Australian Derby

The $2 million Australian Derby is also known as the ATC Derby and takes place over 2400m at Royal Randwick on Day 1 of The Championships in April during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

2023 Australian Derby Results

  • 1st: #13 Major Beel
  • 2nd: #12 Virtuous Circle
  • 3rd: #10 Suizuro




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 half) and offers $2 million in total prize money.

*In 2021 the Australian Derby ran on the second Saturday of April with all race meetings of the autumn in Sydney from Slipper Day onwards postponed a week due to the weather.

The Australian Derby prizemoney for 2020 was reduced to $1 million to help cope with the financial stress on the industry brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, but was back to $2 million in 2021.

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 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m), $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) and the $1 million ATC Sires Produce Stakes (1400m).

Following a run in the ATC Derby some of the better young stayers may head to Adelaide in May for the Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) with Explosive Jack (2021) the last to do the interstate Derby double.

The 2023 Australia Derby ran on Saturday April 1, 2023 and was won in an upset by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Major Beel ($31) on the quick back-up. 

Australian Derby 2023
Date: Saturday April 1, 2023
Track: Randwick Racecourse
Distance: 2400m
Race Type: 3YO Set Weights
Status: Group 1
Prize Money: $2,000,000

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).

The Tulloch Stakes – Australian Derby was achieved four times in as many years by Jon Snow (2017), Levendi (2018), Angel Of Truth (2019) and Quick Thinker (2020).

In 2023 Major Beel improved on his lead-up second the Saturday prior in the Tulloch Stakes to score an upset Australian Derby win at 30/1.

2023 Australian Derby Results

  • 1st: #13 Major Beel ($31)
  • 2nd: #12 Virtuous Circle
  • 3rd: #10 Suizuro

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse celebrated her first Australian Derby victory with an upset win in 2023 by the progressive Major Beel ($31) who was excellent on speed to outstay his rivals on a Heavy track just seven days after his Group debut when runner-up in the Tulloch Stakes.

Click here to read more on the gutsy Australian Derby 2023 upset by Major Beel.

2023 Australian Derby Results & Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 13 MAJOR BEEL (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 15 56.5kg $31
2 12 VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) Liam Howley Brett Prebble 0.81L 18 56.5kg $19
3 10 SUIZURO Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Joao Moreira 1.66L 4 56.5kg $41
4 1 SHARP ’N’ SMART (NZ) Graeme & Deborah Rogerson Hugh Bowman 2.54L 17 56.5kg $3.90F
5 14 HIGH APPROACH Archie Alexander Jordan Childs 3.78L 10 56.5kg $101
6 3 ELLIPTICAL Anthony & Sam Freedman Mark Zahra 4.38L 3 56.5kg $16
7 6 ANDALUS (NZ) Stephen Marsh Zac Purton 4.72L 8 56.5kg $21
8 15 STROKE OF LUCK John O’Shea Tom Marquand 5.02L 9 56.5kg $21
9 4 PERICLES James Cummings James McDonald 8.07L 6 56.5kg $4.40
10 9 MARK TWAIN (NZ) Roger James & Robert Wellwood Kerrin McEvoy 9.37L 5 56.5kg $7.50
11 18 TWIGMAN (NZ) Paul Shailer Luke Dittman 9.58L 7 56.5kg $101
12 11 TAPILDOODLEDO (NZ) Kerry Taplin Reece Jones (a) 9.71L 11 56.5kg $81
13 7 FULL OF SINCERITY (NZ) Andrew Forsman Damian Lane 10.37L 16 56.5kg $19
14 16 CHEVAL SAVANT Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 12.64L 2 56.5kg $81
15 8 JAPANESE EMPEROR (NZ) Michael Moroney Ben Melham 12.71L 1 56.5kg $12
16 5 WILLIAMSBURG Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Ryan Maloney 12.86L 12 56.5kg $18
17 17 DOMINGO (NZ) John O’Shea Brenton Avdulla 13.24L 13 56.5kg $61
18 2 MANZOICE Chris Waller Michael Dee 17.84L 14 56.5kg $20

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Australian Derby Betting Odds

Over the autumn the all-in and final field Australian Derby 2023 betting odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au complete with market links to the Group 1 staying clash will be available below.

