Victoria Derby 2024

Ladbrokes Tip: The Moonee Valley Vase is a top guide to the VRC Derby winners

The Victoria Derby is the feature race for young staying types each spring and is the opening Group 1 feature of the Melbourne Cup Carnival following the events of the Group 1 Cox Plate Carnival at Moonee Valley in late October.

2022 Victoria Derby winner Manzoice

2022 Victoria Derby winner Manzoice. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Held over four days in late October and or early November every year, the carnival kicks off on the Saturday before the first Tuesday of November’s Melbourne Cup with the three-year-olds stealing the show in the VRC Derby.

Run over 2500m the Victoria Derby is a classic set weights race now worth $2 million in prize money and was first run in 1855. It has held Group 1 status since 1979 and Gai Waterhouse was the first woman trainer to prepare a winner of the race in 1995 with Nothin’ Leica Dane.

Notable Victoria Derby winners include Efficient (2006), Elvstroem (2003), and Red Anchor (1984).

Victoria Derby Day features a total of three Group 1 spring races with the three-years-old staying feature accompanied on the Flemington race card by the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) for the short distance sprinters of the same age and the Empire Rose Stakes (formerly the Myer Classic) also run over a mile.  It is known as a day for racing purists as all the events on the program hold Group status.

Derby Day in Melbourne now has some serious competition across the border with the addition of a number of lucrative feature races in Sydney on the same date. From 2019 on, Rosehill Gardens has hosted the now $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) for four-year-olds and the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes (1300m), which was previously known as the Winners Stakes and renamed in honour of the previous year’s The Everest champion each season until 2024, on the same day as the VRC Derby program in Melbourne.

This season the 2024 Victoria Derby ran on Saturday, November 2, 2024 on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and was won in a terrific performance by the Andrew Gluyas-trained Adelaide raider Goldrush Guru ($8). 

2024 Victoria Derby Results

The 2024 Victoria Derby Results will be published as soon as the race runs on Saturday, November 2, 2024.

2024 Victoria Derby winner Goldrush Guru

2024 Victoria Derby winner Goldrush Guru was huge in Melbourne. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

  • 1st: #4 Goldrush Guru
  • 2nd: #13 Scary
  • 3rd: #11 China Sea

The 2024 Victoria Derby results went the way of classy South Australian visitor with the Andrew Gluyas-trained Goldrush Guru ($8) given a perfect ride by Jamie Kah one-off fourth throughout before charging home on the straight for an emphatic victory in Australia’s oldest classic.

2024 Victoria Derby Odds

The spring’s latest Victoria Derby 2024 betting odds and Melbourne Cup Carnival Group 1 market links to the staying classic will be provided below so stay tuned for access to the top odds on the VRC Derby horses.

Early market betting odds on the 2025 Victoria 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.

Victoria Derby Race Info

  • Date: Saturday, November 2, 2024
  • Track: Flemington Racecourse
  • Distance: 2500m
  • Conditions: 3YOs – Set Weights
  • Status: Group 1
  • Prize Money: $2 million
  • First Run: 1855

 

Victoria Derby Betting

Victoria Derby betting markets on possible runners are open months in advance with juicy futures prices on offer at many bookmakers under all-in conditions. Once the VRC Derby field is released the week of the race those markets are slashed and the action heats up with punters looking for the value bet.

Favourites have a fair record in the Victoria Derby with Tarzino (2015), Ace High (2017), Hitotsu ($4 in 2021) and Riff Rocket ($2.20 in 2023) the latest top fancies in VRC Odds to win since Efficient (2006).

Since then there’s been plenty of upsets including Rebel Raider who won at 100/1 in 2008 and Fiveandahalfstar who caused a boil over in 2012 at 40/1. There was also a bit of value in VRC Derby betting on the 2018 champion Extra Brut who jumped at $14 odds, while Johnny Get Angry saluted at 20/1 in 2020.

In 2022 Manzoice scored another upset saluting at Victoria Derby odds of $21.

