Australian Derby 2025

Ladbrokes Tip: The Rosehill Guineas – Australian Derby is a popular autumn betting double

The latest edition of the Australian Derby took place on Saturday April 5, 2025 at Royal Randwick and was won by Chris Waller’s runaway five-length winning filly Aeliana ($2.25F) who saluted for the punters in style! 

2025 Australian Derby Results

The 2025 Australian Derby results and finishing order will be known on Saturday April 5, 2025 and published below.

Star filly Aeliana winning the 2025 Australian Derby by five lengths

Star filly Aeliana winning the 2025 Australian Derby by five lengths. Photo: Bradley Photos.

  • 1st: #18 Aeliana
  • 2nd: #7 Firm Agreement
  • 3rd: #4 Shanwah

Chris Waller’s class filly Aeliana ($2.25F) proved too strong for the boys dominating the 2025 Australian Derby results with an incredible five-length victory over Firm Agreement fourth-up and firing on all cylinders at Randwick.

2025 Australian Derby Odds

The Australian Derby odds 2025 will be published below as soon as our markets are open on the three-years-old autumn classic.

Early market betting odds on the 2025 Australian Derby will be displayed below once available. Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live markets, please visit ladbrokes.com.au.

The Australian Derby, also known as the ATC Derby, is one of four Group 1 races taking place at Royal Randwick Racecourse on the first Saturday in April on Day 1 of The Championships. The meeting is also referred to as Doncaster Mile Day and the other elite levels on the card are the TJ Smith Stakes, ATC Inglis’ Sires Produce Stakes, and the Doncaster Mile.

2024 Australian Derby winner Riff Rocket

Riff Rocket winning the 2024 Australian Derby for Chris Waller. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Australian Derby is open to three-year-old horses and offers $2 million in total prize money including $1.2 million to the winning youngster.

The Australian Derby prizemoney for 2020 was reduced to $1 million including $580,000 for the winning three-year-old because of the Coronavirus pandemic and its impact on Australian racing, but was back up to $2 million again in 2021.

Run at set weights over 2400m the colts and geldings in the Australian Derby field carry 56.5kg and the fillies 54.5kg.

The winners of the Randwick Guineas and Rosehill Guineas are exempt from Australian Derby ballot each year and provide key lead-ups to the mile and a half classic. The Rosehill Guineas – Australian Derby double was last completed by Criterion (2014) and Riff Rocket (2024).

The Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville in May is a nice next-up target for Australian Derby graduates and the SA Derby – ATC Derby double was recently completed by Explosive Jack (2021) who won the former at $16.

In 2022 Hitotsu made history as the first horse to do the VRC Derby – ATC Derby double since Mahogany (1993/94).

The feat was repeated in 2024 by Riff Rocket who also handed Chris Waller his maiden Australian Derby victory.

Each autumn the Australian Derby winner is also exempt from ballot from the following weekend’s Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

Australian Derby Race Info

  • Date: Saturday April 5, 2025
  • Track: Royal Randwick Racecourse
  • Distance: 2400m
  • Conditions: Set Weights – 3YOs
  • Status: Group 1
  • Prize Money: $2 million
  • First Run: 1861

 

Australian Derby Betting

Australian Derby betting markets are dominated by young staying types showing a potential to step up to 2400m and run out the distance.

The best performers in the Rosehill Guineas over 400m shorter a fortnight earlier always feature highly in the Australian Derby odds and the double was achieved twice in three years when It’s A Dundeel (2013) and Criterion (2014) scored both Group 1s.

Riff Rocket (2024) was the last horse to do the Rosehill Guineas – Australian Derby double.

Aeliana (2nd in 2025) was the last Rosehill Guineas graduate to continue on and win the ATC Derby. 

Fillies have a very poor record against the boys in the Australian Derby and make a risky punt with only two beating home the boys in over 30 years in Shamrocker (2011) and Aeliana (2025) as they are usually taking on their own kind in the Australian Oaks the following weekend.

Australian Derby betting favourites saluted six times from 2006 – 2025 most recently with Criterion (2014), Hitotsu ($3.30 in 2022), Riff Rocket ($2.20 in 2024), and the filly Aeliana ($2.25 in 2025). 

