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The $2 million Victoria Derby is the first feature race of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington Racecourse and is run on Derby Day.
The Victoria Derby is one of the best classic races held at Flemington Racecourse as part of the prestigious and highly anticipated Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
This 2500m staying race, run on a left-handed turf course, takes place on the first day of the first of the four Melbourne Cup Carnival meetings each year on the Saturday before the famous Melbourne Cup. A Group 1 event for three-year-olds at set weights, the race is worth over $2 million and takes place in late October or early November.
The 2021 Victoria Derby form was franked with the winner Hitotsu returning the following autumn to complete the interstate Group 1 Australian Guineas – Australian Derby double in 2022. The 2021 VRC Derby runner-up Alegron also ran third in the Australian Derby results the following year and placed fourth in the 2022 SA Derby that season.
The 2022 VRC Derby form was franked with the runner-up Sharp ‘N’ Smart heading across the Tasman to win the 2023 NZ Derby before a fourth in the ATC Derby in 2023. Aberfeldie Boy meanwhile ran third in both the Victoria Derby (2022) and SA Derby (2023) as a three-year-old.
The 2023 Victoria Derby ran on Saturday November 4, 2023 at Flemington on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and saw the Chris Waller-trained favourite Riff Rocket ($2.20F) hold on for a narrow win for the punters.
The Victoria Derby is the highlight event on the famous Victoria Derby Day. VRC Derby Day is one of the most exciting and elite meetings of the entire carnival as every race on the card holds group status, including two other fantastic Group 1 races with the running of the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) for three-year-olds and the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) for the fillies and mares.
Victoria Derby 2023 | |
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Date: | Saturday November 4, 2023 |
Racecourse: | Flemington Racecourse |
Distance: | 2500m |
Conditions: | Three-year-olds at Set Weights |
Status: | Group 1 |
Prizemoney: | $2 million |
Punters can study the form of the horses in the traditional prep race to the Derby, the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day the weekend before. This lead-up event has been an excellent indication for the Victoria Derby in recent years, with many Derby winners coming via this middle distance race. Johnny Get Angry (3rd in 2020) was the last Vase graduate to win the Victoria Derby.
The Victoria Derby attracts a huge number of bets each year, and Derby day boasts the largest crowd attendance of any of the carnival’s race days. With so many spectators and punters, the betting markets on the Derby are always competitive and lucrative. The Victoria Derby also features in a number of popular betting doubles, including the Victoria Derby / Cox Plate double; Red Anchor (1984) was the last horse to take out this double.
The Victoria Derby 2023 Results will be announced here naming which horse is the Victoria Derby 2023 winner and the full 2023 VRC Derby finishing order when the event takes place on Saturday November 4, 2023.
Chris Waller’s progressive young stayer Riff Rocket ($2.20F) was brave off a gun ride by jockey James McDonald holding off a late challenge by the flying Apulia to salute for the favourite backers in the Victoria Derby 2023 results.
Click here for more on the narrow win by the favourite Riff Rocket in the 2023 VRC Derby results.
Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4 | RIFF ROCKET | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 5 | 57kg | $2.20F | |||
2 | 1 | APULIA | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Mark Zahra | 0.1L | 3 | 57kg | $4.20 | ||
3 | 5 | SUNSETS | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | John Allen | 1.1L | 16 | 57kg | $13 | ||
4 | 9 | KOSGEI | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Blake Shinn | 3.35L | 12 | 57kg | $51 | ||
5 | 2 | VERDAD | Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | Jye McNeil | 7.85L | 4 | 57kg | $12 | ||
6 | 13 | MERCANTE | Nigel Blackiston | Damien Oliver | 8.05L | 11 | 57kg | $41 | ||
7 | 8 | GATES | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Luke Nolen | 8.8L | 14 | 57kg | $11 | ||
8 | 15 | WARIALDA WARRIOR | John Ramsey | Darryl McLellan | 9.1L | 9 | 57kg | $101 | ||
9 | 6 | MAKE A CALL | Peter & Paul Snowden | Ms Jamie Kah | 10.1L | 15 | 57kg | $81 | ||
10 | 10 | BULAWAYO | Pat Carey & Harris Walker | Ms Celine Gaudray (a) | 12.85L | 7 | 57kg | $81 | ||
11 | 12 | ROGUERY | Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans | Billy Egan | 13.15L | 1 | 57kg | $41 | ||
12 | 7 | GOLD BULLION (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Opie Bosson | 14.4L | 13 | 57kg | $20 | ||
13 | 3 | AIR ASSAULT | Andrew Gluyas | Ben Allen | 16.15L | 6 | 57kg | $17 | ||
14 | 14 | TO BE FRANK (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Jamie Spencer | 19.65L | 10 | 57kg | $91 | ||
15 | 11 | SACRED EAGLE | Symon Wilde | Jordan Childs | 20.05L | 2 | 57kg | $101 | ||
16 | 16 | TOKYO RUN (NZ) | Dean Mirfin | Declan Bates | 20.25L | 8 | 57kg | $201 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Check out all the information on which horses to back and sack in this year’s classic on our Victoria Derby tips page, a guide to using the Derby form and history to uncover the season’s Victoria Derby winner.
