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The Begonia Belle Stakes (Kirin Ichiban Sprint) is a Group 3 1100m sprint held at Flemington Racecourse on Victoria Derby Day each Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Begonia Belle Stakes News
The 2025 Begonia Belle Stakes – known as the Kirin Ichiban Sprint in 2025 for sponsorship purposes – is a Group 3 race held on Victoria Derby Day at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne formerly named in honour of the 1969 Newmarket Handicap winner.
Kirin Ichiban Sprint 2024 Results
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1st
10. New York Lustre (12)
J: Carleen Hefel 55kg
T: Enver Jusufovic |
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2nd
14. Flying For Fun (10)
J: Jordan Childs 55kg
T: Bryce Heys |
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3rd
2. Arabian Summer (5)
J: Blake Shinn 57kg
T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
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4th
15. Photograph (3)
J: Luke Currie 55kg
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
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5th
4. Austmarr (11)
J: Kerrin McEvoy 57kg
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
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6th
1. Infancy (9)
J: Craig Williams 58kg
T: Kris Lees |
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7th
13. Soft Love (4)
J: Harry Coffey 55kg
T: Matt Laurie |
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8th
7. Prairie Flower (1)
J: Jamie Melham 56kg
T: Will Clarken |
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9th
5. Stretan Angel (7)
J: Lachlan Neindorf 56kg
T: Phillip Stokes |
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10th
12. Hearcomesthestar (8)
J: Beau Mertens 55kg
T: John Moloney |
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11th
3. She's Bulletproof (2)
J: Ben Allen 57kg
T: Charlotte Littlefield |
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12th
8. Hi Dubai (6)
J: Michael Dee 55kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
Raced over 1100m, the event is a mares-only event run under set weights plus penalties conditions. With $240,000 prize money on offer, the Begonia Belle Stakes is quite a lucrative race for the better class of mares.
The Begonia Belle Stakes was previously held on VRC Oaks Day on the Thursday following the Melbourne Cup on the first Tuesday of November. From 2016 it was moved to the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Victoria Derby Day.
It now runs as part of an all-Group race card at the meeting including three Group 1 races with the running of the Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m), Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) and the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).
Mares typically target the Begonia Belle Stakes following a range of other starts. Some mares step well down in distance to content the Begonia Belle Stakes. The Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in Sydney has in recent years provided a moderate guide to the horses who do well in the Begonia Belle Stakes. Look also to the Group 3 Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m), the Group 3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) or the Group 3 Ladies Day Vase (1600m) at Caulfield.
Tofane (2019) followed by Fiesta (2020) are the latest mares to complete the Northwood Plume Stakes – Begonia Belle Stakes double when the latter ran as the Furphy Sprint. Tofane also went on to win the following year’s Group 1 All Aged Stakes in Sydney.
In 2022 the Begonia Belle / Furphy Sprint winner Asfoora came off a Group 2 Caulfield Sprint (1000m) on Caulfield Cup Day.
Asfoora would go on to frank the form from the 2022 race with a big autumn in 2023 finishing third in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate, fourth in the Group 1 The Galaxy, and fourth in the inaugural $4 million The Quokka in Perth. She also won the Group 3 The Heath 1100 and Group 2 Schillaci Stakes in the spring of 2023 with a Group 1 Moir Stakes second at The Valley in between.
The Furphy Sprint form from 2023 was franked with the runner-up Hypothetical returning in the autumn of 2024 to run second in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.
The 2025 Begonia Belle Stakes is held on Saturday November 1, 2025 as the Kirin Ichiban Sprint on Derby Day at Flemington.
| Begonia Belle Stakes 2025 (Kirin Ichiban Sprint) | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday November 1, 2025 |
| Track: | Flemington Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1100m |
| Race Type: | Mares – SW+P |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize money: | $240,000 |
2025 Begonia Belle Stakes Results
Stay tuned for the official 2025 Begonia Belle Stakes / Kirin Ichiban Sprint results and finishing order on Saturday November 1, 2025.
