Champions Stakes Day awaits punters on Saturday and despite it being the last day of the Flemington carnival, the day is increasing in popularity. The Legends Mile is the main race of the day and it looks a beauty with Ceowulf, Mr. Brightside, Pride Of Jenni and Treasurethe moment all fighting for champion status if they’re not already.
Race one of the day starts at 12:40pm (AEDT), while the last of nine concludes at 5:50pm (AEDT). Bookmakers are letting punters on Via Sistina in the Champion Stakes with the already Champion mare at odds of $1.70. The track is rated a Good 4 at the time of typing but rain is forecast on the day so a Soft 6 or 7 surface looks likely with 20mls of rain predicted on the day. Check formguides for the latest information.
Brendan Bunworth has done the form for all races on the Champions Stakes Day card and if you're keen to back in his expert tips, consider doing so at Dabble!
Flemington Racing Tips: Saturday, November 8th 2025
Race 1: Inglis Banner 1000m - 12:40pm (AEDT)
(6) Streisand has drawn inside up the straight and her 2nd on debut at this track was full of merit She settled handy and was beaten a neck and she should improve from that racing one month on. She shows good speed out of the barrier and will probably want another Good track.
(4) Nasty won a Caulfield trial by a nose so at least it seems that he wants to win. THe Hayes Team combines with JMAC.
(2) Bohemian Rhapsody is a $200,000 colt and he is on debut. Trialled well in readiness for this. The McKevoy duo trained.
TIP: NO BET
Race 2: Ronald McDonald House Charity Mile 1600m - 1:15pm (AEDT)
(2) Sabaj was scratched last start in preference for this and will want a Good track. Barrier 13 is a slight concern over the mile so we will want minimum $2.60 and that is what the current offer is. He looks better than these and he is fitter now and the extra distance will suit. Mark Zahra is in form and will take him back from that draw.
(9) Reset The Jazz loves the mile but doesn’t race that well at Flemington. Is over the odds though and and Each-Way bet is not bad idea.
(11) Nation’s Call likes Soft ground and Robbie Griffiths got him to lead all of the way last start at The Valley. Longer straight here though.
(2) Sabaj WIN
$2.60 (3 Units)
Race 3: FISHER Stakes 1200m - 1:50pm (AEDT)
(14) Vestas has been a bit frustrating for punters of late but has been running on very well in her races. She will get back in the run and from barrier 14 will have the last crack at them over the final 100m. Ben Melham is on and he has won on top previously. Last start at The Valley she ran on well for 4th in the Group 2 McKewen Stakes. Flemington is better.
(13) De Bergerac has won 3 from 5 on the Soft and has been freshened for this. Last start winner at this track after coming from near last.
(2) Nadal was scratched on Oaks Day in preference for this. The Maher stable want a Soft track. If they get it he can win, I doubt he can on the Dry.
(14) Vestas Each-Way
$6.00/$2.20 (1 Unit)
Race 4: TAB Matriarch Stakes Group 2 2000m - 2:30pm (AEDT)
(5) She’s A Hustler got the gun run and saluted over 2040m in the Group 3 Tesio Stakes on Cox Plate Day and will only have trained on since with this being her third run from a spell. She has handled most conditions before but is untried on Heavy so be wary if the track is that rating. She’s a Flemington winner and is a winner.
(3) Jennilala drops 3kg for this race and she handles all conditions. Was good at Caulfield two starts ago when settling handy (2nd) and she will go forward again.
(1) Alalcance is probably the best horse in the race and the Waterhouse&Bott trained mare should run well first up. Handles all conditions and has won 3 from 5 when first up.
(5) She’s A Hustler WIN
$2.70 (2 Units)
Race 5: Queen Elizabeth Stakes Group 3 2600m - 3:10pm (AEDT)
(2) Berkeley Square has raced well this campaign and has been running to the line well. He is back at his favourite track and he was only defeated less than a length in the Geelong Cup (3rd) which is good form for this. Hasn’t won in almost a year so Each-Way is the play.
(1) Birdman got too far back in the Caulfield Cup and wasn’t disgraced when 6th only beaten 3L by Half Yours. Birdman missed a chance of impressing in the Melbourne Cup so connections will be keen for a forward showing here.
