Western Australian Derby

Winners and Past Results

The WATC Derby is one of the premier staying events hosted by Perth Racing Club during the autumn racing carnival in April. Free $200 Bet from IASbet

Although the WA Derby has enjoyed Group 1 status until 2011 it has been downgraded to Group 2 for the 2012 edition with a reduction in prize money to $400,000 as well.

Three year old horses travel over the traditional distance of 2400 metres of the Ascot Racetrack in Perth under set weight conditions in a race that is often taken by the above average local stayer rather than a topliner. However, it does attract interstate three year old talent looking for a warm up for major staying events over the year.

The Group 3 Sires Produce Stakes is also held on the same day. The Group 1 WA Oaks held a week earlier at Ascot over the same distance is one of the better form guides in recent times. Level weights favour the above average stayers who more often than not are the ones to pick as winners and placegetters.

The natural progression for some of the runners in the WATC Derby is the Group 2 Perth Cup. Promising stayers have also gone on to contest in major races like the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup, and Caulfield Stakes back on the east coast later in the year. They may also tackle the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic and CB Cox Stakes at Ascot later in spring.

The WATC Derby is among the oldest races hosted at Ascot. It began as a principal race in 1888 and was promoted to Group 1 in 1979.

Among the talented stayers to win in recent times include Plastered in 2005, Cats Fun in 2007, and Chartreux in 2010.

The Ascot Racecourse is one of the oldest in the nation located 8 km east of Perth’s city centre and is also the headquarters of Perth Racing Club. It is considered the ‘Grand Old Lady’ of Australian racetracks that sees plenty of action throughout the year.

2012 WATC Derby

Jockey Glenn Smith made a comeback on board Rohan and it proved to be a more than successful return to competitive riding, with victory in this Group 2 race over 2400 metres. Rohan was in no hurry in the first half of the race and after the first 1200 metres the three-year-old had dropped back to last, yet he gradually improved after this point and when he was asked for extra effort in the straight he had plenty left in reserve, going to the front and never looking under any threat winning by more than a length over Flashy Fella who just held off The Social Network.

2012 WATC Derby result

1. Rohan
2. Flashy Fella
3. The Social Network

Then came:

4. Flag Officer
5. Lethal Jones
6. Uncle George
7. Pop Culture
8. California Dude
9. Drive West
10. Rock Band
11. Reign Of Terror
12. Elite Belle
13. Dash For Home
14. Southern Drawl