Grand Prix Stakes

The Grand Prix Stakes is a Group 3 race held at Eagle Farm Racecourse in late December having been moved from its previous position on Kingsford Smith Cup Day.

2023 Grand Prix Stakes Results

  • 1st: #2 Encoder
  • 2nd: #4 Kirikan
  • 3rd: #6 Imezaaki



The Grand Prix Stakes is a Group 3 race held annually at Eagle Farm Racecourse from 2017 having previous been run at Doomben.

Once held on the Kingsford-Smith Cup raceday in May over the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival, the race was moved to summer time slot in 2019. Officially there were two 2019 Grand Prix Stakes, the first held in the winter and won by Fun Fact and the second contested at the end of December and taken out by Chains Of Honour.

The Grand Prix Stakes is open only to three-year-old staying types, the set weights showdown now offering a lucrative $300,000 in total prize money as of 2023.

Contested over 2100m (previously 2200m), the event once held Group 2 status and when run in the winter served as a good guide to the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) run back at the Eagle Farm track a fortnight later on Stradbroke Handicap Day.

The latest horses to complete the Grand Prix Stakes – Queensland Derby double in the same year were Brambles (2012) and Hawkspur (2013), while in 2016 Eagle Way won the Queensland Derby on the back of a Grand Prix second. In 2018 the Grand Prix Stakes winner Heavenly Thought ran second in the Queensland Derby next start.

Kovalica meanwhile won the 2022 Grand Prix Stakes before success in the 2023 Queensland Derby the following winter.

The 2021 Grand Prix Stakes form was franked with the winner Gypsy Goddess returning in the autumn of 2022 to run third in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and second in the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) in Sydney. She then went on to win Brisbane’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) in the winter before a third in the spring in the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) as a four-year-old.

The 2022 Grand Prix Stakes winner Kovalica went on to win the 2023 Group 2 Queensland Guineas the following autumn before a third in the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) and victory in the 2023 Queensland Derby. He further franked the form in the spring of 2023 running second in Sydney’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m).

The latest edition of the 2023 Grand Prix Stakes ran on Saturday December 16, 2023 at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane and was won in an upset by Lee Freedman’s track specialist Encoder ($12). 

Grand Prix Stakes Info:

Date:
Saturday December 16, 2023
Track:
Eagle Farm Racecourse
Distance:
2100m
Race Type:
3YOs – Set Weights
Status:
Group 3
Prizemoney:
$300,000

2023 Grand Prix Stakes Results

  • 1st: #2 Encoder ($12)
  • 2nd: #4 Kirikan
  • 3rd: #6 Imezaaki

Lee Freedman’s progressive Encryption three-year-old Encoder ($12) continued his undefeated record at Eagle Farm improving on a lead-up sixth at Doomben a fortnight ago to storm home down the outside and post a stylish upset in the 2023 Grand Prix Stakes results.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 2 ENCODER Lee Freedman Damien Thornton 10 57kg $12
2 4 KIRIKAN (NZ) Chris Waller James Orman 1.13L 5 57kg $6
3 6 IMEZAAKI (NZ) Bjorn Baker Ben Thompson 2.7L 4 57kg $4.60
4 5 WINSOME STAR John Symons & Sheila Laxon Jaden Lloyd 3.24L 6 57kg $9.50
5 9 RED DEFCON Matt Kropp Ms Samantha Collett 3.67L 2 55kg $26
6 1 FELIX THE SCAT Tony Gollan Michael Rodd 5.05L 1 57kg $2.90F
7 10 CHAYSE ’N’ ADAM Les Kelly Sean Cormack 7.17L 7 55kg $31
8 7 SUPERCRISP Rodney Ollerton Robbie Dolan 7.34L 8 57kg $101
9 3 SHY GUY Chris Waller Mark Du Plessis 7.76L 3 57kg $8
FF 8 SONOFDEC Jay Hopkins Martin Harley 9 57kg $14

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Grand Prix Stakes Betting Odds

The season’s top Grand Prix Stakes 2023 betting odds and market links to Ladbrokes.com.au on the now summer racing feature in Brisbane will be provided below the week of the race.

