Tom Kitten makes history with back-to-back All-Star Mile victory on Super Saturday

The Sam Freedman trained Tom Kitten defended his title in the Group 1 $2 million Sharp EIT All Star Mile (1600m), becoming the first horse to go back-to-back in Victoria’s premier autumn mile race. Crowd favourite Craig Williams timed the run perfectly to ride the gelding to victory. Tom Kitten finished ahead of a fast finishing Evaporate and Pride of Jenni, who ran on bravely.

Sixteen lucky owner ambassadors enjoyed the thrill of a lifetime through the “Own the Mile” All-Star Mile competition, sharing in $200,000 in prize money and experiencing the excitement and emotion of race day ownership. Reservoir local Scott Amiet went home $100,000 richer and plans to take his family on a well-deserved holiday.

Jockey Craig Newitt won the Group 1 Yulong Newmarket Handicap (1200m) aboard Caballus in a thrilling race for trainer Bjorn Baker, becoming the most successful jockey in the race’s 152‑year history, with four victories. His latest triumph adds to earlier wins on Miss Andretti (2007), Shamexpress (2013) and The Quarterback (2016), and marks his first Group 1 success in a decade.

Off the track, Fashions on the Field made a stylish return to autumn, drawing a standout field of entrants across all categories. Melissa Rigter from Armadale was crowned Best Dressed, designing her own outfit inspired by Vivienne Westwood, while Arif Scholachudin from Diggers Rest took out the Best Suited category with an outfit inspired by his Indonesian heritage.

The Wade family from Ballarat were crowned winners of the Family Racewear category with stylishly coordinated outfits that captured the spirit and creativity of the competition. Judging was led by an expert panel featuring milliner Jill Humphries, designer Dom Bagnato, Friend of the VRC Bree Ogilvy, and head of fashion programming at PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival, Todd Anthony. 

VRC Chief Executive Kylie Rogers said Super Saturday's historic back-to-back All-Star Mile result capped a spectacular day of racing and entertainment at Flemington.

"Super Saturday delivered everything we could have asked for – an extraordinary back-to-back All-Star Mile champion, a brilliant upset win by Caballus in the Yulong Newmarket Handicap, and an atmosphere at Flemington that was remarkable from start to finish.

Watching Tom Kitten defend his All-Star Mile title in front of such a passionate crowd was incredible, and we can't wait to close out what has been a memorable Flemington Autumn Carnival on TAB Australian Cup Day on 28 March."

The 2026 Flemington Autumn Carnival concludes on TAB Australian Cup Day on Saturday 28 March. For more information on the Flemington Autumn Carnival or to purchase tickets, which start at $30 with children under 18 free, visit vrc.com.au.