Queensland Derby
Australia | FEATURE RACE GUIDE
History
The Queensland Derby is a Group 1 race for three-year-olds conducted by the Brisbane Racing Club as part of the Queensland racing carnival.
The Queensland Derby was first run in 1868 won by Hermit.
The Queensland Derby is run under set weight conditions and is usually run over the mile and a half but in 2017/2018 was over 2200m at Doomben same as in 2015. It was back to Eagle Farm from 2019.
From 2021 the Derby was moved forward two weeks, away from Stradbroke day.
Most winners of the Queensland Derby would come through either the Rough Habit Plate or the Grand Prix Stakes. In consecutive years Brambles (2012) and Hawkspur (2013) did the treble. The Grand Prix is now held later in the year but Kovalica still did the double.
Before Eagle Way's win, the previous Queensland trained winner was Ice Chariot in 2006.
Fillies can run well in the race when they attempt it. Dariana, Riva San, Camarena (did not run in the delayed Oaks but chose the Derby instead), Royal Magic in the last 30 years won for the girls but there have been multiple placegetters too.
Rough Habit's first foray into racing in Queensland was to win the Queensland Derby. He would go onto win multiple Stradbrokes, Doomben Cups and Hollindales.
Three recent Derby winners have gone on to race with some distinction in Hong Kong.
In 2009 Court Ruler defeated Shocking in the Queensland Derby. Five months later Shocking would win the Melbourne Cup.
The Derby runner up Vow And Declare would win the Melbourne Cup six months later.
Following a brilliant ride on Pinarello in the 2022 Derby, Leith Innes then immediately retired from race riding.
The Queensland Derby in 2020 was cancelled due to the coronavirus.
It was upped to $1,000,000 in 2023.
Past winners include Lough Neagh (1931), Spear Chief (1937), Tulloch (1957), Royal Sovereign (1964), Tails (1968), Analie (1973), Double Century (1979), Kingston Town (1980), Strawberry Road (1983), Handy Proverb (1986), Rough Habit (1990), Yippyio (1997), Freemason (2000), County Tyrone (2002), Hawkspur (2013) and Kovalica (2023).
The 2023 Queensland Derby was won by Kovalica from Fame and Stroke Of Luck.
Previous Queensland Derby Winners
| Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
KOVALICA
(NZ)
3G OCEAN PARK (NZ) - VITESSE (NZ) MAKFI (GB) |
JAMES MCDONALD | 57.0 | CHRIS WALLER | 4 |
|
|
PINARELLO
(NZ)
3G TAVISTOCK (NZ) - ZONZA (NZ) ZABEEL (NZ) |
L G INNES | 57.0 | ROGER JAMES & ROBERT WELLWOOD | 17 |
|
|
KUKERACHA
(NZ)
3G NIGHT OF THUNDER (IRE) - PORTRAIT OF A LADY (USA) A.P. INDY (USA) |
JAMES MCDONALD | 57.0 | CHRIS WALLER | 2 |
|
|
MR QUICKIE
(AUS)
3G SHAMUS AWARD (AUS) - SPECIAL FAVOUR (AUS) GENERAL NEDIYM (AUS) |
J ALLEN | 57.0 | PHILLIP STOKES | 3 |
|
|
DARK DREAM
(AUS)
3G ALL AMERICAN (AUS) - BUCHANAN GIRL (AUS) LION HUNTER (AUS) |
TIM CLARK | 57.0 | KERRY PARKER | 3 |
|
|
RUTHVEN
(AUS)
3C DOMESDAY (AUS) - RUDDIGORE (AUS) OCTAGONAL (NZ) |
HUGH BOWMAN | 57.0 | CIARON MAHER | 8 |
|
|
EAGLE WAY
(AUS)
3G MORE THAN READY (USA) - WEDGETAIL EAGLE (AUS) LURE (USA) |
TOMMY BERRY | 57.0 | BRYAN GUY | 11 |
|
|
MAGICOOL
(AUS)
3G FASTNET ROCK (AUS) - PERFECT TRUTH (IRE) GALILEO (IRE) |
J WINKS | 57.0 | MARK KAVANAGH | 14 |
|
|
SONNTAG
(AUS)
3G TEOFILO (IRE) - PARFAITS (AUS) STRATEGIC (AUS) |
CHAD SCHOFIELD | 57.0 | HENRY DWYER | 5 |
