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The WATC Derby (2400m) is a Group 2 event held at Ascot Racecourse in April each autumn racing carnival.
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 |
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.
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.
Stay tuned for our insider WATC Derby 2023 Tips on the three-year-olds to back in the Group 2 feature this autumn.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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 |