Queensland Derby
Queensland Derby
Group One Betting Guide
| Date: | Saturday, June 1, 2024 |
| Location: | Eagle Farm Racecourse – Brisbane, Queensland |
| Prize Money: | $1,000,000 |
| Distance: | 2400m |
The Group 1 Queensland Derby is a distance race of 2400m for three-year-olds, held at Eagle Farm every June.
The $1,000,000 feature staying event was one of the must-win races throughout the 80’s and 90’s, but the form has fallen away over the past few years. Horses such as Kingston Town, Rough Habit and Strawberry Road used the Queensland Derby to springboard their champion careers and that form will stand the test of time, but recent results are concerning.
Regardless of the quality of recent winners, the Queensland Derby gives punters of all varieties a chance at making some money. Favourites do have quite the handy record over the years in the Queensland Derby.
2024 Queensland Derby Betting Odds
Markets for the 2024 Queensland Derby are currently unavailable.
Best Queensland Derby bookmakers
All of our recommended bookmakers have markets for the Queensland Derby.
Most of the Brisbane winter carnival races are covered early and the Group 1 Queensland Derby is no exception.
Sport Table
Latest QLD Derby News
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Queensland Derby betting guide
Due to the timing of the Queensland Derby in the last week of May / first week of June, the absolute elite calibre of three-year-old runners are already in the paddock, spelling ahead of a spring campaign.
For runners continuing their three-year-old campaigns a run in the South Australian Derby or the Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes at Eagle Farm a fortnight prior seems to be the best form references to follow for the QLD Derby.
A filly has not taken out the Queensland Derby since Dariana took out the race in 2010.
The Queensland Derby has been a successful race for favourite punters, with the last four of the last six winners of the QLD Derby saluting as the pre-race favourite.
2024 Queensland Derby Final Field
Horsebetting.com.au will update this page when the 2024 Queensland Derby field is released.
Previous QLD Derby Final Fields
Plenty of the future staying stars of the racing scene have competed in the Queensland Derby.
No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 
Kovalica Chris Waller James McDonald 5 57kg 2 The Vowels Toby & Trent Edmonds James Orman 14 57kg 3 Aberfeldie Boy Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock Craig Newitt 8 57kg 4 Promises Kept Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Mark Zahra 1 57kg 5 Andalus John O’Shea Blake Shinn 19 57kg 6 Tapildoodledo Kerry Taplin Ben Thompson 7 57kg 7 Waitak Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott Jake Bayliss 15 57kg 8 Special Swey Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 17 57kg 9 Stroke Of Luck John O’Shea Ben Melham 4 57kg 10 Smartawi Gregory Hickman Tyler Schiller 18 57kg 11 Arby Darryn & Briar Weatherley Sam Weatherley 16 57kg 12 Cut On A Dime Bryce Heys Damien Thornton 2 57kg 13 The Englishman Peter & Paul Snowden Chad Schofield 13 57kg 14 Fame Peter Moody Jason Collett 12 57kg 15 Xtrarevz John Sargent Joshua Parr 6 57kg 16 Sacred Mission David Vandyke Craig Williams 10 57kg 17 Amalgamation Marcus Wilson Samantha Collett 20 57kg 18 True BlueMatthew SmithOpie Bosson1157kg19 Subarctic (1E) Matthew Smith Opie Bosson 9 57kg 20 Artful Girl (2E)Kevin KempMarnu Potgieter355kgNo. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Tutukaka Tony Pike James Orman 11 57kg 2 Dark Destroyer Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott Sam Weatherley 1 57kg 3 Caboche Chris Waller James McDonald 9 57kg 4 Menazzi Stuart Kendrick Nash Rawiller 17 57kg 5 Pinarello Roger James & Robert Wellwood Leith Innes 20 57kg 6 Red Wave Tony & Maddysen Sears Kyle Wilson-Taylor 13 57kg 7 Southern Stock Chris Munce Larry Cassidy 19 57kg 8 Balmaurice Rex Lipp & Nicholas Hahn Brad Stewart 16 57kg 9 Sea Treasures Bjorn Baker Rachel King 14 57kg 10 Ting Tong Kris Lees Andrew Mallyon 18 57kg 11 Satirical Glory John Sargent Jim Byrne 12 57kg 12 Paternal Chris Waller Hugh Bowman 3 57kg 13 Dark Rebel Edward Cummings Joshua Parr 21 57kg 14 Global Ausbred Brad Widdup Kerrin McEvoy 5 57kg 15 Impel Gazelle Michael Costa Ben Thompson 15 57kg 16 Anythink Goes Matthew Smith Ryan Maloney 4 57kg 17 Nest Egg Chris Waller Sam Collett 6 57kg 18 Villaden Chris Waller Brenton Avdulla 10 57kg 19 Turn Me OverChris WallerJamie Kah1057kg>20 Velvet LadyKris LeesTim Clark257kg21 Kipling’s JourneyPeter & Will HulbertMark Du Plessis857kgNo. