WATC Derby

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

2024 WATC Derby Results

  • 1st: TBD
  • 2nd: TBD
  • 3rd: TBD




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
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

2024 WATC Derby Results

  • 1st: TBD
  • 2nd: TBD
  • 3rd: TBD

2024 WATC Derby Betting Odds

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.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST ALL-IN 2024 WATC DERBY ODDS (Pre-Nominations)

2024 WATC Derby Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 WATC DERBY FORM GUIDE

2024 WATC Derby Tips

Stay tuned for our insider WATC Derby 2024 Tips on the three-year-olds to back in the Group 2 feature this autumn.

  • To Win: TBD

2024 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 2024 WATC Derby field will be announced below once final acceptances close on the Wednesday of race week.

2024 WATC Derby Nominations

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. 

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 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

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