The South Australian Derby is a
South Australian Jockey Club
South Australian Jockey Club is the principal race club in South Australia.
First racing events
The first horse racing events in South Australia took place at a well-attended picnic meeting held over 1 and 2 January 1838. In August 1838, ridin ...
Group 1 Group 1 may refer to:
* Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal
* Group 1 (racing), a historic (until 1981) classification for Touring car racing, applied to standard touring cars. Comparable to modern FIA Group N
* Group On ...
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...
horse race for three-year-olds, at set weights, run over a distance of 2,500 metres at
Morphettville Racecourse
Morphettville Racecourse is the main horse racing course for the Australian state of South Australia, incorporating two separate tracks. It is situated in the Adelaide suburb of Morphettville, and is about 10 km from the Adelaide city cen ...
in
Adelaide
Adelaide ( ) is the capital city of South Australia, the state's largest city and the fifth-most populous city in Australia. "Adelaide" may refer to either Greater Adelaide (including the Adelaide Hills) or the Adelaide city centre. The dem ...
, Australia during the SAJC Autumn Carnival.
History
The inaugural running of the race was on 5 January 1860 at
Thebarton Racecourse which is located today in
Mile End
Mile End is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in the East End of London, England, east-northeast of Charing Cross. Situated on the London-to-Colchester road, it was one of the earliest suburbs of London. It became part of the m ...
. The race was called The Thebarton Derby and had stakes of 100
sovereigns with an additional sweep of 10 sovereigns with a forfeit of 2 sovereigns.
The race was won by the famous colonial pastoralist
C.B. Fisher's, four-year-old mare Midnight who carried 8
stone
In geology, rock (or stone) is any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter. It is categorized by the minerals included, its Chemical compound, chemical composition, and the way in which it is formed. Rocks ...
10
pounds and ridden by jockey Simpson in a time of 2:54.
By 1862 the race was simply known as The Derby
and in 1866 the Summer meet was held before
Christmas Day
Christmas is an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world. A feast central to the Christian liturgical year, ...
.
For a period of seven years between 1869 and 1875 the race was not held. When the race was resumed in 1876 it was held at
Morphettville Racecourse
Morphettville Racecourse is the main horse racing course for the Australian state of South Australia, incorporating two separate tracks. It is situated in the Adelaide suburb of Morphettville, and is about 10 km from the Adelaide city cen ...
and it was held in September during the SAJC Spring meeting.
The early winner Tim Whiffler is not to be confused with the 1867 Melbourne Cup winner of the same name.
The race attracted many fine horses who would later excel in other prestigious races around the country. 1880 saw
The Assyrian, a son of Countryman (GB) win the race and two years later win the
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Melb ...
.
1903 saw the simply named F.J.A. prevail and the son of Wallace would also win a
VRC Derby
The Victoria Derby, also known as the Penfolds Victoria Derby, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held under Set Weights conditions over a distance of 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse, in Melbourn ...
, Toorak Handicap and The
All Aged Stakes
The All Aged Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred Weight for Age horse race, run over a distance of 1,400 metres at Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, Australia in April or May during the ATC Autumn Carnival. Prize money is A$6 ...
.
1961 winner
Gatum Gatum also went on to win the Melbourne Cup in 1963 while the 1972 winner Dayana was a
Perth Cup
The Perth Cup is a Perth Racing Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race run under quality handicap conditions over a distance of at Ascot Racecourse in Perth, Western Australia in January, usually on New Year's Day. The total prize money is $400,000.
...
winner in 1973.
Subzero won the race in 1992 and he would win the Melbourne Cup on a wet track the next season, and also the G1
Adelaide Cup
The Adelaide Cup is a South Australian Jockey Club Group 2 Thoroughbred handicap horse race for three-year-olds and older, run over 3,200 metres at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide, Australia on the second Monday in March. Total prize mone ...
.
The 2009 winner Rebel Raider succeeded after earlier he won the VRC Derby.
Fillies have also had some success in the race. Most recently Delicacy completed the
Australasian Oaks
The Australasian Oaks, is a South Australian Jockey Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies at Set Weights run over a distance of 2000 metres at Morphettville Racecourse, Adelaide, Australia in the SAJC Autumn Carnival. ...
–SA Derby double in 2015.
