The Australian Derby is a Gr 1 Australian horserace contested by three-year-old thoroughbreds in either the latter part of March or early on in April each year at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. Run over a distance of 2400m, the race pays AUD$1,8-million and is considered the top race of its type in Australia.

The race was inaugurated in 1861, then known as the AJC Randwick Derby Stakes because it was run by the Australian Jockey Club. That year it was won by Kyogle, the grandson of another legend of the day called Touchstone, who himself was a champion sire - four times - in Ireland and Great Britain.

In 1865, the race's name was officially changed to the AJC Australia Derby Stakes, and again in 1873 to the AJC Derby. In 1994, it was yet again renamed the AJC Australian Derby. But to many Australians, the race will always be the AJC Derby. In 1972, the race distance was changed from 1 1/2 miles to 2400m (not much of a change now was it?).

This turf race has been won by many of Australia's most famous racehorses, including Kingston Town, Tulloch and arguably the greatest and most illustrious of them all, Pharlap. In 2001, Pharlap was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

The fastest time that the Australian Derby has ever been completed in over 2400m is 2:28.41 set by Octagonal in 1996. Thomas Hales is the jockey with the most wins in the race with 6 - in 1875, 1880, 1882, 1884, 1886 and 1887.

Australian Derby - Past Winners

2004 Starcraft
2005 Eremein
2006 Headturner
2007 Fiumicino
2008 Nom Du Jeu

Australian Derby - Betting

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