The WATC Derby, also known as the Western Australia Derby is a

Perth Racing The Western Australian Turf Club (WATC), later known as Perth Racing, is a members club in Perth, Western Australia. It was established in the 19th century during the colonial period, was modelled after Turf Clubs in England, and operated as ...

Group 2 The term Group 2 may refer to: * Alkaline earth metal The alkaline earth metals are six chemical elements in group (periodic table), group 2 of the periodic table. They are beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (B ...

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a list of horse breeds, horse breed developed for Thoroughbred racing, horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thorough ...

horse race for three-year-olds, at set weights, over a distance of 2400 metres at

Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, about 25 miles west of London. Ascot is used for thoroughbred horse racing, and it hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 races and three Grade ...

Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...

, Western Australia in April. Total prizemoney is $400,000.

History

The inaugural running of the race was on 2 January 1888 as the first race on the second day of WATC Summer Meeting which was highlighted by The Queen's Plate. The race was called the West Australia Derby, with prizemoney of 100 sovereigns with an additional sweep of 2 sovereigns for the second place horse. Colonial bred horses were allowed 5

pound Pound or Pounds may refer to: Units * Pound (currency), various units of currency * Pound sterling, the official currency of the United Kingdom * Pound (mass), a unit of mass * Pound (force), a unit of force * Rail pound, in rail profile * A bas ...

s allowance. The filly, Harridan started as the even money favourite and won by 2 lengths. The race continued to be part of the WATC Summer Carnival until 1988 when it was moved to April. The club reverted to the summer schedule in 1993 but by 2002 the race was again being held in April.

1953 racebook

File:1953 WATC Derby Racebook P1.jpg, 1953 WATC Derby racebook front cover File:1953 WATC Derby Racebook P2.jpg, 1953 WATC Derby showing raceday officials File:1953 WATC Derby Racebook P3.jpg, 1953 WATC Derby showing the winner, Just Peter File:1953 WATC Derby Racebook P4.jpg, 1953 WATC Derby starters and results File:1953 WATC Derby Racebook P5.jpg, Back cover showing transport arrangements and admission charges

Grade

*1888–1978 - Principal Race *1979–1991 - Group 1 *1992–1993 - Group 2 *1994–2011 - Group 1 * 2012 onwards - Group 2

Venue

* In 2005 the race was run at

Belmont Park Racecourse Belmont Park Racecourse is one of the two major horse racing venues within the Perth, Western Australia metropolitan area, the other being Ascot Racecourse, and is located just outside of the central business district on the Burswood Peninsula ...

Winners

*2025 - Machine Gun Gracie *2024 - A Lot of Good Men *2023 - Awesome John *2022 - Alaskan God *2021 - Western Empire *2020 - Tuscan Queen *2019 - Regal Power *2018 - Action *2017 - Gatting *2016 - Arcadia Dream *2015 - Delicacy * 2014 - Respondent * 2013 - Mystic Prince * 2012 - Rohan * 2011 - Dreamaway * 2010 - Chartreux * 2009 - Markus Maximus * 2008 - Grand Journey * 2007 - Guyno * 2006 - Cats Fun * 2005 - Plastered * 2004 - Mr Sandgroper * 2003 - Shirazamatazz * 2002 - Honor Lap * 2001 - ¶''race not held'' * 2000 - Old Money * 1999 - Voile D'Or * 1998 - Kim Angel * 1997 - Hot Jules * 1996 - Capricious Lass * 1995 - Crying Game * 1994 - Beaux Art * ♯1993 (Dec) - Beaujolais Boy * 1993 (May) - Firing Range * 1992 - Heroicity * 1991 - Mirror Magic * 1990 - Chipolata * 1989 - Belele * 1988 - The Bukhra * 1987 - ¶''race not held'' * 1986 - Joindre * 1985 - Rant And Rave * 1984 - National Gallery * 1983 - Old Currency * 1982 - Rare Flyer * 1981 - Vortilla * 1980 - Seltrice * 1979 - Mighty Kingdom * 1978 - Regimental Honour * 1977 - Stormy Rex * 1976 - Chasta Bellota * 1975 - Ngawyni * 1974 - Bottled Sunshine * 1973 - Asgard * 1972 - Dayana * 1971 - Ride Easy * 1970 - Chez Felix * 1969 - Surrender * 1968 - Hidalios * 1967 - Sir Chatary * 1966 - Redacre * 1965 - Baccare * 1964 - Kev's Folly * 1963 - Gojon * 1962 - Nicopolis * 1961 - Magic Colour * 1960 - Chestillion * 1959 - Little Empire * 1958 - England's Dust * 1957 - Nhargo * 1956 - Lady Orator * 1955 - Mallant * 1954 - Asterios * 1953 - Just Peter * 1952 - Raconteur * 1951 - Smart Chief * 1950 - Jovial Lad * 1949 - Prediction * 1948 - Precedent * 1947 - Westralian * 1946 - Lady Lucia * 1945 - Cherbourg * 1944 - Lord Treat * 1943 - Kalamunda * 1942 - Pantheist * 1941 - Kimra * 1940 - Hestia * 1939 - True Flight * 1938 - Gay Prince * 1937 - Footmark * 1936 - Oceanus * 1935 - Yaringa * 1934 - Hyperion * 1933 - Panto * 1932 - Olympian * 1931 - Isle Of Astur * 1930 - Beaunilly, owned by

