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The Damien Oliver (Linlithgow Stakes) (1200m) is a Group 2 race held at Flemington Racecourse on Victoria Derby Day formerly known as the Salinger Stakes.
The Damien Oliver (Linlithgow Stakes) News
The Group 2 2025 The Damien Oliver, formerly known as the Linlithgow Stakes, is an open handicap event featured during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival. Held at Flemington Racecourse on Victoria Derby Day, the Salinger Stakes is a 1200m sprint worth $500,000 in prize money.
2025 The Damien Oliver Results
Stay tuned for the official 2025 The Damien Oliver results and finishing order onSaturday November 1, 2025.
- 1st: No. 6 Warnie ($5)
- 2nd: No. 4 Zou Sensation
- 3rd: No. 12 Enxuto
Winning Margin:Â 0.5 lengths
Winning Time:Â 1:21.62
Ciaron Maher’s progressive Highland Reel gelding, Warnie ($5), raced out of his skin to improve on a lead-up Group 3 Moonga Stakes second and claim victory in the 2025 The Damien Oliver results on Derby Day. In a terrific ride by the flying Mark Zahra, who had won the previous race aboard Oaks bound Getta Good Feeling in the Wakeful, Warnie came from well back in the field to wind up over the final 300m and wear down the front running Zou Sensation to salute by a half-length.
The Damien Oliver 2025 Results
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1st
6. Warnie (7)
J: Mark Zahra 56.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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2nd
4. Zou Sensation (4)
J: Ben Allen 57.5kg
T: L & T Corstens & W Larkin |
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3rd
12. Enxuto (3)
J: Jye McNeil 53kg
T: Robbie Griffiths |
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4th
1. Steparty (11)
J: John Allen 59kg
T: Paul Preusker |
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5th
2. Payline (9)
J: Craig Williams 58.5kg
T: Chris & Corey Munce |
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6th
3. Media World (6)
J: Michael Dee 57.5kg
T: Peter Snowden |
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7th
11. St Lawrence (5)
J: Beau Mertens 54kg
T: Gavin Bedggood |
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8th
7. Holymanz (8)
J: Ben Melham 56kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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9th
5. Mighty Ulysses (10)
J: Jamie Mott 56.5kg
T: Annabel & Rob Archibald |
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10th
8. Regal Zeus (2)
J: Daniel Stackhouse 56kg
T: John McArdle |
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11th
9. Coeur Volante (1)
J: Jamie Melham 55kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
Victoria Derby Day is one of the biggest Group meetings in the country as it features the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m), Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m). It also hosts the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) for VRC Oaks hopes, Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes (1200m), (and Group 3 Begonia Belle Stakes (1100m) currently run as the Furphy Stakes.
The race was renamed ahead of the 2023 edition to The Damien Oliver in honour of retiring champion Australian hoop Damien Oliver.
The 2024 The Damien Oliver form was franked with the winner Another Wil running a next-up second in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. He also returned in the autumn of 2025 to claim the CF Orr Stakes. The runner-up Jimmysstar further franked the form taking out the 2025 Oakleigh Plate and All Aged Stakes at the top level before a third in the 2025 The Everest results!
The 2025 The Damien Oliver ran on Saturday November 1, 2025 at Flemington’s VRC Derby Day card on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and was won in a terrific late burst by the progressive Ciaron Maher trained Warnie ($5).Â
| The Damien Oliver 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday November 1, 2025 |
| Track: | Flemington Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1200m |
| Race Type: | Open Handicap |
| Status: | Group 2 |
| Prize Money: | $500,000 |
2025 The Damien Oliver Odds
The latest Linlithgow Stakes 2025 odds will be available at Ladbrokes.com.au and published at Races.com.au for you to back your best The Damien Oliver betting tips this Derby Day.
There was a notable upset in 2023 with Cause For Concern scoring at The Damien Oliver odds of $12.
