Queensland Derby

The Group 1 $1 million Ladbrokes Queensland Derby is a staying race for three-year-old horses held during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival.

2023 Queensland Derby Results

  • 1st: #1 Kovalica
  • 2nd: #14 Fame
  • 3rd: #9 Stroke Of Luck




The Ladbrokes Queensland Derby is a traditional 2400m event traditionally held at Eagle Farm Racecourse each June as part of the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival. The Group 1 set weight event is specifically for three year old horses and offers $1 million in prize money.

For the 2017 and 2018 Queensland Derby the race ran at Doomben Racecourse over 2200m due to the unsuitable track conditions at Eagle Farm, and there was no 2020 edition of the race due to COVID-19.

The Queensland Derby brings a lot of interstate horses that may have previously contested the Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) in Sydney over the autumn. The best lead-up races are the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) at Doomben and the Group 1 SA Derby (2500m) at Morphettville. Brambles (2012) and Hawkspur (2013) were the last horses to complete the Rough Habit Plate – Queensland Derby double.

In 2021 the ATC Derby – SA Derby double champion Explosive Jack went on to run third in the Queensland Derby trifecta.

Previously held on Stradbroke Handicap Day, the Queensland Derby now takes place a fortnight earlier on the same day as the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m).

The best three-year-olds out of the Queensland Derby field may also now opt to back-up on Stradbroke Handicap Day in the new-look Group 2 The Q22(2200m) run at weight-for-age and offering $1.2 million in prize money.

The 2023 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby ran on Saturday May 27, 2023 on Brisbane’s Kingsford Smith Cup Day card and was won in dominant fashion by Chris Waller’s odds-on favourite Kovalica ($1.70) on the quick back-up out of his Doomben Cup third the Saturday prior. 

Ladbrokes Queensland Derby 2023
Date: Saturday May 27, 2023
Track: Eagle Farm Racecourse
Distance: 2400m
Race Type: 3YO – Set Weights
Status: Group 1
Prize Money: $1,000,000

2023 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby Results

  • 1st: #1 Kovalica ($1.70)
  • 2nd: #14 Fame
  • 3rd: #9 Stroke Of Luck

Chris Waller’s Queensland Guineas winning son of Ocean Park, Kovalica ($1.70F), was far too good for his rivals dominating the 2023 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby results with an easy two-length win over the 2400m after his third the Saturday before in the Doomben Cup.

Click here to read more on the bullish Queensland Derby 2023 victory by Kovalica.

2023 Queensland Derby Results & Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 1 KOVALICA (NZ) Chris Waller James McDonald 4 57kg $1.70F
2 14 FAME Peter G Moody Jason Collett 1.95L 10 57kg $10
3 9 STROKE OF LUCK John O’Shea Ben Melham 4.02L 3 57kg $31
4 4 PROMISES KEPT Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Mark Zahra 6.89L 1 57kg $7.50
5 5 ANDALUS (NZ) John O’Shea Blake Shinn 6.98L 17 57kg $21
6 12 CUT ON A DIME Bryce Heys Damien Thornton 7.24L 2 57kg $81
7 3 ABERFELDIE BOY Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock Craig Newitt 7.31L 7 57kg $18
8 15 XTRAREVZ John Sargent Joshua Parr 7.82L 5 57kg $61
9 11 ARBY (NZ) Darryn & Briar Weatherley Sam Weatherley 11.07L 14 57kg $101
10 6 TAPILDOODLEDO (NZ) Kerry Taplin Ben Thompson 12.4L 6 57kg $101
11 10 SMARTAWI Gregory Hickman Tyler Schiller (a) 12.78L 16 57kg $81
12 2 THE VOWELS Toby & Trent Edmonds James Orman 12.89L 12 57kg $17
13 13 THE ENGLISHMAN (NZ) Peter & Paul Snowden Chad Schofield 13.16L 11 57kg $101
14 7 WAITAK (NZ) Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott Jake Bayliss 13.95L 13 57kg $101
15 17 AMALGAMATION Marcus Wilson Ms Samantha Collett 14.04L 18 57kg $201
16 19e SUBARCTIC Matthew Smith Larry Cassidy 15.61L 8 57kg $201
17 16 SACRED MISSION (NZ) David Vandyke Craig Williams 32.54L 9 57kg $61
18 8 SPECIAL SWEY (NZ) Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 127.04L 15 57kg $13
20e ARTFUL GIRL Kevin Kemp Marnu Potgieter (a) 0
18 TRUE BLUE Matthew Smith Opie Bosson 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby Betting

