VRC Winter Series Heats and Finals VRC Winter Series Heats and Finals
Established by the Victoria Racing Club in 2009, the Winter Race Series brings together races like the Listed VRC-CRV Winter Championship Final (1600m), which had been run since 1979, and a number of other finals for horses young and established, both sprinters and stayers.
Horses compete in 56 heats all across Victoria during May and June, with the first and second placegetters in those heats automatically qualifying for the respective series final on Flemington Finals Race Day on Saturday 6 July. Finals Day offers over $1.5 million in prizemoney across nine finals.
See below heat details:
This series for two-year-olds was introduced to showcase young up-and-coming sprinters and provide an opportunity to gain valuable experience up the unique Flemington straight.
The intention is to contribute to the development of the next generation of Australia’s world-class sprinting talents.
The series takes in heats at Flemington, Caulfield and Sandown, and the $150,000 final is held over the famous Flemington Straight Six course. Former winners include Sense Of Honor, Jagar, Thron Bone and Stellar Olympus.
Heat | Date Prizemoney |
Track Distance |
Race Name Race Conditions Apprentice Claims |
Result |
1 | Saturday, 11 May 2024 $150,000 |
Caulfield 1100m |
2YO Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
1st TROPICUS 2nd STORMBURG |
2 | Saturday, 1 June 2024 $150,000 |
Caulfield 1100m |
2YO Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
1st 2nd |
3 | Saturday, 8 June 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1200m |
2YO Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
1st 2nd |
4 | Saturday, 15 June 2024 $150,000 |
Sandown Lakeside 1200m |
2YO Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
1st 2nd |
Next Generation Sprinters Series Final | WINNER | |||
Final | Saturday, 6 July 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1200m |
2YO Quality Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
This series targets later-developing two-year-olds who are suited to the longer distance of 1600m of the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final and is named after Taj Rossi, the outstanding performer trained by the legendary Bart Cummings.
When the son of Matrice was bought by Cummings in 1972 at the Adelaide Yearling Sales for $18,000 (top price) and then sold to prominent owner Victor Peters, neither could envisage the heights to which Taj Rossi would rise in his short but spectacular career.
Beginning his racing as a two-year-old in Adelaide, his first two wins came in moderate company in the winter of 1973 at Flemington. In the spring he ran second at Moonee Valley. Then followed a dazzling sequence in which he won six of his next seven starts including the Ascot Vale Stakes, Moonee Valley Stakes, W.S. Cox Plate, VRC Derby, George Adams Handicap and Sandown Guineas.
Said Bart Cummings: “All along I have said that he is one of the best, if not the best, three-year-old that Australia has known in the last 50 years”. This magnificent group of victories secured for Taj Rossi the award of Racehorse of the Year for the 1973-74 season.
Cummings had great respect for Taj Rossi, who was retired to stud as a four-year-old, siring among others, Taj Eclipse, the winner of the 1983 VRC Oaks and yes, owned by Mr and Mrs Victor Peters.
Former winners include Cherry Tortoni, Royalzel, Quang Tri and Dolphin Skin.
Heat | Date Prizemoney |
Track Distance |
Race Name Race Conditions Apprentice Claims |
Results |
1 | Saturday, 18 May 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1400m |
2YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st SNEAKY SUNRISE 2nd NARBOLD |
2 | Wednesday, 5 June 2024 $50,000 |
Sandown Hillside 1400m |
2YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
3 | Friday, 7 June 2024 $125,000 |
Swan Hill 1300m |
Elvstroem Classic 2YO Set Weights plus Penalties Apprentices cannot claim. |
1st 2nd |
4 | Saturday, 15 June 2024 $27,000 |
Bendigo 1600m |
2YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
5 | Saturday, 22 June 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1400m |
2YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
Taj Rossi Series Final (Listed) |
WINNER | |||
Final | Saturday, 6 July 2024 $175,000 |
Flemington 1600m |
2YO Quality Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
This series is aimed at three-year-old sprinters, with heats over distances between 1000m-1200m, conducted at Flemington and Caulfield.
It is named in honour of Sir Alexander (Alec) Reid Creswick (1912–83), who was a member of the VRC Committee for 24 years, from 1959 until his death in 1983, serving as Chairman 1969–77. His great-great-grandfather Henry Creswick had been a foundation committee member of the Victoria Racing Club in 1864.