- 1st: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
Winning Margin: TBD
Winning Time: TBD
2025 Begonia Belle Stakes Betting
The latest Begonia Belle Stakes 2025 betting on the hopeful sprinting mares will be available at Ladbrokes.com.au and published here at Races.com.au for you to back your Begonia Belle Stakes Tips at the right price this Victoria Derby Day.
Minhaaj ($3.70 in 2021) and Asfoora ($3.20 in 2022) are the last favourites in Begonia Belle Stakes betting to win.
2025 Begonia Belle Stakes Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 BEGONIA BELLE STAKES FORM GUIDE
2025 Begonia Belle Stakes Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Begonia Belle Stakes 2025 Tips on the race run as the Kirin Ichiban Sprint on VRC Derby Day.
To Win: No. 3 She’s Bulletproof
Wide open race to close the VRC Derby Day card with a host of genuine winning chances but I liked the winning performance by SHE’S BULLETPROOF (3) last time out, and I see no reason to come off her yet. Charlotte Littlefield’s five-year-old daughter of Shooting To Win was brave with 58kg to take out the Group 3 Northwood Plume at Caulfield and she presents fit now third-up and ready to fire again. Drops back in distance and is yet to win over less than six furlongs but has been close at this short sprint distance plenty enough (4:0-2-1) to suggest she can win. Drops a kilo, drawn a dream in gate three and Ben Allen sticks with. More than held her own in Group 1 company over the autumn including her Oakleigh Plate second to recent The Everest third placegetter Jimmysstar so she brings in strong form lines. So long as she doesn’t find herself too far back in the run I think she can salute.
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11th
3. She’s Bulletproof (2)
J: Ben Allen 57kg
T: Charlotte Littlefield |
2025 Begonia Belle Stakes Field
The Begonia Belle Stakes field attracts a quality line-up of short-distance mares coming out of lead-up runs in events like Caulfield’s Group 2 Schillaci Stakes (1100m) or the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) held on Caulfield Cup Day.
The best mares out of the Begonia Belle Stakes field may return to the Flemington track a week later and line-up in the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) – now run as the Champions Sprint or return in the autumn for the sprints like the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) that the 2016 Begonia Belle Stakes winner Sheidel won the following year.
The official 2025 Begonia Belle Stakes Field & Barriers are released on the Wednesday leading-up to Derby Day and will be published in full below.
The Begonia Belle Stakes 2024 final field – run as the Kirin Ichiban Sprint – features a quality field of top mares ready to close the Derby Day card led narrowly in betting by Arabian Summer for Tony & Calvin McEvoy down in grade off an eye-catching fourth in the Group 2 Caulfield Sprint.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 560x1556x8 | INFANCY | Kris Lees | Craig Williams | 12 | 58kg | Â | Â | 100 |
| 2 | x13159x364 | ARABIAN SUMMER | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Blake Shinn | 7 | 57kg | Â | Â | 102 |
| 3 | 2122125×01 | SHE’S BULLETPROOF | Charlotte Littlefield | Ben Allen | 3 | 57kg |  |  | 104 |
| 4 | x441022x48 | AUSTMARR | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Kerrin McEvoy | 14 | 57kg | Â | Â | 96 |
