WA Derby: What History Says
4 April, 2018
Harness
This Friday night sees the running of the Group 1 Sky Racing-WA Derby at Gloucester Park, with a quality field of 12 three-year-olds to do battle in the time-honoured event.
First run in 1917, the WA Derby honour roll features some of the great names of harness racing including Pure Steel, San Simeon, and in more recent times Chicago Bull and last year’s winner Handsandwheels.
The 2018 edition of the WA Derby will see the best young pacers race for $200,000 over 2536m, compare to the $100 the 1917 winner Freckles raced for over 2000m.
After it was originally run over 2000m, the Derby has slowly increased in distance over time.
It was run as a 12 furlong race for more than 40 years, before distances varied between 2100m and 2300m in the 1980s and early 1990s, but the past two decades has seen the race run between 2500m and 2548m.
Gary Hall Snr and Gary Hall Jnr have combined to win three of the past five editions of the WA Derby, with Alta Christiano (2013), Beaudiene Boaz (2015) and Chicago Bull (2016).
This week Hall Snr and Hall Jnr combine with King Of Swing, while Hall Snr also has Speed Man in the Group 1 event.
Another prominent trainer in WA Greg Bond has also enjoyed his fair share of success in the Derby in recent times.
Bond was successful with Richard Henry (2005), In The Force (2009) and Seel N Print (2011).
Bond confirmed he would be a major player in this year’s edition of the Derby after Ocean Ridge, who has drawn barrier 10 on Friday, was successful in taking out the WA Derby Prelude last Thursday night.
Chris Lewis has the chance to record his sixth WA Derby victory with Bright Diamond on Friday night, who is trained by Skye Bond.
Lewis won his first WA Derby in 1994 with Trunkey Maseratti, while his most recent was with In The Force nine years ago.
Mike Reed will also launch a dual-attack on the race with Golden State and Bechers Brook, who took out the Group 2 Western Gateway last Friday week.
Reed won the race in 2002 with Tricky Vic, and in 2003 with Ace Of Spades.
The Western Gateway has proven to be a strong form race for the WA Derby, with four of the past six winners coming through the Group 2 event.
The Battle Of Bunbury has been run for the past 30 years, and is only a relatively new addition to the lead up program for the WA Derby.
Bechers Brook was also successful in this year’s Battle Of Bunbury ahead of his stablemate Golden State.
Golden State hasn’t gone through this preparation without success though, taking out the WA Derby Prelude on March 16.
The WA Derby gets underway at 7.24 on Friday night.
Tim Walker