South Australian Derby

The South Australian Derby is a Group 1 staying showdown for three-year-olds offering half a million in prize money and run at Morphettville in May each season.

2023 SA Derby Results

  • 1st: #3 Dunkel
  • 2nd: #9 Promises Kept
  • 3rd: #2 Aberfeldie Boy



The South Australian Derby is one of the four Group 1 races held as part of the Adelaide Autumn Racing Carnival. It is a 2500 metre staying event that takes place at Morphettville Racecourse in May each year one week before the Group 1 The Goodwood (1200m).

The SA Derby is for three-year-olds at set weights and offers a prize purse of $502,250.

The 2020 edition of the South Australian Derby offered a reduced $400,000 in prize money due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Entries in the race may have previously contested the Group 3 SA Chairman’s Stakes (2000m) at the track a fortnight earlier. The SA Chairman’s Stakes – SA Derby double was recently been completed by Howard Be Thy Name (2016), the fellow Darren Weir-trained Leicester (2018) and Jungle Magnate (2022).

Three-year-old fillies may come via the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) on Robert Sangster Stakes Day. Delicacy (2015) was the last filly to complete the SA Oaks – Derby double. More recently, Qafila (2019) improved on a lead-up fourth in the Schweppes Oaks to beat home the boys in the SA Derby next start.

As the leading three-year-olds race at Adelaide, the South Australian Derby field attracts high quality runners. One of the best winners was Mummify in 2003, who continued on to claim victory in that year’s Caulfield Cup in Melbourne and placed third in the Caulfield Cup the following year as well.

The staying distance and high status of the South Australian Derby means that some of the season’s finest horses compete in the race, which is why it is always a good race to watch as an indication for other important races held at the end of the year. For example, South Australian Derby winners Count Chivas (1995) and Shivas Revenge (1991) both continued on to place second in the Melbourne Cup, and the mighty Subzero won the SA Derby / Melbourne Cup double in 1992.

In 2020 Russian Camelot won the SA Derby as the punters’ pick and went on to run top three in his next four Group 1 runs in Melbourne over the spring including winning the Underwood Stakes.

The favourites were in form again in the 2021 SA Derby results with the ATC Derby winner Explosive Jack completing the interstate Derby double.

The 2023 South Australian Derby ran on Saturday May 13, 2023 at Morphettville Racecourse and saw the Patrick Payne-trained Dunkel ($8) explode late to score a narrow upset over the beaten favourite Promises Kept. 

SA Derby 2023
Date: Saturday May 13, 2023
Track: Morphettville Racecourse
Distance: 2500m
Race Type: 3YOs – Set Weights
Status: Group 1
Prize Money: $502,250

2023 SA Derby Results

  • 1st: #3 Dunkel ($8)
  • 2nd: #9 Promises Kept
  • 3rd: #2 Aberfeldie Boy

The Patrick Payne-trained Tasmanian Derby winner Dunkel ($8) returned to winning form when given a perfectly timed ride by now Group 1 winning hoop Billy Egan rallying late to post a narrow upset over the nearly all-the-way front running favourite Promises Kept ($4F) in a thrilling SA Derby 2023 result.

Click here to read more on the exciting victory by Dunkel in the South Australian Derby 2023.

