Australian Derby

Looking for early info on this year’s Australian Derby? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know on the race.

The Australian Derby is a time-honoured staying classic for three-year-olds run and won in Sydney since 1861. The set weights clash takes place over 2,400m at Royal Randwick in early April as part of ‘The Championships’ and runs alongside a host of other Group 1 features including the Doncaster Mile.

Offering $2 million in prize money, the Australian Derby is also referred to now as the ATC Derby being run by the Australian Turf Club (ATC).

Good lead-up races into the ATC Derby including the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) held earlier during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. Both events offer the winners a ballot exemption into the Australian Derby field, and Criterion (2014) was the last horse to complete the Rosehill Guineas – Australian Derby race double.

Many of the better Australian Derby runners may head next-up to Morphettville for Adelaide’s Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) and Explosive Jack (2021) was the last horse to do the double.

Australian Derby 2022 – Quick Information

• Race Day: Saturday, April 2, 2022
• Track Location: Randwick Racecourse
• Track Surface: Turf
• Track Direction: Right-handed
• Race Distance: 2,400 metres
• Weight Conditions: Set Weights
• Qualification: Three year olds 
• Type: Thoroughbred
• Grade: Group 1
• Operator: Australian Turf Club
• Prize Purse: $2,000,000
• Inaugural Race: 1861
• 2022 Australian Derby Winner: Hitotsu

Australian Derby 2022 RESULTS

The official 2022 Australian Derby results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday April 2, 2022. 

1. #1 Hitotsu
2. #15 Benaud
3. #2 Alegron

The 2022 Australian Derby winner Hitotsu ($3.30F) made history, the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained galloper becoming the first horse to complete the Victoria Derby – Australian Derby double since Mahogany (1993/94) and the first Australian Guineas champion to win the ATC Derby next-up without a subsequent run. The champion overcame interference on the straight to fight off the grey Benaud and the spring’s VRC Derby runner-up Alegron to dominate the ATC Derby 2022 results and hand jockey John Allen with yet another Derby triumph.

Australian Derby Betting 2022

There are many different ways to bet on the Australian Derby, we’ve included some of the most popular options below:

How To Bet On The Australian Derby in 2022

1. Login at neds.com.au
2. Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
3. Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
4. Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Australian Derby Betting above).
5. Select the horse(s) for the race.

Which Horse Will Win The Australian Derby?

The best way to pick which horse will win the Australian Derby in 2022 is to take into account their lead-up autumn racing form, assess the barriers, look for proven Group 1 performers and those with winning form over the 2400m distance. 

Additional factors to consider when picking the Australian Derby winner include: 

• Boys’ Club: While fillies are able to contest the event, just three from 1983 – 2022 have managed to beat home the boys.
• Local Flair: From 1983 – 2022 only five Australian Derby winners came off a run other than at Rosehill Racecourse most recently Hitotsu (Group 1 Australian Guineas over 1600m at Flemington).
• Inside Alley: Despite the staying distance and big field, more Australian Derby winners in recent history have won from barrier one than any other gate.

Australian Derby Favourites 2022

Early favourites in 2022 Australian Derby betting include the spring’s Victoria Derby champion Hitotsu and the widely-drawn Forgot You coming off a third to Anamoe in the Rosehill Guineas over 2000m. 

Criterion ($2.90 in 2014) followed by Hitotsu ($3.30 in 2022) are the last Australian Derby favourites to win.

Australian Derby 2022 Field

The official 2022 Australian Derby field of final acceptances is announced on the Tuesday of race week and will be published in full below. 

Ciaron Maher & David Eustace’s historical Victoria Derby – Australian Guineas double champ Hitotsu in gate four headlines a capacity Australian Derby 2022 final field this weekend at Royal Randwick.

Australian Derby 2022 Tips

Favourite: #1 Hitotsu ($3.80 at time of publish)

Best Bet: #5 Regal Lion ($5.50 at time of publish)

Best Roughie: #7 War Eternal ($21 at time of publish)

Our insider 2022 Australian Derby tips will be detailed above the week of the race and a full betting preview published on the Neds Blog.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2022 AUSTRALIAN DERBY PREVIEW & TIPS

Australian Derby  Race Day 2022

The 2022 Australian Derby takes place on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday the 2nd of April, 2022. There are four Group 1 races in total held that day at the track with the Australian Derby supported by the:

• Group 1 $3 million Doncaster Mile (1600m);
• Group 1 $2.5 million T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m); and the
• Group 1 $1 million Inglis Sires (1400m).

Australian Derby Barrier Draw 2022

The 2022 Australian Derby barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and published in our above Australian Derby Field section. 

Australian Derby Nominations 2022

Nominations close at midday on Tuesday the 8th of February, 2022. 

The 2022 Australian Derby nominations feature 141 three-year-old staying types including Richard Litt’s Spring Champion Stakes winner Profondo and VRC Derby hero Hitotsu.

Australian Derby first acceptances 2022

First acceptances closed at midday on Tuesday the 8th of March, 2022.  

Australian Derby Weights 2022

The Australian Derby is a set weights event and apprentices cannot claim. Weights must be declared by 4:00pm (AEST) on Tuesday the 29th of March, 2022 with weights on the final acceptances to be published in our above Australian Derby Field section. 

Australian Derby final Acceptances 2022

Final acceptances must be declared before 8 AM on Tuesday the 29th of March, 2022 and will be published in our above Australian Derby Field section. 

Australian Derby Jockeys 2022

The final riders announcement is at 12 PM on Wednesday the 30th of March, 2022 with jockeys to be published in our above Australian Derby Field section. 

Australian Derby Scratchings 2022

Scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday the 2nd of April, 2022. 

2022 Australian Derby Scratchings: 

• #19e Asternishing (18)
• #20e Mediaro (14)
• #21e Lukey Luke (7)

Australian Derby Prize Money 2022

Th Australian Derby prize purse is worth $2,000,000 in total, distributed from places first through to tenth.

Australian Derby Race Number 2022

The 2022 Australian Derby is set to run as Randwick Race 7 at 3:55pm (AEDT) on Saturday the 2nd of April, 2022. There are 10 races in total that day at Randwick Racecourse.

Australian Derby Form Guide 2022

The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2022 Australian Derby Form Guide following final acceptances. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2022 AUSTRALIAN DERBY FORM GUIDE

Australian Derby Live  2022

You can watch or listen to the 2022 Australian Derby live, across the following mediums.

Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)

Radio: Radio Sport National

Streaming: Racing NSW 

Australian Derby Winners

Winners of the Australian Derby going back to the year 2000 are displayed in the table below. For a full list of winners going back to 1861, please check our Australian Derby winners page.