Looking for this year’s WATC Derby betting odds, race day tips and form? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
WATC Derby 2026 Results
The official 2026 WATC Derby results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
- #2 Sentimental Legend
- #6 Tahni Talk
- #8 Masmelo
Grant & Alana Williams’ progressive Brutal gelding Sentimental Legend ($3) relished a rise to 2400m when backing up from his Listed Melvista Stakes win to easily account for his rivals in the 2026 WATC Derby results. In another masterful ride by the ‘Wizard of the West’, jockey William Pike collected his 12th win in the event. Williams tracked the favourite, WA Oaks winning filly Wonderfully Made who eventually faded to run sixth, throughout before taking over and dominating the Ascot feature securing back-to-back stakes wins.
2026 WATC Derby Odds
| 2. Sentimental Legend (1) J: William Pike57kg x3121T: Grant & Alana Williams | ||
| 6. Tahni Talk (8) J: Brayden Gaerth57kg 7×133T: Stephen Miller | ||
| 8. Masmelo (6) J: Chris Parnham55kg x3214T: Neville Parnham | ||
| 4. Hey True Blue (2) J: Shaun Mcgruddy57kg 15664T: Steve Wolfe | ||
| 1. Aberdeen Flyer (9) J: Brad Parnham57kg 53212T: Sean & Jake Casey | ||
| 7. Wonderfully Made (5) J: Lucy Fiore55kg 11131T: Daniel Morton | ||
| 3. Wynn Las Vegas (3) J: Steven Parnham57kg 6×413T: Grant & Alana Williams | ||
| 9. Poppy’s Roses (7) J: Clint Johnston-Porter55kg 62242T: Holly Taylor | ||
| 5. Sovereign Salute (4) J: Natasha Faithfull57kg 41275T: Chris Stelmach |
WATC Derby 2026 Tips
Our exclusive 2026 WATC Derby tips will be detailed here the week of the race and a full betting preview published on the Neds Blog.
Run in early to mid-April at Ascot Racecourse in Perth, the WATC Derby is a lucrative Group 2 race worth $400,000 in prize money.
The set weights showdown takes place over 2400m and is open only to three-year-old runners.
The Group 3 WA Oaks (2400m) serves as a key lead-up for any fillies heading into the WATC Derby field and the latest fillies to complete the WA Oaks – WATC Derby double are the Grant Williams-trained Delicacy (2015) who also went on to score the Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) – Group 1 SA Derby (2500m) interstate double in Adelaide, Tuscan Queen (2020), and Machine Gun Gracie (2025).
The WATC Derby has been won by a number of future turf stars including Arcadia Queen (2016) and subsequent The All-Star Mile champion Regal Power (2019).
Many WATC Derby champions go on to contest that summer’s Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) with Regal Power (2019) and Western Empire (2021) the latest to do the double in the same calendar year.
WATC Derby 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Saturday, April 11, 2026
- Track Location: Ascot 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 2
- Operator: Western Australian Turf Club
- Prize Purse: $400,000
- Inaugural Race: 1888
- 2026 WATC Derby Winner: Sentimental Legend
WATC Derby Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the WATC Derby, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How To Place This Type of Bet on This Year’s WATC Derby |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s WATC Derby. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s WATC Derby. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the WATC Derby, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the WATC Derby, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the WATC Derby to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the WATC Derby to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the WATC Derby to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the WATC Derby, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet on The WATC Derby in 2026
- Login at neds.com.au
- Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
- Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on WATC Derby Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the WATC Derby in 2026
The best way to pick which horse will win the WATC Derby in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up autumn racing form, assess the barrier draw, consider the weights and back the proven young stayers in the mix.
Additional factors to consider when picking the WATC Derby winner include:
- Group 3 WA Oaks – Three-year-olds fillies contesting the event may have an earlier lead-up in the WA Oaks that has produced a number of recent Derby champions including Tuscan Queen (2020) and Machine Gun Gracie (2025).
- Local Legends – Locally-trained youngsters from Perth dominate the field and WATC Derby results each season.
WATC Derby Favourites 2026
Favourites in 2026 WATC Derby betting will be updated here the week of the race.
Tuscan Queen ($1.40 in 2020), Western Empire ($1.30 in 2021), and Machine Gun Gracie ($1.55 in 2025) are the latest WATC Derby favourites to win.
WATC Derby 2026 Field
The official 2026 WATC Derby field of final acceptances is announced on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below once announced.
