The South Australian Derby is a South Australian Jockey Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, at set weights, run over a distance of 2,500 metres at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide, Australia during the SAJC Autumn Carnival.

History The inaugural running of the race was on 5 January 1860 at Thebarton Racecourse which is located today in Mile End. The race was called The Thebarton Derby and had stakes of 100 sovereigns with an additional sweep of 10 sovereigns with a forfeit of 2 sovereigns. The race was won by the famous colonial pastoralist C.B. Fisher's, four-year-old mare Midnight who carried 8 stone 10 pounds and ridden by jockey Simpson in a time of 2:54.

By 1862 the race was simply known as The Derby and in 1866 the Summer meet was held before Christmas Day. For a period of seven years between 1869 and 1875 the race was not held. When the race was resumed in 1876 it was held at Morphettville Racecourse and it was held in September during the SAJC Spring meeting.

The early winner Tim Whiffler is not to be confused with the 1867 Melbourne Cup winner of the same name.

The race attracted many fine horses who would later excel in other prestigious races around the country. 1880 saw The Assyrian, a son of Countryman (GB) win the race and two years later win the Melbourne Cup.

1903 saw the simply named F.J.A. prevail and the son of Wallace would also win a VRC Derby, Toorak Handicap and The All Aged Stakes.

1961 winner Gatum Gatum also went on to win the Melbourne Cup in 1963 while the 1972 winner Dayana was a Perth Cup winner in 1973.

Subzero won the race in 1992 and he would win the Melbourne Cup on a wet track the next season, and also the G1 Adelaide Cup.

The 2009 winner Rebel Raider succeeded after earlier he won the VRC Derby.

Fillies have also had some success in the race. Most recently Delicacy completed the Australasian Oaks–SA Derby double in 2015.

Distance 1860–1971 – miles (~2400 metres) 1972 – 2400 metres 1973–1977 – 2500 metres 1978–1979 – 2400 metres 1980 – 2600 metres 1981–1985 – 2500 metres 1986–2004 – 2400 metres 2005 onwards – 2500 metres

Recent multiple winners

Trainers Darren Weir in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Phillip Stokes in 2025 and 2026

Jockeys John Allen in 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021 Greg Childs in 2006 and 2008 Ben Melham in 2011 and 2013 Danny Nikolic in 2002 and 2003.

1951 racebook

Winners The following are past winners of the race.

2026 - Wigmore 2025 - Femminile 2024 - Coco Sun 2023 - Dunkel 2022 - Jungle Magnate 2021 - Explosive Jack 2020 – Russian Camelot 2019 – Qafila 2018 – Leicester 2017 – Volatile Mix 2016 – Howard Be Thy Name 2015 – Delicacy 2014 – Kushadasi 2013 – Escado 2012 – Zabeelionaire 2011 – Shadows In The Sun 2010 – Kidnapped 2009 – Rebel Raider 2008 – Zarita 2007 – Lazer Sharp 2006 – Testafiable 2005 – Tails Of Triomphe 2004 – Hard To Get 2003 – Mummify 2002 – Pantani 2001 – Big Pat 2000 – Blue Murder 1999 – Showella 1998 – Bulta 1997 – Markham 1996 – Cheviot 1995 – Count Chivas 1994 – Bullwinkle 1993 – Our Pompeii 1992 – Subzero 1991 – Shiva's Revenge 1990 – Diego 1989 – Sea Brigand 1988 – Celtic Spirit 1987 – Shark's Fin 1986 – French Cotton 1985 – Sir Zephyr 1984 – Mapperley Heights 1983 – ¶race not held 1982 – English Wonder 1981 – Brewery Boy 1980 – Tasman 1979 – Top Ware 1978 – Regal Jester 1977 – Stormy Rex 1976 – Vacuum 1975 – Prince Of All 1974 – Exalt's Pride 1973 – Sir Gerald 1972 – Dayana 1971 – Near Boy 1970 – Clear Prince 1969 – Paradigm 1968 – Dale Lace 1967 – Kembla 1966 – Peculator 1965 – Mission 1964 – Ziema 1963 – Hunting Horn 1962 – Royal Ziet 1961 – Gatum Gatum 1960 – Royal Chat 1959 – Crusty Bottle 1958 – Stormy Passage 1957 – Galloway 1956 – Auteuil 1955 – Ralkon 1954 – Pandie Star 1953 – Jovial Scot 1952 – Winemaker 1951 – Beau Cavalier 1950 – Toastmaster 1949 – Glenvue 1948 – Idle Banter 1947 – Basama 1946 – Conservator 1945 – Dauntless 1944 – Bluenor 1942–43 – † race not held 1941 – Ladmond 1940 – Waxwings 1939 – Lusson 1938 – Tempest 1937 – Golden Hill 1936 – Brave Lad 1935 – Beamish Boy 1934 – Alinura 1933 – Yultewirra 1932 – Traverse 1931 – Opera King 1930 – Induna 1929 – Hot Spring 1928 – Mount Of Olives 1927 – Marco Polo 1926 – Pindenda 1925 – Ethelton 1924 – Wycherley 1923 – King Of Mirth 1922 – Burnished 1921 – Leon 1920 – Pogonatos 1919 – Lord Setay 1918 – Stagegirl 1917 – Cosmos 1916 – Nevka 1915 – Perambulate 1914 – Fidelio 1913 – Kildalton 1912 – Puringa 1911 – Sanskrit 1910 – Sergius 1909 – The Greek 1908 – Tiercel 1907 – Palotta 1906 – Kismet II 1905 – Torah 1904 – Ganymedes 1903 – F.J.A. 1902 – Rienzi 1901 – Ritualist 1900 – Miltiades 1899 – Gunga Din 1898 – Hainault 1897 – Goodwill 1896 – Thunder Queen 1895 – Auraria 1894 – Monastery 1893 – Salient 1892 – Vakeel 1891 – Lady Rose 1890 – Cheddar 1885–89 – ‡race not held 1884 – Gratitude 1883 – Dirk Hatteraick 1882 – Guesswork 1881 – Topaz 1880 – The Assyrian 1879 – Pawnbroker 1878 – Viceroy 1877 – Irish Queen 1876 – Pride Of The Hills 1869–75 – race not held 1868 – Centurion 1867 – Regalia 1866 – Crusader 1865 – Tim Whiffler 1864 – ♯Queen Of Barossa 1864 – Lubra 1863 – Lord Of Isles 1862 – Riddle 1861 – Typo 1860 – Midnight

¶ Race usually scheduled to be run on second weekend in May was replaced in the racing calendar by Group 3 St Leger Stakes, run over a distance of 2600 metres. † Race not held due to a ban on war time racing in the state. ‡ Race not held due to the Totalizator Repeal Act 1883. ♯ Race was raced twice in the same calendar year. The 1863–64 racing calendar set the date of the race as 1 January 1864. For the 1864–65 racing calendar the race was held on the first day of SAJC Summer Meet as the third race on 28 December 1864.

See also Chairman's Stakes (SAJC) Euclase Stakes (Tobin Bronze Stakes) SA Fillies Classic Australasian Oaks List of Australian Group races Group races

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