Fred Best Classic

Winners and Past Results for the Fred Best Classic.

Fred Best Classic, formerly known as the BTC Classic, is hosted by the Brisbane Racing Club. It is a open Group 3 event for 3 year old horses held under set weight conditions over a distance of 1350 metres.

The race is held at the Doomben race track in May in Brisbane, Queensland during the Brisbane winter racing carnival on one of the biggest days, Doomben Cup Day. The winner takes home prize money worth $125,000. The 2011 Fred Best Classic was clinched by Falino from Spirit Of Boom and Skilled, who held on to third place.

The Fred Best Classic has been held under several names since the inaugural race in 1988. It was then known as the Ajax Stakes, won by a horse named McGintys Crown, who clocked a time of 1:19.1 under set weight conditions. The fastest time recorded till now in the Fred Best Classic is 1:17.5 by Gold Edition in 2007.

In its earlier days, it was popularly known as the BTC Classic but in 2009 its name was changed to Brisbane Racing Club (BRC) after the merging of the Brisbane Turf Club (BTC) and the Queensland Turf Club (QTC). However, it was again renamed to its present Fred Best Classic. Apart from the prestigious Group 1 Doomben Cup, The Fred Best Classic shares the day with other popular group events like the Group 2 Champagne Classic, Group 3 Lady Of The Turf Stakes, Group 3 Doomben Roses, Group 3 Lord Mayors Cup and Group 3 BRC Sprint.

Those 3 year old gallopers who had earlier participated in the Group 2 Gold Coast Guineas at the Gold Coast Racecourse usually take part in the Fred Best Classic. El Cambio, winner of the 2008 Fred Best Classic and Gold Edition, winner in 2007 both had earlier participated in Gold Coast Guineas and won the event before trouncing tough opposition in the Fred Best Classic. The next target for the 3 year old gallopers is the Group 2 Queensland Guineas held at the Eagle Farm track in June.

Some recent notable winners of the Fred Best Classic include Falino in 2011, Stryker in 2010 and Court in 2009. Other wily sprinters to win include Ferragamo, Staging, Gallieni, and La Montagna.