Victoria Derby Field

The Victoria Derby race field is released by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday before the race runs on the Saturday meeting before Melbourne Cup Day the following Tuesday and has a capacity starting line-up of 16 three-year-olds plus four emergencies.

Horses may come into the Victoria Derby field via a lead-up run in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) on Cox Plate Day, which produced back-to-back winners in 2015 and 2016. Efficient (2006) was the last three-year-old to complete the Moonee Valley Vase – VRC Derby double.

In 2023 the Moonee Valley Vase winner Apulia was so brave on the double back-up narrowly denied with a fast-finishing second to the favourite Riff Rocket.

The upset 2020 VRC Derby winner Johnny Get Angry also came out of the Moonee Valley Vase having run third in the lead-up.

Another key lead-up races gallopers might contest ahead of the VRC Derby field is Sydney’s Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), a double most recently completed by Ace High (2017). Manzoice (8th in 2022) was the last Spring Champion Stakes graduate to back-up and win the Victoria Derby in Melbourne.

One of the very early potential lead-up races into the VRC Derby field is the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) run at Rosehill in late August and the ill-fated Lion Tamer (2010) was the last to do the double. A little later at Rosehill on Golden Rose Stakes Day, early VRC Derby types may contest the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) and Ace High (2017) was the last to complete the Gloaming – Derby double.

Another traditional lead-up into the VRC Derby field is the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) run on Caulfield Cup Day and Polanski (2013) was the last to do the double.

In 2023 Riff Rocket improved on a second in the Caulfield Classic to win the Derby while his last start conqueror Sunsets finished third in the Group 1.

2024 Victoria Derby Field

The official VRC Derby 2024 Final Field & Barriers are set for release the week of the race and will be provided in full below so stay tuned to see what gun three-year-old stayers make the line-up.

The Victoria Derby 2024 field features a capacity line-up of young stayers with markets led by the Anthony Cummings-trained El Castello coming off a Spring Champion win last Saturday despite his wide outside draw.

Victoria Derby 2024 Nominations

VRC Derby 2024 Nominations are taken the Monday of race week and will be available right here as soon as early entries on the Group 1 race are announced.

The 2024 Victoria Derby nominations attracted 22 three-year-olds led in betting by Anthony Cummings’ Group 1 Spring Champion winner El Castello up in Sydney last weekend.

  Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight True Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 328×1111 EL CASTELLO C 3 Anthony Cummings 1 57kg     106
2 13×6262 HENLEIN C 3 Anthony & Sam Freedman 2 57kg     92
3 31×021 RED ACES C 3 Nick Ryan 3 57kg     84
4 42113 KEENELAND (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 4 57kg     78
5 721 KINGOFWALLSTREET C 3 Matt Cumani 5 57kg     78
6 4132 OPENING ADDRESS (NZ) G 3 Liam Howley 6 57kg     76
7 23173 KING OF THUNDER (NZ) G 3 John O’Shea & Tom Charlton 7 57kg     74
8 37×11221 GOLDRUSH GURU C 3 Andrew Gluyas 8 57kg     73
9 10×962 CHINA SEA G 3 John Sargent 9 57kg     72
10 02135 SCARY (NZ) C 3 Emma-Lee & David Browne 10 57kg     72
11 3711 SAINT EMILION C 3 Ciaron Maher 11 57kg     71
12 3523314 POLITELY DUN G 3 Danny O’Brien 12 57kg     68
13 4897×26115 TENBURY WELLS C 3 Brad Widdup 13 57kg     68
14 940×7222 HOT TOO GO C 3 Danny O’Brien 14 57kg     65
15 313 OXFORD BLUE G 3 Julius Sandhu 15 57kg     65
16 414 WEST INDIES (NZ) G 3 Mark Walker 16 57kg     65
17 914×83666 PERU G 3 Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson 17 57kg     64
18 44935 AUTUMNHEAT G 3 Matt Cumani 18 57kg     64
19 6121×60 GARCON D’ESPOIR G 3 Yassy Nishitani 19 57kg     62
20 4×3221 WAR RIBBON G 3 David Payne 20 57kg     62
21 734 CECCHETTI C 3 Matt Cumani 21 57kg     61
22 0x35x362 THAT’S OUTSTANDING G 3 Gary Portelli 22 57kg     59

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Victoria Derby TipsVictoria Derby Tips 2024

Victory Derby tips on which three-year-old to back in the classic are notoriously hard to follow with so many upsets in the race over the years. When sorting through the pre-race predictions one thing that statistically is important to look for horses coming off a lead-up race over at least 2000m.

