South Australian Derby 2026 - Barrier Draw & Final Field

Bets.com.au Staff

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Last updated: Tue 28 Apr 2026 03:39

Bets.com.au Staff 28 Apr 2026

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The barrier draw has been conducted for the 2026 South Australian Derby
This Group 1 will be contested on Saturday, May 2 at Morphettville
Final field is available below

Single Choice and Arabian Prince are set to clash again. (Getty)

Accidental Bid (barrier 2) made an immediate impression Down Under, saluting over a mile on Australian debut before stepping to 2000m on April 16 and recording a commanding 7.75-length victory in a BM62.

South Australian Derby 2026 - Barriers & Final Field
South Australian Derby Winners

The Ciaron Maher-trained galloper has since established himself as a leading contender for the 2026 South Australian Derby, with John Allen aboard for both wins and the Irish hoop aiming for his fifth South Australian Derby success.

The colt remains the first emergency and requires a scratching to gain a start in the final field.

While his first Australian campaign tapered off late, including a well-held 11-of-16 finish in the Victoria Derby, Engine Of War (barrier 8) has been building nicely through three autumn runs, highlighted by a fourth-place finish in last Saturday’s Chairman’s Stakes over 2000m.

Fillies have a strong recent record in the South Australian Derby, winning the past two editions of this 2500m feature, which enhances the profiles of Strictly Business (barrier 1), After Summer (barrier 18), Silvasista (barrier 9) and Kazaru (barrier 20).

Silvasista was freshened after breaking her maiden and has since won her last two starts following a pair of March runs over a mile, including a 3.5-length victory in the VRC St Leger at Flemington.

After Summer is a Dominic Sutton-trained filly who brings strong Sydney form lines, with back-to-back Group 1 placings in the Vinery Stud Stakes and Australian Oaks, while her spring campaign culminated in a third-place finish in the VRC Oaks.

Strictly Business has not fired this campaign but warrants respect as the VRC Oaks winner, while Kazaru is two runs back since being freshened after a Tasmanian Oaks victory and is prepared by Phillip Stokes, who trained last year’s South Australian Derby winner, Femminile.

Kaye Jay (barrier 12) has been very consistent throughout his first campaign and has since won a jump-out following a fourth-of-13 finish in the Australian Derby on April 4.

Six horses have completed the Chairman’s Stakes–South Australian Derby double, including three in the past decade, and Impulsive Reaction (barrier 10) was an upset winner of the 2000m Group 3 on April 25, a son of Shamus Award who had shown promise before a plain effort at his third start.

Arabian Prince (barrier 19) broke through second-up at Kilmore before working home in inferior going to finish third in the Galilee Series Final at Caulfield, a 2400m race taken out by dual stakes winner Single Choice (barrier 5).

Amazake (barrier 17), trained by Ciaron Maher, finished third in the Galilee Series Final, with the son of Maurice still a maiden but has been competitive multiple times at stakes level.

South Australian Derby 2026 - Barriers & Final Field

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight
1	Single Choice	Matt Cumani	Jamie Mott	5	56.5kg
2	Impulsive Reaction	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Daniel Moor	10	56.5kg
3	Kaye Jay	Clayton Douglas	Mark Zahra	12	56.5kg
4	Autumn Mystery	Rory Hunter	Brad Rawiller	3	56.5kg
5	Savisanta (NZ)	Chris Waller	Jye McNeil	16	56.5kg
6	Geneva (NZ)	Kylie Hoskin	Rory Hutchings	4	56.5kg
7	Amazake	Ciaron Maher	Ben Melham	17	56.5kg
8	Engine Of War (NZ)	Mick Price & Michael Kent Jr	Daniel Stackhouse	8	56.5kg
9	Flying Brant	Stephen Theodore	Jason Holder	13	56.5kg
10	Arabian Prince	Michael Kent	Jamie Melham	19	56.5kg
11	Cannae	Danny O'Brien	Craig Williams	14	56.5kg
12	Wigmore (NZ)	Phillip Stokes	Teo Nugent	6	56.5kg
13	Strictly Business	Thomas Carberry	TBA	1	54.5kg
14	After Summer	Dominic Sutton	Billy Egan	18	54.5kg
15	Silvasista	Tony & Calvin McEvoy	Luke Currie	9	54.5kg
16	Kazaru (NZ)	Phillip Stokes	Jacob Opperman	20	54.5kg
17e	Accidental Bid (GB)	Ciaron Maher	John Allen	2	56.5kg
18e	Lunar Force	Robbie Griffiths	TBA	7	56.5kg
19e	Shotaro	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Todd Pannell	11	56.5kg
20e	Borchard	Leah Conlon	TBA	15	56.5kg

South Australian Derby Winners

First run in 1860, the South Australian Derby stands as one of the oldest and most historic staying features on the Australian racing calendar.

Contested over 2500m at Morphettville, it has long served as a key test for emerging three-year-old stayers, often highlighting horses capable of progressing through the ranks into the spring.

Notable winners include Mummify, VRC Derby victor Rebel Raider and Melbourne Cup hero Subzero, each adding their name to the race’s honour roll.

Dunkel (2023), Coco Sun (2024) and Femminile (2025) have captured the past three editions of the race.