2023 South Australian Derby Results & Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 3 DUNKEL (NZ) Patrick Payne Billy Egan 7 56.5kg $8
2 9 PROMISES KEPT Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Mark Zahra 0.7L 8 56.5kg $4F
3 2 ABERFELDIE BOY Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock Craig Newitt 2.2L 13 56.5kg $10
4 7 LOCO Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Damien Oliver 2.3L 12 56.5kg $10
5 6 BENGAL BOY Matt Cumani Declan Bates 2.6L 6 56.5kg $61
6 5 RED SUN SENSATION Peter G Moody Brian Higgins 4L 9 56.5kg $26
7 4 HIGH APPROACH Dan O’Sullivan John Allen 5.8L 4 56.5kg $12
8 14 RESERVOIR DOG Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Jake Toeroek 6.1L 11 56.5kg $91
9 13 NORTHERN BARRAGE Michael Kent Jason Holder 6.1L 5 56.5kg $26
10 16 SHE’S FIT Daniel Morton Chris Parnham 6.5L 10 54.5kg $4.20
11 1 SUIZURO Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Opie Bosson 7.2L 16 56.5kg $8
12 12 CAPTAIN PLUTO (NZ) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Daniel Moor 8.9L 1 56.5kg $91
13 15 PRINCE TIKEA Travis Doudle Dom Tourneur 9.3L 2 56.5kg $151
14 8 GOTTABESAVVY (NZ) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Todd Pannell 9.8L 15 56.5kg $61
15 11 DUNWOODY (NZ) Matt Cumani Jarrod Fry 11.8L 3 56.5kg $81
16 10 AIN’T HE GRAND Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ben Allen 33.4L 14 56.5kg $41
19e IMPENDING LINK Greg Eurell 0
20e SAMUEL LANGHORNE (NZ) Michael Kent 0
17e XTRAREVZ John Sargent Kerrin McEvoy 0
18e NIGHTSUN Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 South Australian Derby Betting

The top SA Derby 2023 betting odds on the season’s staying three-year-olds will be available right here once betting on the lucrative Group 1 Adelaide race opens at Ladbrokes.com.au.

Russian Camelot ($2.90 in 2020) followed by Explosive Jack ($4 in 2021) are the latest favourites in South Australian Derby betting to salute for the punters.

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

2023 South Australian Derby Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN DERBY FORM GUIDE

2023 South Australian Derby Tips

Stay tuned for our insider South Australian Derby 2023 Tips on the Adelaide Group 1 staying showdown this May.

  • To Win: #16 She’s Fit ($4.60 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Huge edition of the SA Derby with a host of in-form three-year-olds descending on Morphettville, but happy to stick with the favoured filly She’s Fit. The Dan Morton-trained WA raider remains at an attractive price around the $5 mark in betting, and she has the benefit of a lead-up run at the track. The WA Oaks winner is a nicely-bred daughter of Pride Of Dubai who has been excellent all prep. She is proven at a mile-and-a-half, was strong when third to the boys in the WA Oaks two back, and was eye-catching running second here in the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) last time out. Back up in distance, rock-hard fit, drawn well and drops weight. Back don’t sack.

2023 South Australian Derby Field

The SA Derby field attracts a smart line-up of mainly local three-year-old staying types with plenty of fillies backing-up off the Australasian Oaks to take on the colts and geldings at the same track over 500m further.

The official South Australian 2023 Derby field is set for release on the Tuesday leading up to SA Derby Day and will be published in full below.

The 2023 South Australian Derby final field features a capacity line-up of young stayers led in betting by Dan Morton’s WA Oaks winner She’s Fit coming off a second in the Australasian Oaks and resuming Cluster gelding Promises Kept now with the Maher/Eustace stable.

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

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 x2x1110233 SUIZURO Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Opie Bosson 20 56.5kg 90
2 3243×13 ABERFELDIE BOY Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock Craig Newitt 16 56.5kg 86
3 1211119 DUNKEL (NZ) Patrick Payne Billy Egan 8 56.5kg 80
4 9x411x0775 HIGH APPROACH Dan O’Sullivan John Allen 5 56.5kg 80
5 x1325x6361 RED SUN SENSATION Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 10 56.5kg 75
6 89×3421 BENGAL BOY Matt Cumani Declan Bates 7 56.5kg 72
7 1222 LOCO Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Damien Oliver 15 56.5kg 72
8 32913×311 GOTTABESAVVY (NZ) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Todd Pannell 18 56.5kg 71
9 80×922911 PROMISES KEPT Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Mark Zahra 9 56.5kg 70
10 410×454 AIN’T HE GRAND Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ben Allen 17 56.5kg 70
11 93×851 DUNWOODY (NZ) Matt Cumani Jarrod Fry 4 56.5kg 67
12 19×3251 CAPTAIN PLUTO (NZ) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Daniel Moor 1 56.5kg 67
13 213623 NORTHERN BARRAGE Michael Kent Jason Holder 6 56.5kg 66
14 4423418×21 RESERVOIR DOG Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Jake Toeroek 14 56.5kg 64
15 x3131x5397 PRINCE TIKEA Travis Doudle Dom Tourneur 3 56.5kg 64
16 6×6231132 SHE’S FIT Daniel Morton Chris Parnham 11 54.5kg 87
17e 8x24212x71 XTRAREVZ John Sargent Kerrin McEvoy 13 56.5kg 63
18e x231464374 NIGHTSUN Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock 12 56.5kg 62
19e 3218 IMPENDING LINK Greg Eurell 2 56.5kg 62
20e 0441 SAMUEL LANGHORNE (NZ) Michael Kent 19 56.5kg 62

