Penfolds Victoria Derby Day to ignite the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival

The curtain will rise on a sensational week of action with three sensational Group 1 races, headlined by Australia’s oldest classic, the $2 million Penfolds Victoria Derby (2500m) for the staying three-year-olds.

The Cummings family will be hoping to uphold their strong legacy in the feature with eight winners since 1948 spanning four generations. Anthony Cummings, son of the legendary Bart, will saddle up favourite El Castello - winner of the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) - as he searches for his second success in the blue riband following Fiveandahalfstar’s victory in 2013. Joshua Parr takes the ride.

Standing in his way is Flemington horseman Nick Ryan, searching for his first Group 1 win as a trainer. The former jockey, who was placed at his first Lexus Melbourne Cup ride aboard Zazzman 20 years ago, sends out Red Aces, winner of the Byerley Handicap (1800m) at Headquarters over the winter before adding the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) last weekend. Jamie Mott will be in the saddle.

Australian premium winemaker Penfolds, who are celebrating their 180th year, will again sponsor the historic race with winning connections set to take home a rare three-litre (double magnum) bottle of Grange 2020 in a custom-made display case.

The nine-race card, which consists entirely of Group races, also sees Australia’s best sprinting three-year-olds tackle Flemington’s famous straight six in the $2 million Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).

Top-class performers Growing Empire (trainer Ciaron Maher, jockey Mark Zahra), Traffic Warden (trainer James Cummings, jockey Jamie Kah), and Switzerland (trainer Chris Waller, jockey James McDonald) are among those set to clash in one of the contests of the spring.

Meanwhile, a host of classy fillies and mares will contest the $1 million Group 1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes. Last year, the race provided Pride Of Jenni with her first Group 1 triumph in a season that saw her crowned Australian Horse of the Year.

The $300,000 Group 2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes (2000m) will once again serve as a prelude to next Thursday’s $1 million Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m), while the $500,000 Group 2 The Damien Oliver (1400m) sees three of the most exciting horses in training - Another Wil and Jimmysstar (trainer Ciaron Maher, jockeys Jamie Kah and Blake Shinn) and Mighty Ulysses (trainers Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald, jockey Jamie Mott)- go head-to-head. All races on the program are part of the world pool.

The world-famous Birdcage Enclosure will play host to a who’s who of entertainment, sport, business and media including international models Abbey Lee Kershaw, Jessica Gomes and actress Olympia Valance for Lexus, international model Georgia Fowler and Melbourne Football Club superstar Christian Petracca for Penfolds.

Olympic gold-medalist Emma McKeon along with AFL players Nick and Josh Daicos and Diamonds netball players Liz Watson and Jo Weston for G.H Mumm, Norm Smith medalist Will Ashcroft, business women Rebecca Judd, Rebecca Harding and comedian and TV presenter Andy Lee for Crown and Today Show hosts Sarah Abo, Alex Cullen as well as Nine News weather host Livinia Nixon for Nine.

Friend of the VRC and model Montana Cox, Melbourne Cup Carnival ambassador Michelle Payne OAM and VRC ambassador Crystal Kimber-Peters.

The Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions on the Field competition kicks off in The Park with the Best Dressed and Best Suited registrations open to all racegoers between 11:15am and 12:15pm.

The competition officially commences at 12:25pm with the Best Dressed and Best Suited promenades giving every entrant the opportunity to showcase their outfit. The Daily Finals take place throughout the afternoon with three winners from each category going through to the grand final on Crown Oaks Day.  The design and creative led category, the Emerging Designer Award presented by Vogue Australia, will also be judged with the overall winner announced at 2:10pm. 

Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions on the Field judges will include leading Australian Designers Effie Kats, Senir Besim, Edin Zecevic from Calibre, Arthur Galan, Dom Bagnato, actor Tim Kano, Melbourne Cup Carnival Ambassador Michelle Payne OAM and Melbourne Fashion Festival CEO Caroline Ralphsmith. 

The Park is Flemington’s ultimate general admission playground and a must-visit destination for fashionistas, music lovers and foodies. The delicious food offerings include the first ever Australian pop-up from wildly popular Bali burger shop BO$$MAN Burgers, while comedy trio Sooshi Mango are bringing their signature Lygon Street outfit, Johnny, Vince & Sam's, to Flemington.

The ever-popular Pony Bar returns for 2024 alongside a host of VRC partner activations, including the TAB Green for lawn bowls, the Furphy Pub and Smirnoff pop-up bar.

The Park Live Stage is where global headline artists will perform across Cup Week. Day one of the Melbourne Cup Carnival will feature international singing sensation Anastacia and Dutch DJ Sam Feldt.

The Victoria Racing Club’s Pin & Win campaign has raised more than $8 million for charities since it was introduced in 1995. This year will see pins sold across the course for charity partner, Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria & Tasmania, assisting them as they help seriously ill and injured children and their families stay together and close to hospital by providing accommodation, living support, education and scholarships.

The commemorative pins sell for $10 for the Lexus Melbourne Cup pin and $15 for the diamante horseshoe, with all purchasers eligible to enter the draw to win over $188,000 worth of prizes including a brand new 2023 Lexus RZ 450e Sports Luxury car. Pin & Win Ambassadors Olivia Molly Rogers, Elly Wicks, Brodie Young and Ross Stevenson will all be on track to promote the campaign.

At the conclusion of racing, the Lexus Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw will be held from 6:00pm in the Flemington Mounting Yard. The official draw will be live streamed on the Nine Network.