Victoria Derby

Winners and Past Results for the Victoria Derby.

The Victoria Derby hosted by Victoria Racing Club is one of the classic Group 1 races held at Flemington Racecourse during the Melbourne spring racing carnival usually at the end of October or early November.

The 2500 metre race for three year old horses is held under set weight conditions on the first day of the four-day Flemington spring racing carnival which ends with the prestigious Melbourne Cup the following Tuesday. The race is worth $1,500,000 in prize money which has more often than not taken by the premier staying types around in the season. Other Group 1 races held on the same day include the Myer Classic, Mackinnon Stakes, and Coolmore Stud Stakes, with over $5 million at stake on the day.

Three year old horses take to the field for the Victoria Derby in front of a packed crowd of over 100,000 in customary black and white attire. Interestingly, there has been a dearth of fillies making it first across the post with the last female winning way back in 1923 being Frances Tressady. The 2040 M Group 2 AAMI Vase held a week earlier at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day is one of the lead up events. Raveneaux in 1986, Blevic in 1994, Helenus in 2002, Plastered in 2004, and Efficient in 2006 have all won the AAMI Vase / Victoria Derby double. Efficient went on to win the Melbourne Cup the next year.

A limited field of 16 runners are permitted for the Victoria Derby where horses with the most prize money in the last two years or winners of eligible races gain entry to the oldest race. In addition, the winner is exempt from ballot for the Melbourne Cup. The natural progression for most horses would be Crown Oaks for three-year-old fillies, Sandown Classic, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and Geelong Cup. Major lead up races for punters to follow includes the Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup, and Caulfield Guineas. However, the Group 2 AAMI Vase, Norman Robinson Stakes, and Listed Cranbourne Cup can also prove to be handy form guides.

The Victoria Derby was first held in 1855, a principal race won by Rose of May. It was directly promoted to Group 1 in 1979 with Big Print recorded as the first Group 1 winner.

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.