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Explosive Jack Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 6 57kg 2 Let’s Karaka Deel Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ben Allen 3 57kg 3 Kukeracha Chris Waller James McDonald 2 57kg 4 Achiever Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 11 57kg 5 Toscanini Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Robbie Fradd 8 57kg 6 Criminal Defence Peter & Will Hulbert Jye McNeil 4 57kg 7 Bucharest Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 19 57kg 8 Horrifying Mark Kavanagh Jamie Kah 12 57kg 9 Senor Toba Chris Waller Hugh Bowman 21 57kg 10 Bold Executive Garnett Taylor Ryan Wiggins 15 57kg 11 Sagacious Matthew Dunn Jason Collett 1 57kg 12 Maranoa Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 9 57kg 13 Mr Gee John O’Shea Craig Williams 7 57kg 14 Fortified Chris Waller James Orman 16 57kg 15 Calm Seeker Matt Kropp Les Tilley 20 57kg 16 Hezashocka Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr Mark Zahra 14 57kg 17 Mt Mort Shark Matt Kropp Larry Cassidy 17 57kg 18 Quiet Michael Chris Waller Joshua Parr 10 57kg 19 Sino DefeatPaul ButterworthN/A557kg20 Olympic ClassMichael CostaN/A1357kg21 StylebenderBryce HeysN/A1857kg
2023 Queensland Derby result
1st – Kovalica ($1.70)
2nd – Fame ($2.90)
3rd – Stroke Of Luck ($5.90)
Recent Queensland Derby winners
- The old firm of James McDonald and Chris Waller combined for Group 1 glory once again, as Kovalica destroyed his rivals in the Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm. In what can only be described as one of the most impressive wins of the Queensland Winter Carnival thus far, Kovalica had the 2023 edition of the Queensland Derby won a long way out. James McDonald kept his mount out of trouble throughout the 2400m journey, allowing Kovalica clear-galloping room turning for home on the three-wide line. He did so with a lapful of horse and plenty of confidence, looking over the shoulder while bolting clear with the prize. Kovalica put the writing on the wall after last weekends’ Group 1 Doomben Cup, taking on the older horses to finish in third position behind Huetor. This left punters more than happy to launch into the short quote and onlookers never cast any doubt as the only chasers making ground were simply playing for the minor money. Fame found plenty of admirers with a pre-race plunge, starting at $10, while Stoke Of Luck and Promises Kept were honest as ever finding third and fourth respectively.
- Co-trainer Roger James’ gut feeling to keep Pinarello racing has paid off after the three-year-old saluted in the $1 million Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm. The gelding saluted by a little more than a nose after a great ride from Leith Innes, with Paternal second for Chris Waller. Leith Innes had Pinarello in clear air in the three wide line inside the final 800m and eventually struck the front when cornering. He was all out inside the final furlong, but had enough in the tank to fend off Paternal and hand Group 1 glory for the last time to Innes, with the hoop announcing his retirement post-race.
- The Chris Waller-trained Kukeracha prevailed in a driving finish to the Group 1 Queensland Derby to down stablemate Senor Toba with triple Derby hero Explosive Jack finishing a game third. For Hall of Fame jockey James McDonald, it was a 54th career Group One and the Kiwi hoop was pleased Waller made the call as to which horse he rode in the Derby.
- The 2020 Queensland Derby was cancelled due to Queensland lockdowns because of COVID-19.
- It took a patient steer from John Allen to hand Mr Quickie the Group 1 Queensland Derby. Having been shuffled back in the field during the race, Mr Quickie needed plenty to go his way if he was to claim Group 1 success. He managed to get the luck at the 300m mark and sprinted to clear to hold a length’s margin over eventual Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare in a dramatic edition of the Queensland Derby.
