Australian Derby

Australian Derby

The Championships Day 1 – Betting Guide
Date: Saturday, April 6, 2024
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.


2024 Australian Derby odds

Major Beel handed Gai Waterhouse her first win in the ATC Derby in 2023.

The 2024 Australian Derby odds as of March 18 look like this:

  • Tom Kitten – +300
  • Riff Rocket – +350
  • Orchestral – +500
  • Immediacy – +700
  • Wymark – +1000
  • Apulia – +1400

Complete Australian Derby odds available at Neds.


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.

United States Sport Table

Sport Table


Latest Australian Derby News

Wymark
Talented three-year-old Wymark will be put on a Classic path after a strong win against older horses at Rosehill on ...
Immediacy Autumn Classic
Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young and Luke Currie have combined with Immediacy to take out the Group 2 Autumn Classic ...
Queensland Derby an option for Andalus
Group One performer Andalus may get another chance at Derby glory as he settles into his new home in Australia ...
Rogerson already excited by spring prospects
A stellar season for Sharp ‘N’ Smart has drawn to a close with Graeme Rogerson confident his charge will return ...
Mustang Valley returns home to Group One target
The Andrew Forsman-trained Mustang Valley was on a plane back to New Zealand on Sunday after an excellent run for ...
Major Beel causes upset in the Australian Derby
Major Beel has taken out the 2023 edition of the Group 1 Australian Derby on Saturday afternoon, thanks to a ...

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.

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).


2024 Australian Derby Final Field

Horsebetting.com.au will update this page when the 2024 Australian Derby field is released.


Previous Australian Derby Fields

Many a superstar has gone on to win the Australian Derby. Check out the last two fields here.

  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks
    Sharp ‘N’ Smart
    Graeme & Deborah Rogerson
    Hugh Bowman
    17
    56.5kg
    2 Silks
    Manzoice
    Chris Waller
    Michael Dee
    14
    56.5kg
    3 Silks
    Elliptical
    Anthony & Sam Freedman
    Mark Zahra
    3
    56.5kg
    4 Silks
    Pericles
    James Cummings
    James McDonald
    6
    56.5kg
    5 Silks
    Williamsburg
    Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
    Ryan Maloney
    12
    56.5kg
    6 Silks
    Andalus
    Stephen Marsh
    Zac Purton
    8
    56.5kg
    7 Silks
    Full Of Sincerity
    Andrew Forsman
    Damian Lane
    16
    56.5kg
    8 Silks
    Japanese Emperor
    Mike Moroney
    Blake Shinn
    1
    56.5kg
    9 Silks
    Mark Twain
    Roger James & Robert Wellwood
    Kerrin McEvoy
    5
    56.5kg
    10 Silks
    Suizuro
    Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
    Joao Moreira
    4
    56.5kg
    11 Silks
    Tapildoodledo
    Kerry Taplin
    TBC
    11
    56.5kg
    12 Silks
    Virtuous Circle
    Liam Howley
    Brett Prebble
    18
    56.5kg
    13 Silks
    Major Beel
    Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
    Tim Clark
    15
    56.5kg
    14 Silks
    High Approach
    Archie Alexander
    Jordan Childs
    10
    56.5kg
    15 Silks
    Stroke Of Luck
    John O’Shea
    Tom Marquand
    9
    56.5kg
    16 Silks
    Cheval Savant
    Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
    John Allen
    2
    56.5kg
    17 Silks
    Domingo
    John O’Shea
    Brenton Avdulla
    13
    56.5kg
    18 Silks
    Twigman
    Paul Shailer
    Luke Dittman
    7
    56.5kg
  • No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight
    1 Silks
    Hitotsu
    Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
    John Allen
    4
    56.5kg
    2 Silks
    Alegron
    James Cummings
    Hugh Bowman
    3
    56.5kg
    3 Silks
    Forgot You
    Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
    Mark Zahra
    13
    56.5kg
    4 Silks
    Castlereagh Kid
    Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
    Nash Rawiller
    12
    56.5kg
    5 Silks
    Regal Lion
    Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman
    James McDonald
    10
    56.5kg
    6 Silks
    White Noise
    Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman
    Robbie Dolan
    21
    56.5kg
    7 Silks
    War Eternal
    Bjorn Baker
    Damian Lane
    9
    56.5kg
    8 Silks
    Character
    James Cummings
    Tommy Berry
    11
    56.5kg
    9 Silks
    Can’t Go Wong
    Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
    Jamie Kah
    6
    56.5kg
    10 Silks
    Maurice’s Medad
    Bjorn Baker
    Joshua Parr
    16
    56.5kg
    11 Silks
    Raging Bull
    David Payne
    Craig Williams
    15
    56.5kg
    12 Silks
    Elzamee
    Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
    Chad Schofield
    1
    56.5kg
    13 Silks
    Zoumon
    Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
    Tim Clark
    5
    56.5kg
    14 Silks
    Clyde
    Gary Portelli
    Shaun Guymer
    8
    56.5kg
    15 Silks
    Benaud
    John O’Shea
    Brenton Avdulla
    19
    56.5kg
    16 Silks
    Footlights
    Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
    William Pike
    2
    56.5kg
    17 Silks
    Sea Treasures
    Bjorn Baker
    Rachel King
    17
    56.5kg
    18 Silks
    Akahata
    Bjorn Baker
    Brock Ryan
    20
    56.5kg
    19 Silks
    Asternishing
    Mick Bell
    Dean Holland
    18
    56.5kg
    20 Silks
    Mediaro
    Matthew Smith
    Jay Ford
    14
    56.5kg
    21 Silks
    Lukey Luke
    Gwenda Markwell
    Keagan Latham
    7
    56.5kg

2023 Australian Derby result


1stMajor Beel ($41)
2ndVirtuous Circle ($4.80)
3rdSuizuro ($10.00)

Recent runnings of the Australian Derby

  • 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
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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