WATC Derby

The WATC Derby is a 2400 metre race for three-year-olds at set weights run by the Western Australia Turf Club. The race is held at Ascot racecourse during the Perth Autumn Carnival in April.

• Race Type: Group 2, 3YO Set Weights
• Distance: 2,400 metres
• Track: Ascot Racecourse, Perth, Western Australia
• Date: Saturday 21 April 2018

The WATC Derby is Perth’s leading staying race for three-year-olds. It was first held as a 12 furlong principal race in 1888 when it was won by Harridan, and it became a Group 1 race in 1979. In 2011 it was worth $500,000 and after that running it was downgraded to a Group 2 race so that the Winterbottom Stakes could become a Group 1. This meant that Perth maintained three Group 1 races each year. The WATC Derby is the major race held in Perth in the autumn.

In recent years the Melvista Stakes over 2200 metre has been the main lead-up race for the WATC Derby and it is not uncommon for horses to win the Melvista Stakes – WATC Derby double. Fillies often use the Group 3 WA Oaks over 2400 metres as their lead-up. The WATC Derby weights are 56.5 kg for colts and geldings and 54.5 kg for fillies.

Because the WATC Derby coincides with the end of the Sydney Autumn Carnival it attracts the best local three-year-olds but few interstate raiders. Some interstate horses will make the trip in search of a Group level victory such as Chartreaux (2010) who won a 2500 metre race at Flemington before winning the WATC Derby and travelled from Victoria. Because of this the WATC Derby tends to be won by above average horses rather than true elite types, which is the major reason it lost Group 1 status.

WATC Derby Final Field & Odds 2018

See below for early betting markets on this years WATC Derby.

‘Odds not currently available’

WATC Derby Preview & Tips 2018

Track: Good    Weather: Fine

There is a full field of 16 runners plus two emergencies for the $400,000 Schweppes W.A.T.C. Derby, including 4 fillies. The favourite is Action who was unlucky when he ran 2^nd in the Lex Piper Stakes then was blocked and had to angle out to run on strongly for 5^th in the Melvista Stakes. Second favourite is Sentimental Friend who kept grinding to the line for 2^nd in the Melvista. Third favourite is Money Maher who finished strongly at his past 2 starts to win the JC Roberts Stakes then the Melvista Stakes.

Tellem We’re Comin won 2 races in a row before 6^th in the Melvista. Special Alert kept finding to win the WA Oaks over this distance last week. Like A Butterfly was 2^nd in the WA Oaks while Media Baron was 4^th in the Melvista.  Magical Charm and American Joy were 4^th and 3^rd respectively in the WA Oaks. All other runners are currently 20 to 1 or longer.

Jo’s Tips

1 Money Maher

2 Action

16 Magical Charm

4 Sentimental Friend

Previous winners of the WATC Derby:

Winners may go on to win the Group 2 Perth Cup over 3200 metres in later years. 2006 WATC Derby winner Cats Fun won the Perth Cup in 2008, and Guyno (2007) won the Perth Cup in 2009.