Graduates out of Melbourne lead-up races make the best VRC Derby betting tips, while laying the favourite has also proved profitable more often than not looking back at the recent Victoria Derby results.

2024 Victoria Derby Tips

Our Ladbrokes’ insider Victoria Derby 2024 betting tips and Group 1 Flemington exotic selections on the classic will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned for the three-year-old colts & geldings to get behind at the right price this spring.

To Win: #2 Red Aces ($7 at time of publish)

Great clash expected in the Derby but tipping the Moonee Valley Vase form from last weekend on Cox Plate Day to stack-up.

Punters have to go back to Efficient in 2006 to find the last horse to do the Vase – Derby double, but this talented Nick Ryan-trained Dundeel colt looks set to be the next.

He is bred to stay the Derby distance and was impressive over 2040m to return to winning form in the Vase.

Red Aces came from midfield and made-up ground there which are encouraging signs as he prepares to step up in distance and grade.

A win and a second from his two previous Flemington starts prove he likes the track, and he is drawn to get a sweet run from barrier four with Jamie Mott retaining the ride.

Think the quick back-up will suit and he’ll stay all day.

Can win.

 

The Danger: #1 El Castello ($4.20 at time of publish)

You cannot bet on the VRC Derby this year and leave the deserving favourite El Castello out even after his horror outside barrier draw.

Barrier 18 is the only reason I don’t have this class horse on top.

He is going great guns winning his last four straight and is showing no signs of slowing down.

The 2500m is the query for them all but the way that Cummings’ Castelvecchio colt hit the line in winning Sydney’s Group 1 Spring Champion over 2000m last Saturday gives positive indications he’ll run out the Derby distance.

He needs to get the right luck early and the right ride by Josh Parr, not using too much early.

Was on speed last weekend so hoping he doesn’t exert himself trying to cross and leave nothing in the tank for the closing stages.

Will he like Flemington and the Melbourne way? That’s the other question but if he’s good enough he’ll win.

Deserving favourite just needs the favours in the run.

 

The Roughie: #6 Kingofwallstreet ($15 at time of publish)

There’s a host of double-figure outsiders in this year’s Derby markets that tick a number of boxes for an upset without shocking.

Kingofwallstreet is one at $15 at time of publish that is doing plenty right ahead of his big test on Saturday.

The Matt Cumani-trained galloper is another son of Dundeel who looks like the 2500m distance will be to his liking.

Comes in with confidence having broking his maiden status at start number three last time out in the Group 3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) on Caulfield Cup Day.

Polanski (2013) was the last to do the Caulfield Classic / VRC Derby double and a midfield draw giving options puts this guy in line to potentially be the next.

Michael Dee continues associations, he’s got that Group 3 win on the CV now and might just take it to the next level here.

 

Victoria Derby Form Guide

A good Victoria Derby form guide doesn’t only list the horses, trainers, jockeys and barriers but also their lead-up form and any past runs at the track / distance. That information can be helpful when narrowing down who to back and who to sack.

The Victoria Derby barriers are important to consider with wide barriers producing few winners since 2008 and the inside alley producing two winners during that time with both Monaco Consul (2009) and Polanski (2013) jumping from gate one.

The 2021 Victoria Derby form was franked with the winner Hitotsu returning the following autumn to complete the interstate Group 1 Australian Guineas – Australian Derby double in 2022. The 2021 VRC Derby runner-up Alegron also ran third in the Australian Derby results the following year and placed fourth in the 2022 SA Derby that season.