In 2021 there was an upset with Explosive Jack winning at Australian Derby odds of 15/1.

There was another notable upset in the 2023 Australian Derby results with Major Beel winning at $31 to hand trainer Gai Waterhouse her first win in the classic.

Australian Derby Field

The Australian Derby race field features a selection of the season’s best staying three-year-olds facing off over the mile and a half, many seeing the distance for the first time.

The traditional lead-up for horses heading into the Australian Derby field is the Group Rosehill Guineas (2000m) held a fortnight before.

Australian Derby odds were short on the 2014 winner Criterion

Criterion (2014) is one of the last Australian Derby betting favourites to salute for the punters. Photo Credit: Steve Hart.

Six times since 2003, 18 horses have lined up in the Australian Derby field when Clangalang (2003), Criterion (2014), Levendi (2018), Hitotsu (2022), Major Beel (2023), and Aeliana (2025) won against capacity fields.

Australian Derby nominations are taken on a Tuesday in early to mid-February before first acceptances a month later in the first week of March.

Final Australian Derby acceptances then close on the Tuesday before the race attracting a fee of $7,700 for connections when the field and barrier draw is released.

2025 Australian Derby Field

The Australian Derby 2025 field and barrier draw will be published here when they are released on the Tuesday of race week – April 1, 2025.

The ATC Derby 2025 final field has drawn a full line-up of three-year-old stayers with updated markets led by visiting NZ Derby champion Willydoit and class filly Aeliana out to beat home the boys.

2025 Australian Derby Nominations

Nominations for the Australian Derby in 2025 close at midday on Tuesday the 11th of February 2025.

The Australian Derby 2025 nominations feature 111 of the season’s most promising 3YO stayers with all-in markets dominated by gun Kiwi galloper Willydoit.

  Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 2x ACELUM G 3 Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson  
2 416112x AELIANA (NZ) F 3 Chris Waller  
3 86x AMERICAN WOLF (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young  
4 2x APHELION G 3 Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich  
5 63x322221x ATHANATOS G 3 Phillip Stokes  
6 7x ATTACK FORCE (NZ) G 3 Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson  
7 42x AUTOMNE TREE G 3 Chris Waller  
8 0332x AUTUMN AROHA G 3 Richard Litt  
9 0045x7411x BEAU DAZZLER (NZ) C 3 Tony & Maddysen Sears  
10 52422x BELLA MONTAGNA (NZ) F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott  
11 75×5331 BERNEN WIN G 3 Anthony Cummings 60
12 73x BLACK BABYLON (IRE) G 3 Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald  
13   BOURBON PROOF C 3 Stephen Marsh  
14 4x BRILLIANT KNIGHT G 3 Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich  
15 1111x1430x BROADSIDING C 3 James Cummings 113
16 7343x CECCHETTI C 3 Matt Cumani  
17   CHECKMATE (NZ) G 3 Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott  
18 10x9623x CHINA SEA G 3 John Sargent 88
19 21 CLIMB THE LADDER (NZ) G 3 Chris Waller 65
20 14x COCOBILL (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young  
21   COMPRESSING (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young  
22 25×2 CONCHIERO G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott  
23 11x CONFETTI GARDEN G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young  
24 63x4211x DALE G 3 Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich  
25   DEAL N’ DASH G 3 Bjorn Baker  
26   DEEP FOCUS (NZ) C 3 Paul Shailer  
27 1144×4 DETROIT CITY G 3 Dominic Sutton  
28 40×3 DOLLARS C 3 Ciaron Maher  
29 3x1238x DOMINETTA F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott  
30 5x7244x EL PASO G 3 Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes  
31 311 EMPHASIZE (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young  
32 10x43Px5 EMPRESS OF JAPAN (NZ) F 3 Michael Freedman 60
33 7x121x ENTRUSTING C 3 Ben, Will & JD Hayes  
34 114x7423x FEROCE (NZ) G 3 Dominic Sutton  
35 51×3 FIFTYFIVECHEVY G 3 Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald 58
36 2133x FIRM AGREEMENT G 3 Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald  
37 6x8x68391x FLYING ARGENTO G 3 Gary Portelli  
38 9×301 FORMAT C 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott  
39 52147x GIDDY UP WARRIOR G 3 Ben, Will & JD Hayes  
40 2x GOLDEN CENTURY (NZ) G 3 Tony Pike  
41 7x73x GOLDEN LOOM G 3 Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou  
42 x112211x9x GOLDRUSH GURU C 3 Andrew Gluyas  
43   GREY AREA (NZ) G 3 Roger James & Robert Wellwood  
44 475x3x GULFSTATE G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young  
45   HAKKINEN (NZ) G 3 Mark Walker  
46 6615x HAMMETT G 3 Chris Waller 65
47 313x HARDPOINT (NZ) G 3 Brad Widdup 60
48 13x6262x HENLEIN C 3 Anthony & Sam Freedman  
49 2 HIGH PRAISE (NZ) G 3 Greg Eurell  
50 1x HINEKAHA (NZ) F 3 Andrew Forsman  
51 0x251x HORIZONS F 3 Richard & Will Freedman 60
52 940x72229x HOT TOO GO G 3 Danny O’Brien  
53 1 HURSTVILLE ZAGREB G 3 John O’Shea & Tom Charlton  
54 410x78x73x IMPERIALIST (NZ) G 3 Chris Waller 71
55 0x252447x INEVITABLE TRUTH F 3 John Sargent  
56 4x092156x INTERPLANETARY (NZ) C 3 Shaun Clotworthy  
57 2155x KING OF ENTERPRISE (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young  
58 231737x KING OF THUNDER (NZ) G 3 John O’Shea & Tom Charlton  
59 710x KING’S CORONATION C 3 Doug Harrison  
60 3x KIWI SKYHAWK (NZ) G 3 Stephen Marsh  
61 8x74218x KOSUKE C 3 Gregory McFarlane 60
62 3135554x LAVALIER G 3 James Cummings  
63 37x LE TROISIR (NZ) G 3 Chris Waller  
64 1 LEICA LUCY (NZ) F 3 Chris Waller  
65 56x LONG HOT NIGHT (NZ) G 3 Liam Howley  
66 3x LOTS TO LOVE (IRE) G 3 Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald  
67 2x432x MAJORCA SUNSET G 3 Bjorn Baker  
68 7×0 MEMPHIS TENNESSEE (NZ) G 3 John O’Shea & Tom Charlton  
69 313x MOVIN OUT (NZ) F 3 Chris Waller  
70 4123x MR VERSE (IRE) G 3 Tony & Calvin McEvoy  
71 3x31x MUSTANG MORGAN (NZ) G 3 Andrew Forsman  
72 63439x1x MY PHAR LADY F 3 Richard & Will Freedman 59
73 8x211288x NOISES F 3 Brad Widdup  
74   OCEANA DREAM (NZ) G 3 Roger James & Robert Wellwood  
75 41321x OPENING ADDRESS (NZ) G 3 Liam Howley  
76 7511x OUR BENEFACTOR (NZ) C 3 Bevan Laming  
77 35×81 PERFECT JUSTICE G 3 John Sargent 58
78 9x2421111x PERFUMIST (NZ) F 3 Bjorn Baker 82
79 3x334x PICCADERRO C 3 Ciaron Maher  
80 3156×2 PLYMOUTH G 3 Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson  
81 56x434122x POWERS OF OPAL (NZ) F 3 John Sargent  
82   PROCHESTER (NZ) G 3 Andrew Forsman  
83   RAVEN BLACK (NZ) C 3 Anthony Cummings  
84 31x0216x RED ACES C 3 Nick Ryan  
85 81x RUMBLING NIGHT (IRE) G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 61
86 85x RUSCELLO G 3 Chris Waller  
87 36x3531x SACRIFY G 3 Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald  
88 37118x SAINT EMILION C 3 Ciaron Maher  
89 220x SAN GABRIEL (NZ) G 3 Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald  
90 4x SAUCITO G 3 Chris Waller  
91 3122×411 SAVOUR THE DREAM (NZ) C 3 Bevan Laming  
92 531 SCALABLE (NZ) F 3 Bjorn Baker 64
93 021352x SCARY (NZ) C 3 Emma-Lee & David Browne  
94   SEA OF GALILEE G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott  
95 2x111x SHANGRI LA SPRING C 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 71
96 374×511 SHANWAH (NZ) G 3 Ciaron Maher  
97 720225314x SKIPPERS CANYON (NZ) G 3 Jim Wallace  
98   SO SUAVE (NZ) C 3 Chris Waller  
99 32x SO YOU ARE G 3 Stirling Osland  
100 281142×5 STATUARIO G 3 Emma-Lee & David Browne  
101 740x SURAT DISTRICT (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young  
102 97x261150x TENBURY WELLS G 3 Brad Widdup  
103 35x362322x THAT’S OUTSTANDING G 3 Gary Portelli  
104 2316x THEDOCTOROFLOVE G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young  
105 87101x TSITSIPAS (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young  
106 12x TUXEDO (NZ) G 3 Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray  
107 242x VIKTOR G 3 Bjorn Baker  
108 4x32212x5 WAR RIBBON G 3 David Payne 61
109 9×4 WILLIE OPPA G 3 Chris Waller  
110 3111x WILLYDOIT (NZ) G 3 Shaun Clotworthy  
111 11250x WINGS OF DESIRE F 3 Michael Freedman 68