Hitotsu ($3.30 in 2022) is the last favourite in Australian Derby betting to win.

There was a notable upset in 2023 with Major Beel winning at Australian Derby odds of $31.

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

2023 Australian Derby Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 AUSTRALIAN DERBY FORM GUIDE

2023 Australian Derby Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Australian Derby 2023 tips and best bets to be published below during race week.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2023 AUSTRALIAN DERBY TIPS & BEST BETS

  • The Favourite: #1 Sharp ‘N’ Smart ($3 at time of publish) 

The Kiwis are dominating down under this autumn and that trend looks set to continue with the talented Sharp ‘N’ Smart back in Australia rock-hard fit off back-to-back wins back home in New Zealand. At his latest he saluted for the 2400m in the Group 1 NZ Derby and is now chasing the cross-Tasman double. Proven at the distance he has Hugh Bowman aboard in Sydney where he won the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) last campaign. Wide alley but time to overcome the draw. He’s a genuine Group 1 stayer with a top strike-rate. If he gets there from the gate he’ll be winning.

  • The Danger: #4 Pericles ($6.50 at time of publish) 

James Cummings saddles-up the in-form Street Boss gelding Pericles who is fit fourth-up here bringing in some strong form lines. Two back in Melbourne he won the Group 2 Autumn Classic (1800m) by nearly three lengths. Travelled north last start for a second to Lindermann in the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m). Lindermann contests the Doncaster Mile against the older horses on Saturday and looks way overs in that. If you like that form then surely Pericles is a chance here. The Rosehill Guineas probably looked more suitable and not sure he’ll run out the 2400m (was eighth in the Vic Derby), but gets his shot from a good gate (6) with J. Mac retaining the ride.

  • Best Roughie: #7 Full Of Sincerity ($18 at time of publish) 

Another Kiwi over for the autumn riches in Sydney, this Andrew Forsman-trained son of Puccini has been left alone by the punters despite his form around Sharp ‘N’ Smart and benefit of an earlier lead-up run in Australia. He was third in the NZ Derby up in grade as a triple-figure roughie only a length beaten. Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) run at Rosehill last weekend when fourth to Tapildoodledo three-quarters off the winner. Back up to the mile-and-a-half and he is a big chance to surprise a few of these late drawn one on the inside of the favourite with Damian Lane to ride.

*All odds quoted are provided by Ladbrokes.com.au, correct at time of print and subject to change.

2023 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 2023 Australian Derby field and barriers are set to be released by Racing NSW on Tuesday March 28, 2023 and will be published in full below.

The Australian Derby 2023 final field features a bumper line-up of three-year-old stayers including the in-form Sharp ‘N’ Smart drawn wide (17) coming off back-to-back Group 1 wins across the Tasman including the NZ Derby.

Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2023 Australian Derby field and betting markets.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 4x1112x211 SHARP ’N’ SMART (NZ) Graeme & Deborah Rogerson Hugh Bowman 17 56.5kg 112
2 219281×86 MANZOICE Chris Waller Michael Dee 14 56.5kg 103
3 x43227x174 ELLIPTICAL Anthony & Sam Freedman Mark Zahra 3 56.5kg 102
4 1238×412 PERICLES James Cummings James McDonald 6 56.5kg 100
5 85135×7453 WILLIAMSBURG Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Ryan Maloney 12 56.5kg 93
6 4x549x4172 ANDALUS (NZ) Stephen Marsh Zac Purton 8 56.5kg 90
7 32189434 FULL OF SINCERITY (NZ) Andrew Forsman Damian Lane 16 56.5kg 88
8 10×633 JAPANESE EMPEROR (NZ) Michael Moroney Blake Shinn 1 56.5kg 86
9 01014 MARK TWAIN (NZ) Roger James & Robert Wellwood Kerrin McEvoy 5 56.5kg 86
10 54x2x11102 SUIZURO Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Joao Moreira 4 56.5kg 80
11 6154424231 TAPILDOODLEDO (NZ) Kerry Taplin Reece Jones (a) 11 56.5kg 80
12 91x132x880 VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) Liam Howley Brett Prebble 18 56.5kg 80
13 13236×1142 MAJOR BEEL (NZ) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 15 56.5kg 78
14 59x411x077 HIGH APPROACH Archie Alexander Jordan Childs 10 56.5kg 75
15 133×9226 STROKE OF LUCK John O’Shea Tom Marquand 9 56.5kg 73
16 7×316 CHEVAL SAVANT Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 2 56.5kg 64
17 x536Lx5211 DOMINGO (NZ) John O’Shea Brenton Avdulla 13 56.5kg 62
18 413×171 TWIGMAN (NZ) Paul Shailer Luke Dittman 7 56.5kg 62

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 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 2023 Australian Derby First Acceptances close on Tuesday March 7, 2023.

