2026 Australian Derby Results

Stay tuned for the official 2026 Australian Derby results and finishing order at Randwick on Saturday April 4, 2026.

• 1st: No. 3 Green Spaces ($4.40)
• 2nd: No. 13 Dezignation
• 3rd: No. 5 Storm Leopard

Winning Margin: 3.19 lengths

Winning Time: 2:32.84

History continued to be made at Royal Randwick on Day 1 of The Championships with jockey Rachel King becoming the first female hoop to win the 2026 Australian Derby thanks to an effortless three-length romp home by the up-and-coming Bjorn Baker-trained stayer Green Spaces ($4.40). Improving on his lead-up second in the Rosehill Guineas, Green Spaces came from sixth on the home turn to charge down the front runners and race away for an impressive 3.19 length win. He will be put away for the spring with the $10 million Melbourne Cup in sight and has firmed in from $51 to $26 through Ladbrokes.com.au to win the world’s richest handicap.

Click here for the full story.

Australian Derby Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Australian Derby 2026 tips and best bets to be published below during race week.

To Win: No. 1 Observer 

Observer (12) looks ready to rebound in the ATC Derby, and I’m happy to stick with him despite the Rosehill Guineas defeat and a wide draw. The VRC Derby winner is chasing a rare interstate staying double, and his form this prep backs the ambition—he strung together the G2 Autumn Stakes and G1 Australian Guineas before his first Sydney run on Slipper Day. The rise to 2400m is the key: he was dominant at 2500m in the spring and shapes as one of the few in this field certain to relish the trip. Autumn Boy and Green Spaces had his measure over 2000m, but the extra ground should flip the script. He’s now had a look around Sydney, gets three weeks between runs to balance fitness and freshness, and his Guineas effort was far braver on replay than the margin suggests. Expect him to roll forward and try to replicate the bold tactics that won him the Victoria Derby. Add James McDonald to the saddle and the set-up suddenly looks ideal. He can absolutely bounce back.

Australian Derby News

2026 Australian Derby Results: Green Spaces Wins by 3 Lengths; King Becomes First Female Hoop to Salute

• 2026 Australian Derby Field & Betting Update: Green Spaces vs. Observer
• Single Choice Wins Autumn Classic, Firms in 2026 Australian Derby Betting
• 2025 Australian Derby Winner Aeliana Beats the Boys by Five Lengths!
• 2025 Australian Derby Field & Betting: Willydoit v Aeliana
• Riff Rocket Hands Waller His Maiden Australian Derby 2024 Win

The Australian Derby is a classic Group 1 race for three-year-olds. Held on a Saturday in early April during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, the race takes place at Royal Randwick Racecourse on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’. This is a classic Derby, raced over a distance of 2400 metres (a mile and a half) and offers $2 million in total prize money.

The Australian Derby prizemoney for 2020 was reduced to $1 million to help cope with the financial stress on the industry brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic but was back to $2 million in 2021.

As a set weights race, colts and geldings must carry 56.5kg and fillies must carry 54.5kg. The ATC Australian Derby is regarded as a prestigious event and attracts some of the greatest emerging stayers from around the country.

Run on Doncaster Mile Day the Australian Derby is one of four Group 1 races on the card along with the $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m), $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), and the $1 million ATC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m).

Following a run in the ATC Derby some of the better young stayers may head to Adelaide in May for the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) with Explosive Jack (2021) the last to do the interstate Derby double.

The Australian Derby winner is exempt from ballot for the upcoming Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes the following Saturday.

In 2024 the Chris Waller-trained Riff Rocket became the fourth horse in history to complete the interstate Victoria Derby – Australian Derby double. He also completed that year’s Rosehill Guineas – ATC Derby double and handed Waller his first Australian Derby victory as a trainer.

The 2024 Australian Derby form was franked with the runner-up Ceolwulf returning in the spring to complete the Epsom Handicap – King Charles III Stakes double.

In 2025 Waller enjoyed back-to-back ATC Derby wins with his five-length winning filly Aeliana becoming the first female to win since Shamrocker in 2011!

The key lead-up races for the Australian Derby are the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) held two weeks earlier and the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) held one week before at Rosehill Gardens.

The Rosehill Guineas – Australian Derby double has recently been achieved by the likes of It’s A Dundeel (2013), Criterion (2014), and Riff Rocket (2024).

Aeliana (2nd in 2025) and Green Spaces (2nd in 2026) are the latest Rosehill Guineas graduates to continue on and win the ATC Derby.

