Queen Elizabeth Stakes

Winners and Past Results for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Australian horse race run at weight for age.

The AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes is held on the final day of the carnival.

The 2000 meter open race is held on the same day as the Sydney Cup during the autumn racing carnival with $500,000 in prize money at stake. Other feature races of the day include the Group 1 AJC Champagne Stakes and All Aged Stakes.

The race attracts a classy field of middle distance gallopers where level weights make it a keen contest and a feast for race goers seeking to make it big on the final day of the carnival.

Among the outstanding horses to win the AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes include Our Poetic Prince in 1989, Rough Habit in 1992, Durbridge in 1994, Might and Power in 1998, and Lonhro in 2003. Two of the seven Group 1 races won by Grand Armee include the AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 2004 and 2005.

Quality horses usually enter the fray from other middle distance races such as the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap held at Randwick a week earlier. Other events that are a good lead up to the AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes are the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes, AJC Derby, and Rosehill Guineas.

Horses from these preceding events are better suited over the 2000 meter distance. The 2011 AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner, a UK import, My Kingdom of Fife caused a major upset in the Group 3 Doncaster Prelude over 1600 meters, winning the event on his first run in Australia after returning from a spell.

Other notable winners who went on to greater success in the Melbourne Cup include the 1995 champion, Jeune, Doriemus in 1996 and Might And Power in 1998.

Cossakc won the inaugural event which was a principal race known as the AJC Queen’s Plate and repeated the feat the next year. During this time horses travelled the grueling distance of 24 furlongs, where only the toughest stayers managed to hit the winning post first. Sportsman picked up from where Cossakc left off to win the next two races in 1853 and 1854. Tim Whiffler, Carbine, David, Tulloch, and a few other champion thoroughbreds also won two or more AJC Queen Elizabeth Stakes during the their racing career.

The race was elevated to Group 1 status in 1980 with Grand Armee the only horse to score a double ever since.

2013 Queen Elizabeth Stakes

At just $1.28, It's A Dundeel was considered by punters to be virtually unbeatable, and even though the Kiwi star got back early he seemed to be travelling nicely. French import Reliable Man was also going along comfortably for jockey Hugh Bowman and when It's A Dundeel hit a flat spot at the 600 metre mark and failed to click into gear, Reliable Man took his opportunity and surged to the lead in the straight. It's A Dundeel never gave up trying but Reliable Man stole the show with a very impressive performance, winning by more than two lengths. It's A Dundeel had to be content with second, half a length clear of Happy Trails.

2013 Queen Elizabeth Stakes result

1. Reliable Man
2. It's A Dundeel
3. Happy Trails

Then came:

4. Silent Achiever
5. Secret Admirer
6. Zurella
7. Manighar
8. Glass Harmonium