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Does the Victoria Derby deserve to remain a Group 1?
Connor Scanlon • July 13th, 2026 11:29 am
The 171-year-old Victoria Derby is Australia’s oldest classic horse race, predating the Melbourne Cup by six years, and has been won by legends like Phar Lap, Mahogany and more recently Efficient.
However, the Asian Racing Federation recently assessed the prestigious 2500m race for a potential downgrade from Group 1 status.
After careful examination, the federation confirmed that the Derby will remain its elite status for the 2026/2027 racing season.
Was this the correct decision though?
Speaking on RSN’s Correct Weight, expert form analyst Trav Noonan admitted he was shocked that Australia’s oldest Group 1 was under threat.
“The (threat of the Derby losing Group 1 status) surprised me, to be honest, given the scrutiny on the race,” Trav exclaimed.
“Having a look at it though, and you go back and have a look at the top three horses to run in terms of finishing position in the Derby in the last 10 years, you can sort of understand from a quality perspective as to perhaps why they're looking at the race.
“Now that's not to say that other races shouldn't be inquired about if the Victoria Derby is. I would've thought it's a superior race to the South Australian and Queensland Derby, which both would have to be under consideration if the Victorian one is.”
Trav continued by explaining that the rivalry between Victoria and Sydney has “cannibalised” the time-honoured Derby.
With the Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) being run a week before the Victory Derby, for the same prize money and 500m less distance, fewer high-level horses are being run in the Derby.
“The Victoria Derby, no doubt, has been cannibalised a little bit though by this state-by-state rivalry with the Spring Champion Stakes being run a week before for $2 million at 2000m,” Trav explained.
“And we’ve seen in the last four years that plenty of horses, trainers and connections don't want to run in both races because it's a very taxing assignment on those three-year-olds.”
As a potential solution to the issue, Trav suggested that Racing Victoria and the Victoria Racing Club should increase the current prize money of the 171-year-old Group 1 from $2 million up to $5 million.
“In terms of what RV and the VRC could do to improve the status of the Victoria Derby, I think the answer's quite simple… They've just got to load up the prize money,” Trav stated.
“If they want this race to be a genuine classic on the Australian calendar, not just in terms of history and prestige, but in terms of the quality of the field, you need to make it undeniable for connections to go there.
“The race needs to be put up to similar prize money levels of the Cox Plate or the Caulfield Cup.
“It needs to be nearly at that $5 million point. That's the only way I could see the race really attracting genuine star three-year-olds in the spring.”
The Victoria Derby will remain “on notice” by the Asian Racing Federation, meaning the Group 1 status of the race will continue to be reviewed in the coming years.
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