WATC Derby

The WATC Derby (2400m) is a Group 2 event held at Ascot Racecourse in April each autumn racing carnival.

2023 WATC Derby Results

  • 1st: #3 Awesome John
  • 2nd: #1 Another Chino
  • 3rd: #5 She's Fit




The WATC Derby (Western Australia Turf Club Derby) is a Group 2 thoroughbred race at the Ascot Racecourse in Perth during the Perth Autumn Racing 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. The WATC Derby – also known as the Western Australian 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.

Regal Power (2019) and Western Empire (2021) are the last horses to complete the WATC Derby – Railway Stakes double in the same year.

Regal Power went on to frank the form in Melbourne the following autumn with a second in Flemington’s Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) and a win in the second edition of the $5 million The All-Star Mile (1600m).

Western Empire meanwhile backed-up from his 2021 Railway Stakes victory to place second in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) behind Regal Power during an outstanding campaign.

As the highly prestigious Sydney Autumn Carnival is taking place around the same time in New South Wales, many of the top-line gallopers will be there contesting races like the Australian Derby and Australian Oaks. The WATC Derby winner, therefore, is usually an above average but not elite horse from a local Perth-based stable.

The WATC Derby 2023 ran on Saturday April 8, 2023 at Ascot Racecourse in Perth on the same day Sydney hosted the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick and was won by the John O’Shea-trained Awesome John ($3.10). 

2023 WATC Derby
Date: Saturday April 8, 2023
Track: Ascot Racecourse
Distance: 2400m
Conditions: Three-year-olds at Set Weights
Status: Group 2
Prize Money: $400,000
Inaugurated: 1888

2023 WATC Derby Results

  • 1st: #3 Awesome John ($3.10)
  • 2nd: #1 Another Chino
  • 3rd: #5 She’s Fit

The John O’Shea-trained Awesome Rock gelding Awesome John ($3.10) franked the form out of Sydney heading west to salute in the 2023 WATC Derby results with a one-length win over the Dan Morton-trained stablemates Another Chino and WA Oaks winning filly She’s Fit.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 3 AWESOME JOHN John O’Shea William Pike 7 56.5kg $3.10
2 1 ANOTHER CHINO Daniel Morton Brad Parnham 1.01L 2 56.5kg $6
3 5 SHE’S FIT Daniel Morton Chris Parnham 1.8L 1 54.5kg $2.30F
4 4 PLAYHOUSE PATRON Bob McPherson Joseph Azzopardi 6.03L 4 56.5kg $12
5 2 DEMOLISH Neville Parnham Steven Parnham 6.49L 3 56.5kg $9
6 7 BERNBRAE Adam Durrant Clint Johnston-Porter 8.17L 5 54.5kg $26
7 8 CELEBRITY ICON Luke Fernie Mrs Lucy Fiore 11.33L 6 54.5kg $151
SB 6 MEGAMI Takahide Ikenushi Patrick Carbery 0 54.5kg

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 WATC Derby Betting Odds

The season’s latest WATC Derby 2023 odds and betting market links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be available below.

Western Empire ($1.30 in 2021) was the last WATC Derby favourite to salute.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 WATC DERBY ODDS (Final Field)

2023 WATC Derby Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 WATC DERBY FORM GUIDE

2023 WATC Derby Tips

Stay tuned for our insider WATC Derby 2023 Tips on the three-year-olds to back in the Group 2 feature this autumn.

  • To Win: #5 She’s Fit ($3.50 at time of publish)

We may have a small field but this is shaping up as one top edition of the W.A.T.C. Derby with every single young stayer in the mix boasting genuine claims at the title. In a nightmare race for the punters, all the three-year-olds are coming off strong lead-up runs, but have to go with the Oaks winning filly to beat home the boys and do the double. The Dan Morton-trained daughter of Pride Of Dubai has won her last two at the track, and she was excellent in the WA Oaks over this distance posting an easy win over the girls. She is proven at the mile-and-a-half and comes down in weight. Rails run from barrier one and Chris Parnham aboard again. Big ticks.

2023 WATC Derby Field

Female runners in the WATC Derby field will likely have raced in the Group 3 WA Oaks (2400m) the week before or the Group 3 WA Champion Fillies (1600m) in February, so look for the dominant fillies in these set weight races as an indication for the WATC Derby as well as those gallopers that have proven themselves able to last the 2400m distance.

Tuscan Queen (2020) was the last filly to complete the WA Oaks – WATC Derby double.

Another good lead-up to the WATC Derby field is the Listed Melvista Stakes (2200m) in March, a race the 2017 winner Gatting won in the lead-up to the Group 2 before Action (2018) improved on a lead-up fifth in to salute in the WA Derby results by four lengths.

Regal Power (2019), Western Empire (2021) and Alaskan God (2022) are the latest horses to do the Melvista Stakes – WATC Derby double.

The official 2023 WATC Derby field will be announced below once final acceptances close on the Monday of race week.

