The 2025 Toorak Handicap ran on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia and was won in a narrow upset by the Tony Gollan trained Transatlantic ($10).
| 6. Transatlantic (9) J: Mark Zahra 56.5kg 19x22T: Tony Gollan | ||
| 3. Evaporate (6) J: Blake Shinn 58kg 21x51T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 9. Leica Lucy (10) J: Damian Lane 54.5kg 114x4T: Chris Waller | ||
| 11. Athanatos (1) J: Craig Williams 52kg 1x363T: Phillip Stokes | ||
| 7. Lazzura (5) J: James McDonald 56kg 24x11T: Chris Waller | ||
| 10. Damask Rose (3) J: Jamie Melham 54kg 11x57T: Mark Walker | ||
| 2. Pinstriped (2) J: Jamie Mott 58.5kg 7x795T: Enver Jusufovic | ||
| 4. Feroce (8) J: Billy Egan 58kg 16x63T: Dominic Sutton | ||
| 1. Desert Lightning (7) J: Luke Nolen 59kg 4x215T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | ||
| 5. Sepals (4) J: Ethan Brown 57kg 14x11T: Cliff Brown |
Toorak Handicap Info
- 2025 Toorak Handicap Date: Saturday the 11th of October 2025
- Track Location: Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Distance: 1,600m
- Conditions: Open Handicap
- Status : Group 1
- Prize Money (AUD): $1,000,000
- First Run: 1881
- Reigning Toorak Handicap Winner: Transatlantic (2025)
Looking for the latest Toorak Handicap betting odds, insider racing tips and form for the Caulfield Group 1? The TAB NZ have all the best betting guides and statistics to make informed bets on the Toorak Handicap race this October!
The Group 1 Toorak Handicap is a crucial test for Australia’s top middle-distance racehorses as they prepare for the iconic horse racing majors over the spring down under including the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m).
To improve your chances of predicting the next Toorak Handicap winner, access the latest Toorak Handicap odds and tips online at the TAB NZ.
TAB NZ provides in-depth analysis, form guides, and betting insights to help you navigate the competitive field of spring contenders eyeing runs in events including the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, Champions Mile, and or the Champions Stakes.
Whether you’re a seasoned punter or new to betting on the horse races in Australia, our comprehensive Toorak Handicap coverage has everything you need.
Hit the Spring Carnival running! Bet on the Toorak Handicap with TAB NZ and turn good form into a great win!
Toorak Handicap Fast Facts
- Last mare to win the Toorak Handicap: More Joyous (2010)
- Last New Zealand-trained Toorak Handicap winner: King Mufhasa (2011)
- Last three-year-old Toorak Handicap winner: K. Cid (1929)
- Last multiple Toorak Handicap winner: Solzhenitsyn (2012-13)
- Notable Fact: The 1966 Toorak Handicap winner Galilee would go on to become the only horse in history to win the Caulfield Cup, Melbourne Cup and Sydney Cup races in a single season
Toorak Handicap betting takes place on the popular Toorak Handicap race which is held at Caulfield Racecourse on a Saturday in early to mid-October annually.
Toorak Handicap odds are offered on the esteemed Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival Group 1 event, and the field attracts a host of quality middle distance racehorses heading towards bigger and better features over the coming months.
The Group 1 Toorak Handicap is one of Australia’s oldest horse races and has been run and won since 1881 when Josephine became the inaugural champion.
Toorak Handicap race history shows the event has gone through a number of name changes due to sponsorship but has consistently been known as its traditional and registered title since 1990.
The Toorak Handicap holds a special place in racing history due a host of turf greats having won the race during their careers including a number of subsequent Caulfield Cup champions.
Taking place at Australia’s popular Caulfield Racecourse, the Toorak Handicap is a 1600m test having been run at this distance every year excluding one when held over 1800m in 1891.
The Toorak Handicap is an open handicap race with no age or gender restrictions.
It has held Group 1 status since 1979, the year Saxony successfully defended his title going back-to-back.
The Toorak Handicap runs on Caulfield Guineas Day in the spring and follows on from these earlier Melbourne Group 1 races:
- Memsie Stakes at Caulfield in late August,
- A.J. Moir Stakes (1000m) for the sprinters at The Valley,
- Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) for the milers at Flemington,
- Underwood Stakes (1800m) held at Caulfield,
- Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley, and the
- Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington the weekend before.
Caulfield Guineas Day
Caulfield Guineas Day 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most exciting events on the Australian racing calendar, packed with elite racing, entertainment, and springtime flair.
