Queen Elizabeth Stakes History, Results, Past Winners and Odds – 2014 Edition

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a Group 1 race held each year at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney.  Held since 2014 on the second day of ‘The Championships’ event, this 2000 metre race is an important part of the Sydney autumn racing carnival.  The Queen Elizabeth Stakes has a long and distinguished history that stretches back to 1851, and has been won by some of Australia’s most notable horses over the years.

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The origins of this event are associated with the growth of thoroughbred racing in the 1840s and 1850s, with the Australian Jockey Club (AJC) hosting an autumn event to coincide with the Easter holiday period.  In the early days of this race between 1851 and 1872, it was known as the Queens Plate.  This event became the AJC Plate in 1873, the AJC Kings Cup in 1934, the AJC Plate again in 1935, and finally the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in 1954.

It was in February 1954 that this race took its current name, in honour of the visiting monarch Queen Elizabeth II.  This event has also been through some distance changes over the years, originally a 3 mile race before being shortened to a 1 1/2 mile race in 1914, and a 3 mile race again in 1915.  Since this time, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes has been run over a range of distances, finally settling as a 2000 metre event in 1986.

More Joyous won the 2012 edition of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes
More Joyous won the 2012 edition of the Queen Elizabeth Stakes

The Queen Elizabeth Stakes has been won by many of Australia’s most famous horses over the years, including recent winners More Joyous in 2012, Grand Armee in 2004-05, Lonhro in 2003, Might And Power in 1998, Rough Habit in 1992, and Our Poetic Prince in 1989.  When you go back a little further into history, winners also  include Archer in 1862, Chester in 1878-79, Phar Lap in 1930, Carbine in 1889-91, Tulloch in 1958 and 1960-61, and Ming Dynasty in 1978.

The most impressive record for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes is set by trainer Etienne L. de Mestre, who managed to win this event 9 times in 1862, 1868, 1870, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1876, 1878, 1879.  In 2013, The Australian Turf Club (ATC) announced that the Queen Elizabeth Stakes would become the A$4,000,000 signature event of a new Sydney autumn racing series called ‘The Championships’, taking place on the second day of this event alongside the Sydney Cup, Australian Oaks, and Queen of the Turf Stakes.

In the news:

The architect of Sydney’s new-look autumn racing calendar will harvest the carnival’s richest reward if It’s A Dundeel wins Saturday’s Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick.

Racing NSW chairman John Messara has been instrumental in reshaping the Sydney autumn, highlighted by a massive stakes hike for the Queen Elizabeth.

The flagship race during two days of The Championships, the Queen Elizabeth carried a $500,000 purse 12 months ago.

This year’s edition boasts $4 million in stakes, making it the richest race in Sydney.

Messara is also proprietor of Arrowfield Stud which part-owns It’s A Dundeel, the four-year-old who was backed from $5 to $3.80 Queen Elizabeth favouritism on Thursday.

As an administrator, breeder and owner, Messara has a lot riding on Saturday’s result.

But he is more intent on the race showcasing what the thoroughbred business has to offer rather than any personal success that might come his way.

“Win, lose or draw I’m just interested in seeing the best result for the industry and wagering on the day,” Messara said.

“On a secondary basis I hope my horse is competitive. He’s had three starts this prep and been placed only so we’re hoping he can break through on Saturday.

“But as long as it’s a good day’s racing, that’s more important for the industry long-term.”

Messara is also proud the Queen Elizabeth has attracted the attention of its namesake who will be represented by Carlton House.

It is timely given the Royal visit to Australia by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, although the stars didn’t align to attract them to Randwick.

But if the Queen can win the race with Carlton House it will be a huge and unexpected boost to the profile of The Championships.

“I hope it runs well. It would be a great PR exercise for The Championships and would attract world-wide attention,” Messara said.

It’s A Dundeel’s jockey James McDonald is less invested in industry benefit and instead focused on claiming another Group One win.

The entire heads into Saturday’s race having placed in the Chipping Norton and Ranvet Stakes, and the BMW.

He is undefeated at his fourth run from a spell and demolished his Derby rivals by six lengths at the corresponding stage of his autumn campaign last year.

McDonald said it was no coincidence the horse was tackling his target race fourth-up on Saturday.

“That’s the whole plan. Obviously, his runs have been spaced out and he’s been behind the eight-ball a little bit,” McDonald said.

“But I think he’s caught up now he’s had that seasoning run in the BMW and dropping back in distance will help him as well.

“What beats him, wins.”

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