Chains Of Honour ($1.90 in 2019), The Elanora ($2.35 in 2020), at the time undefeated Tarzino filly Gypsy Goddess ($1.24 in 2021), and the Chris Waller-trained Kovalica ($1.45 in 2022) are the latest favourites in Grand Prix Stakes betting to salute for the punters.

There was a notable upset in 2023 however with Encoder winning at Grand Prix Stakes odds of $12.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 GRAND PRIX STAKES ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Grand Prix Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 GRAND PRIX STAKES FORM GUIDE

2023 Grand Prix Stakes Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Grand Prix Stakes 2023 Tips on the Brisbane summer showdown this season.

  • To Win: #4 Kirikan ($6 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Going for a touch of value and taking on the Brissy locals with this Chris Waller-trained Sydney raider who is in flying form. The Tivaci gelding comes off a good Canterbury win and is fit now on the quick back-up. Has winning form over 1900m so can see him stretching a furlong further without too much worry. Going well enough to challenge.

2023 Grand Prix Stakes Field

The Grand Prix Stakes field attracts a gun field of three-year-old stayers heading towards the following winter’s Queensland Derby.

The Grand Prix Stakes 2023 Final Field & Barriers are set for release on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below once announced by Racing Queensland.

The 2023 Grand Prix Stakes field features a small but quality line-up of of summer gallopers led in betting by Tony Gollan’s rails-drawn Felix The Scat

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 x12000x453 FELIX THE SCAT Tony Gollan Ryan Maloney 1 57kg 64
2 444×31146 ENCODER Lee Freedman Damien Thornton 10 57kg 66
3 7×436132 SHY GUY Chris Waller Mark Du Plessis 3 57kg 64
4 26×628341 KIRIKAN (NZ) Chris Waller James Orman 5 57kg 64
5 1×22364 WINSOME STAR John Symons & Sheila Laxon Jaden Lloyd 6 57kg 61
6 06131 IMEZAAKI (NZ) Bjorn Baker Ben Thompson 4 57kg 62
7 0x0624 SUPERCRISP Rodney Ollerton Robbie Dolan 8 57kg
8 611 SONOFDEC Jay Hopkins Martin Harley 9 57kg 64
9 232×123228 RED DEFCON Matt Kropp Ms Samantha Collett 2 55kg 64
10 471×13 CHAYSE ’N’ ADAM Les Kelly Sean Cormack 7 55kg 62

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Grand Prix Stakes Nominations

Early nominations for the Grand Prix Stakes race in 2023 close the Monday of race week and will be updated below once available.

2023 Grand Prix Stakes nominations extended until 10:00am – 12/12/2023. 

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Hcp Rating
1 x12000x453 FELIX THE SCAT C 3 Tony Gollan 1 64
2 232×123228 RED DEFCON F 3 Matt Kropp 2 64
3 444×31146 ENCODER G 3 Lee Freedman 3 66
4 7×436132 SHY GUY G 3 Chris Waller 4 64
5 26×628341 KIRIKAN (NZ) G 3 Chris Waller 5 64
6 1×22364 WINSOME STAR C 3 John Symons & Sheila Laxon 6 61
7 471×13 CHAYSE ’N’ ADAM F 3 Les Kelly 7 62
8 06131 IMEZAAKI (NZ) G 3 Bjorn Baker 8 62
9 0x0624 SUPERCRISP C 3 Rodney Ollerton 9

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Grand Prix Stakes History

The Grand Prix Stakes was originally held at Eagle Farm before being shifted to Doomben Racecourse in 2010.

From 2017 onward the race returned to its inaugural home and joined the Kingsford Smith Cup Day card. Inaugurated in 1971 when Mode won, a number of renowned horses can be found among the Grand Prix Stakes results. These include Balmerino (1976), Surround (1977), Kingston Town (1980), and Sirmione (2007).