The Australian Derby 2023 first acceptances have now closed with 44 remaining three-year-old stayers led in updated markets by the talented Victoria Derby runner-up from the spring Sharp ‘N’ Smart who has recently won two Group 1 events over in New Zealand including the NZ Derby.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 410×4 AIN’T HE GRAND C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 65
2 1x436x25 AMENABLE C 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
3 4x549x4172 ANDALUS (NZ) G 3 Stephen Marsh
4 433 AROUND THE BUOY (NZ) G 3 Danny O’Brien
5 1213 AUSBRED RISING SUN G 3 Brad Widdup 61
6 x3812312x2 AWESOME JOHN G 3 John O’Shea
7 3 BALINOR (IRE) G 3 Annabel Neasham
8 6x7321x8 BAVICIA (NZ) C 3 Tony & Calvin McEvoy
9 419×4 BRING THE BOOM (NZ) G 3 Annabel Neasham
10 713x607x46 BROSNAN C 3 Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou 80
11 7×31 CHEVAL SAVANT G 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
12 5x536Lx52 DOMINGO (NZ) G 3 John O’Shea
13 121111 DUNKEL (NZ) G 3 Patrick Payne
14 1x43227x17 ELLIPTICAL C 3 Anthony & Sam Freedman
15 11×67 FIELD MARSHAL (GB) C 3 Chris Waller 60
16 722 FROSTYMCFROSTFROST (NZ) G 3 Danny O’Brien
17 321893 FULL OF SINCERITY (NZ) G 3 Andrew Forsman
18 59x411x07 HIGH APPROACH G 3 Archie Alexander
19 10×63 JAPANESE EMPEROR (NZ) G 3 Michael Moroney
20 0x432x1 KENTUCKY NICK G 3 Tony & Calvin McEvoy
21 136x590x LETHAL THOUGHTS C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
22 6x2292x512 LINDERMANN C 3 Chris Waller 74
23 313236×11 MAJOR BEEL (NZ) G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 68
24 219281×8 MANZOICE C 3 Chris Waller 104
25 01014 MARK TWAIN (NZ) G 3 Roger James & Robert Wellwood
26 34x1224x36 MATCHA LATTE C 3 Mark Newnham 88
27 411149×520 MR MAESTRO (NZ) C 3 Andrew Forsman
28 1725×90 MURAMASA C 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
29 12x73x51 OSIPENKO (NZ) C 3 Chris Waller 91
30 221 OWARI G 3 Brad Widdup
31 55115322×5 PAVITRA F 3 Richard & Will Freedman 92
32 1238×41 PERICLES G 3 James Cummings
33 4223 PICKO ROCKS G 3 Michael Freedman
34 4x1112x211 SHARP ’N’ SMART (NZ) G 3 Graeme & Deborah Rogerson
35 133×92 STROKE OF LUCK G 3 John O’Shea 70
36 983 SUBARCTIC G 3 Matthew Smith
37 54x2x1110 SUIZURO G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
38 7615442423 TAPILDOODLEDO (NZ) G 3 Kerry Taplin
39 6×1112 TAVI TIME (NZ) G 3 Kris Lees 62
40 413×17 TWIGMAN (NZ) G 3 Paul Shailer
41 91x132x88 VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) C 3 Liam Howley
42 4x124x72 WATADEEL G 3 Phillip Stokes
43 x85135x745 WILLIAMSBURG C 3 Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou 85
44 113 XCITED (NZ) G 3 Bjorn Baker 62

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 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 2023 Australian Derby nominations close at midday on Tuesday the 7th of February, 2023. 

