The 2024 New Zealand Derby was a Group I horse race which was run at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday 2 March 2024. It was the 149th running of the New Zealand Derby, and it was won by Orchestral.^[1]

Orchestral became the sixth New Zealand Derby winner for Roger James, who now trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood. His first win came in 1986 with Tidal Light, who he trained in partnership with Jim Gibbs, and he later won with Roysyn, Zonda, Hades and Silent Achiever.^[2] He now holds the record for the most victories in the modern-day New Zealand Derby, which was created when the New Zealand Derby (Riccarton) and Great Northern Derby were amalgamated in 1973.^{[2] [3]}

Orchestral was ridden by Craig Grylls, who had previously won the Derby aboard Crown Prosecutor (2021) and Rocket Spade (2019).^[4]

Orchestral was bred by Barneswood Farm and is a daughter of the champion Waikato Stud stallion Savabeel.^[5]

Bought by James and Wellwood for $625,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka,^[6] Orchestral is raced by long-time stable clients Colin and Helen Litt.^[7]

Orchestral headed into the Derby as a dominant winner of all of her previous three races, including the Karaka Millions 3YO and the Avondale Guineas.^[8] She was rated a $1.30 favourite for the Derby, while none of her 16 rivals had odds in single figures.^[9]

Orchestral was slow to leave the starting gates and settled towards the rear of the field, but she swooped around the outside at the home turn and quickly took command in the straight. She powered clear in the final 200 metres, winning by three and three-quarter lengths – the largest winning margin since C'est La Guerre in 2008.^[10] The race was run in 2:26.79, which was the fourth-fastest time recorded in the race. ^[11]

Orchestral became only the fifth filly to win the New Zealand Derby since 1983. Three of those – Tidal Light, Silent Achiever and Orchestral – have been trained by James.^[1]

• Sponsor: Trackside
• Prize money: NZ$1,000,000
• Track: Good
• Number of runners: 17
• Winner's time: 2:26.79

Further details of the winner, Orchestral:^[1]

• Foaled: 26 October 2020
• Sire: Savabeel; Dam: Symphonic (by O'Reilly)
• Owner: C R & H J Litt
• Trainer: Roger James & Robert Wellwood
• Breeder: Barneswood Farm
• Starts: 8
• Wins: 5
• Seconds: 2
• Thirds: 0
• Earnings: $1,577,175^[8]

• 2023 New Zealand Derby
• 2022 New Zealand Derby
• 2021 New Zealand Derby
• 2020 New Zealand Derby
• 2019 New Zealand Derby
• 2018 New Zealand Derby
• 2017 New Zealand Derby
• 2016 New Zealand Derby
• 2015 New Zealand Derby
• 2014 New Zealand Derby
• 2013 New Zealand Derby
• 2012 New Zealand Derby
• 2011 New Zealand Derby
• Recent winners of major NZ 3 year old races