- Dark Dream bounced back sharply from a disappointing showing in the Group 3 Grand Prix at Doomben to win the Queensland Derby. Toppling the horse that beat him that day in Heavenly Thought, the gelding settled midfield before being unleashed to close late and win it by a neck. This was the last time the horse would race in Australia after getting purchased by Hong Kong interests.
- Ruthven was the well-backed favourite to win the 2017 Queensland Derby and it didn’t disappoint. The Ciaron Maher-trained colt was given a forward ride by Hugh Bowman, who took off around the home turn at Doomben and didn’t look back. Placegetters Rockstar Rebel and Ana Royale gave the Victorians the trifecta in a dominant result of staying power. Read the race report.
- Eagle Way was a dominant winner of the Derby and was subsequently sold to Hong Kong where it performed at high levels. The Bryan Guy-trained gelding by More Than Ready showed its class over a questionable field on three-year-old stayers, but it headed the field near the line to score by 1.75 lengths. Rodrico and I’m Belucci added some value to the multiples.
- The win of Magicool might not stand the test of time, but he defeated a more-than-handy field which included Hong Kong Derby winner Werther. Magicool’s career might have come to a premature end, but it lived up to its hefty price tag of $250,000 by winning the Queensland Derby and it was made more special by being run at Doomben instead of the usual Eagle Farm.
- The Henry Dwyer-trained Sonntag took full advantage of the dry Eagle Farm surface by sprinting nicely over the last 100m. The son of Teofilo had drawn wide and was forced to travel wide throughout parts of the race, but the three-year-old powered past Pinstripe Lane and Vilanova to record a narrow win. The beaten brigade also included the well-performed Kiwis Rock Diva and Telepathic which have both won multiple times since.
- Hawkspur’s win in 2013 was one of the most impressive in history. The Chris Waller-trained gelding settled midfield before improving quickly around the final turn. It then took over in the straight to record an effortless victory over Electric Fusion and Honorius. That win paved a good career for Hawkspur, which wasn’t as good as many had hoped, but a handy career all the same. The 2013 field was one of the weakest in history, however, with the majority of the runners disappearing from the racing scene.
Queensland Derby winners
| Queensland Derby Past Winners | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2023 | Kovalica | James McDonald | Chris Waller |
| 2022 | Pinarello | Leith Innes | Roger James & Robert Wellwood |
| 2021 | Kukeracha | James McDonald | Chris Waller |
| 2020 | Race Not Held | ||
| 2019 | Mr Quickie | John Allen | Phillip Stokes |
| 2018 | Dark Dream | Tim Clark | Kerry Parker |
| 2017 | Ruthven | Hugh Bowman | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 2016 | Eagle Way | Tommy Berry | Bryan & Daniel Guy |
| 2015 | Magicool | James Winks | Mark Kavanagh |
| 2014 | Sonntag | Chad Schofield | Henry Dwyer |
| 2013 | Hawkspur | Jim Cassidy | Chris Waller |
| 2012 | Brambles | Brad Rawiller | Peter Moody |
| 2011 | Shootoff | Michael Rodd | Graeme Rogerson |
| 2010 | Dariana | Michael Rodd | Bart Cummings |
| 2009 | Court Ruler | Larry Cassidy | John Wheeler |
| 2008 | Riva San | Jim Byrne | Peter Moody |
| 2007 | Empires Choice | Damien Oliver | Bart Cummings |
| 2006 | Ice Chariot | Glen Lynch | Ron Maude |
| 2005 | Lachlan River | Glen Boss | John Morrisey |
