Champions Stakes Day 2025 - Group 1 Fields & Barrier Draws Set for Flemington Finale
Flemington is set to shine on Champions Stakes Day 2025, capping off the Melbourne Cup Carnival with a remarkable nine-race schedule on November 8. Highlighting the event are three Group 1 contests—Champions Stakes, Champions Sprint, and Champions Mile—each symbolizing racecraft, prestige, and tradition. Stars like Tentyris, Joliestar, Giga Kick, and Via Sistina are primed to compete, adding thrilling narratives to the finale. Via Sistina defends her Cox Plate title, anticipating another glory in the Champions Stakes, while Mr Brightside is poised to secure the Champions Mile. The full race lineup showcases exceptional equestrian talent.
- Flemington hosts Champions Stakes Day 2025 on Saturday, November 8
- Features nine races including three Group 1 showpieces
- Celebrates top-tier performers in middle-distance, sprint, and mile
Flemington hosts three Group 1's on Champions Stakes Day, Saturday, November 8, 2025, with the spotlight on the Champions Stakes, Champions Mile and Champions Sprint. (Getty)
Flemington takes centre stage for Champions Stakes Day 2025, bringing the curtain down on the Melbourne Cup Carnival on Saturday, November 8 with a world-class nine-race program featuring three Group 1 showpieces.
- Champions Sprint
- 2025 Champions Sprint - Barriers & Final Field
- Champions Mile
- 2025 Champions Mile - Barriers & Final Field
- Champions Stakes
- 2025 Champions Stakes - Barriers & Final Field
The celebrated finale showcases elite middle-distance performers, star sprinters, and headline milers in one of the most anticipated cards of the spring.
Below, the fields and barrier draws are confirmed for the Champions Stakes, Champions Sprint, and Champions Mile — a trio of Group 1 contests that embody the class, prestige, and tradition of Champions Stakes Day at Flemington, while a link to all lineups for the nine-race program is also included.
Champions Sprint
Tentyris (barrier 3) was super impressive on Victoria Derby Day when producing a stylish victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, and with no clear standouts among the older brigade, the colt earns his chance on the quick back-up — though a three-year-old hasn’t won this race since 1999.
Joliestar (barrier 7) was last seen finishing fifth in The Everest, having kicked off her spring with a brilliant first-up win in The Shorts.
Her most recent appearance up the Flemington straight came in March when she claimed the Newmarket Handicap with authority.
Giga Kick (barrier 4) returned to winning form in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield and has proven effective up the Flemington straight, with both of his prior victories there coming early in his career.
Magic Time (barrier 5) is a two-time Group 1 winner coming out of The Everest, while Caballus (barrier 9) saluted on the straight course last Saturday when taking out the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes.
2025 Champions Sprint - Barriers & Final Field
| No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Giga Kick | Clayton Douglas | Mark Zahra | 4 | 58.5kg |
| 2 | Jedibeel (NZ) | Brad Widdup | Ethan Brown | 8 | 58.5kg |
| 3 | Caballus | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 9 | 58.5kg |
| 4 | Libertad | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Tom Marquand | 1 | 58.5kg |
| 5 | Tropicus | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Damian Lane | 6 | 58.5kg |
| 6 | Joliestar | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 7 | 56.5kg |
| 7 | Magic Time | Grahame Begg | Michael Dee | 5 | 56.5kg |
| 8 | Benedetta | Ciaron Maher | Jamie Melham | 10 | 56.5kg |
| 9 | Flying For Fun | Bryce Heys | Jordan Childs | 2 | 56.5kg |
| 10 | Tentyris | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Craig Williams | 3 | 53.5kg |
Champions Mile
Mr Brightside (barrier 9) is aiming to defend his Champions Mile crown and arrives in good form, having won the Makybe Diva Stakes over the Flemington mile two starts back before finishing second in the King Charles III Stakes.
The ten-time Group 1 winner remains one of Australia’s most consistent performers and is proven on all surfaces, boasting strong records on good, soft, and heavy ground.
Pride Of Jenni (barrier 2) adds further intrigue after an impressive spring that includes two wins from three appearances, highlighted by a dominant all-the-way victory in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes on Victoria Derby Day. The Ciaron Maher-trained mare completed the Empire Rose–Champions Mile double in 2023 and now chases a fifth Group 1 victory.
Ceolwulf (barrier 7) also comes through the King Charles III Stakes, where he defeated both Mr Brightside and Pride Of Jenni, and will make his Melbourne debut after racing exclusively in Sydney to this point.
Treasurethe Moment (barrier 3) returns to a mile after finishing third in the Cox Plate and could be suited dropping back to 1600m. The mare hasn’t won since her brilliant first-up Memsie Stakes victory but has remained competitive throughout the campaign, having dealt with a mild colic setback soon after that win.
2025 Champions Mile - Barriers & Final Field
| No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mr Brightside (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Williams | 9 | 59kg |
| 2 | Ceolwulf (NZ) | Joseph Pride | Chad Schofield | 7 | 59kg |
| 3 | Pericles | Bjorn Baker | Ben Melham | 4 | 59kg |
| 4 | Lake Forest (GB) | William Haggas | Tom Marquand | 6 | 59kg |
| 5 | Steparty | Paul Preusker | Harry Coffey | 10 | 59kg |
| 6 | Von Hauke (NZ) | Cliff Brown | Ethan Brown | 5 | 59kg |
| 7 | Pride Of Jenni | Ciaron Maher | Declan Bates | 2 | 57kg |
| 8 | Stefi Magnetica | Bjorn Baker | Jason Collett | 1 | 57kg |
| 9 | Treasurethe Moment | Matt Laurie | Damian Lane | 3 | 57kg |
| 10 | Leica Lucy (NZ) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 8 | 57kg |
Champions Stakes
Via Sistina (barrier 10) brought up Group 1 win number eleven when defending her Cox Plate title with a brave performance at Moonee Valley, and her spring will culminate in the Champions Stakes, another feature she is looking to defend.
Her 2000m record under Chris Waller is outstanding, with six wins and two placings from eight attempts over the distance in Australia.
Chris Waller has also accepted with Kovalica (barrier 2), while the Price & Kent Jnr yard have dual representation through Golden Path (barrier 4) and Zambardo (barrier 9).
Tom Kitten (barrier 8) continues his preparation and looks suited rising to 2000m fourth-up. His first Group 1 victory came over this trip in the Spring Champion Stakes as an early three-year-old.
He proved his weight-for-age credentials last autumn with an All-Star Mile victory and a third placing in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
2025 Champions Stakes - Barriers & Final Field
| No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Kitten | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Ben Melham | 8 | 59kg |
| 2 | Light Infantry Man (FR) | Ciaron Maher | Mark Zahra | 3 | 59kg |
| 3 | Kovalica (NZ) | Chris Waller | Damian Lane | 2 | 59kg |
| 4 | Attrition | Mitchell Freedman | Craig Williams | 5 | 59kg |
| 5 | Alenquer (FR) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Jamie Mott | 11 | 59kg |
| 6 | Pier (NZ) | Darryn & Briar Weatherley | Ethan Brown | 6 | 59kg |
| 7 | Golden Path (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Jordan Childs | 4 | 59kg |
| 8 | Point King (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Celine Gaudray | 1 | 59kg |
| 9 | Zambardo (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Jamie Melham | 9 | 58.5kg |
| 10 | Via Sistina (IRE) | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 10 | 57kg |
| 11 | Benagil | Glen Thompson | Michael Dee | 7 | 56.5kg |
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