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 South Australian Derby Nominations

Early South Australian Derby nominations for 2023 close on Tuesday the 2nd May, 2023 and will be updated in full below once announced.

The 2023 South Australian Derby nominations attracted 33 young stayers including the in-form Cluster gelding Promises Kept now with Ciaron Maher & David Eustace, his Group 1 Australasian Oaks winning stablemate Affaire A Suivre, and WA Oaks winning filly She’s Fit coming off a second in the Australasian Oaks.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 3243×13 ABERFELDIE BOY G 3 Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock 86
2 57×3111 AFFAIRE A SUIVRE (NZ) F 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 103
3 410×454 AIN’T HE GRAND C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 70
4 89×3421 BENGAL BOY G 3 Matt Cumani 72
5 2930×1 BITCOIN (NZ) G 3 Lindsey Smith 65
6 2490 CAPABLANCA G 3 Danny Curran 54
7 19×325 CAPTAIN PLUTO (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 63
8 1211119 DUNKEL (NZ) G 3 Patrick Payne 80
9 93×851 DUNWOODY (NZ) G 3 Matt Cumani 67
10 7421×71 FIRST IMMORTAL G 3 Mark & Levi Kavanagh 66
11 32913×311 GOTTABESAVVY (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 71
12 9x411x0775 HIGH APPROACH G 3 Archie Alexander 80
13 3218 IMPENDING LINK G 3 Greg Eurell 62
14 25×68500 KARAKA KIWI (NZ) G 3 Jordan Frew 56
15 0x0627245 KETCHIKAN G 3 Ryan Balfour 53
16 2x8030x12 KING’S CROSSING (NZ) G 3 Danny O’Brien 64
17 1222 LOCO G 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 72
18 433×3516 MOYA LASS F 3 Julius Sandhu 63
19 x231464374 NIGHTSUN G 3 Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock 62
20 213623 NORTHERN BARRAGE G 3 Michael Kent 66
21 80×922911 PROMISES KEPT G 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 70
22 x1325x6361 RED SUN SENSATION G 3 Peter G Moody 75
23 64423418×2 RESERVOIR DOG G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 60
24 15x629x75 ROZNAMLA (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 62
25 0441 SAMUEL LANGHORNE (NZ) G 3 Michael Kent 62
26 6×6231132 SHE’S FIT F 3 Daniel Morton 87
27 7309421 SPECIAL SWEY (NZ) G 3 Chris Waller 61
28 3x6x51 STRUCK TWICE (NZ) G 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 62
29 x2x1110233 SUIZURO G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 90
30 8x4x120 SUPERSTOCK (NZ) G 3 Mark & Levi Kavanagh 61
31 21×233 TAPA CAPALL G 3 David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins 64
32 8x446x2425 VERIFIER (NZ) G 3 Nigel Blackiston 58
33 8x24212x71 XTRAREVZ G 3 John Sargent 63

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

South Australian Derby History

The South Australian Derby was first run in 1860 when Midnight won. It began as a principal race run over 12 furlongs. Not long after its inception the event was not held for a period between 1869 and 1875. It recommenced in 1876 under the same status and distance. The race did not run again from 1885 to 1889 and in the years 1942 and 1943 due to the war. The distance of the Derby was converted to 2500m in 1973 before decreasing to 2400m in length in 1978. This was one year before it reached Group 1 status in 1979. For one year in 1980 the event was raced over a distance of 2600m before dropping back to 2500m the following year in 1981.
There was no South Australian Derby held in 1983 and a few years later in 1986 the distance reverted back to 2400m. In 2001 the event was again run over 2500m and has since remained the same.