The Australian Derby 2023 nominations attracted 117 three-year-old stayers led in pre-field markets by the Spring Champion Stakes winner and VRC Derby runner-up Sharp ‘N’ Smart.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 3243x ABERFELDIE BOY C 3 Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock
2 122 ACOSTA G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
3 31x9x AFFORDABLE G 3 David Brideoake
4 2121×1 AFT CABIN C 3 James Cummings 97
5 410x AIN’T HE GRAND C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 65
6 4×6432 AIR BENTLEY G 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
7 1x436x AMENABLE C 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
8 24x549x41x ANDALUS (NZ) G 3 Stephen Marsh
9 4x AROUND THE BUOY (NZ) G 3 Danny O’Brien
10 214x ARTZINO (NZ) G 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
11 12x AUSBRED RISING SUN G 3 Brad Widdup 61
12 6x3812312x AWESOME JOHN G 3 John O’Shea
13 BALINOR (IRE) G 3 Annabel Neasham
14 6x7321x BAVICIA (NZ) C 3 Tony & Calvin McEvoy
15 461 BIAS G 3 Bjorn Baker
16 293x BITCOIN (NZ) G 3 Andrew Forsman
17 419x BRING THE BOOM (NZ) G 3 Annabel Neasham
18 4713x607x4 BROSNAN C 3 Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou 80
19 7×3 CHEVAL SAVANT G 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
20 45x COMMANDO JACK G 3 Anthony Cummings
21 11470x COPPLESON (NZ) G 3 Chris Waller 65
22 2811x CRUZ MISSILE (NZ) G 3 Stephen Marsh
23 44x254253x DESERT LIGHTNING (NZ) G 3 Peter & Dawn Williams
24 65122 DEVILDOM (NZ) G 3 Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott
25 12 DIDDLEY SQUAT G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
26 5x536Lx DOMINGO (NZ) G 3 John O’Shea
27 12111x DUNKEL (NZ) G 3 Patrick Payne
28 25×1737375 DYNASTIC (NZ) G 3 Mark Walker
29 0x13 EARL OF DEVON (NZ) G 3 John Thompson
30 1102x ELKINGTON ROAD G 3 Michael Moroney
31 1x43227x ELLIPTICAL C 3 Anthony & Sam Freedman
32 2x5183x0 EXTREME FREEDOM (NZ) G 3 Robert & Luke Price 60
33 2 FALCON OF MALTA G 3 Michael Moroney
34 52 FASHION EMPIRE (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
35 x938x4440x FEARLESS KNIGHT G 3 Kacy Fogden
36 11x FIELD MARSHAL (GB) C 3 Chris Waller 60
37 8x5275x2 FIERCE LEGEND G 3 Richard & Will Freedman
38 44x16x FINANCIER (NZ) G 3 Stephen Marsh
39 21x47200x7 FOUJITA SAN C 3 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
40 7x FROSTYMCFROSTFROST (NZ) G 3 Danny O’Brien
41 32189 FULL OF SINCERITY (NZ) G 3 Andrew Forsman
42 3x FUTILE RESISTANCE (NZ) C 3 Danny O’Brien
43 1x21411x2x GOLDEN MILE C 3 James Cummings 102
44 472x GOOD VINTAGE G 3 Chris Waller
45 52x221x GRANGE ROCK STAR G 3 Robert Quinn 64
46 1×1241 HENNESSY LAD (NZ) G 3 Peter G Moody
47 59x411x0x HIGH APPROACH G 3 Archie Alexander
48 32 HOLLYWOOD HERO (NZ) C 3 Bjorn Baker
49 127×1 HOLYMANZ (NZ) G 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
50 1 HUMBOLDT (NZ) G 3 Craig & Shaun Phelan
51 068x IBERIAN RULER (NZ) G 3 John O’Shea
52 44419501 JAFFIRA (NZ) C 3 Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott
53 6x7731x JAMBEROO G 3 Diane Poidevin Laine 57