🗓️ Event Overview
- Date: Saturday, 11 October 2025
- Time: Gates open around 10:30am, with racing from mid-morning to 6:00pm
- Venue: Caulfield Racecourse, Caulfield East, VIC
- Main Event: Caulfield Guineas – 1600m, Group 1, $3 million purse
🏇 Feature Races
Caulfield Guineas Day features three Group 1 races:
- Caulfield Guineas (1600m) – Australia’s premier race for 3-year-old colts and geldings.
- Might And Power Stakes (2000m) – A key Cox Plate lead-up.
- Toorak Handicap (1600m) – A high-stakes mile for older horses.
Expect a full card of top-tier races with national and international contenders with the spring racing action going to the next level.
Entertaiment at Caulfield on Guineas Day is also excellent with live music, gourmet food, and premium hospitality options.
Fashion also takes the stage with spring racing style on full display—expect bold colours, fascinators, and flair.
Get the best Caulfield Guineas Day racing odds for Melbourne, racing stats, previews, form and insider tips on races like the meeting’s feature Group 1 races now at the TAB NZ!
Expert Tips on the 2025 Toorak Handicap
Stay tuned for our expert tips and Toorak Handicap betting predictions ahead of this year’s Group 1 Caulfield Guineas Day feature.
2025 Toorak Handicap Same Race Multi Selections ($22 at time of publish) – BET NOW
- Top 2 – No. 5 Sepals
- Top 3 – No. 9 Leica Lucy
- Top 3 – No. 7 Lazzura
SEPALS (4) heads into the 2025 Toorak Handicap as the punters’ pick following his impressive Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes victory and looks every inch a genuine Top 2 contender again this weekend. The ultra-consistent Calyx gelding is unbeaten at Caulfield and steps back up to the mile for the first time since finishing a brave fourth to Feroce in the Group 1 Australian Guineas, beaten just two lengths as a three-year-old in the autumn. Now third-up and rock-hard fit, he’s chasing a rare slice of history — no horse has completed the Sir Rupert Clarke–Toorak Handicap double since Trust In A Gust did it back in 2014. Last start, Craig Williams steered him to victory from a wide gate, but this time Ethan Brown, who partnered Sepals to his first-up win, reunites from barrier four and will carry 57 kg. The rise in weight is the only slight query, but he’s clearly thriving and in peak condition for another big performance. With a flawless track record, proven Group 1 form, and tactical versatility, Sepals looks perfectly placed to continue his winning run.
LEICA LUCY (10), the talented Kiwi import from the Chris Waller stable, shapes as a major player in this year’s Toorak Handicap as the trainer chases his first win in the Caulfield feature. Drawn in barrier 10 with Damian Lane to ride, the Derryn mare has been well backed into $8 and sits among the genuine single-figure fancies with clear winning claims. Leica Lucy was outstanding across the Tasman last campaign, stringing together five consecutive victories, culminating in her emphatic Group 1 NZ Oaks (2400m) triumph. She then crossed the Tasman to finish a close fourth — less than a length behind Treasurethe Moment — in the Group 1 ATC Oaks at Randwick, confirming her class at the highest level. Resuming this spring, she ran a solid fourth in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes at Flemington under 58.5kg and now steps up in distance — a move that perfectly suits her proven staying credentials. With a drop to 54.5kg, she’s well weighted to launch a strong challenge.
LAZZURA (5), the in-form Snitzel mare from the Chris Waller stable, has been one of the early market movers ahead of race, chasing a hat-trick of wins this campaign. The talented four-year-old kicked off her preparation with a gritty win over With Your Blessing on a Heavy (10) Randwick track in the Group 3 Show County Quality, before proving her versatility with a polished performance on a Good (4) surface at Flemington in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes, where she carried 57.5kg to victory. Now dropping to 56kg for her Caulfield debut, Lazzura draws ideally in barrier five and reunites with top jockey James McDonald, who has partnered her perfectly in both wins this season. With her adaptability across varying track conditions and her explosive turn of foot, she profiles as one of Waller’s leading chances to secure a maiden Toorak title.
Toorak Handicap Tips
Toorak Handicap tips on which horse will win the next edition of the event flood in as the countdown to the important Caulfield 1600m race heats up.
Toorak Handicap tips on what horse will win the Toorak Handicap this year are highly sought after by smart punters and racing fans every season.
When looking at Toorak Handicap race tips it is important to consider factors including:
- What horses in the Toorak Handicap field are proven over the distance?
- Who the key Toorak Handicap trainers and jockeys are and what horses they have in the Toorak Handicap field this year?
