Victorian Derby Day 2013 Results: Winners, Payouts and Order of Finish

The heavens opened for the first day of this year's Melbourne Cup Carnival as the 2013 AAMI Victoria Derby Day welcomed more than 95,000 spectators to Flemington with sensational running conditions.

One of Australia's most anticipated sporting events of the year didn't fail to live up to expectations, either, and offered high-octane action across the course of Saturday's early cards.

In total, more than $4.8 million in prize money was handed out across the nine races, some to those who were expected to claim it while other results were more surprising.

Read on for a full rundown of this weekend's opening results.

Carbine Club Stakes

Prize Money: $200,000

1. Paximadia
2. Hucklebuck
3. Equator

Peter Snowden's Flemington ventures began in the best way possible this weekend when Paximadia eased to victory in the 1600-metre Carbine Club Stakes.

Hucklebuck was being tipped as favourite to emerge victorious in this meeting, but an impressive ride from Kerrin McEvoy ensured that was not the case as colt Paximadia led confidently throughout. 

Wakeful Stakes

Prize Money: $300,000

1. Kirramosa
2. May's Dream
3. Solicit

If Paximadia's win in the Victorian Derby Day opener was to be seen as easy, then Kirramosa's comeback victory in the Wakeful Stakes was anything but as the Alamosa filly hounded down her leaders in time to stage an late upset.

Looking like another few hundred metres would have done her no harm, the three-year-old hounded down the lead held by May's Dream before racing in for a finely timed finish. 

Lexus Stakes

Prize Money: $300,000

1. Ruscello
2. Let's Make Adeal
3. Araldo

In its first group race, Ruscello impressed as Englishman Ed Walker continued what has been a thrilling start to his career as a trainer, competing in just his third season.

Four-year-old gelding Ruscello will now be a candidate for Tuesday's Melbourne Cup as the trainer/horse pair hope to extend their fortune at Flemington, although Chad Schofield deserves some credit for a calm jockey performance.

Coolmore Stud Stakes

Prize Money: $500,000

1. Zoustar
2. Not Listenin'tome
3. Lion of Belfort

Zoustar lived up to expectations—and then some—as the three-year-old took home first-place honours in the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Saturday.

Behind Roy Higgins and George Moore, Jimmy Cassidy became only the third jockey in Australasia to win 100 Group 1 races, Zoustar providing the finishing touches for a historic accolade.

Longines Mackinnon Stakes

Prize Money: $1,000,000

1. Side Glance
2. Dear Demi
3. Moriarty

One of the biggest prizes up for grabs at this week's Melbourne event, the $1 million Longines Mackinnon Stakes was taken home by Side Glance, who books his spot in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup as a result of the win.

Dear Demi staged a heroic challenge in the final straight, but it was Jamie Spencer's ride of the English winner, Side Glance, that ensured the three-year-old led throughout, capping off a successful day for the international participants.

AAMI Victoria Derby

Prize Money: $1,500,000

1. Polanski
2. Complacent
3. Thunder Fantasy

Polanski stepped up to the plate at the best possible occasion when the Robbie Laing-trained thoroughbred beat out a thriving field of other contenders to claim the $1.5 million Victoria Derby.

Sharon Chapman captured this terrific photo of the winning rider and horse:

Purchased for just $4,000, Polanski was helped on by a terrific Hugh Bowman ride, overcoming the challenges of Complacent and Thunder Fantasy to come out on top. 

Myer Classic

Prize Money: $500,000

1. Red Tracer
2. Catkins
3. Fire Up Fifi

Decided by the finest of margins, Red Tracer capitalised on Zoustar's Coolmore Stud Stakes win earlier on Saturday to wrap up a fine Victorian Derby Day for trainer Chris Waller.

It was Red Tracer's stablemate Catkins that posed the greatest threat across the line, but Nash Rawiller's ride was strong enough to see the mare through to a close victory. 

Yellowglen Stakes

Prize Money: $300,000

1. Fontelina
2. Spirit of Boom
3. Rarefied

For the second time in two years, Fontelina ran to victory in the Yellowglen stakes, repeating a feat that had been accomplished just once in the past, Redelva doing so in 1987 and '88.

The Courier's Andrew Garvey reported trainer Anthony Cummings as saying: 

"I was really pleased with the way the horse had prepared and we thought he had improved on last year, and he had to because there was a lot more depth to the race and he had to carry more weight."

TAB.com.au Stakes

Prize Money: $200,000

1. Smokin' Joey
2. Galah
3. Strike the Stars

The final race of Flemington's opening day was a surprise result as big as any other, Smokin' Joey taking home the win thanks to a commendable final straight with jockey Chris Symons.

The six-year-old gelding only switched stables a fortnight ago, now running under Wez Hunter rather than his former trainer Mick Price.

In hindsight, it may be a decision Price comes to regret, despite the horse's age.