Distance
*1860–1971 – miles (~2400 metres)
*1972 – 2400 metres
*1973–1977 – 2500 metres
*1978–1979 – 2400 metres
*1980 – 2600 metres
*1981–1985 – 2500 metres
*1986–2004 – 2400 metres
*2005 onwards – 2500 metres
Winners
* 2022 - Jungle Magnate
* 2021 - Explosive Jack
* 2020 –
Russian Camelot
* 2019 – Qafila
* 2018 – Leicester
* 2017 – Volatile Mix
* 2016 – Howard Be Thy Name
* 2015 – Delicacy
* 2014 – Kushadasi
* 2013 – Escado
* 2012 – Zabeelionaire
* 2011 – Shadows In The Sun
* 2010 – Kidnapped
* 2009 –
Rebel Raider
* 2008 – Zarita
* 2007 – Lazer Sharp
* 2006 – Testifiable
* 2005 – Tails Of Triomphe
* 2004 – Hard To Get
* 2003 –
Mummify
* 2002 – Pantani
* 2001 – Big Pat
* 2000 – Blue Murder
* 1999 – Showella
* 1998 – Bulta
* 1997 – Markham
* 1996 – Cheviot
* 1995 – Count Chivas
* 1994 – Bullwinkle
* 1993 – Our Pompeii
* 1992 –
Subzero
* 1991 – Shiva's Revenge
* 1990 – Diego
* 1989 – Sea Brigand
* 1988 – Celtic Spirit
* 1987 – Shark's Fin
* 1986 – French Cotton
* 1985 – Sir Zephyr
* 1984 – Mapperley Heights
* 1983 – ¶race not held
* 1982 – English Wonder
* 1981 – Brewery Boy
* 1980 – Tasman
* 1979 – Top Ware
* 1978 – Regal Jester
* 1977 – Stormy Rex
* 1976 – Vacuum
* 1975 – Prince Of All
* 1974 – Exalt's Pride
* 1973 – Sir Gerald
* 1972 – Dayana
* 1971 – Near Boy
* 1970 – Clear Prince
* 1969 – Paradigm
* 1968 – Dale Lace
* 1967 – Kembla
* 1966 – Peculator
* 1965 – Mission
* 1964 – Ziema
* 1963 – Hunting Horn
* 1962 – Royal Ziet
* 1961 –
Gatum Gatum
* 1960 – Royal Chat
* 1959 – Crusty Bottle
* 1958 – Stormy Passage
* 1957 – Galloway
* 1956 – Auteuil
* 1955 – Ralkon
* 1954 – Pandie Star
* 1953 – Jovial Scot
* 1952 – Winemaker
* 1951 – Beau Cavalier
* 1950 – Toastmaster
* 1949 – Glenvue
* 1948 – Idle Banter
* 1947 – Basama
* 1946 – Conservator
* 1945 – Dauntless
* 1944 – Bluenor
*1942–43 – † race not held
* 1941 – Ladmond
* 1940 – Waxwings
* 1939 – Lusson
* 1938 – Tempest
* 1937 – Golden Hill
* 1936 – Brave Lad
* 1935 – Beamish Boy
* 1934 – Alinura
* 1933 – Yultewirra
* 1932 – Traverse
* 1931 – Opera King
* 1930 – Induna
* 1929 – Hot Spring
* 1928 – Mount Of Olives
* 1927 – Marco Polo
* 1926 – Pindenda
* 1925 – Ethelton
* 1924 – Wycherley
* 1923 – King Of Mirth
* 1922 – Burnished
* 1921 – Leon
* 1920 – Pogonatos
* 1919 – Lord Setay
* 1918 – Stagegirl
* 1917 – Cosmos
* 1916 – Nevka
* 1915 – Perambulate
* 1914 – Fidelio
* 1913 – Kildalton
* 1912 – Puringa
* 1911 – Sanskrit
* 1910 – Sergius
* 1909 – The Greek
* 1908 – Tiercel
* 1907 – Palotta
* 1906 – Kismet II
* 1905 – Torah
* 1904 – Ganymedes
* 1903 – F.J.A.
* 1902 – Rienzi
* 1901 – Ritualist
* 1900 – Miltiades
* 1899 – Gunga Din
* 1898 – Hainault
* 1897 – Goodwill
* 1896 – Thunder Queen
* 1895 –
Auraria
* 1894 – Monastery
* 1893 – Salient
* 1892 – Vakeel
* 1891 – Lady Rose
* 1890 – Cheddar
*1885–89 – ‡race not held
* 1884 – Gratitude
* 1883 – Dirk Hatteraick
* 1882 – Guesswork
* 1881 – Topaz
* 1880 –
The Assyrian
* 1879 – Pawnbroker
* 1878 – Viceroy
* 1877 – Irish Queen
* 1876 – Pride Of The Hills
*1869–75 – race not held
* 1868 – Centurion
* 1867 – Regalia
* 1866 – Crusader
* 1865 – Tim Whiffler
* 1864 – ♯Queen Of Barossa
* 1864 – Lubra
* 1863 – Lord Of Isles
* 1862 – Riddle
* 1861 – Typo
* 1860 – Midnight
¶ Race usually scheduled to be run on second weekend in May was replaced in the racing calendar by Group 3 St Leger Stakes, run over a distance of 2600 metres.
† Race not held due to a ban on war time racing in the state.
‡ Race not held due to the
Totalizator Repeal Act 1883.
♯ Race was raced twice in the same calendar year. The 1863–64 racing calendar set the date of the race as 1 January 1864.
For the 1864–65 racing calendar the race was held on the first day of SAJC Summer Meet as the third race on 28 December 1864.
See also
*
List of Australian Group races
*
Group races
References
{{reflist, 2
Flat horse races for three-year-olds
Group 1 stakes races in Australia
Sport in Adelaide
1860 establishments in Australia