Happy to stick with the Vase winner who was so good at The Valley winning over the 2040m by two lengths. The Team Hayes-trained colt is well-bred being a son of a former Melbourne Cup winner (Fiorente) so think the step-up in distance to 2500m is a non-issue. Draws a treat in barrier three for the grand final and Mark Zahra, gearing up for his Melbourne Cup ride aboard Without A Fight on Tuesday, continues associations. Right form, right hoop, good draw, bred to win.
Excitement machine Riff Rocket is on show again and is looking to get back in favour with the punters after getting rolled by Sunsets as the beaten odds-on pick in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic last start. Prior to that he bolted home with a 5.5 length demolition job in the Listed Super Impose (1800m) here at headquarters where he will appreciate returning to. Needs to get the distance but looks like he is worth forgiving with a gun gate here (5) and J Mac out to produce some magic on a very promising young star in the making.
We have a wide-open market outside the dominant two top picks in this year’s Derby with a host of double-figure fancies out for an upset. Sticking with one of the safer roughies and not a rogue outsider though in Air Assault who is has been racing very consistently. The Andrew Gluyas-trained South Australian gets the run of the race from gate six with Ben Allen in the saddle. In easier grade at home he won Morphettville’s Listed Hill Smith Stakes (1800m) by over three lengths two back. Third at his latest in the Vase, well beaten by Apulia but still in touch. Can surprise a few here.
If you want to pick the value in this season’s Victoria Derby odds that will pay off the best, then check out our Victoria Derby odds page.
All-in Victoria Derby betting odds are out months in advance of the race at all-in prices.
Riff Rocket ($2.20 in 2023) was the last favourite in VRC Derby betting to salute for the punters.
See below for the latest Victoria Derby 2023 odds along with links to the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.
If you don’t know the first thing about using a form guide, then don’t worry – our Victory Derby form guide page is here to help. We tell you about what the many common details included in a form guide mean, and how you can use a Victoria Derby form guide to place more informed Victoria Derby bets.
The Victoria Derby field attracts a line-up of the best three-year-old stayers of the season. The VRC Derby field rarely features fillies taking on the colts and geldings, the girls saved for the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) the following Thursday.
Good lead-up races into the Victoria Derby field include the previous weekend’s Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) on Cox Plate Day and the Listed Geelong Classic (2200m) held in late October.
The 2023 Victoria Derby field is released on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below once announced by Racing Victoria.
The Victoria Derby 2023 final field is now out with a capacity line-up of three-year-olds including Moonee Valley Vase winner Apulia in gate three and Chris Waller’s race favourite Riff Rocket to jump from barrier five with James McDonald aboard.
Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2023 VRC Derby field and betting markets.
No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 242×12841 | APULIA | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Mark Zahra | 3 | 57kg | 88 | ||
2 | 1262 | VERDAD | Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | Jye McNeil | 4 | 57kg | 76 | ||
3 | x6551x4413 | AIR ASSAULT | Andrew Gluyas | Ben Allen | 6 | 57kg | 74 | ||
4 | 17×1212 | RIFF ROCKET | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 5 | 57kg | 80 | ||
5 | 4×5251241 | SUNSETS | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | John Allen | 16 | 57kg | 80 | ||
6 | 2569×80772 | MAKE A CALL | Peter & Paul Snowden | Ms Jamie Kah | 15 | 57kg | 64 | ||
7 | 23116 | GOLD BULLION (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Opie Bosson | 13 | 57kg | 70 | ||
8 | 78×13 | GATES | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | Luke Nolen | 14 | 57kg | 70 | ||
9 | 1203 | KOSGEI | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Blake Shinn | 12 | 57kg | 64 | ||
10 | 01054 | BULAWAYO | Pat Carey & Harris Walker | Ms Celine Gaudray (a) | 7 | 57kg | 63 | ||
11 | 3×4214 | SACRED EAGLE | Symon Wilde | Jordan Childs | 2 | 57kg | 63 | ||
12 | 7×4311 | ROGUERY | Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans | Billy Egan | 1 | 57kg | 66 | ||
13 | 9612 | MERCANTE | Nigel Blackiston | Damien Oliver | 11 | 57kg | 63 | ||
14 | 417 | TO BE FRANK (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Jamie Spencer | 10 | 57kg | 63 | ||
15 | 24431 | WARIALDA WARRIOR | John Ramsey | Darryl McLellan | 9 | 57kg | 60 | ||
16 | 5×32525 | TOKYO RUN (NZ) | Dean Mirfin | 8 | 57kg | 59 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
The official VRC Derby Nominations for 2023 will be announced here once early entries are taken by the VRC.