| 2004 | Toulouse Lautrec | Corey Brown | John Hawkes |
| 2003 | Half Hennessy | Scott Seamer | Bede Murray |
| 2002 | County Tyrone | Corey Brown | Max Lees |
| 2001 | De Gaulle Lane | Brett Prebble | Cindy Alderson |
| 2000 | Freemason | Larry Cassidy | John Hawkes |
Queensland Derby winners pre-2000
| Queensland Derby Past Winners Pre 2000 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Horse | ||
| 1999 | Camarena | ||
| 1998 | Dodge | ||
| 1997 | Yippyio | ||
| 1996 | Valance | ||
| 1995 | Turridu | ||
| 1994 | Tenor | ||
| 1993 | Air Seattle | ||
| 1992 | Royal Magic | ||
| 1991 | Dorset Downs | ||
| 1990 | Rough Habit | ||
| 1989 | Hidden Rhythm | ||
| 1988 | Bravery | ||
| 1987 | Princess Gracious | ||
| 1986 | Handy Proverb | ||
| 1985 | Tristina | ||
| 1984 | Librici | ||
| 1983 | Strawberry Road | ||
| 1982 | Our Planet | ||
| 1981 | Mr. Cromwell | ||
| 1980 | Kingston Town | ||
| 1979 | Double Century | ||
| 1978 | Lefroy | ||
| 1977 | Florissa | ||
| 1976 | Cheyne Walk | ||
| 1975 | Bottled Sunshine | ||
| 1974 | Count Rapier | ||
| 1973 | Analie | ||
| 1972 | Race Not Held | ||
| 1971 | Amby’s Love | ||
| 1970 | Silver Sharpe | ||
| 1969 | Intrepid Clipper | ||
| 1968 | Tails | ||
| 1967 | Minto Crag | ||
| 1966 | Dark Briar | ||
| 1965 | Bahram Star | ||
| 1964 | Royal Sovereign | ||
| 1963 | Confidence | ||
| 1962 | Honest Man | ||
| 1961 | Raajpoot | ||
| 1960 | Persian Lyric | ||
| 1959 | Travel Boy | ||
| 1958 | Earlwood | ||
| 1957 | Tulloch | ||
| 1956 | Book Link | ||
| 1955 | Regal Dignity | ||
| 1954 | The Wash | ||
| 1953 | Castillo | ||
| 1952 | Headstockman | ||
| 1951 | Forest Beau | ||
| 1950 | Basha Felika | ||
| 1949 | Pocket Money | ||
| 1948 | Blue Slipper | ||
| 1947 | Sefiona | ||
| 1946 | Te Tana | ||
| 1945-42 | Race Not Held | ||
| 1941 | Lord Spear | ||
| 1940 | Fearless Fox | ||
| 1939 | Spearace | ||
| 1938 | Hendra Lad | ||
| 1937 | Spear Chief | ||
| 1936 | Six Fifty | ||
| 1935 | Auto Buz | ||
| 1934 | Glen’s Spear | ||
| 1933 | Waikare | ||
| 1932 | Braeburn | ||
| 1931 | Lough Neagh | ||
| 1930 | Monash Valley | ||
| 1929 | Bernfield | ||
| 1928 | Paddi Eve | ||
| 1927 | High Syce | ||
| 1926 | Kitty Paddington | ||
| 1925 | Wee Glen | ||
| 1924 | Serelot | ||
| 1923 | Ardglen | ||
| 1922 | Kingslot | ||
| 1921 | Lawn Mower | ||
| 1920 | Seremist | ||
| 1919 | Boy Syce | ||
| 1918 | Syce Lad | ||
| 1917 | Symposium | ||
| 1916 | Lord Acre | ||
| 1915 | Rascasse | ||
| 1914 | Fog Bell | ||
| 1913 | Signal Lamp | ||
| 1912 | King Cleo | ||
| 1911 | Maritoria | ||
| 1910 | Persian Jewel | ||
| 1909 | Braw Laddie | ||
| 1908 | Flaxen | ||
| 1907 | Euroa | ||
| 1906 | Togo | ||
| 1905 | Alexis | ||
| 1904 | Joyance | ||
| 1903 | Fitz Grafton | ||
| 1902 | Balfour | ||
| 1901 | Narelle | ||
| 1900 | Musket | ||
| 1899 | Master Bernie | ||
| 1898 | Boreas II | ||
| 1897 | The Guard | ||
| 1896 | Greyleg | ||
| 1895 | Black Diamond | ||
| 1894 | Czarina | ||
| 1893 | Triton | ||
| 1892 | Tridentate | ||
| 1891 | Spendide | ||
| 1890 | Garuda | ||
| 1889 | Fernando | ||
| 1888 | Greywing | ||
| 1887 | Lord Headington | ||
| 1886 | Fano | ||
| 1885 | Elbe | ||
| 1884 | Petronel | ||
| 1883 | Wheatmeat | ||
| 1882 | Goldfinder | ||
| 1881 | Legerdemain | ||
| 1880 | Waterloo | ||
| 1879 | Elastic | ||
| 1878 | Whisker | ||
| 1877-73 | Race Not Held | ||
| 1872 | J.L. | ||
| 1871 | Florence | ||
| 1870 | Grafton | ||
| 1869 | Zambesi | ||
| 1868 | Hermit | ||
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