The winter’s best Ladbrokes Queensland Derby 2023 odds and betting market links to Ladbrokes.com.au will be made available below leading up to the Group 1 mile and a half classic.

Mr Quickie ($2.80 in 2019) followed by Kovalica ($1.70 in 2023) are the last favourites in Queensland Derby betting to salute for the punters.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 LADBROKES QUEENSLAND DERBY ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Queensland Derby Form Guide

Stay tuned for our exclusive 2023 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby Form Guide Analysis & Betting Preview.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 LADBROKES QUEENSLAND DERBY FORM GUIDE

2023 Queensland Derby Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Ladbrokes Queensland Derby 2023 Tips on the million-dollar staying showdown in Brisbane this winter.

  • To Win: #2 The Vowels ($12 at time of publish) – BET NOW

We’ve got an odds-on favourite in Kovalica who comes off a third in last weekend’s Doomben Cup but happy to take him on at that quote and have found value in The Vowels. This Queenslander is prepared by Toby & Trent Edmonds, and the Better Than Ready gelding is putting together a nice record. He has won six of his 11 starts with a lovely record at the Eagle Farm track (3:2-0-1). Ran an eye-catching third behind Saturday’s favourite two back in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas over the mile when making up late ground from the back. Good again when runner-up in the Group 3 Rough Habit, which looks a nice form line. Yet to win over further than 1600m so the distance is the query, but is improving and looks ready to strike at a nice price.

2023 Queensland Derby Field

The Queensland Derby field attracts a top line-up of both local Brisbane-trained three-year-olds and interstate visitors chasing the riches in Queensland over the winter.

Proven stayers with form over the 2200m – 2400m often line-up in the QLD Derby field with gallopers having previously run in races like the SA Derby in Morphettville, a race that produced the 2015 Queensland Derby winner Magicool (4th) and the 2018 champ Mr Quickie (3rd).

The official Ladbrokes Queensland Derby 2023 Final Field & Barriers are set for release the Tuesday leading-up to Kingsford Smith Cup Day and will be published in full below.

The 2023 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby field features a capacity line-up of young stayers led in betting by the heavily-backed Chris Waller-trained Kovalica on the quick back-up off his Group 1 Doomben Cup third against the older horses last weekend.

Click here to read more on the key runners in the Ladbrokes Queensland Derby 2023 field and betting markets.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 41111×313 KOVALICA (NZ) Chris Waller James McDonald 5 57kg
2 5×51111132 THE VOWELS Toby & Trent Edmonds James Orman 14 57kg
3 3243×133 ABERFELDIE BOY Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock Craig Newitt 8 57kg
4 80×9229112 PROMISES KEPT Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Mark Zahra 1 57kg
5 x549x41727 ANDALUS (NZ) John O’Shea Blake Shinn 19 57kg
6 4424231095 TAPILDOODLEDO (NZ) Kerry Taplin Ben Thompson 7 57kg
7 x312425570 WAITAK (NZ) Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott Jake Bayliss 15 57kg
8 73094211 SPECIAL SWEY (NZ) Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 17 57kg
9 133×922683 STROKE OF LUCK John O’Shea Ben Melham 4 57kg
10 4201120114 SMARTAWI Gregory Hickman Tyler Schiller (a) 18 57kg
11 4×2521615 ARBY (NZ) Darryn & Briar Weatherley Sam Weatherley 16 57kg
12 73×178334 CUT ON A DIME Bryce Heys Damien Thornton 2 57kg
13 2x442x312 THE ENGLISHMAN (NZ) Peter & Paul Snowden Chad Schofield 13 57kg
14 3x322x6411 FAME Peter G Moody Jason Collett 12 57kg
15 x24212x716 XTRAREVZ John Sargent Joshua Parr 6 57kg
16 1321 SACRED MISSION (NZ) David Vandyke Craig Williams 10 57kg
17 98x4x52614 AMALGAMATION Marcus Wilson Ms Samantha Collett 20 57kg
18 786166 TRUE BLUE Matthew Smith Opie Bosson 11 57kg
19e 98352742 SUBARCTIC Matthew Smith 9 57kg
20e 765551 ARTFUL GIRL Kevin Kemp Marnu Potgieter (a) 3 55kg

