It’s almost that time of year again when all eyes turn towards horse racing. Your mates here at Joe Fortune are on hand bringing you a ‘Fortune Feed Spring Carnival 2025’ special; outlining when and where all the key races are taking place, as well as which horses and jockeys to look out for. There have also been a few changes to increases in prize money and also the racing calendar which we’ll give you all the info on, in this fast and friendly rundown. So, giddy up let’s get started…
Spring Racing Carnival 2025
The Golden Eagle
First up the big news is that the $10 million Golden Eagle, which is Sydney’s second-richest race, has now moved from Rosehill Gardens to Royal Randwick to form part of the Everest Carnival making Saturday, 1st November a ripper of a day. The race continues to attract worldwide interest and is for four-year-olds competing over 1500 metres with 10% of each horse’s prize money being donated to a charity chosen by its owners.
Thousand Guineas
The Group 1 thousand Guineas is over 1600m for three-year-old fillies moves from its mid-November slot back into the middle of the Caulfield Cup Carnival. It will now be competed for on Caulfield Cup Day, Saturday, 18th October 2025, in effect returning to the program it last occupied prior to 1988. The change strengthens the Melbourne Racing Club’s main race day by adding a second Group 1 to what is a thrilling card.
Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes
The Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes races over 1400m and now returns to its original date on Saturday, 20th September 2025, having recently been held in mid-November. Its move makes the September meeting a dual Group 1 race day at Caulfield, running alongside the Underwood Stakes.
Prize Money
Prize money for the Melbourne Cup has increased by $1.34 million, bringing the total to $10 million, it will be held at Flemington on Tuesday, 4th November 2025. The Cox Plate receives a $1 million boost, taking total prize money to $6 million and is being held at Moonee Valley on Saturday, 25th October 2025. In Sydney, The Everest remains top of the pile and yet again offers a staggering $20 million in prize money. It is recognised as the world’s richest race on turf and brings together twelve of the fastest sprinters from around the world. This year the race will be run on Saturday, 18th October.
Spring Racing Carnival Key Races
Here is your quick rundown on when and where the best races are due to be run:
| Date | Race Name | Location |
| August 2025 | ||
| Sat 30 Aug | San Domenico Stakes | Rosehill Gardens |
| September 2025 | ||
| Sat 06 Sep | Moir Stakes | Moonee Valley |
| Sat 13 Sep | Makybe Diva Stakes | Flemington |
| Sat 20 Sep | Underwood Stakes | Caulfield |
| Sat 20 Sep | Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes | Caulfield |
| Fri 26 Sep | Manikato Stakes | Moonee Valley |
| Sat 27 Sep | Golden Rose | Rosehill Gardens |
| October 2025 | ||
| Sat 04 Oct | Turnbull Stakes | Flemington |
| Sat 04 Oct | Epsom Handicap | Randwick |
| Sat 04 Oct | The Metropolitan | Randwick |
| Sat 04 Oct | Flight Stakes | Randwick |
| Sat 11 Oct | Might and Power Stakes | Caulfield |
| Sat 11 Oct | Toorak Handicap | Caulfield |
| Sat 11 Oct | Caulfield Guineas | Caulfield |
| Sat 18 Oct | Caulfield Cup | Caulfield |
| Sat 18 Oct | The Everest | Randwick |
| Sat 18 Oct | Thousand Guineas | Caulfield |
| Sat 18 Oct | King Charles III Stakes | Randwick |
| Sat 25 Oct | Spring Champion Stakes | Randwick |
| Sat 25 Oct | Cox Plate | Moonee Valley |
| November 2025 | ||
| Sat 01 Nov | Victoria Derby | Flemington |
| Sat 01 Nov | Coolmore Stud Stakes | Flemington |
| Sat 01 Nov | Empire Rose Stakes | Flemington |
| Sat 01 Nov | Golden Eagle | Randwick |
| Sat 01 Nov | Russell Balding Stakes | Randwick |
| Tue 04 Nov | Melbourne Cup | Flemington |
| Tue 04 Nov | The Big Dance | Randwick |
| Thu 06 Nov | VRC Oaks | Flemington |
| Sat 08 Nov | Champions Mile | Flemington |
| Sat 08 Nov | Champions Stakes | Flemington |
| Sat 08 Nov | Champions Sprint | Flemington |
| Sat 15 Nov | CF Orr Stakes | Caulfield |
| Sat 22 Nov | Railway Stakes | Ascot |
| Sat 29 Nov | Winterbottom Stakes | Ascot |
| December 2025 | ||
| Sat 06 Dec | Northerly Stakes | Ascot |
Jockeys to Watch
A couple of jockeys worth watching over the spring are Mark Zahra and Zac Lloyd. Zahra, based in Victoria, has been the winning jockey in the last two Melbourne Cups and is very much a man who delivers on the big occasion. Over the winter he went to Royal Ascot and rode just one horse which duly went and won! Lloyd is the son of former champion jockey Jeff Lloyd and since his first win in 2020 the 21-year-old is now on about 400 winners, has claimed two apprentice titles as well as several Group 1s. He is very much a star on the rise and could have a cracking spring.
Trainers to Know
The top trainer who has dominated in NSW as the champion over the last decade has been Chris Waller. The Kiwi has got a strong number of stables, and you can be sure that yet again this spring he is sure to be sending out a lot of winners, so it is worth backing his runners in the big races. In Victoria the leading trainer for the last few years has been Ciaron Maher, expect him to be dominant again throughout the carnival.
Horses to Follow
Let’s start with the favourite for the Everest. This year, as with most, it is set to be an absolute belter with the best sprinter in the world, Ka Ying Rising, coming over from Hong Kong to compete in the race. The horse has been installed as $1.80 fav in the early markets. Another runner to keep an eye out for is Via Sistina, this mare was the star of last spring winning plenty of Group 1 races, including the Cox Plate. She is fast becoming the darling of Aussie racing. When it comes to the Melbourne Cup then famous trainer Gai Waterhouse has a very popular runner aimed at the race this year called Sir Delius. The final runner on our list is Lady Shenandoah who is set to compete in the Golden Eagle.