Sir Alec was a fine horseman himself—Master of the Melbourne Hunt Club, a leading polo player, head of the Equestrian Federation of Australia and a practical supporter of successful Australian participation in successive Olympic Games. He bred and raced many fine racehorses, including champion filly True Course.
The final, the $175,000 Listed A.R. Creswick Stakes (1200m), is run on Flemington Finals Race Day over 1200 metres, with an honour roll including Nature Strip, Gytrash, Passive Aggressive and Renosu.
Heat | Date Prizemoney |
Track Distance |
Race Name Race Conditions Apprentice Claims |
Results |
1 | Saturday, 4 May 2024 $150,000 |
Caulfield 1100m |
3YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st TITLE FIGHTER 2nd SHESALLSHENANIGANS |
2 | Saturday, 18 May 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1100m |
3YO Quality Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st LINKS 2nd UNDERPANTS |
3 | Saturday, 1 June 2024 $150,000 |
Caulfield 1200m |
3YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
4 | Saturday, 8 June 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1100m |
3YO Quality Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
5 | Saturday, 22 June 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1100m |
3YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
6 | Saturday, 29 June 2024 $150,000 |
Caulfield 1000m |
3YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
A.R. Creswick Stakes (Listed) | WINNER | |||
Final | Saturday, 6 July 2024 $175,000 |
Flemington 1200m |
3YO Set Weights plus Penalties Apprentices cannot claim. |
This series is for three-year-old milers with heats over distances of 1300m to 1600m held across Melbourne at Flemington, Caulfield and Sandown.
The final is a $150,000 quality handicap for three-year-olds over 1600m on Flemington Finals Race Day. Former winners include Walking Flying, Seiners Express, Arran Bay and Golden Path.
Heat | Date Prizemoney |
Track Distance |
Race Name Race Conditions Apprentice Claims |
Results |
1 | Saturday, 18 May 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1400m |
3YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st RIVERINA POWER 2nd EUGENIUS |
2 | Saturday, 25 May 2024 $150,000 |
Sandown Hillside 1600m |
3YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
3 | Saturday, 25 May 2024 $150,000 |
Sandown Hillside 1400m |
3YO Fillies Benchmark 78 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
4 | Saturday, 1 June 2024 $150,000 |
Caulfield 1600m |
3YO Fillies Benchmark 78 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
5 | Saturday, 8 June 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1600m |
3YO Quality Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
6 | Saturday, 15 June 2024 $150,000 |
Sandown Lakeside 1400m |
3YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
7 | Saturday, 22 June 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1600m |
3YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
8 | Saturday, 29 June 2024 $150,000 |
Caulfield 1400m |
3YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
Silver Bowl Series Final | ||||
Final | Saturday, 6 July 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1600m |
3YO Quality Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
WINNER |
Formerly the All-Victorian Sprinters Series, the series was renamed in honour of five-time Group 1 winning sprinter, Santa Ana Lane, trained by Anthony Freedman.
Santa Ana Lane amassed more than $8 million in prizemoney, winning Group 1 races in NSW, SA, QLD and the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic (1200m) here at Flemington.
Santa Ana Lane was retired a happy and healthy eight-year-old and now resides at Living Legends, located at Oaklands Junction.
This six-heat series attracts the fastest winter sprinters and features three heats up the famous Flemington straight with heats also conducted at Caulfield and Swan Hill, before culminating in the $175,000 Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final.
Former winners of the series include Malibu Style, Lord Von Costa, The Astrologist, Sirius Suspect and Mnementh who fulfilled Mitch Beer’s childhood dream of training a winner at Flemington having grown up in Essendon.
Heat | Date Prizemoney |
Track Distance |
Race Name Race Conditions Apprentice Claims |
Results |
1 | Saturday, 4 May 2024 $150,000 |
Caulfield 1000m |
Benchmark 90 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st ASHFORD STREET 2nd VIVIANE |
2 | Saturday, 18 May 2024 $175,000 |
Flemington 1200m |
Hilton Nicholas Straight Six (Listed) Open Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
1st WHO DARES 2nd NICOLINI VITO |
3 | Saturday, 1 June 2024 $150,000 |
Caulfield 1100m |
Open Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
4 | Friday, 7 June 2024 $150,000 |
Swan Hill 1200m |
Golden Topaz Open Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
1st 2nd |
5 | Saturday, 22 June 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1100m |
Quality Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
1st 2nd |
Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (Listed) | WINNER | |||
Final | Saturday, 6 July 2024 $175,000 |
Flemington 1200m |
Quality Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
This series for fillies and mares is named in honour of Leilani, another Bart Cummings-trained champion who left an indelible print on Australian racing.
