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The Queensland Derby run at Eagle Farm on Saturday has seen many of those in the finish head overseas.
Dark Dream went to Hong Kong off a top 3yo campaign. Will the 2019 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday produce similar form going forward?
2019 Queensland Derby: Nominations
2019 QUEENSLAND DERBY - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
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’s back to Eagle Farm from 2019.
Most winners of the Queensland Derby come through either the Rough Habit Plate or the Grand Prix Stakes or both. In consecutive years Brambles (2012) and Hawkspur (2013) did the treble.
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 25 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.
The last three 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 Queensland Derby is worth $600,000 in 2019.
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), and Hawkspur (2013).
The 2018 Queensland Derby was won by Dark Dream from Heavenly Thought and Youngstar.
