The 2026 Spring Racing Carnival continued on Saturday, 31 October, with major meetings at Flemington and Randwick delivering another weekend of racing across Australia.

Victoria Derby Day featured several Group 1 races, while the $10 million Golden Eagle attracted attention at Randwick. With both meetings completed, the focus now shifts to the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, 3 November, followed by VRC Oaks Day later in the week.

For racing followers, the results from Saturday provide another chapter in a busy Spring Carnival, with several major races still to come.

Victoria Derby Day Delivers Group 1 Racing at Flemington

Victoria Derby Day opened the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington, with the Group 1 Victoria Derby taking centre stage.

According to the Victoria Racing Club’s official Derby Day report, 88,146 people attended Flemington on Saturday, 31 October 2026. The meeting also featured two Group 1 victories for the combination of trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald, including Stormy Marco’s success in the $3 million Victoria Derby.

Run over 2500 metres, the Derby is one of Australia’s major staying races for three-year-olds. This year’s winner completed a seven-day turnaround after competing in the Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick the previous weekend.

The result highlighted the different preparations leading into one of the Carnival’s major three-year-old races. The Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes was another feature of the meeting. Contested over 1200 metres on Flemington’s straight course, the race brought together three-year-old sprinters competing for one of the season’s important sprinting titles. The Empire Rose Stakes also featured on the program, with the Group 1 race over 1600 metres adding another significant result to the spring record of an established mare.

Across the meeting, Derby Day brought together staying, sprinting and middle-distance racing, setting the scene for the remaining Flemington meetings.

Golden Eagle Day Adds to a Busy Saturday

While Flemington hosted Derby Day, Randwick staged another major meeting highlighted by the $10 million Golden Eagle. The 1500-metre race for four-year-olds has become an important fixture on the Australian spring racing calendar, attracting established performers from different racing backgrounds.

Saturday’s Golden Eagle produced a close finish, with the first two runners separated by a narrow margin. The meeting added to an already active spring program in Sydney, which has included several major races throughout October. With the Golden Eagle completed, attention now turns to the remaining Group 1 races at Flemington.

Melbourne Cup 2026 Takes Centre Stage on Tuesday

The next major event is the Lexus Melbourne Cup on Tuesday, 3 November.

The final field of 24 runners was confirmed following Saturday’s acceptances, bringing together Australian and international staying form for the 3200-metre contest.

The lead-up to this year’s race has included withdrawals and mandatory veterinary assessments, with Racing Victoria reviewing horses before their participation was confirmed.  The Melbourne Cup remains one of the most recognised events in Australian racing, with its two-mile distance and handicap conditions creating a distinctive challenge.

For those following the Carnival, Tuesday’s meeting will be another major date on the racing calendar.

VRC Oaks Day Follows on Thursday

The Spring Carnival continues at Flemington on Thursday, 5 November, with the Group 1 VRC Oaks over 2500 metres.

The Oaks is a major staying race for three-year-old fillies, with performances from earlier spring meetings helping establish the lead-up to the event.

Saturday’s Group 2 Wakeful Stakes over 2000 metres provided another important result ahead of the Oaks. The final field will determine which fillies take their place in Thursday’s race. After Oaks Day, the Melbourne Cup Carnival concludes on Saturday, 7 November, with Champions Stakes Day.

Following the Spring Carnival with Jig Racing

With several major meetings still ahead, the Spring Carnival provides plenty of racing to follow throughout the first week of November.

Results from Derby Day and Golden Eagle Day now form part of the broader spring racing picture, while the Melbourne Cup, VRC Oaks and Champions Stakes Day will bring the Carnival to its conclusion.

For those following horses across different meetings, the Jig Racing Blackbook provides a convenient way to keep track of horses of interest and revisit them during future preparations.

You can also read our Spring Racing Carnival 2026 guide for more information about the major meetings.

To learn more about the available member features and racing analysis, visit Jig Racing Membership Packages.