- Toorak Handicap barrier statistics and where your Toorak Handicap betting selections are drawn.
- Toorak Handicap horses that have a good past record at the track.
How long does it take to know if you placed a winning Toorak Handicap race tip? The event itself takes just over 1 minute and 35 seconds for the competing horses to run the 1,600m trip depending on track conditions.
The official Toorak Handicap winner and winning Toorak Handicap trifecta are known shortly after unless there is a protest or a photo-finish Toorak Handicap result.
What are the best Toorak Handicap lead-up races to look at when placing a Toorak Handicap bet?
Horses traditionally contest the Toorak Handicap off an earlier spring lead-up in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) before that event moved in 2023 to late November to run after the Toorak.
Current Toorak Handicap lead-up races including the Group 2 John F. Feehan Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley in early September, the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) also run at The Valley, and the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m).
New Zealand-Trained Horses in the Toorak Handicap
Betting on the New Zealand-trained horses in the field is more and more popular as Toorak Handicap tips favour the proven Kiwi-trained hopes from across the ditch.
Looking back over the Toorak Handicap history and statistics shows that the last New Zealand-trained Toorak Handicap winner was King Mufhasa (2011).
Toorak Handicap winners have come from a wide range of stable locations including New Zealand, New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and the local Victorian stables.
Toorak Handicap Tips for a Trifecta
Toorak Handicap tips for a trifecta cover the first three horses to officially go past the finishing post in the Toorak Handicap results.
The horse to finish on top of the Toorak Handicap trifecta is your Toorak Handicap winner, the runner who outlasted all their rivals and finished in the fastest time.
Placing a Toorak Handicap trifecta exotic bet on the race is a great way to add to the thrill and potentially be rewarded with a generous pay-out.
A Toorak Handicap trifecta is only successful if the three horses in your bet finish in the exact order you predict. Punters may choose instead to box their trifecta bets on the Toorak Handicap to cover more finishing options and increase the chances of winning.
Adding the favourite into your Toorak Handicap trifecta bet is a top tip as the favourites have a strong recent strike-rate running in the money.
Key Toorak Handicap Statistics and Insights
Place an informed bet on this year’s Toorak Handicap by considering the following key statistics and insights:
- Win Rates: Horses with high win rates in similar races are strong contenders for the Toorak Handicap. Our Toorak Handicap betting tips available at the TAB NZ Punters Lounge provide detailed win rate statistics.
- Place Percentages: Evaluate horses with consistent place percentages, indicating reliability and competitiveness. Toorak race tips offer comprehensive data on place percentages.
- Barrier Success Rates: Horses starting from a wide range of gates have won the Toorak making other stats and factors more important when predicting this year’s winner.
Bet on the next Toorak Handicap race now!
Past Toorak Handicap Results
Recent Toorak Handicap winners, jockeys, trainers, barriers, and weights carried to victory dating back to the year 2005 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner – Age/Gender
Breeding |
Jockey | Weight (kgs) | Trainer/s | Barrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRANSATLANTIC (AUS) 5G SNITZEL (AUS) – GUST OF WIND (NZ) DARCI BRAHMA (NZ) |
M ZAHRA | 56.5 | TONY GOLLAN | 9 | |
| ANTINO (NZ) 6G REDWOOD (GB) – MAHAMAYA (NZ) BAHHARE (USA) |
B SHINN | 55.5 | TONY GOLLAN | 8 | |
| ATTRITION (AUS) 4H CHURCHILL (IRE) – QUEEN’S KISS (AUS) FRENCH DEPUTY (USA) |
