Australian Derby

Looking for this year’s Australian Derby betting guide, tips, field and form? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know on the race.

Australian Derby 2026 Results

The official 2026 Australian Derby results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, April 4, 2026. 

History continued to be made at Royal Randwick on Day 1 of The Championships with jockey Rachel King becoming the first female hoop to win the 2026 Australian Derby thanks to an effortless three-length romp home by the up-and-coming Bjorn Baker-trained stayer Green Spaces ($4.40). Improving on his lead-up second in the Rosehill Guineas, Green Spaces came from sixth on the home turn to charge down the front runners and race away for an impressive 3.19 length win. He will be put away for the spring with the $10 million Melbourne Cup in sight and has firmed in from $51 to $26 to win the world’s richest handicap.

2026 Australian Derby Odds

Australian Derby 2026 Tips

Our insider 2026 Australian Derby tips will be detailed here the week of the race and a full betting preview published on the Neds Blog.

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) followed by Riff Rocket (2024) a decade apart are the latest horses 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.

In 2022 Hitotsu made history as the first horse to do the VRC Derby – ATC Derby double since Mahogany (1993/94).

Riff Rocket repeated the feat in 2023/24.

The Australian Derby champion also gains a ballot free ride into the following Saturday’s Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

In 2025 Aeliana became the first ATC Derby winning filly since Shamrocker in 2011.

Australian Derby 2026 – Quick Information

• Race Day: Saturday, April 4, 2026
• 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
• 2026 Australian Derby Winner: Green Spaces

Australian Derby Betting 2026

There are many different ways to bet on the Australian 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 Australian Derby
Win Bet	Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Australian Derby.
Place Bet	Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Australian Derby. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds.
Each-Way Bet	If your runner finishes 1st in the Australian 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 Australian 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 Australian Derby to win the Exacta.
Trifecta Bet	You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Australian Derby to win the Trifecta.
First Four	You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Australian 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 Australian Derby, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie.

How To Bet on the Australian Derby in 2026

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 in 2026?

The best way to pick which horse will win the Australian Derby in 2026 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 four from 1983 – 2026 have managed to beat home the boys, most recently Aeliana (2025)
• Local Flair: From 1983 – 2026 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 2026

Favourites in 2026 Australian Derby betting at time of publish include the spring’s Vase / VRC Derby double champ Observer coming off a third in the Rosehill Guineas, the progressive Bjorn Baker-trained Street Boss colt Green Spaces who was huge in his Rosehill Guineas second, and Lindsay Park’s Group 2 Tulloch Stakes winner by two lengths Storm Leopard on the quick turnaround.

Criterion ($2.90 in 2014), Hitotsu ($3.30 in 2022), Riff Rocket ($2.20 in 2024), and Aeliana ($2.250 in 2025) are the last Australian Derby favourites to win.

Australian Derby 2026 Field

The official 2026 Australian Derby field of final acceptances is announced on the Tuesday of race week and will be published in full below. 

The Australian Derby 2026 final field features 13 of the season’s best three-year-old stayers led in betting by the progressive Bjorn Baker-trained Green Spaces and Ciaron Maher’s VRC Derby / Australian Guineas double champ Observer who ran second and third respectively in the Rosehill Guineas last time out.

Randwick R9 - Atc Australian Derby (G1)

Final Race time: 

	Entrant	Last 6	Sex	Barrier	Weight
	1. Observer J: James McDonald T: Ciaron Maher	11x113	C	12	56.5kg
	2. Road To Paris J: Zac Purton T: Roger James & Robert Wellwood	1l6221	G	10	56.5kg
	3. Green Spaces J: Rachel King T: Bjorn Baker	11x662	C	6	56.5kg
	4. Deal Done Fast J: Damian Lane T: Matt Cumani	443x57	C	8	56.5kg
	5. Storm Leopard J: Tommy Berry T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes	412151	G	5	56.5kg
	6. One Step Closer J: Zac Lloyd T: Tom Charlton	44x034	G	2	56.5kg
	7. Federalist J: Dylan Gibbons T: M, W & J Hawkes	49x225	G	7	56.5kg
	8. Savisanta J: Ben Melham T: Chris Waller	6x1852	G	11	56.5kg
	9. Victorious Spirit J: Luke Nolen T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	31x348	G	13	56.5kg
	10. Kaye Jay J: Mark Zahra T: Clayton Douglas	2143	G	1	56.5kg
	11. Bingi J: Michael Dee T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	77x956	C	9	56.5kg
	12. Are You Kidding J: Ashley Morgan T: Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich	23131	G	3	56.5kg
	13. Dezignation J: Tyler Schiller T: Matthew Smith	312575	C	4	56.5kg

View Results

Australian Derby Race Day 2026

The 2026 Australian Derby takes place on Day 1 of ‘The Championships’ at Sydney’s Royal Randwick Racecourse on Saturday, April 4, 2026. There are four Group 1 races in total held that day at the track with the Australian Derby supported by the:

• Group 1 $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m),
• Group 1 $3 million T.J. Smith Stakes (1200m), and the
• Group 1 $1 million Inglis Sires (1400m).