The 2022 VRC Derby runner-up Sharp ‘N’ Smart franked the form when heading across the Tasman the next year to win two Group 1 races including the NZ Derby before returning for a fourth in the Australian Derby in 2023.

The 2023 Victoria Derby form was franked with the winner Riff Rocket returning for a huge 2024 autumn campaign that included winning the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas – ATC Derby double!

Phar Lap won the victoria derby odds finishing order

Phar Lap was another champion that has won both the Victoria Derby (1929) and Melbourne Cup (1930).

Victoria Derby Form Facts

  • The Moonee Valley Vase is the key VRC Derby form race to follow with Efficient (2006) the last to do the double.
  • Favourites in Victoria Derby betting have a fair recent record with Tarzino (2015) the first to salute since Efficient (2006) followed by Ace High (2017), Hitotsu (2021) and most recently Riff Rocket (2023).
  • Wide Victoria Derby barriers have produced only a few winners since 2008.
  • Upset Victoria Derby results are common so look for value further down the odds on well-bred horses likely to run out the 2500m.
  • Jockey Damien Oliver has ridden six VRC Derby winners (since 1983) most recently on Warning (2019).

2024 Victoria Derby Form Guide

A link to our comprehensive VRC Derby 2024 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.

Victoria Derby Results & History

The Victoria Derby race results including the winner, the trifecta with the first three over the line, winning margins and the complete finishing order of all the starters are out after the classic jumps at Flemington, the same course the iconic Melbourne Cup run three days later, on the first Saturday of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Arguably Australia’s greatest ever champion Phar Lap, won the the Victoria Derby in 1929 before winning the Melbourne Cup the following year. Winners of the VRC Derby dating back to the year 2000 can also be seen below.

Star Of The Real holds the current Victoria Derby race record winning in 1991 in a time of 2 minutes 33.60 seconds.

Frances Tressady (1923) is the latest Victoria Derby winning filly.

Past Victoria Derby Winners

Recent Victoria Derby winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.

Year Winner 2nd 3rd Time
2024 Goldrush Guru Scary China Sea 2:37.78
2023 Riff Rocket Apulia Sunsets 2:37.38
2022 Manzoice Sharp ‘N’ Smart Aberfeldie Boy 2:40.8
2021 Hitotsu Alegron Teewaters 2:37.3
2020 Johnny Get Angry Hit The Shot Young Werther 2:41.9
2019 Warning Southern Moon Soul Patch 2:40.8
2018 Extra Brut Stars Of Carrum Chapada 2:34.3
2017 Ace High Sully Astoria 2:37.5
2016 Prized Icon Sacred Elixir Inference 2:36.1
2015 Tarzino Etymology Kia Ora Koutou 2:38.3
2014 Preferment Bondeiger Nozomi 2:37.8
2013 Polanski Complacent Thunder Fantasy 2:38.6
2012 Fiveandahalfstar Super Cool Rawnaq 2:35.9
2011 Sangster Induna Sabrage 2:40.3
2010 Lion Tamer Praecido Retrieve 2:46.4
2009 Monaco Consul Extra Zero Viking Legend 2:41.6
2008 Rebel Raider Whobegotyou Pre Eminence 2:36.9
2007 Kibbutz Littorio Marching 2:40.9
2006 Efficient Gorky Park Teranaba 2:38.3
2005 Benicio Duelled Headturner 2:37.0
2004 Plastered Savabeel Count Ricardo 2:35.4
2003 Elvstroem Kempinsky Our Bahare 2:38.9
2002 Helenus Hydrometer Aint There 2:40.5
2001 Amalfi Zarek Pentastic 2:34.6
2000 Hit The Roof Universal Prince Falls The Shadow 2:39.0

Who won the 2024 Victoria Derby?

The 2024 Victoria Derby winner was the Andrew Gluyas-trained Goldrush Guru at $8 with Jamie Kah in the saddle.

When is the Victoria Derby 2024?

Saturday, November 2, 2024

What is the prize money for the Victoria Derby 2024?

$2,000,000

Where is the Victoria Derby 2024?

Flemington Racecourse, 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031.