The three-year-old take centre stage in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday afternoon, with a stacked field of 18 set to take their place in the $2 million staying feature.
The lone filly Aeliana has been installed as the $3.50 favourite with horse racing bookmakers post-barrier draw, with the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) runner-up drawing perfectly in barrier two.
Damien Lane is booked to ride the daughter of Castelvecchio as trainer Chris Waller seeks back-to-back wins in the three-year-old classic event.
The Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) winner Willydoit makes the trip across the Tasman and is on the second line of betting at , with the Shaun Clotworthy-trained gelding securing barrier 10.
Group 2 Alister Clark (2040m) winner Shanwah makes the trip north to Sydney and goes in search of a fifth straight victory, with online betting sites respecting the Melbourne raider on the third line of betting at $7 with .
A stack of runners are set to do the four-day backup after running in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m), including the third placegetter King Of Thunder, rounding at the chances in single figures at $9 with .
The John O’Shea & Tom Charlton-trained gelding is the only running coming through that form line with any early support, with Pocketing ($17) and Firm Agreement ($21) opening at big prices comparatively.
There’s plenty of value outside of the leading chances, with the likes of Goldrush Guru ($13) and Plymouth ($15) set to have plenty of admirers leading into the weekend.
The 2025 Australian Derby shares top billing with the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) and is one of four massive Group 1 races lined up for Day 1 of The Championships.
2025 Australian Derby Final Field
1. Willydoit (10)
- T: Shaun Clotworthy
- J: Michael Dee
- W: 57kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Tarzino (NZ)
- Dam: Willamette
-113.64
2. Goldrush Guru (13)
- T: Andrew Gluyas
- J: Ms Jamie Melham
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: American Pharoah (USA)
- Dam: Glam Guru
+275
3. Thedoctoroflove (14)
- T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
- J: Daniel Moor
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay or Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: So You Think (NZ)
- Dam: Liberty Lover
+350
4. Shanwah (4)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Blake Shinn
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Too Darn Hot (GB)
- Dam: Lady Sayyida (NZ)
+200
5. Plymouth (3)
- T: Glen Thompson
- J: Mark Zahra
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: The Autumn Sun
- Dam: Malfy
+350
6. Pocketing (16)
- T: Richard & Will Freedman
- J: Joshua Parr
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Grunt (NZ)
- Dam: Pickpocket
+350
7. Firm Agreement (6)
- T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
- J: Tyler Schiller
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Yes Yes Yes
- Dam: Money Magic
+625
8. King Of Thunder (1)
- T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
- J: Zac Lloyd
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay or Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Tivaci
- Dam: Sheezababe (NZ)
+200
9. Golden Century (15)
- T: Tony Pike
- J: Nash Rawiller
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Pierro
- Dam: Breeze (IRE)
+825
10. Imperialist (22)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Ryan Moore
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Churchill (IRE)
- Dam: Dancing Hare
+825
11. Mustang Morgan (12)
- T: Andrew Forsman
- J: Craig Williams
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Preferment (NZ)
- Dam: Assertiveobsession
+825
12. Red Aces (18)
- T: Nick Ryan
- J: Hugh Bowman
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Dundeel (NZ)
- Dam: Cardiac
+1250
13. Confetti Garden (21)
- T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
- J: Tommy Berry
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Saxon Warrior (JPN)
- Dam: Keeva
+1250
14. Tsitsipas (11)
- T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
- J: Not Declared
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Staphanos (JPN)
- Dam: Lioness (NZ)
+1250
15. Autumn Aroha (5)
- T: Richard Litt
- J: Chad Schofield
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: The Autumn Sun
- Dam: Indarra (NZ)
+2500
16. Bernen Win (20)
- T: John Thompson
- J: Tom Sherry
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Shooting to Win
- Dam: Icebern
+2500
17. Kosuke (9)
- T: Gregory McFarlane
- J: Ashley Morgan
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: The Autumn Sun
- Dam: Inchita
+5000
18. Aeliana (2)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Damian Lane
- W: 54.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Filly
- Sire: Castelvecchio
- Dam: Temolie
-181.82
19. Flying Argento (23)
- T: Gary Portelli
- J: Reece Jones
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: D’argento
- Dam: Misstiflying
+5000
20. Deal N’ Dash (8)
- T: Bjorn Baker
- J: Not Declared
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Dundeel (NZ)
- Dam: Kebede
+400
21. Format (7)
- T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- J: Tim Clark
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Frankel (GB)
- Dam: Nechita
+1250
22. So You Are (19)
- T: Stirling Osland
- J: Not Declared
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay or Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: So You Think (NZ)
- Dam: Tornado Gal
+1250
23. Black Babylon (17)
- T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
- J: Ethan Brown
- W: 56.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Night of Thunder (IRE)
- Dam: Akhania (GB)
+1250
Horse racing news