Mike Storer’s up-and-coming three-year-old Lord Hatras has earned a shot at Group glory in the 2012 WATC Derby next season after breaking their black-type maiden in the $80,000 Listed Aquanita Stakes (1800m) at Ascot’s Kingston Town Classic Day on Saturday.
Backing up from an unlucky…
The WATC Derby (Western Australia Turf Club Derby) is a Group 2 thoroughbred race at the Ascot Racecourse in Perth during the Perth Autumn Carnival in April each year. Raced over the traditional derby distance of 2400m, it is an event for three-year-olds at set weights and is worth $400,000.
The WATC Derby was worth half a million dollars before being demoted from Group 1 status in 2011.
As Perth’s leading staying race for three-year-olds, the WATC Derby attracts a highly competitive field of quality runners, both locally and interstate. It is held on the same day as the Group 3 WA Sires Produce Stakes (1400m). The WATC Derby was one of only three Group 1 races held at Perth; the others being the Railway Stakes (1600m) and the Kingston Town Classic (1800m), but was downgraded to a Group 2 status event so the Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) could gain elite level status in 2011.
As the highly prestigious Sydney Autumn Carnival is taking place around the same time in New South Wales, many of the topline gallopers will be there contesting races like the AJC Derby and Australian Oaks. The WATC Derby victor, therefore, is usually an above average but not elite horse. Recent winners include Markus Maximus (2009), Grand Journey (2008) and Guyno (2007).
The WATC Derby 2012 will be run on April 14, 2012 at Ascot Racecourse in Perth.
| WATC Derby | |
|---|---|
| Date: | April 14, 2012 |
| Track: | Ascot Racecourse |
| Distance: | 2400m |
| Conditions: | Three-year-olds at Set Weights |
| Status: | Group 2 |
| Prize Money: | $400 000 |
| Inaugurated: | 1888 |
Female runners in the WATC Derby will likely have raced in the Group 3 WA Oakes (2400m) the week before, or the Group 3 Champion Fillies (1600m) in February, so look for the dominant fillies in these set weight races as an indication for the Derby as well as those gallopers that have proven themselves able to last the 2400m distance in events like the Group 2 CB Cox Stakes (2100m).
First run in 1888 when Harridan claimed victory, the WATC Derby is one of the oldest and most prominent races in Perth. Beginning as a Principal race run over 12 furlongs, the race distance was converted into 2400m in 1972. It reached Group 1 status soon after in 1979 and 1987 is the only time in its long history when the race was not held.
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 W.A.T.C. Derby |
1st | Dreamaway | 2 minutes 30.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Playing God | ||
| 3rd | Rio Danek | ||
| 2010 W.A.T.C. Derby |
1st | Chartreux | 2 minutes 27.96 seconds |
| 2nd | Bridgestone | ||
| 3rd | Brother Mak | ||
| 2009 W.A.T.C. Derby |
1st | Marcus Maximus | 2 minutes 31.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Berlioz | ||
| 3rd | Phenomenons | ||
| 2008 W.A.T.C. Derby |
1st | Grand Journey | 2 minutes 28.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Yuro | ||
| 3rd | Star Encounter | ||
| 2007 W.A.T.C. Derby |
1st | Guyno | 2 minutes 29 seconds |
| 2nd | Ballack | ||
| 3rd | Original Lovalover | ||
| 2006 W.A.T.C. Derby |
1st | Catsfun | 2 minutes 29.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Raise A Call | ||
| 3rd | Scenic Shot | ||
| 2005 W.A.T.C. Derby |
1st | Plastered | 2: minutes 31.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Royal Drive | ||
| 3rd | Master Minx | ||
| 2004 W.A.T.C. Derby |
1st | Mr Sandgroper | 2 minutes 36.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Fatal Attraction | ||
| 3rd | Cr. Prosecutor / Magic | ||
| 2003 W.A.T.C. Derby |
1st | Shirazamatazz | 2 minutes 32.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Conspirator | ||
| 3rd | Golden Prospect | ||
| 2002 W.A.T.C. Derby |
1st | Honor Lap | 2 minutes 31.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Lord Mason | ||
| 3rd | Storm Fille | ||
| 2001 W.A.T.C. Derby |
Race Not Held | ||
| 2000 W.A.T.C. Derby |
1st | Old Money | 2 minutes 30.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Tingling | ||
| 3rd | Grand Turismo | ||
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