2025 The Damien Oliver Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 THE DAMIEN OLIVER FORM GUIDE
2025 The Damien Oliver Tips
Stay tuned for our exclusive The Damien Oliver 2025 Tips on the VRC Derby Day sprint this spring.
To Win: No. 13 King Zephyr
KING ZEPHYR (7) is short favourite to take out The Damien Oliver and I’m happy to stick with the punters’ pick. Grahame Begg’s consistent Hallowed Crown gelding comes off strong form this prep and looks to be building up to a race of this grade. Boasting a strong 1400m strike rate (3:2-1-0) and proven here at HQ, he was a big winner two back at Sandown carting a hefty 59kg over this distance to win by nearly two lengths at BM84 level. He went into Black-Type company at his latest and was far from disgraced finishing runner-up to Zou Sensation in Caulfield’s Listed Weekend Hussler – and I expect that form to hold here. He was the odds-on fancy but was forced to settle right back. That didn’t map well as the front runners were in favour, but he hit the line with merit and remains progressive. Well weighted again, Jordan Childs sticks with, and he now looks primed to flip the script on his last start conqueror. Flemington’s spacious layout plays right into his strengths, with all his best performances coming on big, open circuits. Looks ready to bounce back in style.
| 13. King Zephyr (7) Scratched: |
2025 The Damien Oliver Field
The Damien Oliver (Linlithgow Stakes) field traditionally draws a nice field of Group 1 performed and Group 2 winning sprinters from around Sydney and Melbourne.
Some of the best out of the Linlithgow Stakes field may back-up and run the following Saturday at the same track / distance in the Group 1 VRC Champions Sprint (1200m). Glamour Puss (2005) was the last runner to complete the Salinger Stakes – VRC Sprint Classic double.
Since the introduction of Sydney’s $20 million The Everest, a number of horses in the Linlithgow Stakes field now come off a run in that event – the world’s richest turf race. The 2018 Salinger Stakes winner Osborne Bulls came off a third in The Everest and went on to run second in his next five starts all in Group 1 company.
The 2025 The Damien Oliver field and barriers are announced on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The Damien Oliver 2025 final field is now out featuring a bumper line-up of potential Champions Sprint bound hopefuls including last start Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes winner Zou Sensation and Ciaron Maher’s Group 3 Moonga Stakes runner-up Warnie.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 332235×883 | STEPARTY | Paul Preusker | John Allen | 14 | 59kg | Â | Â | 104 |
| 2 | 69398×5664 | PAYLINE | Chris & Corey Munce | Craig Williams | 11 | 58.5kg | Â | Â | 103 |
| 3 | 36x112x315 | MEDIA WORLD | Peter Snowden | Michael Dee | 6 | 57.5kg | Â | Â | 101 |
| 4 | 70×5111461 | ZOU SENSATION | Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin | Ben Allen | 4 | 57.5kg | Â | Â | 101 |
| 5 | 740x59400x | MIGHTY ULYSSES (GB) | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Jamie Mott | 13 | 56.5kg | Â | Â | 99 |
| 6 | 2×43545742 | WARNIE (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Mark Zahra | 8 | 56.5kg | 57kg | Â | 99 |
| 7 | 31x308237x | HOLYMANZ (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Ben Melham | 9 | 56kg | Â | Â | 98 |
| 8 | x2115428x5 | REGAL ZEUS | John McArdle | Daniel Stackhouse | 2 | 56kg | Â | Â | 98 |
| 9 | x7104890x0 | COEUR VOLANTE (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Ms Jamie Melham | 1 | 55kg | Â | Â | 100 |
| 10 | 53112×0308 | DEPTH OF CHARACTER | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Â | 10 | 55kg | Â | Â | 96 |
