Australian Derby
Australian Derby
The Championships Day 1 – Betting Guide
Date: | Saturday, April 5, 2025 |
Location: | Royal Randwick Racecourse – Sydney, Australia |
Prize Money: | $2,000,000 |
Distance: | 2400m |
The Group 1 Australian Derby is raced under set weight conditions and is only open to three-year-olds over the 2400m distance.
The race one of the main features of day one of The Championships.
The final race field is determined by the amount of prize money each nominated horse has earned, with it not uncommon for there to be upwards of 100 nominations.
A star-studded list of horses have won the race, including Bonecrusher, Criterion and Roman Emperor.
2025 Australian Derby odds
Odds for the Australian Derby as of January 20, 2025 – Courtesy of Neds
- El Castello Win $6.00 Place $2.25
- Willydoit Win $7.00 Place $2.50
- Broadsiding Win $9.00 Place $3.00
- Henlein Win $9.00 Place $3.00
- Goldrush Guru Win $11.00 Place $3.50
- Savaglee Win $13.00 Place $4.00
- China Sea Win $15.00 Place $4.50
- Rumbling Night Win $15.00 Place $4.50
- Checkmate Win $17.00 Place $5.00
- Scary Win $17.00 Place $5.00
- Saint Emilion Win $21.00 Place $6.00
- Tenbury Wells Win $21.00 Place $6.00
Best Australian Derby bookmakers
All the major Australian-licensed bookies will have wagering Australian Derby with most of them having an all-in market well in advance of race day.
If you are looking to bet at a venue you will find markets available with the TAB for the Australian Derby in the week leading up to, and on the day of the race.
The following bookies are our favourites to bet on Australian racing, you can follow the links to read comprehensive reviews of each.
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Latest Australian Derby News
Betting guide for the Australian Derby
More often than not roughies get the job done at odds in the Derby.
In 2022, Hitosu became the first favourite since Criterion in 2014 to claim the Australian Derby. Riff Rocket would repeat that feat in 2024.
In the period from 2021-2007 there has been six winners priced over $11, with Explosive Jack (2021), Angel Of Truth (2019), Tavago (2016), Ethiopia (2012), Roman Emperor (2009) and Nom Du Jou (2008) some of the more notable ones to win at long odds.
It is also a race that has been largely dominated by colts and geldings, with Shamrocker (2011) one of the few fillies or mares to have won it in the last 30 years.
Major 3YO races that are held in weeks prior to the Derby have been the best lead-in guides. The Group 1 Randwick Guineas at Randwick, or the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas and Group 2 Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill have all produced competitors in the Australian Derby.
Only five horses have ever done the Autumn Triple Crown when taking out the Randwick & Rosehill Guineas before going on to take out the Australian Derby. They were Moorland (1943), Martello Towers (1959), Imagele (1973), Octagonal (1996) and Dundeel (2013).
2025 Australian Derby Final Field
HorseBetting will update this page when the 2025 Australian Derby field is released.