BEAU MERTENS | 54.0 | MITCHELL FREEDMAN | 10 | |
| TUVALU (AUS) 5G KERMADEC (NZ) – HANGIN’ TOUGH (AUS) EXCEED AND EXCEL (AUS) |
J FRY | 53.5 | LINDSEY SMITH | 1 | |
| I’M THUNDERSTRUCK (NZ) 4G SHOCKING (AUS) – PRIMADONNA GIRL (NZ) EDENWOLD (CAN) |
JYE MCNEIL | 52.0 | M PRICE & M KENT | 4 | |
| MR QUICKIE (AUS) 5G SHAMUS AWARD (AUS) – SPECIAL FAVOUR (AUS) GENERAL NEDIYM (AUS) |
JAMIE MELHAM | 59.0 | PHILLIP STOKES | 2 | |
| FIERCE IMPACT (JPN) 5H DEEP IMPACT (JPN) – KEIAI GERBERA (JPN) SMARTY JONES (USA) |
CRAIG WILLIAMS | 54.5 | MATTHEW SMITH | 15 | |
| LAND OF PLENTY (AUS) 5H STRATUM (AUS) – DANCING (GB) SPECTRUM (IRE) |
DAMIAN LANE | 53.0 | DARREN WEIR | 18 | |
| TOSEN STARDOM (JPN) 6H DEEP IMPACT (JPN) – ADMIRE KIRAMEKI (JPN) END SWEEP (USA) |
DAMIAN LANE | 57.5 | DARREN WEIR | 16 | |
| HE’S OUR ROKKII (NZ) 4G ROC DE CAMBES (NZ) – CLERIHEW (GB) LOMITAS (GB) |
D DUNN | 55.0 | D & B HAYES & T DABERNIG | 1 | |
| LUCKY HUSSLER (AUS) 6G HUSSON (ARG) – TALAQ DANCER (AUS) BLACK HAWK (GB) |
G BOSS | 58.0 | DARREN WEIR | 4 | |
| TRUST IN A GUST (AUS) 4H KEEP THE FAITH (AUS) – SUBTLE BREEZE (USA) STORM CAT (USA) |
B RAWILLER | 56.5 | DARREN WEIR | 11 | |
| SOLZHENITSYN (NZ) 7G ST PETERSBURG (AUS) – TRI VICTORY (NZ) VICTORY DANCE (IRE) |
N RAWILLER | 58.0 | ROBERT HEATHCOTE | 7 | |
| SOLZHENITSYN (NZ) 6G ST PETERSBURG (AUS) – TRI VICTORY (NZ) VICTORY DANCE (IRE) |
C W BROWN | 52.0 | ROBERT HEATHCOTE | 3 | |
| MUFHASA (NZ) 7G PENTIRE (GB) – SHEILA CHEVAL (NZ) MI PREFERIDO (USA) |
M RODD | 58.0 | STEPHEN MCKEE | 11 | |
| MORE JOYOUS (NZ) 4M MORE THAN READY (USA) – SUNDAY JOY (AUS) SUNDAY SILENCE (USA) |
N RAWILLER | 58.0 | MS G WATERHOUSE | 10 | |
| ALLEZ WONDER (AUS) 4M REDOUTE’S CHOICE (AUS) – LUNA TUDOR (AUS) MILITARY PLUME (NZ) |
MICHELLE PAYNE | 52.0 | BART CUMMINGS | 7 | |
| ALAMOSA (NZ) 4H O’REILLY (NZ) – LODORE MYSTIC (NZ) CENTAINE (AUS) |
C NEWITT | 55.5 | MICK PRICE | 14 | |
| DIVINE MADONNA (AUS) 5M HURRICANE SKY (AUS) – MY MADONNA (AUS) PREGO (IRE) |
M RODD | 55.0 | MARK KAVANAGH | 8 | |
| RED DAZZLER (AUS) 4H RED RANSOM (USA) – VAIN HILL (AUS) DANEHILL (USA) |
J CASSIDY | 55.0 | MICK PRICE | 3 | |
| BARELY A MOMENT (AUS) 4H GILDED TIME (USA) – LADY DANNA (AUS) DANEHILL (USA) |
CRAIG WILLIAMS | 54.5 | D A HAYES | 3 |
Toorak Handicap Betting Info
Toorak Handicap betting is open months ahead of the Group 1 Melbourne, spring race down under at the TAB NZ.
We offer pre-nomination Toorak Handicap betting odds throughout the year that are known as futures Toorak Handicap odds online.
All-In Toorak Handicap betting markets are then available following the official Toorak Handicap nominations taken the Monday of race week.
Betting on the Toorak Handicap field is available following final acceptances which close on the Wednesday of race week.
Betting on the Toorak Handicap often favours middle distance gallopers eyeing a potential run in the Cox Plate race later in the month with the Toorak Handicap form a solid one to follow into the Australasian weight-for-age championship race at The Valley.
Toorak Handicap race betting traditionally focuses on the proven Group 1 winners who have an outstanding record in the event and those heading towards bigger and better events over the spring.
For the best online betting on the Toorak Handicap, consider tipping a horse to win both the Toorak Handicap and another Group 1 race over the carnival in a spring double!
Toorak Handicap Field
The Toorak Handicap field attracts a line-up of top-line middle-distance and staying horses each season with runners coming from stables around Australia and New Zealand.
Toorak Handicap Field & Acceptance Dates
It is crucial to take note of when the Toorak Handicap field is out, what time Toorak Handicap nominations close and the official Toorak Handicap acceptance dates when placing a Toorak Handicap bet online as horses may drop out of the race and bets may be cancelled.