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2025 Australian Derby First Acceptances

The official Australian Derby 2025 first acceptances close on Tuesday the 11th of March 2025.

Australian Derby Tips

Australian Derby tips are usually determined by the results of the Rosehill Guineas two weeks earlier at Sydney’s other premier track.

Only three times from 2001-2025 has an Australian Derby winner run worse than fourth in their lead-up run with Roman Emperor (2009) and Mongolian Khan (2015) both coming off fifths in the Rosehill Guineas, and Tavago (2016) improving on a sixth in the NZ Derby before his upset win at Australian Derby odds of $31.

Other Australian Derby betting tips include avoiding fillies who have a very bad record in the race and sticking to Sydney form with just three winners in over 30 years not coming off a Rosehill run last time out.

The other key tip is to look at the Group 2 Tulloch Stakes winner with all four champions from 2017-20 going on to take out the ATC Derby with Jon Snow (2017), Levendi (2018), Angel Of Truth (2019), and Quick Thinker (2020).

In 2023 Major Beel improved on a lead-up second seven days beforehand in the Tulloch Stakes to win the Australian Derby in an upset.

2025 Australian Derby Tips

Our exclusive Australian Derby 2025 betting tips on the three-year-old stayers to back and sack in the feature autumn staying showdown will be available below the week of the race so stay tuned.

  • To Win: #1 Willydoit ($4.20 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Good price still on offer for flying Kiwi raider 1. WILLYDOIT who looks a massive hope heading down under for this year’s ATC Derby. The New Zealander’s have an incredible strike-rate in this event and that can continue in 2025. Shaun & Emma Clotworthy’s Tarzino gelding has won four from six, most recently powering home for an easy 2.3 length romp in the Group 1 NZ Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie a month ago on a Soft (5). Randwick is currently in the Heavy range but there is expected clear skies and a firming track before race day to bring giving this horse ideal conditions to go back-to-back in a Trans-Tasman double over the mile and a half. Michael Dee was aboard in the NZ Derby and retains the ride so knows this horse and they’re drawn gate 10 with options. Can beat the locals.

Australian Derby Form Guide

The Australian Derby form guide shows the full field, barriers, jockeys, trainers and lead-up runs of the three-year-olds in the mix. Using the information to place a well-informed tip is essential and it is a great idea to look at horses that ran top three in the Rosehill Guineas last time out when doing the Australian Derby form.

Historical data dating back from 1983 shows that most Australian Derby winners jumped from barriers 1 – 8 with the most successful gates in that time being 8 with eight winners most recent Riff Rocket (2024).