After the 2019 Grand Prix Stakes was run and won in the winter, Racing Queensland moved the Group 3 race to the summer making for two 2019 editions. The race’s prize money was also increased to $250,000 and the Grand Prix Stakes was given its own feature race meeting in December.

The Grand Prix Stakes race distance has changed multiple times and was again decreased from 2200m to 2100m in 2021.

Grand Prix Stakes Race Distance

Period Distance
1971-72 1.5 miles
1973-74 2400m
1975-82 2200m
1983 2232m
1984-89 2200m
1990 2244m
1991 2225m
1992-2001 2200m
2002 2144m
2003 2140m
2004-09 2100m
2009-2020 2200m
2021-onward 2100m

Once a Group 2 race (1979-2005) the Grand Prix Stakes lost its rating and since 2006 has been run as a Group 3 race. In spite of its reduced status, the Grand Prix Stakes still attracts some very good horses from all around each year. Recent winners of the Grand Prix Stakes – Queensland Derby double include Brambles (2012) and Hawkspur (2013).

In 2022 the odds-on favourite Kovalica saluted for the punters in a record time of 2 minutes 9.59 seconds and returned in 2023 to win the Queensland Guineas – Queensland Derby double.

Grand Prix Stakes results since 2000 are listed below.

Grand Prix Stakes Results

Year

Place

Horse

Time

2023
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Encoder 2:12.81
2nd Kirikan
3rd Imezaaki
2022
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Kovalica 2:09.59 (R)
2nd Noah ‘N’ A Deel
3rd Kandos Cosmos
2021
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Gypsy Goddess 2:11.57
2nd Balmaurice
3rd Ironic Miss
2020
Grand Prix Stakes
1st The Elanora 2:16.70
2nd Toscanini
3rd Atonement
2019 (Summer)
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Chains Of Honour 2:17.59
2nd Mission Phoenix
3rd Mosshiki
2019 (Winter)
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Fun Fact 2:16.07
2nd Angel Of Heaven
3rd Home Made
2018
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Heavenly Thought 2:14.22
2nd Han Xin
3rd Dark Dream
2017
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Order Again 2:22.3
2nd Volatile Mix
3rd Violate
2016
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Mackintosh 2:16.4
2nd Eagle Way
3rd Howard Be Thy Name
2015
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Upham 2:04.6
2nd Redoutable Heart
3rd Master Of Arts
2014
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Vilanova 2:14.5
2nd Pinstripe Lane
3rd Rudy
2013
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Hawkspur 2:16.3
2nd Rhythm To Spare
3rd Honorius
2012
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Brambles 2:16.1
2nd Vatuvei
3rd Red Shift
2011
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Turnitup 2:18.0
2nd Mr Light Blue
3rd Alma’s Fury
2010
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Kutchinsky 2:17.0
2nd The Hombre
3rd Landlord
2009
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Saint Minerva 2:19.4
2nd Markus Maximus
3rd The Grogoch
2008
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Bell Academy 2:14.9
2nd Teary Eyed
3rd Petushki
2007
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Sirmione 2:10.3
2nd My Centurion
3rd Currigee
2006
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Ice Chariot 2:10.5
2nd Kincharm
3rd Just Grand
2005
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Spuruson 207.6
2nd Willy Leica
3rd Atapi
2004
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Reclaim 2:08.9
2nd Dodgem
3rd Russian Pearl
2003
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Half Hennessy 2:11.4
2nd General Minolta
3rd Mahtoum
2002
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Distinctly Secret 2:11.7
2nd Cassimir
3rd Arlington Road
2001
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Reenact 2:14.6
2nd Air War
3rd Feed The Meter
2000
Grand Prix Stakes
1st Make Mine Magic 2:14.6
2nd Freemason
3rd Fairway

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