See below for the official Toorak Handicap field dates for 2025.
- 2025 Toorak Handicap Nominations: Close on Monday October 6, 2025, at 12:00pm (Melbourne time).
- 2025 Toorak Handicap Field: Revealed on Wednesday October 8, 2025, at 9:30am (Melbourne time).
- 2025 Toorak Handicap Barrier Draw: Conducted on Wednesday October 8, 2025.
Where can you bet on the Toorak Handicap?
The best place to bet on this year’s Toorak Handicap race is through the TAB NZ online.
Toorak Handicap Odds
Toorak Handicap odds and online betting tips on the Toorak Handicap are dominated by proven Group 1 horses, the male runners in the race and the interstate gallopers who have a great record in the event after a few lead-up performances already that spring.
Where can I find the Toorak Handicap odds?
For the latest odds and updates on the Toorak Handicap, TAB NZ is your go-to source. They provide real-time odds fluctuations, ensuring you have the most current information to make informed betting decisions. It’s crucial to monitor these odds closely, as they reflect the market’s perception of each horse’s chances, influenced by factors like form, barrier draw, and track conditions.
How to Place a Bet on the Toorak Handicap Race
Want to know how to make a bet on the Toorak Handicap? Visit the TAB NZ racing page to access the latest Toorak Handicap betting odds and options.
It is simple to learn how to place a bet on the Toorak Handicap online.
You can place a Toorak Handicap bet online anytime markets are live.
There are more ways than ever to get involved in betting on the Toorak Handicap.
From seasoned punters analysing form guides to casual racing fans drawn to the excitement, the Toorak Handicap is a race for everyone.
Whether you’re diving deep into the latest Toorak Handicap race field, joining a sweepstake with friends, or simply enjoying the atmosphere of the spring carnival at Caulfield Racecourse, the Toorak Handicap has it all!
This important spring lead-up race showcases Australia’s finest thoroughbreds and attracts attention from all over the country as the biggest races of the year approach.
How to Bet on the Toorak Handicap in 2025?
1. Log in or sign-up with TAB NZ.
2. Make a secure online deposit using one of the TAB NZ safe deposit methods.
3. Check out the Toorak Handicap betting guide, Toorak Handicap form guide and our expert Toorak Handicap tips.
4. Choose a Toorak Handicap bet to place such as Win, Place, Each-Way or the Toorak Handicap Trifecta. There are many more Toorak Handicap betting options available so make sure to check out our Toorak Handicap betting markets.
5. Select the Toorak Handicap horse you want to bet on from the early markets, Toorak Handicap nominations or Toorak Handicap field.
What are the popular betting markets for the Toorak Handicap?
When it comes to betting on the Toorak Handicap, there are a number of more popular betting options with punters including:
Exotics: These include Quinella, Trifecta, and First Four, where you predict the specific order of finishers, offering potentially higher payouts but requiring more precise predictions.
Win & Place: Bet on a horse to win or finish in the top places. This is one of the most straightforward and popular betting options.
Each-Way: A combination of win and place bets, providing a safety net if your chosen horse doesn’t win but finishes in the top positions.
What makes betting on the Toorak Handicap so popular?
The fact that the Toorak Handicap is one of the leading Group 1 Caulfield mile races run during the festival and one of the key races at the Melbourne Carnival of Racing make it a must watch and must bet on horse racing event.
The Toorak Handicap is a prestigious race that has produced a host of subsequent Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup winning horses.
It is also held on the opening day of the Melbourne Racing Club’s Spring Carnival, Caulfield Guineas Day, as the countdown to the ‘Big 3’ spring majors begins in earnest.
What makes the Toorak Handicap so special?
The Toorak Handicap serves as a great guide historically to other important spring races like the Caulfield Cup and Flemington’s Champions Stakes, so using the Toorak Handicap winners’ list for upcoming Group 1 events is popular with punters.
The Toorak Handicap holds a special place in Australian racing history as one the oldest Victorian horse races held down under.
Australian and international racing fans, including those in New Zealand, tune into the thrilling 1600m spring event every season to see if their bets on the Toorak Handicap race won!
The Toorak Handicap currently offers A$1,000,000 in prize money plus bragging rights with jockeys, trainers and owners from across the country and further abroad keen to add their names to the list of Toorak Handicap champions.
How many horses can run in the Toorak Handicap?
The Toorak Handicap field has a 16-starter limit plus emergencies with final acceptances announced the Wednesday of race week.
