WATC Derby

The WATC Derby is a Group 2 classic event for three-year-olds held each April at Ascot racecourse in Perth, Western Australia during the autumn racing carnival. The race is run over the traditonal derby distance of 2400 metres and offers $400,000 in prizemoney. The 2011 WATC Derby was won by Dreamaway from Playing God with Rio Dane third.

In 2011 the Australian Pattern Comittee downgraded the WATC Derby to Group 2 level and prizemoney has been reduced from $500,000 to $400,000 for the next running of the race.

WATC Derby info
Date:	Saturday 14th April 2012
Track:	Ascot racecourse, Perth
Distance:	2400 metres
Race Type:	3yo - Set Weights
Status:	Group 2
Prizemoney:	$400,000
2011 Winner:	Dreamaway

The WATC Derby is the premier staying event for three-year-olds held in Western Australia each year and typically gathers together the best local 3yo talent and any interested three-year-olds from other states around the country.

Taking place during the Perth autumn carnival at Ascot, the WATC Derby winner is more often than not just a handy galloper, rather than a topliner, as most of the best three-year-olds will be in Sydney during the autumn, for the prestigious AJC Australian Derby and AJC Australian Oaks.

Typically, the winner of the WATC Derby will just be an above average local type or a more than handy interstate raider, who may go on to be competitive in better quality races without rising to any great heights.

In recent times the WATC Derby has proven a handy guide to the Gr2 Perth Cup with Guyno (2007) and Cats Fun (2006) both going on to win the Perth Cup after winning the Derby as a three-year-old. Guyno won the Perth Cup in 2009 and Cats Fun was successful in 2008, while Guest Wing (8th in 2010) ran unplaced in this race and then managed to win the 2011 Perth Cup the following New Year's Day.

Dreamaway (2011) won the Gr1 WA Oaks over 2400m before going on to win this event the following week and WATC Derby winners include Chartreux (2010) and Markus Maximus (2009).

2011 WATC Derby result
1. $3.30 Dreamaway 54.0 W Pike
2. $3.60 Playing God 56.0 S Parnham
3. $9.00 Rio Dane 56.0 S Meeres

then Followed
4. $8.00 The Tenby Friar 56.0 J Brown
5. $15.00 Veracious 56.0 T Turner
6. $41.00 Chiron 56.0 J Whiting
7. $151.00 Ihtsatune 54.0 D Staeck
8. $101.00 Ambers Kingdom 56.0 D Miller
9. $51.00 Doodelicious 56.0 T Ikenushi
10. $16.00 Moonlight Bay 54.0 Ms K Yuill
11. $201.00 The Purple Parrot 56.0 A Kennedy
12. $7.00 Why She Left 54.0 P Harvey
13. $31.00 Discoverers 56.0 P Knuckey
14. $41.00 View The Stars 56.0 B Parnham

Margins: 1 1/2 Len, 3/4 Len
Time: 2:30.78

WATC Derby recent winners & placegetters
Year	Winner	2nd	3rd	Time
2011	Dreamaway	Playing God	Rio Dane	2:30.7
2010	Chartreux	Bridgestone	Brother Mak	2:27.9
2009	Marcus Maximus	Berlioz	Phenomenons	2:31.2
2008	Grand Journey	Yuro	Star Encounter	2:28.8
2007	Guyno	Ballack	Original Lovalover	2:29.0
2006	Catsfun	Raise A Call	Scenic Shot	2:29.7
2005	Plastered	Royal Drive	Master Minx	2:31.3
2004	Mr Sandgroper	Fatal Attraction	Crown Prosecutor	2:36.2
2003	Shirazamatazz	Conspirator	Golden Prospect	2:32.8
2002	Honor Lap	Lord Mason	Storm Fille	2:31.5
2001	Not Held
2000	Old Money	Tingling	Grand Turismo	2:30.4
1999	Voile D'Or	Latest Ploy	From The Hip	2:29.7
1998	Kim Angel	Old Nick	Matriculate	2:31.0
1997	Hot Jules	Mystic Chantry	Pennyweight Point	2:31.3
1996	Capricious Lass	Strike Swiftly	Stylish Mahal	2:31.2
1995	Crying Game	Unpretentious	Achtung Baby	2:29.9
1994	Beaux Art	King Of Saxony	Cloudy Bay	2:31.9
1993	Beaujolais Boy	Anniversary Model	Dr Gold	2:32.5
1993	Firing Range	Native Pilgrim	Vagabond Boy	2:27.8
1992	Heroicity	Lincoln's Court	Marooned By Flood	2:30.7
1991	Mirror Magic	Storm Trooper	Higginsville	2:28.2
1990	Chipolata	Royal Flush	Kama Dancer	2:28.9
1989	Belele	Port Princess	Bar Landy	2:29.2
1988	The Bukhra	Madam Peppermint	She's Got Style	2:31.8