PJ O'Shea Stakes

Winners and Past Results

PJ O'Shea Stakes is a Group 2 race for horses three years old and above. It is held every year at the end of May or beginning of June at the Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane. Free $200 Bet

This weight for age race is contested over a distance of 2200 metres with a purse worth $250,000 going to the winner courtesy Brisbane Racing Club.

The race was held as the Royal Stakes from 1887-1899, Queen's Plate from 1900-1904 and from then to 1946 as King's Plate. The event is one of the longest events in the Brisbane Winter Carnival. Eagle Farm is Queensland's premier track controlled by the Brisbane Racing Club.

The PJ O'Shea Stakes suits the classier types mainly due to the weight for age conditions, and often attracts quality gallopers, with a number of local stayers and a steady stream of interstate rivals wanting to test themselves over 2200 metres. The usual race to consider as a form guide is the Group 1 Doomben Cup. This 2020 meter race has had a number of winners and placers go on to win or place in the PJ O'Shea Stakes. The recent horses to accomplish this have been Scenic Shot in 2009, who completed the double, while Rampant and Gaze, placed in both events in 2008 and 2007, respectively. Glass Harmonium in 2011, Triple Honour in 2010, Natural Blitz in 2005 and Pentastic in 2004, all placed in the Doomben Cup before winning the PJ O'Shea Stakes.

From this race, many horses may enter the 2400 M Group 2 Brisbane Cup at the same track a week later or the 2200 M Group 3 Tattersall's Cup, which is held on the same day as the Group 1 Winter Stakes, usually a fortnight later.

The 2011 PJ O'Shea Stakes was won by Glass Harmonium, who came in from placing 3rd in the Doomben Cup. He went on to finish runner up in the Brisbane Cup before taking a three month spell. The 2011 runner up was Shoot Out, followed by Scenic Shot. Scenic Shot won this event twice in 2008 and 2009, and in 2009 he went on to complete the Brisbane Cup Double.

Some of the best stayers to compete in this event have been Rough Habit in 1995, which he won and was the runner up in the Melbourne Cup the same year and Yippyio who won this event in 2001.

2011 PJ O'Shea Stakes

Glass Harmonium capitalised on his solid lead-up form, being taken straight to the front by jockey Lisa Cropp and holding off the small field to score an easy all-the-way win. The moderate pace helped the import who put in a bold staying effort to beat Shoot Out by two lengths with Scenic Shot a similar margin back in third.

2011 PJ O'Shea Stakes result

1. Glass Harmonium
2. Shoot Out
3. Scenic Shot

Then came:

4. Fanjura
5. Persian Star
6. Triple Honour