Previous Australian Derby Fields
1. Riff Rocket (10)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: James McDonald
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 131×1
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: American Pharoah (USA)
- Dam: Missile Coda
2. Tom Kitten (3)
- T: James Cummings
- J: Adam Hyeronimus
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 6456x
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Harry Angel (IRE)
- Dam: Transfers
3. Ceolwulf (5)
- T: Joseph Pride
- J: Blake Shinn
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 266×6
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Brown
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Tavistock (NZ)
- Dam: Las Brisas (GB)
4. Cap Ferrat (7)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Nash Rawiller
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 376×2
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Snitzel
- Dam: C’est Beau La Vie
5. Ganbare (1)
- T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- J: Tim Clark
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 497×3
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Maurice (JPN)
- Dam: Mardi
6. Immediacy (13)
- T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
- J: Luke Currie
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 5111
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Tarzino (NZ)
- Dam: But Beautiful (IRE)
7. Wymark (14)
- T: Michael Freedman
- J: Tommy Berry
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 11112
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Savabeel
- Dam: Pasadena (NZ)
8. Noisy Boy (8)
- T: Todd Howlett
- J: Jay Ford
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 256×0
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Real Steel (JPN)
- Dam: Northern Model
9. Glad You Think So (4)
- T: John Sargent
- J: Rachel King
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 7603x
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: So You Think (NZ)
- Dam: Gladwell
10. Adagio (11)
- T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- J: Regan Bayliss
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 14212
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Pierro
- Dam: Abatha
11. Zenmaster (9)
- T: Craig Carmody
- J: Chad Schofield
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 26489
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: American Pharoah (USA)
- Dam: Zenalicious
12. Hooligan Tommy (12)
- T: John Sargent
- J: Jason Collett
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 332×5
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Ocean Park (NZ)
- Dam: Contrada (NZ)
13. Saxon Brave (6)
- T: Daki Chujo
- J: Joshua Parr
- W: 56.5kg
- F: 132×4
- Age: 3YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Saxon Warrior (JPN)
- Dam: Manrose Hattan
No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Sharp ‘N’ Smart Graeme & Deborah Rogerson Hugh Bowman 17 56.5kg 2 Manzoice Chris Waller Michael Dee 14 56.5kg 3 Elliptical Anthony & Sam Freedman Mark Zahra 3 56.5kg 4 Pericles James Cummings James McDonald 6 56.5kg 5 Williamsburg Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Ryan Maloney 12 56.5kg 6 Andalus Stephen Marsh Zac Purton 8 56.5kg 7 Full Of Sincerity Andrew Forsman Damian Lane 16 56.5kg 8 Japanese Emperor Mike Moroney Blake Shinn 1 56.5kg 9 Mark Twain Roger James & Robert Wellwood Kerrin McEvoy 5 56.5kg 10 Suizuro Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Joao Moreira 4 56.5kg 11 Tapildoodledo Kerry Taplin TBC 11 56.5kg 12 Virtuous Circle Liam Howley Brett Prebble 18 56.5kg 13 Major Beel Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 15 56.5kg 14 High Approach Archie Alexander Jordan Childs 10 56.5kg 15 Stroke Of Luck John O’Shea Tom Marquand 9 56.5kg 16 Cheval Savant Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 2 56.5kg 17 Domingo John O’Shea Brenton Avdulla 13 56.5kg 18 Twigman Paul Shailer Luke Dittman 7 56.5kg No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Hitotsu Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 4 56.5kg 2 Alegron James Cummings Hugh Bowman 3 56.5kg 3 Forgot You Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Mark Zahra 13 56.5kg 4 Castlereagh Kid Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Nash Rawiller 12 56.5kg 5 Regal Lion Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman James McDonald 10 56.5kg 6 White Noise Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman Robbie Dolan 21 56.5kg 7 War Eternal Bjorn Baker Damian Lane 9 56.5kg 8 Character James Cummings Tommy Berry 11 56.5kg 9 Can’t Go Wong Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Jamie Kah 6 56.5kg 10 Maurice’s Medad Bjorn Baker Joshua Parr 16 56.5kg 11 Raging Bull David Payne Craig Williams 15 56.5kg 12 Elzamee Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Chad Schofield 1 56.5kg 13 Zoumon Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 5 56.5kg 14 Clyde Gary Portelli Shaun Guymer 8 56.5kg 15 Benaud John O’Shea Brenton Avdulla 19 56.5kg 16 Footlights Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young William Pike 2 56.5kg 17 Sea Treasures Bjorn Baker Rachel King 17 56.5kg 18 Akahata Bjorn Baker Brock Ryan 20 56.5kg 19 AsternishingMick BellDean Holland1856.5kg20 MediaroMatthew SmithJay Ford1456.5kg21 Lukey LukeGwenda MarkwellKeagan Latham756.5kg
2024 Australian Derby result
1st – Riff Rocket (+120)
2nd – Ceolwulf (-166.67)
3rd – Glad You Think So (+1000)
Recent runnings of the Australian Derby
- Riff Rocket ($2.25) proved too classy in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick, picking up his third Group 1 victory for the Chris Waller barn. The son of American Pharoah was impressive in the spring, getting the head down in the Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m), and appears to be an even better horse this autumn, winning the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) before making it back-to-back Derby successes. With the early withdrawal of James Cummings-trained filly Zardozi, all the market support was in favour of the Chris Waller-trained gelding, and the steer from James McDonald was a confident one. He elected to race towards the rear of the field throughout, allowing the likes of Glad You Think So ($81.00) and Wymark ($6.50) to set a genuine tempo throughout the 2400m journey. Tom Kitten ($6.50) appeared to have the run of the race in behind the speed, while the eventual runner-up, Ceolwulf ($7.00), was asked to make a long-sustained run down the centre of the course. McDonald eventually got the split back towards the inside when the race went on, powering to the front, getting the better of a very game Ceolwulf, who would have to settle for the minor money along with Glad You Think so whacking away on speed.
