Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Queen Elizabeth Stakes

The 2018 Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a Group 3 horse race that is run on Stakes Day as part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival at Flemington.

Formerly referred to as the Queen’s Cup – is a 2600m quality handicap held at Flemington Racecourse on the first Saturday of November as part of Emirates Stakes Day.Queen Elizabeth Stakes

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A Group 3 event, the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes – not to be confused with the Group 1 ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes held at Randwick during the autumn – the prize pays $300,000 total in comparison. Out of the Group 3 races run during the carnival, this one is one of the more luvrative prizes. It also offers an additional bonus to any horse that was paid up for at final acceptances stage but happened to be balloted out of the Melbourne Cup Field.

The Championships Day 2

The Championships is a two day series of the biggest races in the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival. Featuring a stunning eight Group 1 events and worth around $20 million, The Championships truly lives up to its namesake. Alongside the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on Day 2, there are a number of other top quality races:

• Gr 1 $1.6m Sydney Cup (3200m)
• Gr 1 $1m Australian Oaks (2400m)
• Gr 1 $1m Queen Of The Turf Stakes (1600m)
• Gr 2 $500k Arrowfield 3YO Sprint (1200m)
• Gr 2 $300k Sapphire Stakes (1200m)
• Gr 3 $500k Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m)
• Listed $150k South Pacific Classic (1400m)
• Listed $150k Fernhill Handicap (1600m)
• $300k Provincial Championship Final (1400m)

Queen Elizabeth Stakes Related Races

Punters and racing enthusiasts often keep a close eye on the Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners and placegetters to guide them with their Melbourne Cup wagers.

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes has always drawn a strong field of locally-trained stayers and talented horses like Jeune (1995), Doriemus (1996) and Might And Power (1998) have all gone on to win the Group 1 after taking out the Melbourne Cup.

There are a number of other horses who have won the race multiple times including Grand Armee (2004 and 2005), Intergaze (1997 and 1999) and Tulloch (1958, 1960 and 1961).

As it is held towards the end of the  Sydney Autumn Carnival, punters have plenty of opportunity to gauge the form of the runners in the series of lead-up races including the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes, the Group 1 Australian Derby and the Group 1 The BMW. If you keep a look out for the carnival’s standout performers and prize winners when making your selections for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, you will be well on your way to seeing your own racing riches!

Queen Elizabeth Stakes History

Since its inception in 1851, when Cossack scored an impressive victory r, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes has seen a number of length and name changes. Originally run over a gruelling distance of 24 furlongs (approximately 4800 metres), only the toughest and most dedicated stayers crossed the finish line first.

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes was originally introduced to the racing calendar as a Principal event and was elevated to Group 1 status in 1980. The race has maintained its Group 1 status and in 2014 the prizemoney on offer was increased to an incredible $4 million – making it the most lucrative race during the 2014 Sydney Autumn Racing Calendar.

Queen Elizabeth Stakes – Race Name Changes:

Below is a record of the various names the race has been registered as over its history.

• 1851-1872: Queens Plate.
• 1873 – 1954: AJC Plate. Note: in 1934 the race was known as the AJC Kings Cup.
• 1954- Present Date: Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Queen Elizabeth Stakes – Race Distance Changes:

Here are all the dates and distances the race has been run over.

• 1851-1922: 24 furlongs (approx. 4800m).
• 1923-1941 & 1947-1953: 18 furlongs (approx. 3600m).
• 1944-1946: 14 furlongs (approx. 2800m).
• 1954, 1979, 1971: 12 furlongs (approx. 2400m).
• 1955 – 1969 & 1972: 11 furlongs (approx. 2200m).
• 1973-1978 & 1984, 1985: 2400m
• 1979-1983 & 1986-Present Day: 2000m.

Queen Elizabeth Stakes Field

During the Sydney Autumn Carnival make sure you save some of your betting luck for the last race day and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes; it is one of you final chances to win big in the autumn racing season!

Click to Races.com.au for Horse Racing coverage of this year’s Melbourne Cup and find the best Melbourne Cup odds and Melbourne Cup betting prices.