Light Infantry Man stuns in 163rd TAB Australian Cup as Fashions on the Field returns

The win gave Victoria’s leading trainer Ciaron Maher his first TAB Australian Cup (2000m) and continued the great run of in-form jockey Ethan Brown.

The road to the Lexus Melbourne Cup kicked off with Deakin securing the first golden ticket into the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup by winning the $300,000 Listed Lexus Roy Higgins (2600m) and connections already plotting their path to the first Tuesday in November.

New Zealand three-year-old Alabama Lass lit up the Flemington straight in the $500,000 Listed HKJC World Pool Sprint Classic (1100m) for trainer Ken Kelso.

 Off the track, Fashions on the Field made a triumphant return to the autumn schedule for the first time in more than a decade, with fashionable racegoers flocking to Flemington to enter the competition.

Layce Vocale from Melbourne was crowned winner of the Best Dressed and Cass Pisarskis from Geelong won Best Suited. As part of the prize both winners received a $2000 gift card as well as a spot in the Melbourne Cup Carnival Crown Oaks Day Daily Finals on Thursday 6 November.

The VRC’s Good Friday Appeal partnership tipped over $100,000 raised for the season, with 2025 Face of the Appeal Jack on-course with his parents Rohan and Misty.

VRC Chief Executive Officer Kylie Rogers said the race day was a fitting finale to autumn at Flemington.

“TAB Australian Cup Day capped off a sensational month of March at Flemington. It delivered on the racing front and in the fashion stakes and a huge congratulations must go to Light Infantry Man and connections on taking home the TAB Australian Cup,” Ms Rogers said.

"It was fantastic to see so many racegoers support the return of Fashions on the Field in the autumn, with so many incredible outfits on display making it a difficult decision for the judges to choose a winner.

“We also marked another important milestone with more than $100,000 raised for the Good Friday Appeal at Flemington this season and we are humbled to be able to play a part in supporting the Royal Children’s Hospital.

“Thanks to VRC major partner TAB for their support of TAB Australian Cup Day, this was the third year it was run as a standalone meeting and it will only get bigger in years to come.”

Today’s TAB Australian Cup Day was the ultimate grand final for Flemington Racing Spectacular which saw more than 34,000 people attend during the month of March. The next race meeting at Flemington will be ANZAC Day Race Day on Friday 25 April 2025.