Chances are you're about to lose.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
Overview
This page was last updated on November 18, 2025
The 2025 Victoria Derby ran on Saturday November 1, 2025, at Flemington on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and saw the Ciaron Maher trained favourite Observer ($2.45F) lead all-the-way for a huge victory.
- Race Date: 01/11/2025
- Race Status: Group 1
- Race Conditions: 3YOs - Set Weights
- Race Venue: Flemington, VIC
- Prize Money: $2,000,000
- Distance: 2500m
- Track Conditions: Good3 - FINE
- Rail Position: True Entire Circuit.
| 1. Observer (4) J: Mark Zahra57kg 5x231T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 8. Arcora (11) J: John Allen57kg 31005T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | ||
| 16. Deal Done Fast (1) J: Daniel Stackhouse57kg 244T: Matt Cumani | ||
| 13. One Step Closer (2) J: Jye McNeil57kg x5104T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | ||
| 6. Providence (12) J: Craig Williams57kg 60382T: Chris Waller | ||
| 14. Savisanta (3) J: Ben Melham57kg 2223T: Chris Waller | ||
| 4. Miewa (8) J: Jordan Childs57kg 44122T: Nick Ryan | ||
| 3. Autumn Mystery (15) J: Blake Shinn57kg 52211T: Rory Hunter | ||
| 9. O'sheamus (5) J: Kerrin McEvoy57kg x4613T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | ||
| 5. Options (7) J: Harry Coffey57kg 11315T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy | ||
| 11. Engine Of War (9) J: Tommy Berry57kg 3x127T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 2. Highvol (13) J: Jamie Mott57kg 76402T: Nick Ryan | ||
| 10. Amazake (6) J: Declan Bates57kg 7x673T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 15. Mcwoody (14) J: Jamie Melham57kg 15T: Mark Walker | ||
| 12. Matsuda (16) J: Thomas Stockdale57kg 24814T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 7. Azazel (10) J: Michael Dee57kg 141T: Mark Walker |
2025 Victoria Derby Results
The Victoria Derby 2025 Results will be announced here naming which horse is the Victoria Derby 2025 winner and the full 2025 VRC Derby finishing order when the event takes place on Saturday, November 1, 2025.
- 1st: No. 1 Observer ($2.45F)
- 2nd: No. 8 Arcora
- 3rd: No. 16 Deal Done Fast
- 4th: No. 13 One Step Closer
Winning Margin: 0.75 lengths
Winning Time: 2:37.28
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 ($2.45F) who saluted for the punters in the 2025 Victoria Derby results.
Click here for the full story.
Victoria Derby Tips
Check out all the information on which horses to back and sack in this year’s classic on our Victoria Derby tips page, a guide to using the Derby form and history to uncover the season’s Victoria Derby winner.
2025 Victoria Derby Same Race Multi Selections ($27 at time of publish)
- Top 2 – No. 6 Providence
- Top 3 – No. 1 Observer
- Top 4 – No. 7 Azazel
Click here for our complete Victoria Derby 2025 tips and best bets.
| 1. Observer (4) J: Mark Zahra57kg 5x231T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 6. Providence (12) J: Craig Williams57kg 60382T: Chris Waller | ||
| 7. Azazel (10) J: Michael Dee57kg 141T: Mark Walker |
Victoria Derby News
The Victoria Derby is one of the best classic races held at Flemington Racecourse as part of the prestigious and highly anticipated Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
This 2500m staying race, run on a left-handed turf course, takes place on the first day of the first of the four Melbourne Cup Carnival meetings each year on the Saturday before the famous Melbourne Cup. A Group 1 event for three-year-olds at set weights, the race is worth over $2 million and takes place in late October or early November.
The 2021 Victoria Derby form was franked with the winner Hitotsu returning the following autumn to complete the interstate Group 1 Australian Guineas – Australian Derby double in 2022. The 2021 VRC Derby runner-up Alegron also ran third in the Australian Derby results the following year and placed fourth in the 2022 SA Derby that season.
The 2022 VRC Derby form was franked with the runner-up Sharp ‘N’ Smart heading across the Tasman to win the 2023 NZ Derby before a fourth in the ATC Derby in 2023. Aberfeldie Boy meanwhile ran third in both the Victoria Derby (2022) and SA Derby (2023) as a three-year-old.