Amelia Bunbury Amelia Matilda Richardson Pries Bunbury (1863–1956), better known as Amelia Bunbury, was a noted photographer, furniture carver, horse breeder, and botanical collector based in south-west and north-west Western Australia. Life Amelia Matild ...

* 1929 - Ozonia * 1928 - Second Wind * 1927 - Hint * 1926 - Maple * 1925 - Sir Alwyne * 1924 - Huette * 1923 - Lilypond * 1922 - Killiecrankie * 1921 - Easingwold * 1920 - Fluent * 1919 -

Eurythmic Eurythmic (1916–1925) was a versatile Australian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who had the ability to produce a brilliant finishing run in staying races and he also won important sprint races, too. At four he won 12 of his 13 starts including the ...

* 1918 - Oyadu * 1917 - Green Lord * 1916 - Yandil * 1915 - Pillotos * 1914 - Mistico * 1913 - Radnor * 1912 - Dueler * 1911 - Ayrville * 1910 - Renegade * 1909 - Jolly Beggar * 1908 - Thorina * 1907 - Post Town * 1906 - Benbow * 1905 - Piata * 1904 - Keston * 1903 - Bandolier * 1902 - Honeydew * 1901 - Trionia * 1900 - Warrior II * 1899 - †Ormuz / Wairiri * 1898 - Tarquin * 1897 - Le Var * 1896 - Inverary * 1895 - Florrie * 1894 - ¤Carbine * 1893 - Scarpia * 1892 - Karratha * 1891 - ‡The Crash * 1890 - St. Ives * 1889 - Aim * 1888 - Harridan ♯ The race was run twice in 1993 when the WATC restored the running to the original date prior to New Year's Day for the 1993–94 racing season.
¶ Race moved in the 1987–88 racing calendar forward and run in the autumn of 1988.
The race was once again moved from the traditional summer Christmas/New Year's Day Carnival forward to the autumn of 2002.
† Race was run twice in 1899. Ormuz won on New Year's Day in 1899. The next racing season ''(1899-1900)'' the race was held on 30 December 1899.
¤ Not to be confused with the great

Carbine A carbine ( or ) is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length. Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges. The smaller size and ligh ...

from the same era. The 1894 winner, Carbine's ((AUS) H, 1890) breeding was Termando — Trishna.
‡ Won the race on walkover. The owner promptly entered The Crash in the prestigious (at the time) Queen's Plate over a distance of 3 miles where The Crash finished in fourth place.

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watc Derby Horse races in Australia Flat horse races for three-year-olds Sport in Perth, Western Australia