Toorak Handicap race tips centre on proven stars that have good lead-up form in events like the Group 1 Underwood Stakes, horses with previous experience at the Caulfield track, and interstate trained horses allocated light weights who have dominated recent results.
The Toorak Handicap is a handicap race open to horses of all ages above meaning the higher rated a horse is the more weight they will carry.
The highest-rated horse in the Toorak Handicap field dons the number one saddlecloth.
How many mares have won the Toorak Handicap in recent years?
Since Ricochet Rosie back in 1990, only three mares have won the Toorak Handicap with Divine Madonna (2007), Allez Wonder (2009), and More Joyous (2010).
What age group has the best Toorak Handicap record?
Four-year-olds have dominated the Toorak Handicap results in recent years with 10 saluting between 2000 and 2025, most recently Attrition in 2023.
The oldest recent Toorak Handicap winner was Solzhenitsyn for his second as a seven-year-old in 2013.
The youngest Toorak Handicap winner was K. Cid who won as a three-year-old back in 1929.
Between 2000 and 2025 the breakdown of Toorak Handicap winners by age is as follows:
- 3YOS – 0
- 4YOs – 10 (latest Attrition in 2023)
- 5YOs – 9 (latest Transatlantic in 2025)
- 6YOs – 5 (latest Antino in 2024)
- 7YOs – 2 (latest Solzhenitsyn in 2013)
Toorak Handicap Prize Money
The Toorak Handicap prize money may not compare to the stakes on offer in events like the A$20 million The Everest and A$10 million The Golden Eagle which are both held in Sydney over the spring, but it remains a highlight of the Australian racing calendar.
The Toorak Handicap prize money is set at A$1,000,000 in total stakes allocated between first to eighth place.
How much does the Toorak Handicap winner get? The winning Toorak Handicap horse receives a total of A$600,000 in prize money.
See below for the official breakdown of Toorak Handicap prizes on offer from the Toorak Handicap winner to the eighth horse to cross the finish line in the official Toorak Handicap results.
- First: A$600,000
- Second: A$180,000
- Third: A$90,000
- Fourth: A$45,000
- Fifth: A$25,000
- Sixth: A$20,000
- Seventh: A$20,000
- Eighth: A$20,000
Conducted by the Melbourne Racing Club (MRC), the Toorak Handicap is a mid-carnival feature race at the Caulfield track over the all-important Melbourne Spring Carnival.
The Toorak Handicap has been won by a host of turf greats during their careers including that year’s Melbourne Cup hero Galilee (1966).
How many international horses have won the Toorak Handicap?
None. So far, no horse trained outside of Australia or New Zealand has won the Toorak Handicap.
How many horses have won the Toorak Handicap more than once?
Five horses have won multiple editions of the race all on back-to-back years.
Multiple Toorak Handicap Champions
Saxony (1948-49), Desert Breeze (1952-53), Nicopolis (1963-64), Umrum (1999-2000), and most recently Solzhenitsyn (2012-13).
Toorak Handicap Records
What is the fastest Toorak Handicap winning time? Land Of Plenty won the Toorak Handicap in 2018 in a record time of 1 minute 34.52 seconds over the 1600m.
What races will runners out of the Toorak Handicap target in the spring?
Following a run in the Toorak Handicap key spring targets for the top contenders include Caulfield’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley, Flemington’s Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, and even the iconic Melbourne Cup race over the two miles on the first Tuesday of November.
Toorak Handicap – Caulfield Cup double winners (in the same year): The Trump (1937), Royal Gem (1946), Galilee (1966), Tobin Bronze (1967), Leilani (1974).
Tobin Bronze (1967) was the last horse to complete the Toorak Handicap – Cox Plate double in the same year.
Tosen Stardom (2017) was the last horse to complete the Toorak Handicap – Champions Stakes double in the same year.
Galilee (1966) was the last horse to complete the Toorak Handicap – Melbourne Cup double in the same year.
What Time Does the Toorak Handicap Race Start?
The Toorak Handicap start time is traditionally scheduled late in the afternoon on Caulfield Guineas Day.
Toorak Handicap Barriers
The Toorak Handicap barrier draw and allocated Toorak Handicap gates play a key role for many punters when deciding on what horses to bet on in the big race.
When is the Toorak Handicap barrier draw?
The Toorak Handicap barrier draw is conducted on the same day as final acceptances close which is the Wednesday of race week around 9:30am local Melbourne time.
Barriers have historically not affected the Toorak Handicap results with the distance and make-up of the course allowing horses from a variety of gates to win.
