South Australian Derby

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The South Australian Derby is a Group 1 thoroughbred race for three-year-olds held at Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide during the SAJC Autumn Carnival. The 2,500-metre turf event is run on a left-handed track under set weights: colts and geldings carry 56.5 kg, and fillies carry 54.5 kg. It began in 1860 as The Thebarton Derby at Thebarton Racecourse (now Mile End) and is one of South Australia’s oldest horse races. The prize money is A$1,000,000 (2025), and the current sponsor is Thomas Farms. Throughout its history, the SA Derby has produced horses that later excelled in major races, including the Melbourne Cup (for example, Gatum Gatum won in 1961 and later the Cup in 1963; Subzero won the race in 1992 and the Melbourne Cup in 1993). In 2015, Delicacy further highlighted the race’s prestige by completing the Australasian Oaks–SA Derby double.