(3) Sayedaty Sadaty won the Bendigo Cup for followers and also just missed a start in the Melbourne Cup. Has won at Flemington and is having his first try at the 2600m.
(2) Berkeley Square Each-Way
$8.00/$2.60 (0.50 Units)
Race 6: VRC Champions Sprint GROUP 1 1200m - 3:50pm (AEDT)
(6) Joliestar won well in The Shorts and despite some she was average in The Everest when 5th, he was only beaten 1.6L. She likes Flemington, is an unknown on Heavy tracks though if it gets that way. She has won on 4 occasions over the 1200m and after getting cover in the run I can see her getting clear over the final 200m to win.
(1) Giga Kick likes wet tracks and did come back to his best when he won the Group 3 Schillaci. Is fitter after trialled up well at Caulfield on October 30.
(10) Tentyris is a huge chance if the track is a Soft 5 or 6. However by this stage of the day it probably won’t be. He was huge winning the Group 1 Coolmore but the stable has indicated he may be scratched if the track is too wet.
(6) Joliestar WIN
$3.00 (3 Units)
Race 7: Lexus Champions Mile GROUP 1 1600m - 4:30pm (AEDT)
(1) Mr. Brightside was huge in the Group 1 King Charles when running 2nd behind Ceowulf and Willow won’t mind the Heavy track if it goes that way by race seven. He has won 13 from 24 starts over the mile and those wins have been in all conditions. On a combined Soft and Heavy track Mr B has had a total of 8 wins and two seconds. Crig Williams will likely settle him in 2nd or 3rd position in the run and he will have Pride Of Jenni lengths ahead of him. Willow has seen this movie before and will try and time his run to perfection up the long Flemington straight. Mr B has won 18 of his 20 races with Willow on top.
(9) Treasurethe Moment settled up there in the Cox Plate and ran well when 3rd on a Good surface. She has never raced on a Heavy track which is a slight query but she is 3 from 3 on the Soft. She has never missed a top 3 finish in her 15 starts.
(10) Leica Lucy can run into 3rd here I reckon on the back of a fast tempo. She was 2nd in the Group 1 Empire Rose and is 2 from 2 on the Soft.
(1) Mr.Brightside Each-Way
$4.20/$1.60 (2U/3U)
Race 8: TAB Champion Stakes GROUP 1 2000m - 5:10pm (AEDT)
(10) Via Sistina the champion horse and winner of the 2025 Cox Plate goes around again for Waller and JMAC and should be winning. She is currently $1.70 which seems generous but if the heavy rains comes during the afternoon as predicted, then it might cause a few gremlins with the track. She has won 15 from 28 and handles any conditions and has won twice at Flemington before. I think she wins again simply because this is an easier race than the Cox Plate and she does seem to have 3 to 4L on most of these.
(7) Golden Path is running very well and has been doing so on Good tracks. The gelding actually goes better on rain affected ground which he gets here. He was less than half a length behind Sir Delius in the Underwood Stakes and he is a two time Flemington winner. Good odds.
(1) Tom Kitten has been flying al campaign by all reports and gets his chance for an upset here. He steps up in distance after running 5th in the King Charles at Randwick. He has won here before and has won over 2000m.
(10) Via Sistina WIN
$1.70 (4 Units)
Race 9: HKJC World Pool Handicap 1100m - 5:50pm (AEDT)
(16) Actuality for the Moody&Coleman stable gets the nod in the last race of the Flemington carnival. Despite never racing on a Soft or Heavy track previously she has been running consistently and WIllow stays on after winning on top at Seymour on October 12. She should settle midfield in this and will likely go to the outside and try to get out in space over the final 100m. Stays with 54kg and barrier 11 looks good.
(3) Grand Larceny was luckless last start (2nd) and was backed to win before that at The Valley when 3rd. Is 1 from 1 when third up from a spell and the Hawkes Team usually picks one up on this famous week of racing so a win wouldn’t surprise.
(8) Fission ran well behind Actuality at Seymur when 2nd and will get back in the field in this but be one of the best closers. Has never placed at Flemington in 4 attempts and is a query on the wet track.
(16) Actuality Each-Way
$8.00/$2.45 (0.50 Units)
Quaddie Tips
Leg one: 1, 6, 10
Leg two: 1, 9, 10
Leg three: 10
Leg four: 3, 16