Only eight three-year-old stayers face off in the WATC Derby 2023 final field this weekend with markets on the Perth classic led by Awesome John coming off a close Group 2 Tulloch Stakes third in Sydney and the in-form local Dan Morton-trained WA Oaks winning filly She’s Fit chasing her third win on the trot.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 517×4111 ANOTHER CHINO Daniel Morton Brad Parnham 2 56.5kg 79
2 13102×6222 DEMOLISH Neville Parnham Steven Parnham 3 56.5kg 73
3 812312×263 AWESOME JOHN John O’Shea William Pike 8 56.5kg
4 5254122343 PLAYHOUSE PATRON Bob McPherson Joseph Azzopardi 4 56.5kg 70
5 6×62311 SHE’S FIT Daniel Morton Chris Parnham 1 54.5kg 80
6 4713311424 MEGAMI Takahide Ikenushi Patrick Carbery 5 54.5kg 70
7 33210×762 BERNBRAE Adam Durrant Clint Johnston-Porter 6 54.5kg 68
8 76×2255310 CELEBRITY ICON Luke Fernie Mrs Lucy Fiore 7 54.5kg 58

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 WATC Derby Nominations

Nominations for the WATC Derby in 2023 are taken in late February and will be published in full below once announced.

The 2023 WATC Derby nominations close on Monday February 20, 2023. 

The WATC Derby 2023 nominations attracted 70 three-year-old stayers – up notably in the 47 from 2022 – led in betting by class Group 3 winning filly Admiration Express.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 2×11242215 ALL THE KING’S MEN G 3 Trevor Andrews 1 56.5kg 86
2 3261×2 ADMIRATION EXPRESS F 3 Jason Miller 2 54.5kg 80
3 5×21121 FEELS PLAYFUL F 3 Mitchell Pateman 3 54.5kg 78
4 59x411x0x HIGH APPROACH G 3 Archie Alexander 4 56.5kg
5 15163×1467 MIA GUSTO F 3 Adam Durrant 5 54.5kg 64
6 6x3812312x AWESOME JOHN G 3 John O’Shea 6 56.5kg
7 57×5254122 PLAYHOUSE PATRON G 3 Bob McPherson 7 56.5kg 67
8 6×14713311 MEGAMI F 3 Takahide Ikenushi 8 54.5kg 68
9 x442131x54 FLY AWAY HOME (NZ) G 3 Daniel Morton 9 56.5kg 67
10 2×1741 PLANET CASH G 3 Hayden Ballantyne 10 56.5kg 67
11 x321638x53 LINDEN LADY F 3 Grant & Alana Williams 11 54.5kg 66
12 6×12130 GAGE ROADS G 3 Grant & Alana Williams 12 56.5kg 67
13 7×7541211 WESTOZI G 3 Albert Bowtell 13 56.5kg
14 413x1x TWIGMAN (NZ) G 3 Paul Shailer 14 56.5kg
15 43x94110x MACK MACK G 3 Dion Luciani 15 56.5kg 62
16 57217x CATCH THESE HANDS G 3 Steve Wolfe 16 56.5kg 62
17 55×3154504 WOZZECK G 3 Rhys Radford 17 56.5kg 61
18 831x02x LORD RANDOLPH G 3 Summer Dickson 18 56.5kg 65
19 21 DEAL OBTAINED G 3 Danny O’Brien 19 56.5kg
20 44P481622x TRUEVINSKY G 3 Jayce Buckley 20 56.5kg 60
21 369x212x REEL THEMOFF G 3 Jayce Buckley 21 56.5kg 63
22 x774x34199 FLEUR DELACOUR F 3 Chris Willis 22 54.5kg 58
23 80x855313x TRAVEL WARNING G 3 David Harrison 23 56.5kg 62
24 3371×2 SPECIAL SORT G 3 Adam Durrant 24 56.5kg 63
25 21×378 ALASKALOT G 3 Joshua Krispyn 25 56.5kg 62
26 33210x BERNBRAE F 3 Adam Durrant 26 54.5kg 58
27 1 ROARING ENGINE (NZ) G 3 Danny O’Brien 27 56.5kg
28 4129 OCEAN QUEEN (NZ) F 3 Michael Grantham 28 54.5kg 58
29 78×5221 LET HER BOOGIE F 3 Roy Rogers 29 54.5kg
30 214×8 BIRKETT BOY G 3 Stephen Miller 30 56.5kg 62
31 21 COVERT ROSE F 3 Grant & Alana Williams 31 54.5kg 58
32 44x422x34 JURUENA GOLD G 3 Trevor Andrews 32 56.5kg 60
33 40162x LITTLE SILVER G 3 Steve Wolfe 33 56.5kg
34 35x3425x65 OPTIMAL (NZ) G 3 Colin Webster 34 56.5kg 57
35 6×313 IHTS CLOSING INN F 3 Adam Durrant 35 54.5kg 56
36 6×1 SAILORS BOOK G 3 Maddie Raymond 36 56.5kg
37 90584222 OCEAN AVENUE (NZ) G 3 Michael Grantham 37 56.5kg 60
38 4x31x BIG RED HAWK G 3 Adam Durrant 38 56.5kg 62
39 1×3 AXEMAN’S JAZZ G 3 Grant & Alana Williams 39 56.5kg 62
40 517×4 ANOTHER CHINO G 3 Daniel Morton 40 56.5kg 61
41 31x SIZZLE ME PATRICK G 3 Tiarnna Robertson 41 56.5kg 62
42 514 DIAMOND SCENE G 3 Adam Durrant 42 56.5kg 62
43 53x1x RUSSIAN SNIPER G 3 Adam Durrant 43 56.5kg 60
44 7x71x SPEED BUBBLE G 3 Adam Durrant 44 56.5kg 60
45 018x UNO ME G 3 Dion Luciani 45 56.5kg 60
46 54x6x I LOVE YOUR SMILE F 3 Lucy Warwick 46 54.5kg 56
47 9x63240x WEST COAST WARRIOR G 3 Paul Jordan 47 56.5kg 57
48 8×622 DESERT PETARD G 3 Adam Durrant 48 56.5kg 58
49 34x2x ROMANTIC RULER G 3 Adam Durrant 49 56.5kg 60
50 6×62 SHE’S FIT F 3 Daniel Morton 50 54.5kg 57
51 723 RELIABLE QUEEN (NZ) F 3 Michael Grantham 51 54.5kg 56
52 579×2 MINE HOST G 3 Steve Wolfe 52 56.5kg
53 330x SANTA BRAE G 3 Ross Price 53 56.5kg 60
54 8x630x7 MY LOVELY PET G 3 Lou Luciani 54 56.5kg 56
55 62 ROCKIN’ THE SILKS G 3 Grant & Alana Williams 55 56.5kg 60
56 3x64x4 YES OF COURSE G 3 Grant & Alana Williams 56 56.5kg 59
57 534 LOVA SESSION F 3 Daniel Morton 57 54.5kg 56
58 0x488 VALOREM C 3 Daniel Morton 58 56.5kg 56
59 7×6 NYET G 3 Simon A Miller 59 56.5kg
60 9883 PRIDE OF TUSCANY G 3 Steve Wolfe 60 56.5kg 58
61 6×56 INTERVENTION F 3 Colin Webster 61 54.5kg 56
62 5x7x AMERICAN SONGBOOK G 3 Stephen Miller 62 56.5kg
63 86x ARABIAN DREAM G 3 Michael Grantham 63 56.5kg
64 0x8 BEEN WITH GOD F 3 Chris Willis 64 54.5kg
65 5 POWER OF RED G 3 Steve Wolfe 65 56.5kg
66 5x SPEAK TO ME G 3 Peter Giadresco 66 56.5kg
67 70x DR ON CALL C 3 Vaughn Sigley 67 56.5kg
68 9x IT SO HAPPENS G 3 Paul Jordan 68 56.5kg
69 Px FAST THINKING G 3 Luke Fernie 69 56.5kg
70 SHAKERATO G 3 Lou Luciani 70 56.5kg

