of a stayer’s pedigree. Barrier four should see him box seat or lead. Looks too good for his rivals.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Victoria Derby Stakes Dangers</h3> <p><strong>Arabian Prince</strong></p> <p>Maiden who looks every centimetre a stayer. Not suited by the tempo on the Caulfield Classic. The wide draw is no issue, as he likes to find his feet. If there is any weakness in the favourite, this is the horse to find it.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Miewa</strong></p> <p>No luck, but finished off well in the Caulfield Classic. Has a nice turn of foot. Perfectly trained for this race.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Autumn Mystery</strong></p> <p>Lot to like about the way he ran on to win the Caulfield Classic. The 2500m shouldn’t worry him. Wide draw likely means he will go back early. Doesn’t know how to run a bad race.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Providence</strong></p> <p>Sydney 3YO. Showed a nice turn of foot to finish second in The Vase behind Observer at Moonee Valley. The margin was flattering after Observer was throttled down. He's a colt on the up.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Victoria Derby Roughies</h3> <p><strong>O’Sheamus</strong></p> <p>Backs up from a solid third behind Observer in The Vase last Saturday. That’s the strongest form line. Good barrier and good jockey, Kerrin McEvoy, rides.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Savisanta</strong></p> <p>Trained by Chris Waller. Maiden who has run well each start. Nicely drawn and he gets out to a distance that will suit him.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Deal Done Fast</strong></p> <p>Promising young stayer in the Matt Cumani stable. He has had an ideal preparation for this.&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <h3>Victoria Derby Same Race Multi (pick a combination)</h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Observer –</strong> to win</p> <p><strong>Arabian Prince, Miewa, Autumn Mystery, Providence –</strong> top five</p> <p><strong>Deal Done Fast, O’Sheamus – </strong>top six</p> <p><strong>Savisanta, Engine Of War –</strong> top seven</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>