- Major Beel has taken out the 2023 edition of the Group 1 Australian Derby, thanks to a strong front-running ride by jockey Tim Clark. It came off the back of his runner-up placing in the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes the weekend before and the short turn around to go along with a moderate tempo throughout the 2400m journey, has seen the best of the Savabeel gelding on testing conditions. Rank outsider, Domingo, lead them up initially before being headed by the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott galloper and it was all over bar the shouting with 200m to go. Virtuous Circle was the best of the chasers running into second, while Suizuro and short-priced favourite for the race, Sharp N Smart put in bold efforts in the straight. They were all playing for minor money however, as Major Beel was off and gone with the prize seeing out the trip best of the three-year-olds.
- Star colt Hitotsu won his third Group 1 race, with a stunning win in the Australian Derby at Royal Randwick. The victory gave trainers Ciaron Maher & David Eustace back-to-back successes in the race after Explosive Jack won the race 12 months ago, while jockey John Allen also enjoyed consecutive wins in the race. The Victoria Derby winner started a well-backed $3 favourite with online bookmakers, and although Benaud loomed as the winner at the top of the straight, Hitotsu proved himself as Australia’s premier staying three-year-old, as he relished the wet conditions to record a tough and classy win.
- The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Explosive Jack showed his staying prowess when winning the A$2 million Group 1 Australian Derby, defeating Young Werther and Lion’s Roar. The son of Jakkalberry prevailed in a thrilling photo finish, with the first three past the post all bred in New Zealand and sold at Karaka in a bumper result for the New Zealand breeding industry.
- Quick Thinker may not have started favourite in the 2020 Australian Derby, but it surprised no one to see the Murray Baker trained runner claim the Australian Derby. In an Australian Derby like no other (raced behind closed doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic), Quick Thinker and Zebrowski paired off over the last 300m and went stride for stride before Quick Thinker got his head down in time to hold out Zebrowski. Quick Thinker’s win in the Australian Derby handed co-trainer Murray Baker his fifth ATC Derby
- In a surprise result in the Derby Angel Of Truth delivered a front running display to take out the Group 1 event. Spearing out to an early lead the horse got some cheap sectionals and was able to kick away in the straight with Kiwi pair Madison County and Surely Sacred rounding out the placings behind the double figure winner.
- In one of the more dramatic Australian Derby finishes in recent memory, Peter Gelagotis-trained Levendi rocketed home to defeat favourite Ace High right on the line. The horse survived a protest, delivering a memorable win for team Gelagotis.
- Jon Snow continued the dominance of the New Zealand-trained runners after Tavago and Mongolian Khan saluted in previous years. The Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained three-year-old dictated play and was never in doubt as it quickly put multiple lengths on the chasers. Harper’s Choice and Hardham made ground late, but Jon Snow was off and gone. Fellow Kiwi Gingernuts was under pressure around the turn and finished fifth with Queensland Derby winner Ruthven finishing in fourth. Read the race report here..
- Tavago stunned a quality field to win this edition of the Derby at odds of $31. Tavago easily beat home Jameka, with Tally further back in third. The Tavistock gelding also had to contend with the $1.65 favourite Tarzino, but it never looked good in the conditions, fading to finish fourth. A New Zealand import, Tavago moved to Australia with his jet-setting trainers, Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, who crossed the ditch to move to Cranbourne soon after the victory.
