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, was established in late nineteenth century as an elite social institution and administrator of the Western Australian horse racing industry. They manage two racecourses in P ...

Group 2 The term Group 2 may refer to: * Alkaline earth metal, a chemical element classification * Astronaut Group 2, also known as The New Nine, the second group of astronauts selected by NASA in 1962 * Group 2 (racing), an FIA classification for cars in ...

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, over a distance of 2400 metres at

Ascot Racecourse Ascot Racecourse ("ascot" pronounced , often pronounced ) is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, which is used for thoroughbred horse racing. It hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 horse races a ...

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...

, 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 pounds 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, Front page 1953 WATC Derby racebook. File:1953 WATC Derby Racebook P2.jpg, 1953 WATC Derby showing raceday officials. File:1953 WATC Derby Racebook P3.jpg, Starters and results 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 page 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

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

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.

References