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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 the only Group 1 races held at Perth; the others at the time 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) – now Northerly Stakes – 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 form was franked in 2023 with the third placed filly, She’s Fit, going on to run second in Adelaide’s Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m).
The WATC Derby 2024 runs on Saturday April 13, 2024 at Ascot Racecourse in Perth on the same day Sydney hosts the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.
2024 WATC Derby | |
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Date: | Saturday April 13, 2024 |
Track: | Ascot Racecourse |
Distance: | 2400m |
Conditions: | Three-year-olds at Set Weights |
Status: | Group 2 |
Prize Money: | $400,000 |
Inaugurated: | 1888 |
The season’s latest WATC Derby 2024 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 2024 Tips on the three-year-olds to back in the Group 2 feature this autumn.
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 2024 WATC Derby field will be announced below once final acceptances close on the Wednesday of race week.
Nominations for the WATC Derby in 2024 are taken the Tuesday of race week and will be published in full below once announced.
The 2024 WATC Derby nominations close on Tuesday the 9th of April, 2024.
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 place-getters going back to 2000 are found below.
Year | Place | Horse | Time |
---|---|---|---|
2024 W.A.T.C. Derby |
1st | TBD | TBD |
2nd | TBD | ||
3rd | TBD | ||
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 |