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

WATC Derby History

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.

The WATC Derby was downgraded back to a Group 2 event in 2011. The fillies have a strong recent record in WATC Derby history including wins by Delicacy (2015), Arcadia Dream (2016) and Tuscan Queen (2020).

Other notable WATC Derby winners include Plastered (2005), Grand Journey (2008), Respondent (2014) and subsequent The All-Star Mile champion Regal Power (2019).

Recent WATC Derby Winners

The full list of WATC Derby winners and placegetters going back to 2000 are found below.

Year Place Horse Time
2023
W.A.T.C. Derby
1st Awesome John 2 minutes 32.06 seconds
2nd Another Chino
3rd She’s Fit
2022
W.A.T.C. Derby
1st Alaskan God 2 minutes 31.71 seconds
2nd Pale Rider
3rd Black Fantasy
2021
W.A.T.C. Derby
1st Western Empire 2 minutes 30.91 seconds
2nd Temptacion
3rd Kerman Rock
2020
W.A.T.C. Derby
1st Tuscan Queen 2 minutes 32.24 seconds
2nd Red Hot Tip
3rd Criminal Code
2019
W.A.T.C. Derby
1st Regal Power 2 minutes 30.69 seconds
2nd Cockney Crew
3rd Ping Me Another
2018
W.A.T.C. Derby
1st Action 2 minutes 29.92 seconds
2nd Like A Butterfly
3rd Media Baron
2017
W.A.T.C. Derby
1st Gatting 2 minutes 30.33 seconds
2nd Very Tempting
3rd Chill The Champers
2016
W.A.T.C. Derby
1st Arcadia Dream 2 minutes 31.3 seconds
2nd Who Dat Singa
3rd Culverin
2015
W.A.T.C. Derby
1st Delicacy 2 minutes 38.23 seconds
2nd Keysbrook
3rd Boom Time
2014
W.A.T.C. Derby
1st Respondent 2 minutes 29.59 seconds
2nd Ihtsahymn
3rd Real Love
2013
W.A.T.C. Derby
1st Mystic Prince 2 minutes 31.43 seconds
2nd Moreish
3rd Desert Glow
2012
W.A.T.C. Derby
1st Rohan 2 minutes 34.5 seconds
2nd Flashy Fella
3rd The Social Network
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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