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Mark Zahra‘s master class at Flemington on the opening Cup Week meeting continued in the day’s feature with a brilliant all-the-way performance by the well backed favourite Observer who saluted for the punters in the 2025 Victoria Derby results.

Zahra made it four wins on the trot and back-to-back Group 1s following his Coolmore Stud Stakes triumph on Tentyris producing another flawless ride on the Ciaron Maher trained Ghaiyyath colt in the Group 1 $2 million Victoria Derby (2500m).

“What a day. It’s great riding for the best trainers,” a beaming Zahra told the media post-victory.

“They do their job, I do my job and what a great day.”

Relishing a quick back-up off his equally dominant Moonee Valley Vase win on Cox Plate Day, Observer became the first three-year-old since Efficient (2006) to do the Vase – Derby double on the short seven-day turnaround.

“I think the sky’s the limit for this colt, he’s just so adaptable,” Maher told Racing.com.

“He was unlucky in a (Caulfield) Guineas (running 3rd), he’s won a Vase and now he’s won a Derby and he’s pretty similar to his old man.”

Quick away from his favourable barrier four draw, Observer hit the lead and never relinquished his front-running position leading from start to finish in a powerhouse performance that will go down in the Derby history books.

“He took luck out of it,” Maher said, praising Zahra’s confident ride.

“He’s riding on the crest of a wave. There’s no-one riding any better.

“He’s a great mate. It’s just fantastic for Godolphin and to be able to train a colt like that, he’s got so much ahead of him and so much furnishing to do.”

Zahra controlled the tempo up front and was largely left alone aboard the young star who showed incredible staying power to stick with the task and hold off Arcora for a three-quarter length win.

“I said to Mark, there was no point trying to fight him, let’s just go with him,” Maher said speaking about the bold front-running tactics that stole the show.

“I thought he was that better than them and I said you might as well ride him that way.

“To Mark’s credit, he had the revs up early and I was a bit worried, but he got some nice sectionals midrace and that’s fantastic.”

Roughie hope Deal Done Fast was enormous running third in the Victoria Derby trifecta, while One Step Closer finished off the first four.

For Maher it was his second Victoria Derby success but first as a solo trainer following his 2021 victory with Hitotsu in partnership with Harry Eustace.

Zahra added that he was given confidence to take the eventual VRC Derby winner straight to the lead after talking with Maher leading-up to the race.

“I ummed and ahhed whether to lead, but speaking to Ciaron he gave me great confidence,” he said.

“I heard him say he’ll run it, so if you want to lead, just do it.

“He never switches right off, he’s always on the bridle, but he’s a tough.

“He’s just like his old man and late, when they got to him, he found again. It was a very good victory.”

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