WATC Derby Race Day 2026
WATC Derby Day 2026 runs on Saturday, April 11, 2026 and the Group 2 WATC Derby is the sole Group status race on the program.
WATC Derby Barrier Draw 2026
The 2026 WATC Derby barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and will be published in our above WATC Derby Field section.
WATC Derby Nominations 2026
2026 WATC Derby nominations are taken on the Tuesday of race week.
WATC Derby Weights 2026
Set weights conditions apply to this race. Colts and geldings carry 56.5kg and fillies 54.5kg. The official 2026 WATC Derby weights on the final acceptors to be published in our above WATC Derby Field section.
WATC Derby Acceptances 2026
2026 WATC Derby final acceptances must be declared before 10 AM (AEST) on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above WATC Derby Field section.
WATC Derby Jockeys 2026
The final riders’ announcement is for the Wednesday of race week at 3:00PM (AEST) with the official 2026 WATC Derby jockeys to be published in our above WATC Derby Field section.
WATC Derby Scratchings 2026
2026 WATC Derby scratchings close at 11:00 AM (AEST) on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
WATC Derby Prize Money 2026
The 2026 WATC Derby prize purse is worth $400,000 in total, distributed from places first through to 10th.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $219,200 |
| 2nd | $74,400 |
| 3rd | $35,200 |
| 4th | $15,600 |
| 5th | $11,600 |
| 6th | $7,200 |
| 7th | $7,200 |
| 8th | $7,200 |
| 9th | $7,200 |
| 10th | $7,200 |
WATC Derby Race Number 2026
The 2026 WATC Derby race number is TBC for Saturday, April 11, 2026. There are ten races in total that day at Ascot Racecourse.
WATC Derby Form Guide 2026
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 WATC Derby Form Guide following final acceptances.
WATC Derby Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 WATC Derby live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
WATC Derby Winners
Winners of the WATC Derby going back to the year 2000 are displayed in the table below.
| Year | Winner | Runner-Up | Third | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Sentimental Legend | Tahni Talk | Masmelo | 2:30.86 |
| 2025 | Machine Gun Gracie | Funchal | Sail Session | 2:29.82 |
| 2024 | A Lot Of Good Men | Buckets Ridge | Lord Vampi | 2:29.80 |
| 2023 | Awesome John | Another Chino | She’s Fit | 2:32.0 |
| 2022 | Alaskan God | Pale Rider | Black Fantasy | 2:31.7 |
| 2021 | Western Empire | Temptacion | Kerman Rock | 2:30.9 |
| 2020 | Tuscan Queen | Red Hot Tip | Criminal Code | 2:32.2 |
| 2019 | Regal Power | Cockney Crew | Ping Me Another | 2:30.6 |
| 2018 | Action | Like A Butterfly | Media Baron | 2:29.9 |
| 2017 | Gatting | Very Tempting | Chill The Champers | 2:30.3 |
| 2016 | Arcadia Dream | Who Dat Singa | Culverin | 2:31.3 |
| 2015 | Delicacy | Keysbrook | Boom Time | 2:38.2 |
| 2014 | Respondent | Ihtsahymn | Real Love | 2:29.5 |
| 2013 | Mystic Prince | Moreish | Desert Glow | 2:31.4 |
| 2012 | Rohan | Flashy Fella | The Social Network | 2:34.5 |
| 2011 | Dreamaway | Playing God | Rio Dane | 2:30.7 |
| 2010 | Chartreux | Bridgestone | Brother Mak | 2:27.9 |
| 2009 | Marcus Maximus | Berlioz | Phenomenons | 2:31.2 |
| 2008 | Grand Journey | Yuro | Star Encounter | 2:28.8 |
| 2007 | Guyno | Ballack | Original Lovalover | 2:29.0 |
| 2006 | Catsfun | Raise A Call | Scenic Shot | 2:29.7 |
| 2005 | Plastered | Royal Drive | Master Minx | 2:31.3 |
| 2004 | Mr Sandgroper | Fatal Attraction | Crown Prosecutor | 2:36.2 |
| 2003 | Shirazamatazz | Conspirator | Golden Prospect | 2:32.8 |
| 2002 | Honor Lap | Lord Mason | Storm Fille | 2:31.5 |
| 2001 | Not Held | |||
| 2000 | Old Money | Tingling | Grand Turismo | 2:30.4 |