First run in 1860 at the old Thebarton course a number of South Australian Derby winners have gone on to success in the Melbourne Cup, including TIM WHIFFLER (1865), THE ASSYRIAN (1880), AURARIA (1895), GATUM GATUM (1961) and SUBZERO (1992).
Other prominent winners include LORD SETAY (1919), who won the Toorak Hcp (1920); DAYANA (1972) won the Victoria Derby, WA Derby (1972), Perth Cup (1973), STORMY REX (1977) won the Victoria Derby, WA Derby and Kingston Town Stakes that year; BREWERY BOY (1981) won the Victoria Derby (1981) as did REBEL RAIDER (2008)
Recent South Australian Derby Winners
| YEAR | WINNER | JOCKEY | TRAINER | 2ND | 3RD |
| 2018 | Leicester | Damien Lane | Darren Weir | Rezealient | Runaway |
| 2017 | Volatile Mix | John Allen | Darren Weir | Ruthven | Odeon |
| 2016 | Howard Be Thy Name | John Allen | Darren Weir | Etymology | Cool Chap |
| 2015 | Delicacy | Peter Hall | Grant Williams | Werther | Allergic |
| 2014 | Kushadasi | Steven Arnold | Richard Jolly | Scratchy Bottom | Best Case |
| 2013 | Escado | Ben Melham | Matt Laurie | Hioctdane | Shoreham |
| 2012 | Zabeelionaire | Damien Oliver | LeonCorstens | Sabrage | Westsouthwest |
| 2011 | Shadows In The Sun | Ben Melham | Anthony Cummings | Echoes Of Heaven | Lalla Rookh |
| 2010 | Kidnapped | Kerrin McEvoy | Peter Snowden | Red Colossus | Sea Galleon |
| 2009 | Rebel Raider | Clare Undop | Leon Macdonald | Astro Gains | Fitoussi |
| 2008 | Zarita | Greg Childs | Pat Hyland | Zagreb | Neugine |
| 2007 | Lazer Sharp | Brad Rawiller | Jamie Edwards | Classic DeLago | Red Lord |
| 2006 | Testafiable | Greg Childs | Peter Moody | Empire Gold | Irazu |
| 2005 | Tails Of Triomphe | Paul Gatt | Terry O’Sullivan | Douro Valley | Kamsky |
| 2004 | Hard To Get | Joe Bowditch | MarkKavanagh | OnAJeune | Better Jetsetter |
| 2003 | Mummify | Danny Nikolic | Lee Freedman | Vicksbuigh | LordWooburn |
| 2002 | Pantani | Danny Nikolic | Robbie Laing | Silver Baron | Lester Thunderwing |
| 2001 | Big Pat | Peter Mertens | Peter Tulloch | Bush Padre | Adolescence |
| 2000 | Blue Murder | Matt Gatt | Cliff Brown | Mr Nelson | Voile D’Or |
| 1999 | Showella | Eddie Wilkinson | Frank Ritchie | Seasquill | Our Position |
| 1998 | Buita | Nash Rawiller | Tim White | Prince Standaan | The Hind |
| 1997 | Markham | Jason Holder | Cliff Brown | Kings Landing | Derobe |
| 1996 | Cheviot | Damian Browne | Cliff Brown | Hurricane Storm | Pay Back Time |
