2021 Australian Derby Betting Odds at Randwick racecourse

Saturday, 10 April 2021

The Australian Derby was originally known as the Randwick Derby Stakes and this was originally run in 1861 making it one of the oldest Australian horse races in the history of the sport in Australia. It is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds and is regarded as one of the main races on the Aussie racing calendar.

In 1865, the race became known as the AJC Australia Derby Stakes and this then became the AJC Derby in 1873 and that name was retained all the way through to 1993, with the name changing slightly to the AJC Australian Derby in 1994 and it has stayed that way ever since.

Up until 1971, the distance was one-and-a-half miles for the Australian Derby, although this was amended from 1972 onwards, with the race being competed over 2,400 metres instead. The purse for the race stands at A$1,000,000 and the winner currently gains exemption from the ballot in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes which is the richest race at the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

There have been a number of betting outsiders that have won the Australian Derby over the years and some of the most recent winners include Quick Thinker, Angel Of Truth and Levendi, with punters having to look beyond the favourites to find a winner or a big priced horse that will run into a place.

Who Are the Leading Contenders for 2021 Australian Derby?

Aegon is trading at the shortest horse racing betting odds to win the 2021 Australian Derby and there’s been little to dislike about this three-year-old New Zealand-bred horse who has triumphed on both occasions so far.

Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman have a potential superstar on their hands and he was recently seen winning the City Tattersalls Club Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill Racecourse, although that was over a distance of seven furlongs and the Derby will be a more stamina-sapping exercise.

Aegon did win the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 48th New Zealand 2000 Guineas and hasn’t really put a foot wrong although this is an obvious step up in class for a horse that will come up against tougher opponents considering the prize at stake.

One of these rivals is set to be Cherry Tortoni and the three-year-old has bags of experience for his age, with the Patrick Payne-trained horse having recently lined up in the Kennedy Australian Guineas where the runner finished a narrow second to Lunar Fox.

Considering the latter was sent off at 300/1, we can say that Cherry Tortoni is in good form this season, having previously finished fourth in a competitive race at Flemington.