| 11 | 1679x0665x | ST LAWRENCE (NZ) | Gavin Bedggood | Beau Mertens | 5 | 54kg | Â | Â | 94 |
| 12 | 2511118×75 | ENXUTO | Robbie Griffiths | Jye McNeil | 3 | 53kg | Â | Â | 92 |
| 13 | x11110x312 | KING ZEPHYR | Grahame Begg | Jordan Childs | 7 | 53kg | 54kg | Â | 90 |
| 14 | 71x7293x11 | NDOLA | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Luke Currie | 12 | 53kg | Â | Â | 89 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 The Damien Oliver Nominations
Early nominations on The Damien Oliver for 2025 close the Monday of race week and will be published below once confirmed.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1x112x030x | ALTIVO (GB) | G | 7 | Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes | 81 |
| 2 | x70x2660x4 | AMENABLE | G | 6 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 101 |
| 3 | 6214800×88 | COASTWATCH | G | 7 | Richard & Will Freedman | 99 |
| 4 | x7104890x0 | COEUR VOLANTE (NZ) | M | 5 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 100 |
| 5 | 53112×0308 | DEPTH OF CHARACTER | G | 4 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 96 |
| 6 | 1148×66319 | DISNECK | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 94 |
| 7 | 2511118×75 | ENXUTO | G | 5 | Robbie Griffiths | 92 |
| 8 | 31x308237x | HOLYMANZ (NZ) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 98 |
| 9 | 46111×4806 | IS IT ME | G | 6 | Daniel Bowman | 97 |
| 10 | x11110x312 | KING ZEPHYR | G | 5 | Grahame Begg | 90 |
| 11 | 36x112x315 | MEDIA WORLD | H | 4 | Peter Snowden | 101 |
| 12 | 740x59400x | MIGHTY ULYSSES (GB) | G | 7 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 99 |
| 13 | 71x7293x11 | NDOLA | G | 4 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 89 |
| 14 | 569x51700x | NICOLINI VITO | G | 8 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 97 |
| 15 | 69398×5664 | PAYLINE | G | 5 | Chris & Corey Munce | 103 |
| 16 | 1x2212x154 | PERSIAN SPIRIT | G | 5 | Symon Wilde | 77 |
| 17 | 0x446x0546 | PONDALOWIE | M | 5 | Emma-Lee & David Browne | 89 |
| 18 | x2115428x5 | REGAL ZEUS | G | 5 | John McArdle | 98 |
| 19 | 1x170x3408 | ROYAL INSIGNIA | H | 4 | Grahame Begg | 88 |
| 20 | 1679x0665x | ST LAWRENCE (NZ) | G | 7 | Gavin Bedggood | 94 |
| 21 | x110x90x23 | STAR PATROL | G | 7 | Clinton McDonald | 103 |
| 22 | 332235×883 | STEPARTY | G | 5 | Paul Preusker | 104 |
| 23 | 16x1721x23 | SUNSHINEINMYPOCKET (NZ) | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 84 |
| 24 | 111×4154 | VINROCK | C | 3 | Matt Laurie | 102 |
| 25 | 2×43545742 | WARNIE (IRE) | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 99 |
| 26 | 70×5111461 | ZOU SENSATION | G | 6 | Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin | 101 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Salinger Stakes / Linlithgow Stakes History
First won by Karina in 1960, the event has been known by many different names including the Craven A Plate, Pure-Pak Stakes, Gasden Rheem Stakes, Southcorp Stakes and Yellowglen Stakes. In 2007 it was downgraded from Group One status to a Group Two race.
Since its inauguration, there have only been three horses which have managed to win the event more than once with River Rough in 1983-84, Planet Ruler in 1989-90 and Fontelina in 2012-13.
Notable Salinger Stakes / Linlithgow Stakes winners include Vain (1969), Maybe Mahal (1976), Always Welcome (1978), Hareeba (1994), Takeover Target (2004), Glamour Puss (2005), Fontelina (2012, 2013), and Osborne Bulls (2018).
Salinger Stakes / Linlithgow Stakes results and winning times since 2000 are listed below.
In 2020 Kemalpasa became the latest dual Salinger Stakes winner when successfully defending his title.
