Getting To Flemington
Trains depart Southern Cross Platform 8, stopping North Melbourne through to Flemington Racecourse.
10:45 AM - 1:05 PM
Welcome to the 2025/26 Racing Season at Flemington!
Get ready for an exhilarating year of world-class racing, gourmet cuisine, and premier entertainment. The 2025/26 racing season kicks off in style with the VRC Season Premiere Race Day at HQ.
Join us for this much-anticipated event, where Melbourne Cup Carnival hopefuls begin their quest for glory in the Spring features. It is the perfect start to a spectacular season at Flemington!
The Group 3 Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m) feature has historically been a steppingstone to stakes-race success for horses including So Si Bon, I Am A Star and Temple Of Boom, and The Astrologist; not to mention future Group 1 winners Voodoo Lad, Hey Doc, Niconero and Fields Of Omagh.
VRC Members are able to access Flemington racecourse on VRC Season Premiere Race Day, the first race day of the 2025/26 season, using their current membership card.
Members Enclosure Daily Guest Tickets
VRC Season Premiere Race Day is the last race day for members to redeem their 2024/25 Complimentary Members Enclosure Daily Guest tickets. Members can access these tickets via Ticketmaster, by entering the barcode numbers provided as part of the 2024/25 Membership Pack.
Saturday 2 August, 2025
Feature race
Group 3 Aurie's Star Handicap (1200m)
Members
Extended Hours
Members and their guests can continue to enjoy the day long after the last with extended hours and live entertainment in The Roof Garden and The G.H. Mumm Champagne Bar.
Members
Kids Corner
The Kids Corner in The Atrium will be a popular destination for the little ones with various games, a reading corner, and arts and crafts.
VRC Punters Club
The popular VRC Punters Club will be back in The Atrium and Saintly Place Sports Bar on VRC Season Premiere Race Day. Register before race 3 for just $10 and be part of the fun as our expert tipsters work hard to hopefully return a profit. The starting kitty will be $500 courtesy of VRC.
Prizemoney: $203,285
Open Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim.
58th of Series
Race History
AURIE’S STAR (Stardrift (GB) - Aurie Anton)
The brilliant South Australian gelding Aurie’s Star won 28 races over a decade from 1935. He won the Oakleigh Plate–Newmarket double in 1937, the1939 Oakleigh Plate and Adelaide’s 1940 Goodwood Handicap. Then, in September 1940, carrying 10st 2lb (64kg) down the Flemington straight, Aurie’s Star created a record Australasian time for six furlongs (1:08.25) that was never bettered. In 1972 with the change from imperial measures, Straight Six races were shortened by 7 metres to 1200 metres. Aurie’s Star’s record was theoretically adjusted to a Flemington “Pacesetter Record” (1:07.8) which remained unequalled until 1991.
Prizemoney: $150,000
Open Handicap. Apprentices can claim.
Prizemoney: $150,000
2YO Handicap (VOBIS Silver). Apprentices can claim.
Prizemoney: $150,000
Benchmark 100 Handicap. Apprentices can claim.
Prizemoney: $130,000
4YO & Upwards Mares Benchmark 84 Handicap. Apprentices can claim.
Prizemoney: $130,000
Benchmark 78 Handicap. Apprentices can claim.
Prizemoney: $130,000
Benchmark 84 Handicap. Apprentices can claim.
Prizemoney: $130,000
Benchmark 84 Handicap. Apprentices can claim.
Prizemoney: $80,000
3YO & Upwards Benchmark 74 Handicap. Apprentices can claim.