Victoria Derby - VRC Derby

Winners and Past Results

The Victoria Derby (VRC Derby) is a Victoria Racing Club Group one Australian horse race for 3 year olds run at set weights with colts and geldings carrying 55.5 kg and fillies carry 53.5 kg. FREE $200 Bet

The VRC Derby is contested over a distance of 2500 metres and is held annually at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on the first day of Melbourne's annual Spring Racing Carnival, Victorian Derby Day.

Prize money for the Victoria Derby - VRC Derby is worth $1,500,000.

The VRC Derby marks the beginning of Melbourne Cup Week with Victoria Derby Day traditionally held on the Saturday prior to Melbourne Cup Day, which is the first Tuesday in November every year.

The Victoria Derby day is one of the elite days of horse racing in Australia each year with every race a group race and three other Group 1 races on the card including the Mackinnon Stakes, Coolmore Stud Stakes, Myer Classic, and around $5,000,000 total prizemoney on offer.

Debuting in 1854 with only one entrant, the Victoria Derby had a rough start however it soon took off with the race gaining widespread popularity.

Rose of May a filly, was the first winner of the VRC Derby in 1855. However the VRC Derby was to become a male dominated event with only a few fillies winning over the years. The last female winner of the Victoria Derby was Frances Tressady in 1923.

Phar Lap won the Victoria Derby in 1929 and was determined as the greatest derby winner of all time.

Fireworks won the the VRC Derby twice while other notable Victorian Derby winners include Poseidon in 1906, Tulloch in 1957 and Efficient in 2006. Although it was originally run at the traditional Derby length of 2400 metres, it was changed in 1973 to its current 2500 metres.

2011 Victoria Derby

The 2011 Derby was a rough and ready race, with interference aplenty towards the back of the field. Eventual winner Sangster was trapped wide in the middle stages but with many of his rivals also having problems, he wasn't too badly disadvantaged and gradually moved forward. The Kiwi horse went to the lead at the 400 metre mark and looked to have it under control only to flag in the final stages and just beat a gallant Induna, who was interfered with on a couple of occasions but nearly stole the race on the line. Sabrage was a length back in third.

2011 Victoria Derby result

1. Sangster
2. Induna
3. Sabrage

Then came:

4. Zabeelionaire
5. Isopach
6. Manawanui
7. I Feel Good
8. Scelto
9. Costly Commitment
10. Eagle Command
11. Mr Chez
12. Cornell
13. Niagara
14. Rapidus
15. Perfect Punch
16. Collar