Trainer Darren Weir made SA Derby history in 2018 when Leicester became his third straight winner on the trot, seeing the horseman emulate the great Bart Cummings from 40 years earlier.

Jockey John Allen enjoyed his third South Australian Derby winning ride in 2020 aboard the favourite Russian Camelot who went on enjoy a hugely successful spring in Melbourne including his Cox Plate third to Sir Dragonet. The jockey returned and posted a fourth victory aboard the favourite Explosive Jack – winner of that year’s ATC Derby in Sydney – in 2021.

In 2023 Patrick Payne trained his first Group 1 winner with Dunkel in the SA Derby, a race the horseman won as a jockey back in 1994 aboard the Mick Price-trained Bullwinkle. The South Australian Derby 2023 results also saw jockey Billy Egan enjoy his maiden Group 1 victory.

Recent South Australian Derby Winners

Year Place Horse Time
2023
South Australian Derby
1st Dunkel 2 minutes 40.43 seconds
2nd Promises Kept
3rd Aberfeldie Boy
2022
South Australian Derby
1st Jungle Magnate 2 minutes 37.31 seconds
2nd Yaphet
3rd Detonator Jack
2021
South Australian Derby
1st Explosive Jack 2 minutes 38.99 seconds
2nd Let’s Karaka Deel
3rd Nobel Heights
2020
South Australian Derby
1st Russian Camelot 2 minutes 42.02 seconds
2nd Dalasan
3rd Warning
2019
South Australian Derby
1st Qafila 2 minutes 39.06 seconds
2nd Savvy Oak
3rd Mr Quickie
2018
South Australian Derby
1st Leicester 2 minutes 38.95 seconds
2nd Rezealient
3rd Runaway
2017
South Australian Derby
1st Volatile Mix 2 minutes 37.09 seconds
2nd Ruthven
3rd Odeon
2016
South Australian Derby
1st Howard Be Thy Name 2 minutes 40.08 seconds
2nd Etymology
3rd Cool Chap
2015
South Australian Derby
1st Delicacy 2 minutes 37.91 seconds
2nd Werther
3rd Allergic
2014
South Australian Derby
1st Kushadasi 2 minutes 41.98 seconds
2nd Scratchy Bottom
3rd Best Case
2013
South Australian Derby
1st Escado 2 minutes 39.05 seconds
2nd Hioctdane
3rd Shoreham
2012
South Australian Derby
1st Zabeelionaire 2 minutes 42.1 seconds
2nd Sabrage
3rd Westsouthwest
2011
South Australian Derby
1st Shadows In The Sun 2 minutes 39.8 seconds
2nd Echoes Of Heaven
3rd Lalla Rookh
2010
South Australian Derby
1st Kidnapped 2 minutes 37.21 seconds
2nd Red Colossus
3rd Sea Galleon
2009
South Australian Derby
1st Rebel Raider 2 minutes 40.39 seconds
2nd Astro Gains
3rd Fitoussi
2008
South Australian Derby
1st Zarita 2 minutes 39.5 seconds
2nd Zagreb
3rd Neugine
2007
South Australian Derby
1st Lazer Sharp 2 minutes 37.8 seconds
2nd Classic De Lago
3rd Red Lord
2006
South Australian Derby
1st Testafiable 2 minutes 43.3 seconds
2nd Empire Gold
3rd Irazu
2005
South Australian Derby
1st Tails Of Triomphe 2 minutes 37.1 seconds
2nd Douro Valley
3rd Kamsky
2004
South Australian Derby
1st Hard To Get 2 minutes 37.1 seconds
2nd On A Jeune
3rd Better Jetsetter
2003
South Australian Derby
1st Mummify 2 minutes 38.7 seconds
2nd Vicksburgh
3rd Lord Wooburn
2002
South Australian Derby
1st Pantani 2 minutes 37.8 seconds
2nd Silver Baron
3rd Lester Thuderwing
2001
South Australian Derby
1st Big Pat 2 minutes 36.2 seconds
2nd Bush Padre
3rd Adolescence
2000
South Australian Derby
1st Blue Murder 2 minutes 38.4 seconds
2nd Mr Nelson
3rd Voile D’Or

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