Australian Derby Barrier Draw 2026

The 2026 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 2026

2026 Australian Derby Nominations close at midday on Tuesday the 10th of February 2026. 

The Australian Derby 2026 nominations feature 132 of the season’s most promising 3YO stayers with all-in markets dominated by the spring’s VRC Derby champ Observer who made a great return with a soft Group 2 Autumn Stakes win.

Australian Derby First Acceptances 2026

2026 Australian Derby First acceptances close at midday on Tuesday the 10th of March 2026.

Australian Derby Weights 2026

The Australian Derby is a set weights event, and apprentices cannot claim. 2026 Australian Derby Weights must be declared by 4:00pm (AEST) on the Tuesday of race week with weights on the final acceptances to be published in our above Australian Derby Field section. 

Australian Derby Final Acceptances 2026

2026 Australian Derby Final acceptances must be declared before 8 AM on the Tuesday of race week and will be published in our above Australian Derby Field section. 

Australian Derby Jockeys 2026

The final riders’ announcement is at 12 PM on the Wednesday of race week with the 2026 Australian Derby jockeys to be published in our above Australian Derby Field section. 

Australian Derby Scratchings 2026

2026 Australian Derby scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, April 4, 2026. 

Australian Derby Prize Money 2026

The 2026 Australian Derby prize purse is worth $2,000,000 in total, distributed from places first through to tenth.

Place	Prize Money
1st	$1,160,000
2nd	$380,000
3rd	$195,000
4th	$90,000
5th	$45,000
6th	$20,000
7th	$20,000
8th	$20,000
9th	$15,000
10th	$15,000

Australian Derby Race Number 2026

The 2026 Australian Derby race number is scheduled as Randwick Race 9 at 5:15pm (AEDT) on Saturday, April 4, 2026. There are ten races in total that day at Randwick Racecourse.

Australian 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 Australian Derby Form Guide following final acceptances. 

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 AUSTRALIAN DERBY FORM GUIDE

Australian Derby Live 2026

You can watch or listen to the 2026 Australian Derby live, across the following mediums.

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

Free to air television: Seven Network

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.

Year	Winner	Runner-Up	Third	Time
2026	Green Spaces	Dezignation	Storm Leopard	2:32.84
2025	Aeliana	Firm Agreement	Shanwah	2:29.80
2024	Riff Rocket	Ceolwulf	Glad You Think So	2:33.45
2023	Major Beel	Virtuous Circle	Suizuro	2:40.3
2022	Hitotsu	Benaud	Alegron	2:39.3
2021	Explosive Jack	Young Werther	Lion’s Roar	2:34.1
2020	Quick Thinker	Zebrowski	Eric The Eel	2:34.2
2019	Angel Of Truth	Madison County	Surely Sacred	2:35.6
2018	Levendi	Ace High	Tangled	2:28.7
2017	Jon Snow	Harper’s Choice	Hardham	2:38.1
2016	Tavago	Jameka	Tally	2:37.1
2015	Mongolian Khan	Hauraki	Volkstok’n’barrell	2:37.1
2014	Criterion	Tupac Amaru	Hooked	2:38.4
2013	It’s A Dundeel	Philippi	Kingdoms	2:33.4
2012	Ethiopia	Polish Knight	Laser Hawk	2:28.7
2011	Shamrocker	Retrieve	Anacheeva	2:29.4
2010	Shoot Out	Descarado	Monaco Consul	2:32.6
2009	Roman Emperor	Harris Tweed	Predatory Pricer	2:31.0
2008	Nom De Jeu	Red Ruler	Littorio	2:36.2
2007	Flumicino	Ambitious General	Tuesday Joy	2:36.4
2006	Headturner	De Beers	Testafiable	2:29.9
2005	Eremein	Stella Grande	Railings	2:35.8
2004	Starcraft	Braeloch	Delzao	2:34.8
2003	Clangalang	Strasbourg	Mummify	2:32.3
2002	Don Eduardo	Carnegie Express	Pentastic	2:32.7
2001	Universal Prince	Sir Clive	Danamite	2:30.8
2000	Fairway	Shogun Lodge	Now Voyager	2:34.0