Barrier 9 is the most recent Toorak Handicap winning barrier with Transatlantic in 2025.
Barrier 3 is the most recent Toorak Handicap barrier to produce back-to-back winners with Barley A Moment (2005) and Red Dazzler (2006).
Ten Toorak Handicap winners from 2000-2025 jumped from a double-digit gate most recently Attrition (10 in 2023).
Barrier 18 is the widest barrier to produce a Toorak Handicap winner between 2000 and 2025 with Land Of Plenty saluting from the gate in 2018.
What is the most successful recent Toorak Handicap barrier draw?
Barrier four has produced four Toorak Handicap winners between 2000 and 2025 most recently I’m Thunderstruck in 2021.
Breakdown of winning Toorak Handicap barriers between 2000-25:
- Barrier 1 – 2 (latest Tuvalu in 2022)
- Barrier 2 – 1 (latest Mr Quickie in 2020)
- Barrier 3 – 3 (latest Solzhenitsyn in 2012)
- Barrier 4 – 4 (latest I’m Thunderstruck in 2021)
- Barrier 5 – 1 (latest Roman Arch in 2003)
- Barrier 6 – 0
- Barrier 7 – 2 (latest Solzhenitsyn in 2013)
- Barrier 8 – 2 (latest Antino in 2024)
- Barrier 9 – 1 (latest Transatlantic in 2025)
- Barrier 10 – 3 (latest Attrition in 2023)
- Barrier 11 – 2 (latest Trust In A Gust in 2014)
- Barrier 12 – 1 (latest Show A Heart in 2001)
- Barrier 13 – 0
- Barrier 14 – 1 (latest Alamosa in 2008)
- Barrier 15 – 1 (latest Fierce Impact in 2019)
- Barrier 16 – 1 (latest Tosen Stardom in 2017)
- Barrier 17 – 0
- Barrier 18 – 1 (latest Land Of Plenty in 2018)
Toorak Handicap Betting Favourites
Favourites in Toorak Handicap betting are those horses that jump at the shortest Toorak Handicap odds.
Toorak Handicap favourites have saluted six times from 2010 to 2025.
Last Toorak Handicap favourite to win: I’m Thunderstruck ($3.10 in 2021)
Last Toorak Handicap favourite to finish worse than third: Sepals (10th in 2025)
The last Toorak Handicap favourite to finish worse than third and miss out on a spot in the Toorak Handicap trifecta was Sepals who started at $2.50 before running dead last (10th) 9.62 lengths behind the winner Transatlantic ($10).
Toorak Handicap Form
We offer a complete Toorak Handicap form guide and expert analysis on every horse in the Toorak Handicap field in addition to insider Toorak Handicap racing tips and betting odds.
Our Toorak Handicap form guides include:
- Toorak Handicap race preview and predictions
- Racing analysis on the event and runners
- Previous runs, barrier trials and lead-up statistics
- Key information on all horses in the race like trainer and jockey form
- Runner commentary
Whether you are just starting out tipping horses in the Toorak Handicap or you are an expert Toorak Handicap tipster, our form guide gives you all the statistics and information you need to make a smart bet on the Toorak Handicap.
How to Read the Toorak Handicap Guide
Here’s a step-by-step explanation of how to interpret a horse’s form and performance indicators when looking at this year’s Toorak Handicap form guide:
Barrier Position: Evaluate the horse’s barrier draw and its historical performance from similar starting positions.
Recent Performances: Review the horse’s last few races, focusing on finish positions and the quality of competition faced.
Track and Distance Records: Check the horse’s performance on similar track conditions and distances to gauge suitability.
Jockey and Trainer Stats: Consider the success rates of the jockey and trainer combination, particularly in the Toorak Handicap race.
Weight Carried: Analyse how the weight carried in previous races compares to the Toorak Handicap as this can impact performance.
Toorak Handicap Day Betting
Toorak Handicap Day betting is dominated by online Toorak Handicap bets, but there are also a host of exciting support races that the TAB NZ offer top Caulfield racing odds on.
The Toorak Handicap is one of three Group 1 events on the official Caulfield Guineas Day card. The other Group status Toorak Handicap Day races to check out our insider Melbourne racing tips for include the:
- Group 1 A$3,000,000 Caulfield Guineas (1600m),
- Group 1 A$1,000,000 Might And Power (2000m),
- Group 2 A$300,000 Schillaci Stakes (1100m),
- Group 2 A$300,000 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m),
- Group 3 A$200,000 Northwood Plume Stakes (1200m), and the
- Group 3 A$200,000 Ladies’ Day Vase (1600m).