- Mongolian Khan was too good for a strong field, with the Murray Baker-trained three year old adding the Derby victory to its victory in the New Zealand Derby. Again the form had not been impressive after a poor run in the Rosehill Guineas weeks earlier. But Opie Bosson guided Mongolian Khan home, with Hauraki almost a length further back. Volkstok’n’barrell finished well for third. Pre-race favourite Preferment finished well back in the field with Damien Oliver onboard.
- Criterion went in as a clear-cut favourite and delivered, beating home Tupac Amaru and Hooked. Trained by David Payne and ridden by top hoop Hugh Bowman, Criterion handled the heavy conditions well to defy its Golden Slipper winning bloodline and notably win a stayers race.
- t’s A Dundeel, the son of dual Derby winner High Chapparal, booted home at the shortest price in 25 years. The Murray Baker star jumped at $1.24 with James McDonald in the saddle and the famous trio won their eighth race, from 11 starts, as a combination. Settling right back off the pace, It’s A Dundeel was still well back with 500m to go, but a devastating turn of foot had the punters rocking. It won by six lengths from Phillippi, while the early leader Kingdoms finished well back in third.
- In just its fourth career start Ethiopia broke its Maiden to win the Derby. Trained by Pat Carey, Ethiopia was expertly guided by Rhys McLeod, who settled the $15 shot at the tail of the field. It then produced a withering burst of speed to win from Polish Knight $8, while favourite Laser Hawk ($3.20) finished further back in third.
Previous winners of the Australian Derby
Australian Derby Past Winners | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
2024 | Riff Rocket | James McDOnald | Chris Waller |
2023 | Major Beel | Tim Clark | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
2022 | Hitotsu | John Allen | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
2021 | Explosive Jack | John Allen | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
2020 | Quick Thinker | Opie Bosson | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
2019 | Angel Of Truth | Corey Brown | Gwenda Markwell |
2018 | Levendi | Mark Zahra | Peter Gelagotis |
2017 | Jon Snow | Damian Lane | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
2016 | Tavago | Tommy Berry | Trent Busuttin |
2015 | Mongolian Khan | Opie Bosson | Murray Baker |
2014 | Criterion | Hugh Bowman | David Payne |
2013 | It’s A Dundeel | James McDonald | Murray Baker |
2012 | Ethiopia | Rhys McLeod | Pat Carey |
2011 | Shamrocker | Glen Boss | Danny O’Brien |
2010 | Shoot Out | Stathi Katsidis | John Wallace |
2009 | Roman Emperor | Jim Cassidy | Bart Cummings |
2008 | Nom Du Jeu | Jeff Lloyd | Murray Baker |
2007 | Fiumicino | Darren Beadman | John Hawkes |
2006 | Headturner | Darren Beadman | John Hawkes |
2005 | Eremein | Corey Brown | Allan Denham |
2004 | Starcraft | Glen Boss | Garry Newham |
2003 | Clangalang | Scott Seamer | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou |
2002 | Don Eduardo | Damien Oliver | Lee Freedman |
2001 | Universal Prince | Justin Sheehan | Bede Murray |
2000 | Fairway | Brian York | Jack Denham |
Australian Derby Past Winners Pre 2000