54 10x JAPANESE EMPEROR (NZ) G 3 Michael Moroney
55 278x3413x KANDOS COSMOS C 3 Terry Croft
56 8220x3x KAPAKIRI C 3 Chris Waller
57 0x432x KENTUCKY NICK G 3 Tony & Calvin McEvoy
58 522x KING NEPTUNE (NZ) G 3 Phillip Stokes
59 4x KINGDOM OF LOGRES (GB) C 3 Annabel Neasham
60 136x590x LETHAL THOUGHTS C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
61 716x2292x5 LINDERMANN C 3 Chris Waller 74
62 6x LUCANIA G 3 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
63 230x420x MAGIC G 3 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
64 313236×1 MAJOR BEEL (NZ) G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 68
65 219281x MANZOICE C 3 Chris Waller 104
66 010x MARK TWAIN (NZ) G 3 Roger James & Robert Wellwood
67 534x1224x MATCHA LATTE C 3 Mark Newnham 88
68 5040x MATOPO G 3 Pat Carey
69 34826x MOGADISHU G 3 Pat Carey
70 751x MORE SAINTLY (NZ) G 3 John O’Shea 59
71 3x5411149x MR MAESTRO (NZ) C 3 Andrew Forsman
72 1725x MURAMASA C 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
73 4100x MY TRUTH (NZ) G 3 Anthony Cummings 64
74 147 NEW LEVEL (NZ) C 3 Tony & Calvin McEvoy
75 1x2759x5 NOBLE CONQUEROR G 3 Chris Waller 67
76 12x73x5 OSIPENKO (NZ) C 3 Chris Waller 91
77 22 OWARI G 3 Brad Widdup
78 10x93767x8 OWEN COUNTY G 3 John Sargent 68
79 55115322x PAVITRA F 3 Richard & Will Freedman 92
80 3x418392x PENNYWEKA (NZ) F 3 Jim Wallace
81 44x PENSO G 3 Gregory Hickman
82 1238x PERICLES G 3 James Cummings
83 621x PHANTOM DRAGON C 3 Michael Moroney
84 42 PICKO ROCKS G 3 Michael Freedman
85 1211x3x PIER (NZ) G 3 Darryn & Briar Weatherley
86 11x76D30x PROMITTO G 3 David Atkins 86
87 1x13311x PROWESS (NZ) F 3 Roger James & Robert Wellwood
88 515x PUNGO (NZ) G 3 Chris Waller 65
89 3x1325x RED SUN SENSATION G 3 Peter G Moody
90 REGAL KING G 3 Wayne King
91 04x SAMUEL LANGHORNE (NZ) G 3 Michael Kent
92 8x SATIRICAL FAN G 3 John Sargent
93 24x1112x2x SHARP ’N’ SMART (NZ) G 3 Graeme & Deborah Rogerson
94 6x SIR ZINO (NZ) G 3 Chris Waller
95 321x SNIZZI G 3 Paul Messara
96 366×315 STATE OF AMERICA G 3 David Payne 60
97 133×9 STROKE OF LUCK G 3 John O’Shea 70
98 9x SUBARCTIC G 3 Matthew Smith
99 54x2x111 SUIZURO G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
100 21x TAPA CAPALL G 3 David Brideoake
101 776154424x TAPILDOODLEDO (NZ) G 3 Kerry Taplin
102 6x11x TAVI TIME (NZ) G 3 Kris Lees 62
103 152732x THE FORTUNE TELLER C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
104 413x1x TWIGMAN (NZ) G 3 Paul Shailer
105 VIKING BLOOD G 3 Edward Cummings
106 91x132x VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) C 3 Liam Howley
107 2x VON HAUKE (NZ) C 3 Cliff Brown
108 35132×3124 WAITAK (NZ) G 3 Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott
109 WARM RIDE (NZ) G 3 Richard & Will Freedman
110 441x WARSAW (NZ) G 3 Chris Gibbs
111 4x124x7x WATADEEL G 3 Phillip Stokes
112 6111112x WILD NIGHT (NZ) G 3 Mark Walker
113 13x85135x7 WILLIAMSBURG C 3 Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou 85
114 11x XCITED (NZ) G 3 Bjorn Baker 62
115 13 YASUKE C 3 Chris Waller
116 6×9 YOU ARE IDENTIFIED G 3 John Thompson
117 91×1 ZHUANG SHI G 3 Stuart Kendrick