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Queensland Derby First Acceptances

The Queensland Derby 2023 first acceptances close in late May, a fortnight after the nominations are taken, on Wednesday the 17th of May, 2023.

2023 Queensland Derby Nominations

The official 2023 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby nominations close on a Tuesday in early May.

The Queensland Derby 2023 nominations close on Tuesday the 2nd of May, 2023.

The 2023 Queensland Derby nominations attracted 84 three-year-old stayers led in all-in betting by Chris Waller’s Group 2 Queensland Guineas winning gelding Kovalica, the spring’s VRC Derby third place-getter Aberfeldie Boy, and the in-form Bendigo St. Leger Trial winner Promises Kept now with the Maher/Eustace stable.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 21×45 ABAN (NZ) G 3 David Vandyke
2 3243×13 ABERFELDIE BOY G 3 Robbie Griffiths & Mathew de Kock
3 54340×2643 ACCEBER G 3 Kerry Parker
4 57×3111 AFFAIRE A SUIVRE (NZ) F 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
5 410×454 AIN’T HE GRAND C 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
6 0x98x4x526 AMALGAMATION G 3 Marcus Wilson
7 6271 AMOKURA F 3 Kris Lees
8 x549x41727 ANDALUS (NZ) C 3 John O’Shea
9 11 ARBY (NZ) G 3 Darryn & Briar Weatherley
10 76555 ARTFUL GIRL F 3 Kevin Kemp
11 2930×1 BITCOIN (NZ) G 3 Lindsey Smith
12 x135x24045 BROOKHAVEN G 3 Chris Munce
13 31x552x334 BULIKOV G 3 Robert Heathcote
14 4×62511 BURNT BY BERNIE G 3 Annabel Neasham
15 19×325 CAPTAIN PLUTO (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
16 6x747522x2 CHAYSE ’N’ ARTIE G 3 Les Kelly
17 73×17833 CUT ON A DIME C 3 Bryce Heys
18 421 DARK CHILL G 3 David Vandyke
19 412712x DEMON DELIVERA G 3 Corey & Kylie Geran
20 34130x DISTRUSTFUL AWARD G 3 Paul Preusker
21 536Lx52110 DOMINGO (NZ) G 3 John O’Shea
22 3x322x641 FAME G 3 Peter G Moody
23 7421×71 FIRST IMMORTAL G 3 Mark & Levi Kavanagh
24 51 FLASH PRINCE G 3 Bryan Dais
25 5×46724 GENETIC FREAK G 3 Chris Waller
26 77216×63 GOLD WITNESS G 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
27 32913×311 GOTTABESAVVY (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
28 033×44415 GRIPPING G 3 Kris Lees
29 4516×512 HAMMOON THUNDER (NZ) G 3 Rodney Northam
30 7x45x5771 HAROLD THE GREAT (NZ) G 3 Chris Waller
31 12 HEIKA G 3 Paul Messara
32 9x411x0775 HIGH APPROACH G 3 Archie Alexander
33 1x6381x875 HOKKAIDO (NZ) G 3 Joseph Pride
34 3218 IMPENDING LINK G 3 Greg Eurell
35 704×592 ITALIAN AWARD G 3 Marcus Wilson
36 77×725315 ITSAGOODDEEL G 3 Gary Portelli
37 2x8030x12 KING’S CROSSING (NZ) G 3 Danny O’Brien
38 41111×31 KOVALICA (NZ) G 3 Chris Waller
39 6377x5144x MALFY ROSA (NZ) F 3 Chris Gibbs
