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 then $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 2025 runs on Saturday April 19, 2025 at Ascot Racecourse in Perth. 

2025 WATC Derby Results

• 1st: TBD
• 2nd: TBD
• 3rd: TBD

2025 WATC Derby Betting

The season’s latest WATC Derby 2025 betting odds and betting market links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be available at Races.com.au.

Western Empire ($1.30 in 2021) was the last WATC Derby favourite to salute.

2025 WATC Derby Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 WATC DERBY FORM GUIDE

2025 WATC Derby Tips

Stay tuned for our insider WATC Derby 2025 Tips on the three-year-olds to back in the Group 2 feature this autumn.

• To Win: #4 Machine Gun Gracie ($1.65 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Just seven line-up in this year’s WATC Derby field and the WA Oaks winning filly, Machine Gun Gracie, is odds-on for a reason. She’s no value but really hard to bet against here taking on the boys after putting away a field of her own kind by over three lengths at the track and trip last time out. So dominant in her Oaks victory, Justine Erkelens’ lovely daughter of Maschino chases a hat-trick and is proven at the 2400m which is a big plus. Tuscan Queen (2020) was the last to do the WA Oaks / Derby double and in a field this size dropping a half-kilo with Shaun O’Donnell retaining the ride from barrier three, Machine Gun Gracie can be the next!

2025 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.

In 2024 Buckets Ridge and A Lot Of Good Men ran first and second in the Melvista, and then finished in the reverse order with a Lot Of Good Men turning the tables to win the WATC Derby over Buckets Ridge next start.

The official 2025 WATC Derby field will be announced below once final acceptances close on the Wednesday of race week.

The WATC Derby 2025 final field features just seven young hopefuls led in betting by odds-on favourite Machine Gun Gracie coming off a demolition job in the WA Oaks at the track and trip.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2025 WATC Derby Nominations

Nominations for the WATC Derby in 2025 are taken the Tuesday of race week and will be published in full below once announced.

The 2025 WATC Derby nominations close on Tuesday the 15th of April 2025. 

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 placegetters going back to 2000 are found below.