The 2023 Victoria Derby nominations attracted 23 three-year-old stayers led in all-in betting by the in-form Chris Waller-trained Riff Rocket and Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase winning Fiorente colt Apulia for the Hayes’ stable.
Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | x6551x4413 | AIR ASSAULT | G | 3 | Andrew Gluyas | 74 |
2 | 242×12841 | APULIA | C | 3 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 88 |
3 | 3530 | BLOOMING EDGE | G | 3 | Trevor J Andrews | 60 |
4 | 01054 | BULAWAYO | C | 3 | Pat Carey & Harris Walker | 63 |
5 | 7x335x9732 | CAP FERRAT | C | 3 | Chris Waller | 85 |
6 | 1786×41183 | GANBARE | C | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 88 |
7 | 78×13 | GATES | C | 3 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 70 |
8 | 23116 | GOLD BULLION (NZ) | G | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 70 |
9 | 040x | GOLDEN ARTIFACT | C | 3 | Trevor J Andrews | 55 |
10 | 1203 | KOSGEI | G | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 64 |
11 | 2569×80772 | MAKE A CALL | C | 3 | Peter & Paul Snowden | 64 |
12 | 533310 | MEDATSU (NZ) | G | 3 | Chris Waller | 64 |
13 | 9612 | MERCANTE | G | 3 | Nigel Blackiston | 63 |
14 | 17×1212 | RIFF ROCKET | G | 3 | Chris Waller | 80 |
15 | 7×4311 | ROGUERY | G | 3 | Lloyd Kennewell & Lucy Yeomans | 66 |
16 | 3×4214 | SACRED EAGLE | C | 3 | Symon Wilde | 63 |
17 | 7×464104 | STEEL BLAZE | C | 3 | Brett Lazzarini | 61 |
18 | 4×5251241 | SUNSETS | C | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 80 |
19 | 0x44314525 | SUNSOURCE | C | 3 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 73 |
20 | 417 | TO BE FRANK (NZ) | C | 3 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 63 |
21 | 5×32525 | TOKYO RUN (NZ) | G | 3 | Dean Mirfin | 59 |
22 | 1262 | VERDAD | G | 3 | Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock | 76 |
23 | 24431 | WARIALDA WARRIOR | G | 3 | John Ramsey | 60 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
As the Victoria Derby is restricted to three year olds, previous Victoria Derby results aren’t tremendously useful for your betting. However, just in case you need to settle an argument about a previous running of the race, we have a Victoria Derby winners page and Victoria Derby results page to help you out.
Victoria Derby betting is the perfect way to warm up for the Melbourne Cup, which is held just a few days later. For improved results, read our section on Victoria Derby betting including information on placing many exotic bet types like a Victoria Derby trifecta, Victoria Derby quinella, Victoria Derby exacta, or Victoria Derby First Four bet.
YEAR | WINNER | 2ND | 3RD | TIME |
---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Riff Rocket | Apulia | Sunsets | 2:37.38 |
2022 | Manzoice | Sharp ‘N’ Smart | Aberfeldie Boy | 2:40.8 |
2021 | Hitotsu | Alegron | Teewaters | 2:37.3 |
2020 | Johnny Get Angry | Hit The Shot | Young Werther | 2:41.9 |
2019 | Warning | Southern Moon | Soul Patch | 2:40.8 |
2018 | Extra Brut | Stars Of Carrum | Chapada | 2:34.3 |
2017 | Ace High | Sully | Astoria | 2:37.5 |
2016 | Prized Icon | Sacred Elixir | Inference | 2:36.1 |
2015 | Tarzino | Etymology | Kia Ora Koutou | 2:38.3 |
2014 | Preferment | Bondeiger | Nozomi | 2:37.8 |
2013 | Polanski | Complacent | Thunder Fantasy | 2:38.6 |
2012 | Fiveandahalfstar | Super Cool | Rawnaq | 2:35.9 |
2011 | Sangster | Induna | Sabrage | 2:40.3 |
2010 | Lion Tamer | Praecido | Retrieve | 2:46.4 |
2009 | Monaco Consul | Extra Zero | Viking Legend | 2:41.6 |
2008 | Rebel Raider | Whobegotyou | Pre Eminence | 2:36.9 |
2007 | Kibbutz | Littorio | Marching | 2:40.9 |
2006 | Efficient | Gorky Park | Teranaba | 2:38.3 |
2005 | Benicio | Duelled | Headturner | 2:37.0 |
2004 | Plastered | Savabeel | Count Ricardo | 2:35.4 |
2003 | Elvstroem | Kempinsky | Our Bahare | 2:38.9 |
2002 | Helenus | Hydrometer | Aint There | 2:40.5 |
2001 | Amalfi | Zarek | Pentastic | 2:34.6 |
2000 | Hit The Roof | Universal Prince | Falls The Shadow | 2:39.0 |