The Tulloch Stakes – Australian Derby was achieved four times in as many years by Jon Snow (2017), Levendi (2018), Angel Of Truth (2019), and Quick Thinker (2020).

In 2023 Major Beel improved on his lead-up second the Saturday prior in the Tulloch Stakes to score an upset Australian Derby win at 30/1.

2026 Australian Derby Betting

Over the autumn the all-in and final field Australian Derby 2026 betting odds will be available at Ladbrokes.com.au on the Group 1 staying clash and will also be available here at Races.com.au.

Hitotsu ($3.30 in 2022) and Riff Rocket ($2.20 in 2024) – who both also won the VRC Derby the spring prior – followed by the filly Aeliana ($2.25 in 2025) are the latest favourites in Australian Derby betting to win.

There was a notable upset in 2023 with Major Beel winning at Australian Derby odds of $31.

Australian Derby Field

2026 Australian Derby Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 AUSTRALIAN DERBY FORM GUIDE

2026 Australian Derby Nominations

Like all of the Group 1 races run at Randwick Racecourse on Doncaster Mile Day, the Australian Derby nominations close in early to mid-February around two months before the race takes place and often attract over 100 early entries.

The 2026 Australian Derby nominations close at midday on Tuesday the 10th of February 2026. 

The Australian Derby 2026 nominations feature 132 of the season’s most promising 3YO stayers with all-in markets dominated by the spring’s VRC Derby champ Observer who made a great return with a soft Group 2 Autumn Stakes win.

2026 Australian Derby First Acceptances

Like all of the Group 1 races run at Randwick Racecourse on Doncaster Mile Day, the Australian Derby first acceptances close around a month before the race takes place.

The 2026 Australian Derby first acceptances close at midday on Tuesday the 10th of March 2026. 

2026 Australian Derby Field

The Australian Derby field attracts a line-up of the season’s best three-year-old stayers. The majority of the horses that run in the ATC Derby field are colts and geldings, with the fillies generally running the following weekend in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) against their own kind.

The official 2026 Australian Derby field and barriers are set to be released by Racing NSW on Tuesday March 31, 2026, and will be published in full below.

The Australian Derby 2026 final field features 13 of the season’s best three-year-old stayers led in betting by the progressive Bjorn Baker-trained Green Spaces and Ciaron Maher’s VRC Derby / Australian Guineas double champ Observer who ran second and third respectively in the Rosehill Guineas last time out.

Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2026 ATC Derby field and betting markets.

Australian Derby Barrier & Speedmap

1

Kaye Jay Off Pace

2

One Step Closer Off Midfield

3

Are You Kidding Off Pace

4

Dezignation Midfield

5

Storm Leopard Midfield

6

Green Spaces Midfield

7

Federalist Backmarker

8

Deal Done Fast Off Midfield

9

Bingi Pace

10

Road To Paris Backmarker

11

Savisanta Off Pace

12

Observer Leader

13

Victorious Spirit Off Pace

Australian Derby History

With names such as Phar Lap, Tulloch and Kingstown Town included in the list of race winners, it’s little wonder why this race is so highly regarded in the industry. First won by Kyogle in 1861, the event was titled the Randwick Derby Stakes. In 1865, it was changed to the Australian Derby Stakes and in 1994 it was given its current name.

The Derby was originally run over 1 1/2 miles however was changed in 1972 to 2400m to conform to the metric system. Between 1932 and 1956 geldings were banned from competing in the race.

The 2020 Australian Derby results saw Quick Thinker become the fourth horse in as many years to do the Tulloch Stakes – ATC Derby double. The Kiwi also handed co-trainer Murray Baker with his fifth win in the classic.

In 2022 Hitotsu made history as the first horse since Mahogany (1993-94) to win the Victoria derby – Australian Derby interstate double. He also became the first Australian Guineas winner to back up and win the Australian Derby without a run in between.

Gai Waterhouse celebrated her maiden Australian Derby win in 2023 with Major Beel ($31) in partnership with Adrian Bott. Waterhouse’s father TJ Smith holds the Australian Derby record having prepared an incredible nine winners throughout his career.

See below for the full Australian Derby results going back to 2000.

The VRC Derby – ATC Derby double was last completed by Riff Rocket (2023/24).

Aeliana (2025) was the last Australian Derby winning filly.

In 2026 Rachel King aboard Green Spaces became the first Australian Derby winning female jockey.

Australian Derby Previous Race Winners