40 88x6113x MISSY MOOLA (NZ) F 3 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
41 8525×64 MR PLUME (NZ) G 3 Chris Waller
42 8x24x233 PARALLEL G 3 Chris Waller
43 80×922911 PROMISES KEPT G 3 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
44 1337×9855 PROSCENIUM ARCH (NZ) F 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
45 6x275x32 RA RA GRANDPA G 3 Brad Widdup
46 7x97x452 RALLY G 3 Desleigh Forster
47 x1325x6361 RED SUN SENSATION G 3 Peter G Moody
48 352×049471 REISINGER G 3 Chris Waller
49 14x67169x6 RENAISSANCE WOMAN (NZ) F 3 Bjorn Baker
50 64423418×2 RESERVOIR DOG G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
51 474×44123 ROMAN DAGGER (NZ) G 3 Corey & Kylie Geran
52 15x629x75 ROZNAMLA (NZ) G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
53 13 SACRED MISSION (NZ) G 3 David Vandyke
54 0441 SAMUEL LANGHORNE (NZ) G 3 Michael Kent
55 8×444 SATIRICAL FAN G 3 John Sargent
56 2158 SIMEON G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
57 2 SKIT ’N’ SKAT G 3 John O’Shea
58 50×12 SMULLEN G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
59 321×39231 SNIZZI G 3 Paul Messara
60 5130×8202 SO DAZZLING (NZ) F 3 John Sargent
61 7309421 SPECIAL SWEY (NZ) G 3 Chris Waller
62 2x245x3124 STARIANNE F 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
63 133×92268 STROKE OF LUCK G 3 John O’Shea
64 3x6x51 STRUCK TWICE (NZ) G 3 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
65 983527 SUBARCTIC G 3 Matthew Smith
66 x2x1110233 SUIZURO G 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
67 21×233 TAPA CAPALL G 3 David Brideoake & Matt Jenkins
68 5442423109 TAPILDOODLEDO (NZ) G 3 Kerry Taplin
69 9844 TELL THE FUTURE G 3 Ross McConville
70 37 TERRITORY EXPRESS G 3 Paul Niceforo
71 2x442x31 THE ENGLISHMAN (NZ) G 3 Peter & Paul Snowden
72 0x892 THE KING SLAYER C 3 Jason Edwards
73 05×6327 THE NEGOTIATOR G 3 Cliff Brown
74 15×5111113 THE VOWELS G 3 Toby & Trent Edmonds
75 249×413 THORNYCROFT (NZ) G 3 Chris Waller
76 78616 TRUE BLUE G 3 Matthew Smith
77 413×1710 TWIGMAN (NZ) G 3 Paul Shailer
78 8x9218x36 UNTETHERED (NZ) G 3 Michael Moroney
79 8x446x2425 VERIFIER (NZ) G 3 Nigel Blackiston
80 2×31242557 WAITAK (NZ) G 3 Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott
81 851258×327 WHAKAMANA F 3 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
82 638×072323 WOLVERINE (NZ) F 3 Kris Lees
83 8x24212x71 XTRAREVZ G 3 John Sargent
84 13833 YASUKE C 3 Chris Waller

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Queensland Derby History

First run in 1868 in Gayndah, the Queensland Derby was won by Hermit. Three years later, in 1871, the race was moved to Eagle Farm in Brisbane and has remained there ever since except for 2017 and 2018 when held over 2200m at Doomben Racecourse.