The 2023 Victoria Derby winner Riff Rocket franked the form the following autumn enjoying plenty of 2024 success including claiming Sydney’s Group 1 Rosehill Guineas – ATC Derby double!
Punters can study the form of the horses in the traditional prep race to the Derby, the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day the weekend before. This lead-up event has been an excellent indication for the Victoria Derby in recent years, with many Derby winners coming via this middle-distance race.
Observer (2025) was the last horse to complete the Moonee Valley Vase – Victoria Derby double.
The Victoria Derby attracts a huge number of bets each year, and Derby Day boasts the largest crowd attendance of any of the carnival’s race days. With so many spectators and punters, the betting markets on the Derby are always competitive and lucrative. The Victoria Derby also features in a number of popular betting doubles, including the Victoria Derby / Cox Plate double; Red Anchor (1984) was the last horse to take out this double.
Victoria Derby Day
The Victoria Derby is the highlight event on the famous Victoria Derby Day. VRC Derby Day is one of the most exciting and elite meetings of the entire carnival as every race on the card holds group status, including two other fantastic Group 1 races with the running of the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) for three-year-olds and the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) for the fillies and mares.
2025 Victoria Derby Betting
If you want to pick the value in this season’s Victoria Derby odds that will pay off the best, then check out our Victoria Derby odds page.
All-in Victoria Derby betting odds are out months in advance of the race at all-in prices.
Riff Rocket ($2.20 in 2023) and Observer ($2.45 in 2025) are the latest favourites in VRC Derby betting to salute for the punters.
Victoria Derby betting is the perfect way to warm up for the Melbourne Cup, which is held just a few days later. For improved results, read our section on Victoria Derby betting including information on placing many exotic bet types like a Victoria Derby trifecta, Victoria Derby quinella, Victoria Derby exacta, or Victoria Derby First Four bet.
Find the latest Victoria Derby 2025 odds along with links to the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au at Races.com.au.
Victoria Derby Field
Victoria Derby Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 VICTORIA DERBY FORM GUIDE
If you don’t know the first thing about using a form guide, then don’t worry – our Victory Derby form guide page is here to help. We tell you about what the many common details included in a form guide mean, and how you can use a Victoria Derby form guide to place more informed Victoria Derby bets.
2025 Victoria Derby Nominations
The official VRC Derby Nominations for 2025 will be announced here once early entries are taken by the VRC.
The 2025 Victoria Derby nominations are now out featuring 24 three-year-old stayers led in all-in betting by Ciaron Maher’s Moonee Valley Vase champion Observer on the quick back-up.
2025 Victoria Derby Final Field
The Victoria Derby field attracts a line-up of the best three-year-old stayers of the season. The VRC Derby field rarely features fillies taking on the colts and geldings, the girls saved for the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) the following Thursday.
Good lead-up races into the Victoria Derby field include the previous weekend’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) on Cox Plate Day and the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) held in late October.
The 2025 Victoria Derby field is released on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below once announced by Racing Victoria.
The Victoria Derby 2025 final field is now out featuring a capacity line-up of three-year-old stayers including the Ciaron Maher trained Observer on a quick turnaround after an impressive Moonee Valley Vase victory. He is now the short favourite drawn win in gate four chasing the double last completed by Efficient (2006).
Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2025 VRC Derby field and betting markets.
