Lucrative, winner of the 1940 VRC Derby |
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| Location | Flemington Racecourse Melbourne, Australia |
|---|---|
| Inaugurated | 1855 |
| Race type | Thoroughbred - Flat racing |
| Website | Victoria Racing Club |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 2,500 metres (1.553 miles) |
| Track | Grass, left-handed |
| Qualification | Three-year-olds |
| Weight | Colts & geldings: 55.5kg Fillies 53kg |
| Purse | A$1.5 million |
The Victoria Derby is an Australian Thoroughbred horse race held annually on the first day of Melbourne's annual Spring Racing Carnival, Victorian Derby Day, held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne. A Group One race for three-year-old horses, it is raced on a left-handed turf course at a distance of 2,500 metres (1.553 miles). It 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. Total prize money for the race is A$1,500,000 and $10,000 trophy.
Originally run at a distance of 1½ miles, in 1972 it was changed to 2,400 metres to conform to the metric system. However, the new distance brought potential danger from too short a run from the start to the first turn and as such it was changed again in 1973 to its present distance of 2,500 metres.
While the major focus of Victoria Derby Day is the stars of the turf (since it is the only race day in Australia where each and every race has Group Status), in recent years the annual 'Fashions on the Field' celebrations have shared the limelight. 'Derby Day' has become 'Men's day' in the Fashion Stakes, and every year increasing numbers of fashionable gentlemen competing for prizes and a spot in the social columns. Traditionally black and white are worn on this day by women and morning suits by men. The flower of the day is a blue cornflower. In 2006, a crowd of 129,089 broke the Flemington attendance record previously held by Melbourne Cup day 2003.
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First run in 1855, the first three editions were won by fillies but the last time a filly won was in 1923 when Frances Tressady claimed victory. In its history, only one horse has ever won the Victoria Derby more than once. Fireworks accomplished the feat, winning back-to-back runnings in November 1867 and again in 1868 after a change of the race date to New Year's Day. Between 1931 and 1956 geldings were not permitted to compete.
Three horses have won their first race with a win in the Victoria Derby. In 1883, the New Zealand-bred horse Martini Henry won the Victoria Derby at his first start. Fire Oak in 1990 and Redding in 1992 are the only other maidens to win the Victoria Derby.
In 2005 Clare Lindop became the first female jockey to ride in the Victoria Derby and became the first female to win in 2008. Gai Waterhouse became the first woman to train a winner when Nothin' Leica Dane won the 1995 running.
Time record: (at current 2,500 metres distance)
Most wins:
Most wins by a jockey:
Most wins by a trainer:
| Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
| 2011 | Sangster [1] | Hugh Bowman | Trent Busuttin | K D Greenlees et al | 2:40.33 |
| 2010 | Lion Tamer [2] | Hugh Bowman | Murray & Bjorn Baker | P H P Bayly | 2:46.43 |
| 2009 | Monaco Consul [3] | Corey Brown | Michael Moroney | G G Syndicate Ltd (Mgr: G Peterson) & O G Glenn | 2:41.68 |
| 2008 | Rebel Raider [4] | Clare Lindop | Leon Macdonald | B H Perks, T J Robertson, R B Fairclough, Dr P C Goel et al. | 2:36.90 |
| 2007 | Kibbutz [5] | Craig Williams | David Hayes | Terry Henderson syndicate et al. | 2:40.92 |
| 2006 | Efficient | Michael Rodd | Graeme Rogerson | Lloyd J. Williams et al. | 2:38.35 |
| 2005 | Benicio | Noel Callow | Lee Freedman | Freedman brothers et al. | 2:37.08 |
| 2004 | Plastered | Paul Harvey | Lindsay Smith | Jenella Harvey et al. | 2:35.49 |
| 2003 | Elvstroem | Damien Oliver | Tony Vasil | Elvstroem Syndicate | 2:38.99 |
| 2002 | Helenus | Steven King | Leon Corstens | Joseph & Thecla Xipell | 2:40.54 |
| 2001 | Amalfi | Damien Oliver | Peter Moody | Ron & Judy Wanless | 2:34.63 |
| 2000 | Hit The Roof | Glen Boss | David Hall | Bob Scarborough | 2:39.02 |
| 1999 | Blackfriars | Greg Childs | Peter Hayes | Robert Sangster | 2:36.30 |
| 1998 | Arena | Larry Cassidy | John Hawkes | Jack Ingham | 2:35.16 |
| 1997 | Second Coming | Greg Childs | Michael Moroney | Paul Moroney et al. | 2:36.37 |
| 1996 | Portland Player | Greg Hall | Lee Freedman | David A. & Helen Hains | 2:35.20 |
| 1995 | Nothin' Leica Dane | Shane Dye | Gai Waterhouse | Dalton Hodge Ecurie Syndicate | 2:36.50 |
| 1994 | Blevic | Rod Griffiths | David Hayes | Robert Sangster | 2:35.70 |
| 1993 | Mahogany | Greg Hall | Lee Freedman | Kerry Packer & M/M L. J. Williams | 2:34.90 |