Toorak Handicap Results
The Toorak Handicap results are known when the event takes place on a Saturday in early to mid-October.
You can bet on the Toorak Handicap race results weeks ahead of race day with our futures Toorak Handicap markets here at the TAB NZ.
Betting on the Toorak Handicap results entails picking the Toorak Handicap winning horse and we can help you place an informed bet on the Toorak Handicap field with our Toorak Handicap tips and form guide.
Other Toorak Handicap race results include the winning jockeys, trainers, successful barrier and finishing time.
The complete Toorak Handicap finishing order shows what position every horse in the field ran.
Some punters even like to place bets on what horse will finish last in the Toorak Handicap results!
Toorak Handicap exotic results show how all the exotic Toorak Handicap bet types resulted like the Toorak Handicap Quinella, Toorak Handicap Exacta, Toorak Handicap Trifecta, and Toorak Handicap First Four.
Toorak Handicap Jockeys
Securing a ride in the Toorak Handicap field is a highly sought-after achievement for jockeys around Australia and New Zealand. Winning this important spring race for potential Caulfield Cup / Cox Plate types is a nice campaign goal for many of Australasia’s top riders looking to secure a Group 1 trophy during the carnival.
What jockeys are riding in the Toorak Handicap field is determined by the owners and trainers of the horses, and official Toorak Handicap jockey announcements are made in the weeks and days leading up to the race.
Mark Zahra is the latest Toorak Handicap winning jockey having ridden Transatlantic to victory in 2025.
Damian Lane is the last back-to-back Toorak Handicap winning jockey having ridden Tosen Stardom (2017) and Land Of Plenty (2018) to victory.
Who are the most successful recent Toorak Handicap jockeys? Since 2000 Glen Boss has ridden three Toorak Handicap winners with Show A Heart (2001), Shot Of Thunder (2002), and Lucky Hussler (2015).
Jamie Kah on Mr Quickie in 2020 and Michelle Payne on Allez Wonder in 2009 are the latest female Toorak Handicap winning jockeys.
Stay tuned to the TAB NZ racing blog to see what jockeys lock in a confirmed ride on one of the Toorak Handicap horses this spring.
Toorak Handicap Trainers
Since the year 2000, Darren Weir (retired) has been the most successful Toorak Handicap winning trainer having prepared four winners in the five years from 2014 to 2018.
Queenslander Tony Gollan is the latest Toorak Handicap winning trainer having prepared Antino (2024) and Transatlantic (2025) for back-to-back wins.
Toorak Handicap Winners
Notable Toorak Handicap winners throughout history include:
The Trump (1937): Famous Aussie-bred galloper who went on to complete that year’s Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup spring cups double.
Royal Gem (1946): Versatile stallion who won races over as short as 1000m and up to 2400m including the Caulfield Guineas as a three-year-old and the 1946 Caulfield Cup.
Galilee (1966): Brilliant New Zealand-bred stayer and one of history’s greatest Australian racehorses. Only horse to complete the Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup – Sydney Cup treble in a single racing season.
Tobin Bronze (1967): Australian Thoroughbred Hall of Famer and one of the best gallopers down under during the 1960s whose victories included the Victoria Derby as a three-year-old in 1965, the Caulfield Cup (1967), Doncaster Handicap (1967), and two Cox Plates (1966 & 1967).
Gunsynd (1971): Gunsynd, affectionately known as the “Goondiwindi Grey,” was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who achieved major victories including the Epsom Handicap (1971), Doncaster Handicap (1972), and W.S. Cox Plate (1972); he was sired by Sunset Hue out of Woodie Wonder and was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
Leilani (1974): New Zealand-bred race mare who dominated in Australia winning six Group 1 races including that year’s Caulfield Cup and the Australian Cup the following year.
Divine Madonna (2007): One of the few mares to win the Toorak this four-time Group 1 winner finished out of the top five in only two of her 26 career starts.
More Joyous (2010): Brilliant Gai Waterhouse trained daughter of More Than Ready who won eight Group 1 races and was named Australian Champion Middle Distance Racehorse of the year in 2012.
King Mufhasa (2011): Known in New Zealand simply as Mufhasa this ace New Zealander collected a host of Group 1 races both at home in New Zealand and in Australia. Was a two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year in 2009 and 2012, and he was inducted into the New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame for his incredible racing feats in 2021 that included two wins in the Telegraph Handicap.
Bet on the next Toorak Handicap winner with our comprehensive Toorak Handicap form guide and expert Toorak Handicap tips at the TAB NZ!
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