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Weight | Age | Sex | Last Starts | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Observer | Mark Zahra | Ciaron Maher | 4 | 57kg | 3 | C | 5x231 | $558,200 |
| 2 | Highvol | Jamie Mott | Nick Ryan | 13 | 57kg | 3 | G | 76402 | $247,225 |
| 3 | Autumn Mystery | Blake Shinn | Rory Hunter | 15 | 57kg | 3 | G | 52211 | $233,485 |
| 4 | Miewa | Jordan Childs | Nick Ryan | 8 | 57kg | 3 | G | 44122 | $174,200 |
| 5 | Options | Harry Coffey | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 7 | 57kg | 3 | C | 11315 | $166,420 |
| 6 | Providence | Craig Williams | Chris Waller | 12 | 57kg | 3 | C | 60382 | $161,250 |
| 7 | Azazel | Michael Dee | Mark Walker | 10 | 57kg | 3 | G | 141 | $151,250 |
| 8 | Arcora | John Allen | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 11 | 57kg | 3 | C | 31005 | $140,150 |
| 9 | O'sheamus | Kerrin McEvoy | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | 5 | 57kg | 3 | G | x4613 | $91,375 |
| 10 | Amazake | Declan Bates | Ciaron Maher | 6 | 57kg | 3 | G | 7x673 | $58,090 |
| 11 | Engine Of War | Tommy Berry | Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | 9 | 57kg | 3 | G | 3x127 | $49,807 |
| 12 | Matsuda | Thomas Stockdale | Ciaron Maher | 16 | 57kg | 3 | G | 24814 | $42,385 |
| 13 | One Step Closer | Jye McNeil | John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | 2 | 57kg | 3 | G | x5104 | $40,450 |
| 14 | Savisanta | Ben Melham | Chris Waller | 3 | 57kg | 3 | G | 2223 | $39,060 |
| 15 | Mcwoody | Jamie Melham | Mark Walker | 14 | 57kg | 3 | C | 15 | $23,600 |
| 16 | Deal Done Fast | Daniel Stackhouse | Matt Cumani | 1 | 57kg | 3 | C | 244 | $20,310 |
| 17 | Arabian Prince | Craig Williams | Michael Kent | 20 | 57kg | 3 | C | 3x56 | $22,675 |
| 18 | Freddie Bassett | Ben Allen | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 14 | 57kg | 3 | C | x5206 | $34,100 |
| 19 | Crack A Deel | Unknown | Henry Dwyer | 13 | 57kg | 3 | C | 0x617 | $31,860 |
| 20 | Super Paradise | Unknown | Andrew Forsman | 18 | 57kg | 3 | G | 31009 | $21,290 |
Victoria Derby Barrier & Speedmap
Victoria Derby Previous Race Winners
As the Victoria Derby is restricted to three-year-olds, previous Victoria Derby results aren’t tremendously useful for your betting. However, just in case you need to settle an argument about a previous running of the race, we have a Victoria Derby winners page and Victoria Derby results page to help you out.
| YEAR | WINNER | 2ND | 3RD | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Observer | Arcora | Deal Done Fast | 2:37.28 |
| 2024 | Goldrush Guru | Scary | China Sea | 2:37.78 |
| 2023 | Riff Rocket | Apulia | Sunsets | 2:37.38 |
| 2022 | Manzoice | Sharp ‘N’ Smart | Aberfeldie Boy | 2:40.8 |
| 2021 | Hitotsu | Alegron | Teewaters | 2:37.3 |
| 2020 | Johnny Get Angry | Hit The Shot | Young Werther | 2:41.9 |
| 2019 | Warning | Southern Moon | Soul Patch | 2:40.8 |
| 2018 | Extra Brut | Stars Of Carrum | Chapada | 2:34.3 |
| 2017 | Ace High | Sully | Astoria | 2:37.5 |
| 2016 | Prized Icon | Sacred Elixir | Inference | 2:36.1 |
| 2015 | Tarzino | Etymology | Kia Ora Koutou | 2:38.3 |
| 2014 | Preferment | Bondeiger | Nozomi | 2:37.8 |
| 2013 | Polanski | Complacent | Thunder Fantasy | 2:38.6 |
| 2012 | Fiveandahalfstar | Super Cool | Rawnaq | 2:35.9 |
| 2011 | Sangster | Induna | Sabrage | 2:40.3 |
| 2010 | Lion Tamer | Praecido | Retrieve | 2:46.4 |
| 2009 | Monaco Consul | Extra Zero | Viking Legend | 2:41.6 |
| 2008 | Rebel Raider | Whobegotyou | Pre Eminence | 2:36.9 |
| 2007 | Kibbutz | Littorio | Marching | 2:40.9 |
| 2006 | Efficient | Gorky Park | Teranaba | 2:38.3 |
| 2005 | Benicio | Duelled | Headturner | 2:37.0 |
| 2004 | Plastered | Savabeel | Count Ricardo | 2:35.4 |
| 2003 | Elvstroem | Kempinsky | Our Bahare | 2:38.9 |
| 2002 | Helenus | Hydrometer | Aint There | 2:40.5 |
| 2001 | Amalfi | Zarek | Pentastic | 2:34.6 |
| 2000 | Hit The Roof | Universal Prince | Falls The Shadow | 2:39.0 |
| Victoria Derby 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday, November 1, 2025 |
| Racecourse: | Flemington Racecourse |
| Distance: | 2500m |
| Conditions: | Three-year-olds at Set Weights |
| Status: | Group 1 |
| Prizemoney: | $2,000,000 |
next to go