The race was renamed The Damien Oliver in 2023.
Salinger Stakes / Linlithgow Stakes / The Damien Oliver Results
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 The Damien Oliver | 1st | Warnie | 1 minute 21.62 seconds |
| 2nd | Zou Sensation | ||
| 3rd | Enxuto | ||
| 2024 The Damien Oliver | 1st | Another Wil | 1 minute 22.96 seconds |
| 2nd | Jimmysstar | ||
| 3rd | Steparty | ||
| 2023 The Damien Oliver | 1st | Cause For Concern | 1 minute 22.35 seconds |
| 2nd | Bandersnatch | ||
| 3rd | Munhamek | ||
| 2022 Linlithgow Stakes | 1st | Old Flame | 1 minute 23.60 seconds |
| 2nd | Poland | ||
| 3rd | Ironclad | ||
| 2021 Linlithgow Stakes | 1st | Justacanta | 1 minute 10.06 seconds |
| 2nd | Kemalpasa | ||
| 3rd | Isaurian | ||
| 2020 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Kemalpasa | 1 minute 10.44 seconds |
| 2nd | Order Of Command | ||
| 3rd | Bold Star | ||
| 2019 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Kemalpasa | 1 minute 10.08 seconds |
| 2nd | Order Of Command | ||
| 3rd | Zoutori | ||
| 2018 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Osborne Bulls | 1 minute 9.88 seconds |
| 2nd | Bons Away | ||
| 3rd | Runson | ||
| 2017 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Rich Charm | 1 minute 8.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Missrock | ||
| 3rd | The Monstar | ||
| 2016 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Illustrious Lad | 1 minute 8.31 seconds |
| 2nd | Counterattack | ||
| 3rd | Southern Legend | ||
| 2015 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Eclair Choice | 1 minute 9.34 seconds |
| 2nd | Hot Snitzel | ||
| 3rd | Dothraki | ||
| 2014 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Deep Field | 1 minute 11.05 seconds |
| 2nd | Driefontein | ||
| 3rd | In Cahoots | ||
| 2013 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Fontelina | 1 minute 9.01 seconds |
| 2nd | Spirit Of Boom | ||
| 3rd | Rarefied | ||
| 2012 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Fontelina | 1 minute 8.81 seconds |
| 2nd | Spirit Of Boom | ||
| 3rd | Tiger Tees | ||
| 2011 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Sister Madly | 1 minute 10.41 seconds |
| 2nd | Rarefied | ||
| 3rd | Temple Of Boom | ||
| 2010 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Whitefriars | 1 minute 11.11 seconds |
| 2nd | Beaded | ||
| 3rd | Response | ||
| 2009 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Eagle Falls | 1 minute 8.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Turffontein | ||
| 3rd | Absolutelyfabulous | ||
| 2008 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Hot Danish | 1 minute 10.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Fighting Fund | ||
| 3rd | Sunburnt Land | ||
| 2007 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Swick | 1 minute 8.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Great Is Great | ||
| 3rd | Typhoon Zed | ||
| 2006 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Dance Hero | 1 minute 8.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Shadoways | ||
| 3rd | Miss Andretti | ||
| 2005 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Glamour Puss | 1 minute 8.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Barely A Moment | ||
| 3rd | Cape Of Good Hope | ||
| 2004 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Takeover Target | 1 minute 8.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Recurring | ||
| 3rd | St Basil | ||
| 2003 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Ancient Song | 1 minute 11 seconds |
| 2nd | Into The Night | ||
| 3rd | Blessum | ||
| 2002 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Rubitano | 1 minute 7.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Intelligent Star | ||
| 3rd | Cosmic Strike | ||
| 2001 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Sudurka | 1 minute 8.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Hire | ||
| 3rd | Camena | ||
| 2000 Salinger Stakes | 1st | Easy Rocking | 1 minute 10 seconds |
| 2nd | Umrum | ||
| 3rd | Tilt The Scales | ||
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