|
|
HAWKSPUR
(AUS)
3G PURREALIST (AUS) - MOLLYHAWK (AUS) CATBIRD (AUS) |
J CASSIDY | 57.0 | CHRIS WALLER | 3 |
|
|
BRAMBLES
(NZ)
3G SAVABEEL (AUS) - PRICKLE (NZ) PINS (AUS) |
B RAWILLER | 57.0 | PETER G MOODY | 11 |
|
|
SHOOTOFF
(NZ)
3G DUELLED (AUS) - ATHENRI (NZ) ZABEEL (NZ) |
M RODD | 56.0 | GRAEME ROGERSON | 10 |
|
|
DARIANA
(AUS)
3F REDOUTE'S CHOICE (AUS) - BELDARIAN (IRE) LAST TYCOON (IRE) |
M RODD | 54.0 | BART CUMMINGS | 1 |
|
|
COURT RULER
(NZ)
3G VIKING RULER (AUS) - FREE COURT (NZ) POMPEII COURT (USA) |
L V CASSIDY | 56.0 | J R WHEELER | 8 |
|
|
RIVA SAN
(AUS)
3F ANY GIVEN SUNDAY (AUS) - BEST RIVER (AUS) BEST WESTERN (AUS) |
J BYRNE | 54.0 | PETER G MOODY | 6 |
|
|
EMPIRES CHOICE
(NZ)
3C REDOUTE'S CHOICE (AUS) - ROSIE'S STAR (NZ) STAR WAY (GB) |
DAMIEN OLIVER | 56.5 | BART CUMMINGS | 10 |
|
|
ICE CHARIOT
(AUS)
3G SEMIPALATINSK (USA) - SNOW CHARIOT (AUS) CHARIOT (AUS) |
G A LYNCH | 55.5 | R E MAUND | 16 |
|
|
LACHLAN RIVER
(NZ)
3G DESERT KING (IRE) - VIVEASHA (AUS) LAST TYCOON (IRE) |
G BOSS | 55.5 | JOHN MORRISEY | 4 |
|
|
TOULOUSE LAUTREC
(AUS)
3G DANEWIN (AUS) - DANCING COLOUR (AUS) VARICK (USA) |
C W BROWN | 55.5 | JOHN HAWKES | 5 |
|
|
HALF HENNESSY
(AUS)
3C HENNESSY (USA) - SINGEING LAMP (AUS) BLAZING SADDLES (AUS) |
S SEAMER | 55.5 | BEDE MURRAY | 4 |
|
|
COUNTY TYRONE
(AUS)
3G DANEWIN (AUS) - NICE CHOICE (GB) TOUCHING WOOD (USA) |
C W BROWN | 55.5 | M G LEES | 2 |
|
|
DE GAULLE LANE
(NZ)
3G THE COMMANDER (NZ) - D'ACCORD (NZ) STRAIGHT STRIKE (USA) |
B PREBBLE | 55.5 | COLIN ALDERSON | 4 |
|
|
FREEMASON
(AUS)
3G GRAND LODGE (USA) - SASHED (NZ) SIR TRISTRAM (IRE) |
L V CASSIDY | 55.5 | JOHN HAWKES | 14 |
Related News
The Queensland Derby is on the agenda for Bullets High if he performs at Randwick.
Marcus Wilson was a young boy of 14 when he first thought about following his father’s footsteps to become a horse trainer.
Scott Embry provides his best bets for the Thoroughbred meeting at Ascot on Saturday, 20th April 2024. Brought to you by the TABtouch Blog.
Steel Run needed every metre of a race at Caulfield Heath to score a debut win.
Orchestral will aim to follow in the footsteps of some of New Zealand’s greatest fillies when she contests Saturday’s A$1 million Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m) at Randwick.
$5 million foes on the line when ten horses step out for the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Royal Randwick on The Championships Day 2.
An in-depth look at the chances of every runner in Saturday's Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on Day 2 of The Star Championships at Royal Randwick.
Two of Wexford Stables’ star gallopers have taken the next step towards respective Australian features in the coming weeks.
The move of the Arrowfield 3yo Sprint run at Randwick on Saturday to this card has worked wonders.
Waikato horseman Chad Ormsby is making a habit of landing major prizes at Trentham with three-year-olds that he was unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale.
The World Pool is back this weekend operating on Race 3 to 10 at Randwick and Races 6 to 9 at Turffontein.
Bart Sinclair was destined to be a black-type performer.
Group 1-winning stablemates The Lost Storm and Perfect Class are set for an interesting clash when they resume at Melton on Saturday night.