Australian Derby Form Facts

  • Just four fillies from 1983 – 2025 have won the Australian Derby, most recently Aeliana (2025). 
  • Rosehill is the best form to follow into the race with all but five of the Australian Derby winners (from 1983 – 2025) having come off a run at Sydney’s other best race track the latest being last start Australian Guineas winner at Flemington Hitotsu in 2022.
  • The Rosehill Guineas – Australian Derby betting double is a popular one with punters and history shows Riff Rocket (2024) was the last horse to win both races.
  • Barrier one has produced the most successful Australian Derby results in the past 30 years including three straight wins from 2014 – 2017.

2025 Australian Derby Form Guide

A link to our comprehensive Australian Derby 2025 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.

Australian Derby Results

The Australian Derby results and finishing order are known when the race runs on Day 1 of Sydney’s The Championships on the first Saturday in April. Along with the Australian Derby winner the results reveal the winning trainer, jockey, margin and time as well as the starting prices of all the runners.

The most notable upset Australian Derby results in recent years include Major Beel ($31 in 2023), Explosive Jack ($16 in 2021),  Tavago ($31 in 2016), Ethiopia ($15 in 2012), and Nom Du Jeu ($26 in 2008).

Notable Australian Derby winners in the past 10 years include Waller’s first ATC Derby champ Riff Rocket (2024), history-making Hitotsu (2022), trainer Murray Baker’s fifth champion Quick Thinker (2020), Mongolian Khan (2015), Criterion (2014), It’s A Dundeel (2013), and Headturner (2006).

The late TJ Smith holds the training record having prepared nine Australian Derby winners throughout his career.

His daughter Gai Waterhouse won her first Australian Derby in partnership with Adrian Bott with Major Beel in 2023.

Aeliana (2025) was the last Australian Derby winning filly. 

Past Australian Derby Winners

Recent Australian Derby winners and placegetters going back to 2000 are detailed in the table below.

Year Winner 2nd 3rd Time
2025 Aeliana Firm Agreement Shanwah 2:29.80
2024 Riff Rocket Ceolwulf Glad You Think So 2:23.45
2023 Major Beel Virtuous Circle Suizuro 2:40.3
2022 Hitotsu Benaud Alegron 2:39.3
2021 Explosive Jack Young Werther Lion’s Roar 2:34.1
2020 Quick Thinker Zebrowski Eric The Eel 2:34.2
2019 Angel Of Truth Madison County Surely Sacred 2:35.6
2018 Levendi Ace High Tangled 2:28.7
2017 Jon Snow Harper’s Choice Hardham 2:38.1
2016 Tavago Jameka Tally 2:37.1
2015 Mongolian Khan Hauraki Volkstok’n’barrell 2:37.1
2014 Criterion Tupac Amaru Hooked 2:38.4
2013 It’s A Dundeel Philippi Kingdoms 2:33.4
2012 Ethiopia Polish Knight Laser Hawk 2:28.7
2011 Shamrocker Retrieve Anacheeva 2:29.4
2010 Shoot Out Descarado Monaco Consul 2:32.6
2009 Roman Emperor Harris Tweed Predatory Pricer 2:31.0
2008 Nom De Jeu Red Ruler Littorio 2:36.2
2007 Flumicino Ambitious General Tuesday Joy 2:36.4
2006 Headturner De Beers Testafiable 2:29.9
2005 Eremein Stella Grande Railings 2:35.8
2004 Starcraft Braeloch Delzao 2:34.8
2003 Clangalang Strasbourg Mummify 2:32.3
2002 Don Eduardo Carnegie Express Pentastic 2:32.7
2001 Universal Prince Sir Clive Danamite 2:30.8
2000 Fairway Shogun Lodge Now Voyager 2:34.0

FAQ

Who won the 2025 Australian Derby?

The 2025 Australian Derby was won by three-year-old Castelvecchio filly Aeliana at $2.25 favouritism for trainer Chris Waller with jockey Damain Lane aboard on 54.5kg from barrier 2 to win by 5.16 lengths in a time of 2:29.80.

When is the Australian Derby 2025?

Saturday April 5, 2025

What is the prize money for the Australian Derby 2025?

$2,000,000

Where is the Australian Derby 2025?

Randwick Racecourse, Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031.