‘Just keep a lid on it’: Zahra wins four on Derby Day but wants more as cup carnival continues

Mark Zahra’s Four Wins on Victoria Derby Day

Mark Zahra celebrated a remarkable Victoria Derby Day at Flemington by riding four winners, including the feature race winner Observer on a bright spring day.

Record-Equalling Achievement

After matching the record for most wins in a single Derby Day, Zahra spoke to Nine while holding his trophies from victories, featuring two major Group 1 races: the Victoria Derby and the Coolmore Stud Stakes. The event attracted a crowd of 86,112.

Zahra’s Reflections on the Day

"I can’t even remember what I won on first....it was good to have two winners on the board. So full of confidence heading into Tentyris. And I thought he was my best ride today. He’s just improved and improved and won the big one, you start to think, can I do it again? And then Observer just led all the way."

Support from Family

Regarding his wife’s reaction, Zahra shared:

"I just tell her [wife Elyse] I’ll meet you in the yard after. But she’s pretty fired up about today. I’ve told her it’s day one for the carnival, so we’ve just got relax, get through the rest of the week first."

His daughter showed mild interest, preferring television but appreciative of trophies brought home:

"She asked if I had a winner or not, but she’d rather watch Gabby’s Dollhouse than the races at the moment. She does like when I bring her home a trophy. So I’ve got a few to hand over for her tonight."

Looking Ahead

The carnival continues with further excitement to come. Racing fans are invited to join the next live coverage on Tuesday for Melbourne Cup Day and keep up with ongoing racing news.

Summary: Mark Zahra’s dominant performance on Derby Day with four wins highlights his form and family support as the spring carnival progresses.

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The Sydney Morning Herald The Sydney Morning Herald — 2025-10-31

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