She won the 1974 AJC Oaks before transforming into a dominant four-year-old race mare, winning the Turnbull Stakes, Toorak Handicap, Caulfield Cup and Mackinnon Stakes in the spring of 1974, before running a gallant second to stablemate Think Big in the Melbourne Cup.
In the ensuing autumn, Leilani won the Orr Stakes, St George Stakes and Australian Cup, among other races. Winning 14 of her 28 starts, Leilani was a horse that Cummings was very fond of; so much so that he named his Sydney stables Leilani Lodge in her honour.
Although Cummings was not one to talk much about his horses – especially those in the past as he preferred to look forward – it is well-known that he had huge respect for Leilani, known as a great horse with great fight.
Leilani was raced by prominent Melburnians, The Hon Andrew and Mrs Susan Peacock as well as Mr Ian and Mrs Liz Rice.
Former winners Rivette Series include Cordilla, Foxy Frida, My Yankee Girl and Spanish Reef.
Previous winners of the Leilani Series include Music Bay, Lindhout, Megamea and Seonee.
*The Leilani Series, and the former three-year-old fillies series, the Rivette Series, were combined in 2023 with heats for fillies and mares to be conducted at Flemington, Caulfield and Mornington.
Heat | Date Prizemoney |
Track Distance |
Race Name Race Conditions Apprentice Claims |
Results |
1 | Saturday, 11 May 2024 $130,000 |
Caulfield 1400m |
Fillies & Mares Benchmark 78 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st FANCIFY (NZ) 2nd IN HER STRIDE |
2 | Saturday, 18 May 2024 $80,000 |
Flemington 1200m |
3YO & Upwards Fillies & Mares Benchmark 78 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st NIANCE (NZ) 2nd MOOR MUMM |
3 | Saturday, 8 June 2024 $80,000 |
Flemington 1400m |
Fillies & Mares Benchmark 78 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
4 | Monday, 10 June 2024 $60,000 |
Mornington 1200m |
4YO & Upwards Mares Benchmark 78 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
5 | Saturday, 22 June 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1400m |
Fillies & Mares Benchmark 90 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
Leilani Series Final | WINNER | |||
Final | Saturday, 6 July 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1400m |
3YO & Upwards Fillies & Mares Quality Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
This series for open milers takes in heats at Sandown, Swan Hill, Caulfield and Flemington, attracting the most in-form gallopers over distances from 1400m-1600m and bringing them together for the $200,000 Listed VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Final (1600m) on Flemington Finals Race Day.
Former winners include Sircconi, Mongolian Marshal, Tuvalu and Riddle Me That.
Heat | Date Prizemoney |
Track Distance |
Race Name Race Conditions Apprentice Claims |
Results |
1 | Saturday, 18 May 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1600m |
Benchmark 100 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st MILFORD (NZ) 2nd GREEN FLY (GB) |
2 | Saturday, 25 May 2024 $150,000 |
Sandown Hillside 1400m |
Benchmark 100 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
3 | Saturday, 1 June 2024 $150,000 |
Caulfield 1600m |
Benchmark 100 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
4 | Saturday, 8 June 2024 $130,000 |
Flemington 1400m |
Benchmark 84 Quality Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
5 | Sunday, 9 June 2024 $175,000 |
Swan Hill 1600m |
Swan Hill Cup Open Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
1st 2nd |
6 | Saturday, 15 June 2024 $150,000 |
Sandown Lakeside 1400m |
Open Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
7 | Saturday, 22 June 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 1600m |
The David Bourke Open Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
8 | Saturday, 22 June 2024 $80,000 |
Flemington 1400m |
Benchmark 84 Quality Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Final (Listed) | WINNER | |||
Final | Saturday, 6 July 2024 $200,000 |
Flemington 1600m |
Quality Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
Introduced in 2019, the Mahogany Challenge was created to showcase developing stayers in Victoria. The series is for three-year-olds and takes in heats at Flemington and Sandown, before culminating in the final on Flemington Finals Race Day.
The series is named after the mighty Mahogany, who was raced jointly by Hall of Fame owner Lloyd Williams and businessman Kerry Packer, and trained by the all-conquering Lee Freedman.
