Horse Racing

The Australian Derby is a classic Group 1 race for three-year-olds. Held on the first Saturday in 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 a half) and offers $2 million in total prize money.

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: $3 million Doncaster Mile (1600m), $2.5 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and the $1 million ATC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m).

The 2017 Australia Derby ran on Saturday April 1, 2017.

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) and Criterion (2014).

2017 Australian Derby Results

• 1st: Jon Snow
• 2nd: Harper’s Choice
• 3rd: Hardham

Read the full 2017 ATC Derby Results led by the Kiwi raider Jon Snow who completed the double off a Tulloch Stakes win the Saturday prior.

2017 Australian Derby Form Guide

View our comprehensive Australian Derby Form Guide & Betting Preview.

2017 Australian Derby Betting Odds

Over the autumn the all-in and final field Australian Derby 2017 betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au complete with market links to the Group 1 staying clash will be available below.

2017 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 2017 Australian Derby field and barriers are set to be released by Racing NSW on Tuesday March 28, 2017 and will be published in full below.

2017 Australian Derby First Acceptances

About a month out from the race the Australian Derby first acceptances are taken by Racing NSW narrowing down the list of potential young stayers set to contest the Doncaster Mile Day showdown.

The official 2017 Australian Derby First Acceptances were led by the likes of Randwick Guineas winner Inference and Prized Icon who took out the Victoria Derby in Melbourne over the spring.

2017 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 February around two months before the race takes place and often attract over 100 early entries.

The 2017 Australian Derby nominations close around Monday February 8, 2017 and will be published below as soon as released.

View the full 2017 ATC Australian Derby Nominations by following the link.

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.

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

Recent Australian Derby Winners