Derby Day live updates: J-Mac produces stunner as favourite takes out $3m classic

There’s no rest for the wicked today at Flemington!

James McDonald will now saddle up another favourite when he rides Lady Shenandoah in the $1 million Empire Rose Stakes.

Ironically, she will be donning the same silks as Derby winner Stormy Marco.

The in-form mare is $2.15 with bookies and is expected to be too strong for the field, but McDonald will still need to be at his brilliant best.

Surfin Burd ($6) and Concord Connie ($5.50) are among the other chances in the final Group 1 race of the day at Flemington.

Stormy Marco kicks clear after a fantastic ride from James McDonald and takes out the $3 million Victoria Derby in emphatic fashion.

The pre-race favourite finished ahead of Cold Shower and Quick Finish.

“You just want to keep it smooth, want them to relax,” McDonald told Nine’s Billy Slater in the moments after the race.

“I had [Vallice jockey Mark] Zahra to my inside and he was saying ‘sleep, baby, sleep’. So that’s all we did, the two of us.

"He had superior form. I'm so happy Chris backed him up. And he just knows his horses so well."

Pip Edwards has been inspired by the track for her Derby Day ensemble (though you’d be forgiven for not realising it was her!)

The Australian fashion designer arrived in a voluminous Mariam Seddiq ruffle gown with a train - a dangerous move given the wet weather. But it was her headdress that caught everyone’s attention, disguising most of her face.

Heck, we almost missed the boots! (Jimmy Choo, duh.)

The moment we’ve all been waiting for has nearly arrived, with the running of the $3 million Victoria Derby just moments away.

Today’s edition will be the 172nd running of the famous race, with the country’s best three-year-olds competing over the 2500m distance.

Stormy Marco ($4.80) and Cormier ($6.50) sit near the top of a wide-open betting market, with True Rebel ($9.50) also at single-figure odds before jump.

There has been plenty of support for Cignetti, who is into $9.50 odds, while Skua remains a strong chance around the $10 mark.

This promises to be an exciting instalment of the Derby.

The Next Episode surges into the lead and holds off a defiant and brave St Gotthard in the last 50 metres to claim the Coolmore Stud Stakes.

Brilliant win for the three-year-old colt, who gives Ciaron Maher his first win of the carnival as star jockey Mark Zahra also gets off the mark.

The winner paid $3.20 with the bookies.

One of the roughies in the field, Mbube, finished in third place.

The first of three Group 1 races is up next at Flemington, with the running of the $2 million Coolmore Stud Stakes over 1200m.

The race pits some of the best three-year-old sprinters in the country against each other and it’s The Next Episode ($3.30) on top of the betting market.

With four wins and a placing from six career starts, the Ciaron Maher-trained runner looks the one to beat in a quality field.

St Gotthard ($4.40) is on the second line of betting and looks a real danger, while the likes of Satono Glow ($5.50) and Natural Fling ($6.50) are in the mix.

What a marvel Private Eye is! The nine-year-old gelding storms clear to win the Group 2 Damien Oliver and gives James McDonald his first winner.

The timeless Joseph Pride-trained runner dashed to the front at the clock tower and never looked back. It marked the horse’s first win over 12 months.

“What a marvel,” caller Matt Hill said at the finish.

McDonald said it was “an honour to ride the old boy” to a 15th career win.

Cote Atlantique ran second with Zou Sensation in third place.

Brilliant edition of the Group 3 Rising Fast Stakes and it’s Ndola who holds on in a gritty finish ahead of a fast-finishing Sweynesday.

Ndola clung on in the final furlong with Jye McNeil on board and gave the Hayes stable their second winner of the day, going level with Chris Waller.

The winner paid a juicy $11 with bookies.

Meridius finished in third place in the 1200m sprint.

It’s been a brilliant start for champion trainer Chris Waller.

After finishing one-two in the Carbine Club Stakes to open the day, De Armas scores a breakthrough win in the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes.

The talented three-year-old filly has shown some good signs across the spring without finding a victory, but this was a dominant display, rumbling over the top with Blake Shinn on board as the $3.50 favourite.

Girl With A Pearl finished second, with Icelady in third over the 2000m trip.

Every race day has its own guest of honour and supermodel and Helena Christensen appears to be that special someone this Derby Day.

The 57-year-old former Victoria’s Secret Angel has arrived in a classic black and white tweed frock with a chic off-the-shoulder neckline.

She paired her wide-brimmed black hat with a pair of black patent leather pumps and minimal jewellery.

The star of the show was her ruby pout, proving a red lip really is timeless.