The 2018 Melbourne Cup Carnival gets underway on Saturday with Victoria Derby Day.
While it doesn't have the gravitas of the Melbourne Cup on the Tuesday, it is widely considered the best day of racing on the Aussie calendar.
All nine races on the card are group races, with four of them group one, with many trainers aiming their horses at Derby Day from a long way out.
The highlight of the day is the 2500m AAMI Victoria Derby, Australia's premier staying race for three-year-olds.
MORE: Everything you need to know about the 2018 Melbourne Cup
2018 DERBY DAY RACES, TIMES, FIELDS AND ODDS
Race 1: 11:45am - The Carbine Club Stakes (1600m, Group 3, 3YO Open)
1st - Ranier, 2nd - Wild Planet, 3rd - Secret Blaze
Ranier and Wild Planet engage in a gripping battle in the Carbine Club Stakes. https://t.co/RHqiySkyRk pic.twitter.com/bGp3e8CXzF
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 3, 2018
Race 2: 12:20pm - Mumm Wakeful Stakes (2000m, Group 2, 3YO Fillies)
1st - Aristia, 2nd - Qafila, 3rd - El Dorado Dreaming
Aristia shakes off her maiden tag with a big win in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes. https://t.co/RHqiyS2XsK pic.twitter.com/WGXn9zdpwb
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 3, 2018
Race 3: 1pm - The TAB Stakes (1200m, Group 2, Open handicap)
1st - Osborne Bulls, 2nd - Bons Away, 3rd - Runson
Here comes the BULL!
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 3, 2018
Osborne Bulls flashes late to score as punters celebrate. https://t.co/RHqiyS2XsK pic.twitter.com/V9zmI7qBhN
Race 4: 1:40pm - Lexus Stakes (2500m, Group 3, Open)
1st - A Prince of Arran, 2nd - Brimham Rocks, 3rd - Jaameh
HE'S IN! @fellowesracing now has his first runner in the #MelbourneCup with A PRINCE OF ARRAN. https://t.co/RHqiyS2XsK pic.twitter.com/fF17HTl0iB
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 3, 2018
Race 5: 2:25pm - Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m, Group 1, 3YO)
Prizemoney: $1,000,000 1st: $600,000 2nd: $180,000 3rd: $90,000
1st - Sunlight, 2nd - Zousain, 3rd - Lean Mean Machine
AMAZING. Sunlight has defeated the boys in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes! pic.twitter.com/FyjckRHKfX
Race 6: 3:05pm - Empire Rose Stakes (1600m, Group 1, 3YO+, F + M, WFA)
Prizemoney: $500,000 1st: $300,000 2nd: $90,000 3rd: $45,000
1st - Shillelagh, 2nd - Bring Me Roses, 3rd - Fundamentalist
How's that for a ride!?@mcacajamez and @cwallerracing win the Empire Rose Stakes with Shillelagh. https://t.co/RHqiyS2XsK pic.twitter.com/cpRmNFGW5O
Race 7: 3:50pm - AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m, Group 1, 3YO)
Prizemoney: $2,000,000 1st: $1,200,000 2nd: $360,000 3rd: $180,000
1st - Extra Brut, 2nd - Stars Of Carrum, 3rd - Chapada
EXTRA BRUT stays the journey in the AAMI Victoria Derby! pic.twitter.com/F7FbGqpJdp
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 3, 2018
Race 8: 4:35pm - Kennedy Mile (1600m, Group 1, Open)
Prizemoney: $1,000,000 1st: $600,000 2nd: $180,000 3rd: $90,000
1st - Best of Days, 2nd - Le Romain, 3rd - Peaceful State
BEST OF DAYS nails Le Romain in the shadows of the post in the Kennedy Mile. https://t.co/RHqiyS2XsK pic.twitter.com/JSXIZ8UQyD
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 3, 2018
Race 9: 5:20pm - Furphy Sprint (1100m, 4YO+, M)A
1st - Divine Quality, 2nd - Booker, 3rd - I Am Excited
Divine Quality gives them a towelling in the Furphy Sprint. Wowee. https://t.co/RHqiyS2XsK pic.twitter.com/Rh3VfMmx58
— Racing.com (@Racing) November 3, 2018
WHEN IS THE 2018 VICTORIA DERBY?
As always, the 2018 Victoria Derby will be held on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup, November 3rd this year.
The Victoria Derby is seventh of nine races on the card and will be run at 3:50pm.
But with a full day of high quality racing, you won't want to miss a thing, with race one jumping at 11:45am.
HOW TO WATCH DERBY DAY 2018?
The entire 2018 Melbourne Cup Carnival will be broadcast live and HD on free-to-air television courtesy of Channel Seven .
Seven 's coverage will kick off at 11am EDT for Derby Day on Saturday. (Check guide for local times)
From 2019, Channel Ten will begin a five-year deal to broadcast the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
WHERE IS THE VICTORIA DERBY?
Derby Day is the first of four race days at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Flemington racecourse is just north-west of the CBD and is controlled by the Victorian Racing Club.
The track is considered the most open in country, with wide, sweeping bends and a long straight.
2018 DERBY DAY TICKETS
If you fancy getting amongst the action at Flemington on Derby Day, you can buy tickets right here .
Just make sure you follow the dress code...
DERBY DAY FASHION
Victoria Derby Day kicks off the Melbourne Cup Carnival and all the fanfare that comes with it.
Fashions on the Field gets into full swing and plenty of punters go all out.
Derby Day dress code
Black and white is the theme of the day. Fans rock suits, frocks and accessories featuring all shades along the monochrome scale, including grey.
The blue cornflower is the flower of the day, often worn as an accessory.
2018 DERBY DAY ENTERTAINMENT
Aussie dance music favourite Hayden James and long-time party starters Miami Horror will be performing at Derby Day 2018.
Electro-pop band Miami Horror will be getting punters moving in The Park from 4:10pm-5pm, while EDM hitmaker Hayden James will be on stage at 5:20pm-6:20pm.
VICTORIA DERBY HISTORY
The VRC Victoria Derby in one of the most prestigious and historic races on the thoroughbred calendar.
It was first run in 1855 and has helped launch the careers of some greats of the Australian turf, not least Phar Lap in 1929.
Star of the Realm holds the current race record for the 2500m editions of the race, running 2:33.60 in 1991.
The 2017 was taken out by Ace High for David Payne with Tye Angland aboard.