He won eight Group 1 races, including both the VRC Derby and Australian Derby as a three-year-old, and was named the Australian Racehorse of the Year for the 1993-94 season.
Known as one of the most versatile gallopers in Australian racing history, Mahogany won four of his eight Group 1s at Flemington, including the Lightning Stakes in 1995 and 1997.
Former winners include Persan, Token Spirit, Calmsir and First Immortal.
Heat | Date Prizemoney |
Track Distance |
Race Name Race Conditions Apprentice Claims |
Results |
1 | Saturday, 4 May 2024 $150,000 |
Caulfield 2000m |
3YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st AZTEC STATE 2nd STEEL RUN |
2 | Saturday, 11 May 2024 $150,000 |
Caulfield 1600m |
3YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st SURE 2nd HYDROGEN POWER |
3 | Saturday, 18 May 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 2000m |
3YO Quality Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st NAVY KING (NZ) 2nd SABAN |
4 | Saturday, 25 May 2024 $150,000 |
Sandown Hillside 1600m |
3YO Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
5 | Saturday, 8 June 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 2000m |
3YO Quality Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
6 | Wednesday, 19 June 2024 $50,000 |
Sandown Lakeside 2400m |
3YO Benchmark 70 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
7 | Saturday, 22 June 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 2000m |
3YO Quality Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
The Mahogany Challenge Final | WINNER | |||
Final | Saturday, 6 July 2024 $200,000 |
Flemington 2500m |
3YO Quality Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
This series is for open stayers and is named in honour of revered author and poet Andrew Barton ‘Banjo’ Paterson, who had a lifelong love affair with horses. Polo matches, picnic races and riding his own pony were all part of his early life in country NSW.
After moving to Sydney and qualifying as a solicitor, he began submitting poetry to The Bulletin under the pseudonym “The Banjo”, the name of a racehorse his father had owned.
His various careers included jockey, horse trainer in the Middle East during WWI and racing journal editor, but it’s his wonderful bush ballads and poems – such as The Man From Snowy River – that truly reflect his equine passion.
In 1886 he published A Dream of the Melbourne Cup; the first of many racing ballads, including Old Pardon, the Son of Reprieve, The Open Steeplechase, Rio Grande’s Last Race and The Wargilah Handicap.
Former winners include Lord Belvedere, Grand Promenade, Monbaher and Mimi’s Award.
Heat | Date Prizemoney |
Track Distance |
Race Name |
Results |
1 | Saturday, 4 May 2024 $150,000 |
Caulfield 2000m |
3YO & Upwards Benchmark 100 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st MIDNIGHT BLUE 2nd BERKELEY SQUARE |
2 | Saturday, 11 May 2024 $130,000 |
Caulfield 2400m |
3YO & Upwards Benchmark 84 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st LET'SBEFRANKBABY 2nd FERAGO |
3 | Saturday, 25 May 2024 $150,000 |
Sandown Hillside 1800m |
Benchmark 100 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
4 | Saturday, 1 June 2024 $130,000 |
Caulfield 2000m |
Benchmark 84 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
5 | Saturday, 8 June 2024 $130,000 |
Flemington 2500m |
3YO & Upwards Benchmark 84 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
6 | Saturday, 8 June 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 2000m |
3YO & Upwards Benchmark 100 Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
7 | Saturday, 22 June 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 2500m |
3YO & Upwards Quality Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
1st 2nd |
8 | Saturday, 29 June 2024 $150,000 |
Caulfield 2000m |
3YO & Upwards Quality Handicap Apprentices can claim. |
1st 2nd |
Banjo Paterson Series Final | WINNER | |||
Final | Saturday, 6 July 2024 $150,000 |
Flemington 2600m |
3YO & Upwards Quality Handicap Apprentices cannot claim. |
2023 WINTER SERIES FINAL WINNERS
Next Generation Sprinters Series Final
STELLAR OLYMPUS
Taj Rossi Series Final
DOLPHIN SKIN
Creswick Sprint Series Final
RENOSU
Silver Bowl Series Final
GOLDEN PATH
Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final
MNEMENTH
Leilani Series Final
SEONEE
VRC-CRV Winter Championship Series Final
RIDDLE ME THAT
Mahogany Challenge Final
FIRST IMMORTAL
Banjo Paterson Series Final
MIMI’S AWARD