Although the race was not held from 1873-77 and again in 1942-45, the Queensland Derby has been won by many legendary horses including Tulloch in 1957, Kingston Town in 1980 and Rough Habit in 1990. When the Queensland Derby was held twice in 1870, Grafton proved just how good a horse he was by winning both races.

There was no 2020 race due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while in 2021 the event was moved forward a fortnight to run in late May as opposed to taking place on Stradbroke Handicap Day in mid-June.

Notable recent Queensland Derby winners include Court Ruler (2009), Shootoff (2011) and Sonntag (2014).

Recent Queensland Derby Winners

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Queensland Derby
1st Kovalica 2 minutes 29.63 seconds
2nd Fame
Stroke Of Luck
2022
Queensland Derby
1st Pinarello 2 minutes 29.53 seconds
2nd Paternal
Caboche
2021
Queensland Derby
1st Kukeracha 2 minutes 30.19 seconds
2nd Senor Toba
Explosive Jack
2020
Queensland Derby
Race Not Held (COVID-19)
1st
2nd
3rd
2019
Queensland Derby
1st Mr Quickie 2 minutes 29.74 seconds
2nd Vow And Declare
3rd Aliferous
2018
Queensland Derby
1st Dark Dream 2 minutes 19.31 seconds
2nd Heavenly Thought
3rd Youngstar
2017
Queensland Derby
1st Ruthven 2 minutes 14.45 seconds
2nd Rockstar Rebel
3rd Ana Royale
2016
Queensland Derby
1st Eagle Way 2 minutes 32.34 seconds
2nd Rodrico
3rd I’m Belucci
2015
Queensland Derby
1st Magicool 2 minutes 15.09 seconds
2nd Werther
3rd Jumbo Prince
2014
Queensland Derby
1st Sonntag 2 minutes 28.3 seconds
2nd Pinstripe Lane
3rd Vilanova
2011
Queensland Derby
1st Hawkspur 2 minutes 27.89 seconds
2nd Electric Fusion
3rd Honorius
2012
Queensland Derby
1st Brambles 2 minutes 29.73 seconds
2nd Quintessential
3rd Westsouthwest
2011
Queensland Derby
1st Shootoff 2 minutes 28.7 seconds
2nd Shez Sinsational
3rd Heidilicious
2010
Queensland Derby
1st Dariana 2 minutes 26.49 seconds
2nd Kutchinsky
3rd Miss Keepsake
2009
Queensland Derby
1st Court Ruler 2 minutes 34.4 seconds
2nd Shocking
3rd Larry’s Never Late
2008
Queensland Derby
1st Riva San 2 minutes 36.9 seconds
2nd Petushki
3rd Moatize
2007
Queensland Derby
1st Empires Choice 2 minutes 32.9 seconds
2nd Volcanic Star
3rd Sirmione
2006
Queensland Derby
1st Ice Chariot 2 minutes 30.6 seconds
2nd Cape Breton
3rd Loanhead
2005
Queensland Derby
1st Lachlan River 2 minutes 26.5 seconds
2nd Lords A Leaping
3rd Vitesse Dane
2004
Queensland Derby
1st Toulouse Lautrec 2 minutes 26.5 seconds
2nd Devastating
3rd Set Up
2003
Queensland Derby
1st Half Hennessy 2 minutes 27.7 seconds
2nd Schumpeter
3rd King Of Them All
2002
Queensland Derby
1st County Tyrone 2 minutes 29 seconds
2nd Galroof
3rd Miss Bussell
2001
Queensland Derby
1st De Gaulle Lane 2 minutes 25.2 seconds
2nd Tempest Morn
3rd Lottery Prize
2000
Queensland Derby
1st Freemason 2 minutes 27.3 seconds
2nd Citras Prince
3rd Maguire

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