| 5 | 23490×0201 | STRETAN ANGEL | Phillip Stokes | Lachlan Neindorf | 10 | 56kg | Â | Â | 103 |
| 6 | x21335x937 | GENEROSITY | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 1 | 56kg | Â | Â | 107 |
| 7 | 1382458×57 | PRAIRIE FLOWER | Will Clarken | Ms Jamie Melham | 2 | 56kg | Â | Â | 95 |
| 8 | 1x4x331835 | HI DUBAI | Ciaron Maher | Michael Dee | 9 | 55kg | Â | Â | 90 |
| 9 | 511137x89x | APACHE SONG | Michael Trotter | Logan Bates (a) | 4 | 55kg |  |  | 88 |
| 10 | 11x1x24473 | NEW YORK LUSTRE | Enver Jusufovic | Ms Carleen Hefel | 15 | 55kg | Â | Â | 94 |
| 11 | x2112211x3 | MERRIGOLD | John Sadler | Jye McNeil | 8 | 55kg | Â | Â | 80 |
| 12 | 510x12746x | HEARCOMESTHESTAR | John Moloney | Beau Mertens | 11 | 55kg | Â | Â | 80 |
| 13 | 1x11725x2 | SOFT LOVE | Matt Laurie | Harry Coffey | 6 | 55kg | Â | Â | 84 |
| 14 | x11x252x83 | FLYING FOR FUN | Bryce Heys | Jordan Childs | 13 | 55kg | Â | Â | 86 |
| 15 | 112x6x19x6 | PHOTOGRAPH | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Luke Currie | 5 | 55kg | Â | Â | 76 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 Kirin Ichiban Sprint (Begonia Belle Stakes) Nominations
Early nominations for the Kirin Ichiban Sprint in 2025 are released the Monday of race week.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 277x24x558 | AMEENA | M | 4 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 103 |
| 2 | 511137x89x | APACHE SONG | M | 5 | Michael Trotter | 88 |
| 3 | x13159x364 | ARABIAN SUMMER | M | 4 | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 102 |
| 4 | x441022x48 | AUSTMARR | M | 5 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 96 |
| 5 | 140x21546x | FLUENT | M | 4 | Andrew Noblet | 65 |
| 6 | x11x252x83 | FLYING FOR FUN | M | 4 | Bryce Heys | 86 |
| 7 | 2360x11x02 | GEEGEES MISTRUTH | M | 4 | Mark Walker | 97 |
| 8 | x21335x937 | GENEROSITY | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 107 |
| 9 | x57x458x22 | GUMDROPS | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 90 |
| 10 | 510x12746x | HEARCOMESTHESTAR | M | 5 | John Moloney | 80 |
| 11 | 1x4x331835 | HI DUBAI | M | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 90 |
| 12 | 560x1556x8 | INFANCY | M | 5 | Kris Lees | 100 |
| 13 | 5384745×99 | MATERIAL DREAMS | M | 5 | Nick Ryan | 75 |
| 14 | x2112211x3 | MERRIGOLD | M | 5 | John Sadler | 80 |
| 15 | 11x1x24473 | NEW YORK LUSTRE | M | 6 | Enver Jusufovic | 94 |
| 16 | 112x6x19x6 | PHOTOGRAPH | M | 4 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 75 |
| 17 | 1382458×57 | PRAIRIE FLOWER | M | 6 | Will Clarken | 95 |
| 18 | 17x823x038 | RICH DOTTIE | M | 4 | Grahame Begg | 73 |
| 19 | 11140x | SCILLATO | M | 4 | Lee & Shannon Hope | 73 |
| 20 | 2122125×01 | SHE’S BULLETPROOF | M | 5 | Charlotte Littlefield | 104 |
| 21 | 1x11725x2 | SOFT LOVE | M | 4 | Matt Laurie | 84 |
| 22 | 1x4137x117 | STOKKE | M | 5 | Patrick F Ryan Jnr | 80 |
| 23 | 23490×0201 | STRETAN ANGEL | M | 5 | Phillip Stokes | 103 |
| 24 | 1173431220 | SUN SETTING | M | 4 | Matt Laurie | 72 |
| 25 | x189x44177 | TIGER SHARK | M | 5 | Clayton Douglas | 100 |
| 26 | 127x05x34 | VESTAS | M | 4 | Clinton McDonald | 84 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Begonia Belle Stakes History
The Begonia Belle Stakes was previously known as the GH Mumm Stakes but was renamed prior to the 2014 edition. For two years until 2011, it was known as the Crown Promenade Stakes. The Begonia Belle Stakes did not exist under any name prior to 2009.