Australian Derby Past Winners Pre 2000 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Year | Horse | ||
1999 | Sky Heights | ||
1998 | Gold Guru | ||
1997 | Ebony Grosve | ||
1996 | Octagonal | ||
1995 | Ivory’s Irish | ||
1994 | Mahogany | ||
1993 | Innocent King | ||
1992 | Naturalism | ||
1991 | Durbridge | ||
1990 | Dr. Grace | ||
1989 | Research | ||
1988 | Beau Zam | ||
1987 | Myocard | ||
1986 | Bonecrusher | ||
1985 | Tristarc | ||
1984 | Prolific | ||
1983 | Strawberry Road | ||
1982 | Rose Of Kingston | ||
1981 | Our Paddy Boy | ||
1980 | Kingston Town | ||
1979 | Dulcify | ||
1978 | RACE NOT HELD | ||
1977 | Belmura Lad | ||
1976 | Great Lover | ||
1975 | Battle Sign | ||
1974 | Taras Bulba | ||
1973 | Imagele | ||
1972 | Gold Brick | ||
1971 | Classic Mission | ||
1970 | Silver Sharpe | ||
1969 | Divide And Rule | ||
1968 | Wilton Park | ||
1967 | Swift Peter | ||
1966 | El Gordo | ||
1965 | Prince Grant | ||
1964 | Royal Sovereign | ||
1963 | Summer Fiesta | ||
1962 | Summer Prince | ||
1961 | Summer Fair | ||
1960 | Persian Lyric | ||
1959 | Martello Towers | ||
1958 | Skyline | ||
1957 | Tulloch | ||
1956 | Monte Carlo | ||
1955 | Caranna | ||
1954 | Prince Delville | ||
1953 | Prince Morvi | ||
1952 | Deep River | ||
1951 | Channel Rise | ||
1950 | Alister | ||
1949 | Playboy | ||
1948 | Carbon Copy | ||
1947 | Valiant Crown | ||
1946 | Concerto | ||
1945 | Magnificent | ||
1944 | Tea Rose | ||
1943 | Moorland | ||
1942 | Main Topic | ||
1941 | Laureate | ||
1940 | Pandect | ||
1939 | Reading | ||
1938 | Nuffield | ||
1937 | Avenger | ||
1936 | Talking | ||
1935 | Allunga/Homer | ||
1934 | Theo | ||
1933 | Hall Mark | ||
1932 | Peter Pan | ||
1931 | Ammon Ra | ||
1930 | Tregilla | ||
1929 | Phar Lap | ||
1928 | Prince Humphrey | ||
1927 | Gothic | ||
1926 | Rampion | ||
1925 | Manfred | ||
1924 | Heroic | ||
1923 | Ballymena | ||
1922 | Rivoli | ||
1921 | Cupidon | ||
1920 | Salitros | ||
1919 | Artilleyman/Richmond Main | ||
1918 | Gloaming | ||
1917 | Biplane | ||
1916 | Kilboy | ||
1915 | Cetigne | ||
1914 | Mountain Knight | ||
1913 | Beragoon | ||
1912 | Cider | ||
1911 | Cisco | ||
1910 | Tanami | ||
1909 | Prince Foote | ||
1908 | Parsee | ||
1907 | Mountain King | ||
1906 | Poseidon | ||
1905 | Noctuiform | ||
1904 | Sylvanite | ||
1903 | Belah | ||
1902 | Abundance | ||
1901 | Hautvilliers | ||
1900 | Malster | ||
1899 | Cranberry | ||
1898 | Picture | ||
1897 | Amberite | ||
1896 | Charge | ||
1895 | Bob Ray | ||
1894 | Bonnie Scotland | ||
1893 | Trenchant | ||
1892 | Camoola | ||
1891 | Stromboli | ||
1890 | Gibraltar | ||
1889 | Singapore | ||
1888 | Melos | ||
1887 | Abercorn | ||
1886 | Trident | ||
1885 | Nordenfeldt | ||
1884 | Bargo | ||
1883 | Le Grand | ||
1882 | Navigator | ||
1881 | Wheatear | ||
1880 | Grand Flaneur | ||
1879 | Nellie | ||
1878 | His Lordship | ||
1877 | Woodlands | ||
1876 | Robinson Crusoe | ||
1875 | Richmond | ||
1874 | Kingsborough | ||
1873 | Benvolio | ||
1872 | Loup Garou | ||
1871 | Javelin | ||
1870 | Florence | ||
1869 | Charon | ||
1868 | The Duke | ||
1867 | Fireworks | ||
1866 | The Barb | ||
1865 | Clove | ||
1864 | Yattendon | ||
1863 | Ramornie | ||
1862 | Regno | ||
1861 | Kyogle |
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