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

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.

The 2020 Australian Derby results saw Quick Thinker become the fourth horse in as many years to do the Tulloch Stakes – ATC Derby double. The Kiwi also handed co-trainer Murray Baker with his fifth win in the classic.

In 2022 Hitotsu made history as the first horse since Mahogany (1993-94) to win the Victoria derby – Australian Derby interstate double. He also became the first Australian Guineas winner to back up and win the Australian Derby without a run in between.

Gai Waterhouse celebrated her maiden Australian Derby win in 2023 with Major Beel ($31) in partnership with Adrian Bott. Waterhouse’s father TJ Smith holds the Australian Derby record having prepared an incredible nine winners throughout his career.

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

Australian Derby Records
Time Record: 2:28.41 – Octagonal (1996)
Largest Winning Margin: 10 Lengths – Trident (1886)
Most wins by a Jockey: 6 Wins – Thomas Hales (1875, 1880, 1882, 1884, 1886, 1887)

Recent Australian Derby Winners

Year Place Horse Time
2023 Australian Derby 1st Major Beel 2 minutes 40.37 seconds
2nd Virtuous Circle
3rd Suizruo
2022 Australian Derby 1st Hitotsu 2 minutes 39.39 seconds
2nd Benaud
3rd Alegron
2021 Australian Derby 1st Explosive Jack 2 minutes 34.13 seconds
2nd Young Werther
3rd Lion’s Roar
2020 Australian Derby 1st Quick Thinker 2 minutes 34.24 seconds
2nd Zebrowski
3rd Eric The Eel
2019 Australian Derby 1st Angel Of Truth 2 minutes 35.67 seconds
2nd Madison County
3rd Surely Sacred
2018 Australian Derby 1st Levendi 2 minutes 28.73 seconds
2nd Ace High
3rd Tangled
2017 Australian Derby 1st Jon Snow 2 minutes 38.18 seconds
2nd Harper’s Choice
3rd Hardham
2016 Australian Derby 1st Tavago 2 minutes 33.6 seconds
2nd Jameka
3rd Tally
2015 Australian Derby 1st Mongolian Khan 2 minutes 37.10 seconds
2nd Hauraki
3rd Volkstok’n’barrell
2014 Australian Derby 1st Criterion 2 minutes 38.49 seconds
2nd Tupac Amaru
3rd Hooked
2013 Australian Derby 1st It’s A Dundeel 2 minutes 33.49 seconds
2nd Philippi
3rd Kingdoms
2012 Australian Derby 1st Ethiopia 2 minutes 28.7 seconds
2nd Polish Knight
3rd Laser Hawk
2011 Australian Derby 1st Shamrocker 2 minutes 29.4 seconds
2nd Retrieve
3rd Anacheeva
2010 Australian Derby 1st Shoot Out 2 minutes 32.68 seconds
2nd Descarado
3rd Monaco Consul
2009 Australian Derby 1st Roman Emperor 2 minutes 31 seconds
2nd Harris Tweed
3rd Predatory Pricer
2008 Australian Derby 1st Nom De Jeu 2 minutes 36.2 seconds
2nd Red Ruler
3rd Littorio
2007 Australian Derby 1st Flumicino 2 minutes 36.4 seconds
2nd Ambitious General
3rd Tuesday Joy
2006 Australian Derby 1st Headturner 2 minutes 29.9 seconds
2nd De Beers
3rd Testafiable
2005 Australian Derby 1st Eremein 2 minutes 35.8 seconds
2nd Stella Grande
3rd Railings
2004 Australian Derby 1st Starcraft 2 minutes 34.8 seconds
2nd Braeloch
3rd Delzao
2003 Australian Derby 1st Clangalang 2 minutes 32.3 seconds
2nd Strasbourg
3rd Mummify
2002 Australian Derby 1st Don Eduardo 2 minutes 32.7 seconds
2nd Carnegie Express
3rd Pentastic
2001 Australian Derby 1st Universal Prince 2 minutes 30.8 seconds
2nd Sir Clive
3rd Danamite
2000 Australian Derby 1st Fairway 2 minutes 34 seconds
2nd Shogun Lodge
3rd Now Voyager

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Fields & Form

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

Antino Heads 2023 Five Diamonds Field & Betting