| What | 2023 Australian Derby |
| Where | Royal Randwick Racecourse – Alison Rd, Randwick NSW 2031 |
| When | Saturday, April 1, 2023 |
| Prizemoney | $2,000,000 |
| Distance | 2400m |
| Status | Group 1 |
| Conditions | 3YO Set Weights |
| 2022 winner | Hitotsu (1) | T: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | J: John Allen (56.5kg) |
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Visit Ladbrokes |
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The last of our four Group 1 races at Royal Randwick Racecourse is the Australian Derby over 2400m for the three-year-olds. It sees a strong cohort of New Zealand stayers making the trip across the Tasman – including Sharp ‘N’ Smart, who is likely to dominate the market. There’s converging form from the Rosehill Guineas, last weekend’s Tulloch Stakes and the New Zealand Derby.
2023 AUSTRALIAN DERBY STAKES ODDS
New Zealand raider Sharp ‘N’ Smart ($3.40) has opened a clear favourite with online bookmakers, with the James Cummings-trained Pericles ($4) not far behind. Another of the overseas gallopers that find himself well in the market is Mark Twain ($8), who caught the eye of punters in the New Zealand Derby. You can get double figures for every other galloper, with other overseas commodities like Andalus ($16) and Full Of Sincerity ($19). Other Australian horses sure to find some late support include Victoria Derby winner Manzoice ($14), while Elliptical ($18) and Stroke Of Luck ($17) could be late firming late.
2023 AUSTRALIAN DERBY SPEED MAP
We can’t see them going overly quick in this year’s edition of the Australian Derby, which is lacking a genuine lamplighter. The closest would be the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Suizuro (4), who led them up in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes. Major Beel (15) is always positive and is likely to sit outside the leader, while Domingo (13) could come across from the wide draw as well. There’s going to be a strong mid-field contingent with Mark Twain (5), Pericles (6), Elliptical (3), Andalus (8) and Stroke Of Luck (9) all finding perfect spots behind the speed. It’s the favourite we’re worried about drawing the carpark in barrier 17. Sharp ‘N’ Smart may be further back than Hugh Bowman would like, but he may well have to take his medicine early to not be cast wide without cover the entire journey.
Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2023 Australian Derby.
2023 AUSTRALIAN DERBY FORM & BETTING PREVIEW
There’s value all over the page in this year’s Australian Derby, so with that in mind, we’ve decided to back a few at big prices. Mark Twain is a cracking price after his run in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby at Te Rapa on March 4. He got well back over the 2400m on that occasion and was everyone’s eye-catcher as he powered to the post, going down to the eventual winner by 2.2 lengths. Kerrin McEvoy will take the reins from a perfect draw, and if this son of Shocking can jump evenly, he’s in with a genuine chance to beat the favourite.
We’re going to make a case for Andalus too; coming from the same race in New Zealand, we thought he was exposed a long way out. He went toe-to-toe with Sharp ‘N’ Smart and almost took him down, but it wasn’t to be as the winner just found late. They drew barrier 13 last time, but now from barrier eight and with Zac Purton aboard, he’s another one we can’t let go around without something on.
Japanese Emperor looks like he’ll stay all day and will be revelling in the step-up in trip to the 2400m. His run in the Alister Clark at Moonee Valley on March 18 was enough for us to say this son of Satono Aladdin can produce a bold effort on Saturday afternoon. He gets an ideal barrier from the one pole and should be finding the leader’s back throughout the race. Ben Melham picks up the ride, and if he can peel off their backs at the right time, Japanese Emperor won’t look out of place in this field at a big price.
Sharp ‘N’ Smart could just prove too good on Saturday, but we couldn’t be with him at the price and barrier. It’ll take an absolute peach of a ride from Hugh Bowman to get in and find cover, although it might not be a negative draw this late in the day, so we wouldn’t be talking punters out of him.
Pericles and Full Of Sincerity also made the shortlist, so keep them safe in your multiples if you play them.
2023 AUSTRALIAN DERBY SELECTIONS & BEST BETS
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9
MARK TWAIN
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6
ANDALUS
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8
JAPANESE EMPEROR
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1
SHARP ‘N’ SMART
| $100 betting strategy | |
|---|---|
| $50 win | #9 Mark Twain @ $8 at Unibet |
| $25 win | #6 Andalus @ $16 at Ladbrokes |
| $25 win | #8 Japanese Emperor @ $18 at Neds |
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