The top 5 moments of the spring majors

Champion Stakes day is done, and so are the big Spring Majors. Betsy’s Paul Tatnell lists his top 5 moments of some incredible racing.

5. Zahra shreds Derby Day

If there was ever a jockey that relishes the big day, it’s Mark Zahra. He rode an incredible four winners in a row – starting with two Group 2s – before winning the big Group 1s in the Coolmore and Derby. Ciaron Maher reckons he is the best middle-distance jockey in Australia. He goes against the grain in the sense he pisses off for months to get away from racing – before returning when it matters and delivering. He is good for racing, and his Derby Day will be the stuff of legend

4. An Oaks fairytale

The story of Tom Carberry is one of the reasons I love racing. It delivers story lines like no other sport, and on Oaks Day it was one the best tales you could imagine. Carberry, who has just 10 horses in this stable, won the VRC Oaks with Strictly Business who broke her maiden just 13 days earlier. She was placed against some serious talent from huge stables and rich owners. And Strictly Business brained them. Some questioned whether it was one of the greatest recent training performances or did Carberry just have a super filly? Carberry deserves all the plaudits – even taking her to the race to have a crack is ballsy. Regardless, Carberry delivered one of the great stories than only racing can.

3. Farewell The Valley

I’m not sure whether you had to be on course to really experience how special this year’s Cox Plate really was. Perhaps it was the romance or even sadness that the Valley as we know it was done. But it was a classic race made even better with one last Valley roar. Personally, I think it’s sad the track is going but I understand the rationale for what comes next. Regardless it was a party to remember. J-Mac picking up his fourth Cox Plate, Via Sistina placing her name among some of Australia’s greatest and punters absolutely having a ball when the last was run. They picked up anything not nailed down – from the running rail to the turf – and the place we love [but often hate to punt at] was given the farewell it deserved.

2. All in on Half Yours

When Half Yours won the Caulfield Cup, it was a momentous occasion – Jamie Melham became the first female jockey in 149 years to win the race. Calvin McEvoy and his old-man Tony picked up the race [which of course came after Calvin blew the budget to buy Col McKenna’s stayer online]. The rest is history. The boys from Ballarat would go on to win the Melbourne Cup, something they said would change their lives. Melham is the bigger story perhaps after winning Australia’s biggest race for the team that discovered her as an apprentice. She became the second female Cup winning jockey, 10 years to the day after Michelle Payne became the first. Melham is the only female jockey to ever win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup double. Her profile as a leading female athlete makes her perhaps racing’s most marketable asset. The incredible amount of story lines from the win, and the wide spread coverage across the nation, is proof enough that the Cup is still one of racing’s centrepieces.

1. Ka Ying mayhem

Most expected the world’s best sprinter to capture some attention in the sporting world. But even I was surprised by the chaos and obsession that came with Ka Ying Rising. From the minute he landed it was mayhem – any story that was published did significant engagement and punters couldn’t get enough. When he trialled, and his trainer David Hayes said he’d need to improve, the racing world debated the merits of his performance like it was a Group 1 race. Racing NSW probably didn’t have to spend a cent to market the race as people were already obsessed – and true enough Randwick was sold out. The world’s best delivered on the big stage against our top sprinters and it was the most anticipated race of the Spring. It also reinforced that The Everest is now perhaps Australia’s most talked about day. From who will take slots, lead-up form, huge stars wanting to race and $20 million on offer, it truly is one of the world’s greatest races.

A legend is created! 🙌

Ka Ying Rising wins racing’s ultimate climb – the TAB Everest, and cements himself as the absolute best, giving a sold-out Randwick crowd absolute chills! 🏔️@zpurton @aus_turf_club @tabcomau @HKJC_Racing @WorldPool @WHR pic.twitter.com/TBBC7o2lyP

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 18, 2025