Once a listed race, the Begonia Belle Stakes was upgraded to Group 3 status prior to running in 2013.
Although it hasn’t been running for a particularly long time, the Begonia Belle Stakes has rapidly amassed a decent following due to top quality racing. It has developed a reputation for producing winners, rather than being contested by them. However, the improved status and prize money will no doubt continue to draw in topflight horses.
Notable Begonia Belle Stakes winners include Ortensia (2011), Vain Queen (2014), and subsequent Group 1 winner Sheidel (2016).
Begonia Belle Stakes results and winning times for the race recently run as the Furphy Sprint and Kirin Ichiban Sprint going back to 2009 are listed below.
Begonia Belle Stakes Results
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Begonia Belle Stakes (Kirin Ichiban Sprint) | 1st | TBD | TBD |
| 2nd | TBD | ||
| 3rd | TBD | ||
| 2024 Begonia Belle Stakes (Furphy Sprint) | 1st | Isthmus | 1 minute 02.64 |
| 2nd | Kundalini | ||
| 3rd | Danny’s St Darci | ||
| 2023 Begonia Belle Stakes (Furphy Sprint) | 1st | Queen Of The Ball | 1 minute 02.97 seconds |
| 2nd | Hypothetical | ||
| 3rd | Dancing Alone | ||
| 2022 Begonia Belle Stakes (Furphy Sprint) | 1st | Asfoora | 1 minute 04.71 seconds |
| 2nd | Veranskova | ||
| 3rd | Sneaky Price | ||
| 2021 Begonia Belle Stakes | 1st | Minhaaj | 1 minute 02.81 seconds |
| 2nd | Ballistic Lover | ||
| 3rd | Mileva | ||
| 2020 Begonia Belle Stakes | 1st | Fiesta | 1 minute 3.71 seconds |
| 2nd | Too Good Too Hard | ||
| 3rd | Zaniah | ||
| 2019 Begonia Belle Stakes | 1st | Tofane | 1 minute 4.21 seconds |
| 2nd | Pippie | ||
| 3rd | Miss Iano | ||
| 2018 Begonia Belle Stakes | 1st | Divine Quality | 1 minute 2.82 seconds |
| 2nd | Booker | ||
| 3rd | I Am Excited | ||
| 2017 Begonia Belle Stakes | 1st | Lyuba | 1 minute 3.29 seconds |
| 2nd | Savanna Amour | ||
| 3rd | Concealer | ||
| 2016 Begonia Belle Stakes | 1st | Sheidel | 1 minute 2.98 |
| 2nd | Wild Rain | ||
| 3rd | Private Secretary | ||
| 2015 Begonia Belle Stakes | 1st | Pittsburgh Flyer | 1 minute 4.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Dublin Lass | ||
| 3rd | Brook Road | ||
| 2014 Begonia Belle Stakes | 1st | Vain Queen | 1 minute 2.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Bounding | ||
| 3rd | Lilliburlero | ||
| 2013 Begonia Belle Stakes | 1st | Dystopia | 1 minute 3.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Shamal Wind | ||
| 3rd | She Can Skate | ||
| 2012 Begonia Belle Stakes | 1st | Honey Flower | 1 minute 3.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Dystopia | ||
| 3rd | Anise | ||
| 2011 Begonia Belle Stakes | 1st | Ortensia | 1 minute 3.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Balmont Miss | ||
| 3rd | Octopussy | ||
| 2010 Begonia Belle Stakes | 1st | Status Symbol | 1 minute 4.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Jerezana | ||
| 3rd | Zingaling | ||
| 2009 Begonia Belle Stakes | 1st | Very Discreet | 1 minute 3.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Seeking Attention | ||
| 3rd | Serenissima | ||
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