The VRC Queen's Elizabeth Stakes - recently run as the Queen's Cup - is a Group 3 staying event held at Flemington Racecourse on Champions Stakes Day.
2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (VRC) Results
- 1st: #4 Smokin' Romans
- 2nd: #8 Star Vega
- 3rd: #2 Berkeley Square
VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes News
The 2024 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a 2600m quality handicap held at Flemington Racecourse on the first Saturday of November as part of Champions Stakes Day.
2024 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Results
- 1st: #4 Smokin’ Romans ($13)
- 2nd: #8 Star Vega
- 3rd: #2 Berkeley Square
The Ciaron Maher-trained eight-year-old Smokin’ Romans ($13) improved on a lead-up fourth in the JRA Cup bursting free of the field to lead all-the-way and hold off a late run by Star Vega off a confident Ben Melham ride in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2024 results on Champions Stakes Day.
Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2024 Odds & Results
Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G3)
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
4. Smokin' Romans (4)
J: Ben Melham 56.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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|
2nd
8. Star Vega (8)
J: Billy Egan 54kg
T: A & S Freedman |
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|
3rd
2. Berkeley Square (6)
J: Jaylah Kennedy 58kg
T: Dan O'Sullivan |
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|
4th
1. Serpentine (7)
J: James McDonald 58.5kg
T: G Waterhouse & A Bott |
||
|
5th
7. Kinesiology (1)
J: Damian Lane 54kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
6th
9. I'm A Dirty Rascal (5)
J: Michael Dee 54kg
T: G Waterhouse & A Bott |
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|
7th
3. Amade (3)
J: Mark Zahra 57kg
T: Phillip Stokes |
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|
8th
11. Steel Blaze (2)
J: Zac Spain 54kg
T: B M Lazzarini |
||
|
9th
5. First Light (9)
J: Jye McNeil 55.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
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|
10th
6. Mission Of Love (10)
J: Craig Williams 54kg
T: J G Symons & S Laxon |
Data retrieved: 26/01/2025 06:09:29 PM (Australia/Brisbane)
A Group 3 event, the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes – not to be confused with the Group 1 ATC Queen Elizabeth Stakes held at Randwick in the autumn – pays $300,000 total prize money.
It is one of the more lucrative Group 3 events held during the Melbourne Cup Carnival and also offers an additional bonus to any horse that was paid up for at final acceptances stage but was ballot out of the Melbourne Cup field.
Irish-trained mare True Self (2019) was the last Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner to collect on the bonus. True Self returned in 2020 and successfully defended her VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes title.
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes is held on the fourth and final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, and runs alongside a host of other black-type events. These include the Group 1 VRC Champions Stakes (2000m), the Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m), Group 1 Champions Mile (1600m) and the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m).
Heading into the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes, horses might contest a variety of different races including the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m), both popular lead up races. Some horses also back up from the Melbourne Cup to contest this event looking for a consolation prize just four days after the ‘Race That Stops A Nation’ is run and won.
Following the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m) is a fairly common target. Some horses choose to rest prior to the Summer Racing Carnival or even until the autumn.
The 2021 Queen Elizabeth Stakes form was franked with the runner-up Sound going on to win the Sandown Classic next start, while Wentwood ran third in both events.
The 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes form was franked with the third placegetter Duke De Sessa returning in the spring of 2024 to win that year’s Caulfield Cup.
The 2024 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes ran on Saturday November 9, 2024 on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington and was won in impressive all-the-way fashion by veteran galloper Smokin’ Romans ($13).
| VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday November 9, 2024 |
| Track: | Flemington Racecourse |
| Distance: | 2600m |
| Race Type: | Open Quality Handicap |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize money: | $300,000 |
2024 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Ben Melham | 4 | 56.5kg | $13 | |||
| 2 | 8 | STAR VEGA (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Billy Egan | 0.46L | 8 | 54kg | $6.50 | ||
| 3 | 2 | BERKELEY SQUARE | Dan O’Sullivan | Ms Jaylah Kennedy (a) | 4.21L | 6 | 58kg | $6 | ||
| 4 | 1 | SERPENTINE (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | James McDonald | 5.96L | 7 | 58.5kg | $4.20 | ||
| 5 | 7 | KINESIOLOGY (GB) | Chris Waller | Damian Lane | 7.21L | 1 | 54kg | $3.80F | ||
| 6 | 9 | I’M A DIRTY RASCAL (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Michael Dee | 7.67L | 5 | 54kg | $14 | ||
| 7 | 3 | AMADE (IRE) | Phillip Stokes | Mark Zahra | 8.67L | 3 | 57kg | $9 | ||
| 8 | 11 | STEEL BLAZE | Brett Lazzarini | Zac Spain | 10.42L | 2 | 54kg | $61 | ||
| 9 | 5 | FIRST LIGHT (GB) | Chris Waller | Jye McNeil | 11.67L | 9 | 55.5kg | $26 | ||
| 10 | 6 | MISSION OF LOVE | John Symons & Sheila Laxon | Craig Williams | 11.97L | 10 | 54kg | $19 | ||
| 10 | PESTO (GB) | Gavin Bedggood | Harry Coffey | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2024 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Betting
The latest VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2024 odds will be available at Ladbrokes.com.au and provided here at Races.com.au for you to back your VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes tips in at the right price.
Warning ($3.40 in 2021), Soulcombe ($3 in 2022) – who was first-up down under as an import for the Chris Waller stable and who would return in 2023 to run second in the Melbourne Cup results – and Muramasa ($4.40 in 2023) are the latest Queen Elizabeth Stakes favourites in Melbourne to salute for the punters.
2024 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES (VRC) FORM GUIDE
2024 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Tips
- To Win: #7 Kinesiology ($2.70 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Some horses are just perennial placegetters and are scared of winning and it is tough to tip them but going against that in a small and winnable Queen Elizabeth at HQ and sticking with the Chris Waller-trained Kinesiology to shrug that runner-up status. This consistent entire has been a source of frustration for connections back in Ireland running second in his latest four. Debuts down under now for Waller and is being thrown straight into it at 2600m. May be yet to win over further than 2000m but two back in August was beaten a nose hair over 2816m with 60.5kg on his back. Carries just 54kg from the inside alley and think he’ll make an immediate impact looking ahead to the 2025 Melbourne Cup.
2024 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Field
The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes field attracts a fairly handy selection of horses. As it is raced over a relatively lengthy staying distance of 2600m, the Queen Elizabeth Stakes field tends to fill out with experienced staying types who can handle the longer distances and have a few Group wins under their belt.
Good lead-up races into the Queen Elizabeth Stakes field include the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m), the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) and even the Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) a week before at the track on Derby Day.
In 2017 the Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner Vengeur Masque previous won the Geelong Cup and came off a second in the Lexus Stakes. True Self (2019) meanwhile improved on a first-up Geelong Cup second before her VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes win.
The 2024 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes field and barriers are released by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday before Stakes Day and will be published in full below once announced.
The Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2024 field at Flemington features a small field of stayers including Chris Waller’s Irish import Kinesiology on debut down under and Dan O’Sullivan’s Bendigo Cup runner-up Berkeley Square looking for further frank that form after 90/1 Melbourne Cup champ Knight’s Order came off a fifth in the same race.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x11404x402 | SERPENTINE (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | James McDonald | 7 | 58.5kg | 103 | ||
| 2 | 2512×81122 | BERKELEY SQUARE | Dan O’Sullivan | Ms Jaylah Kennedy (a) | 6 | 58kg | 102 | ||
| 3 | 234015×035 | AMADE (IRE) | Phillip Stokes | Mark Zahra | 3 | 57kg | 100 | ||
| 4 | x634820x54 | SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Ben Melham | 4 | 56.5kg | 99 | ||
| 5 | 117×044170 | FIRST LIGHT (GB) | Chris Waller | Jye McNeil | 9 | 55.5kg | 97 | ||
| 6 | 92441×3450 | MISSION OF LOVE | John Symons & Sheila Laxon | Craig Williams | 10 | 54kg | 94 | ||
| 7 | 82×12222 | KINESIOLOGY (GB) | Chris Waller | Damian Lane | 1 | 54kg | 90 | ||
| 8 | x876214233 | STAR VEGA (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Billy Egan | 8 | 54kg | 90 | ||
| 9 | x5427x4496 | I’M A DIRTY RASCAL (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Michael Dee | 5 | 54kg | 82 | ||
| 10 | x5966x0948 | PESTO (GB) | Gavin Bedggood | Harry Coffey | 11 | 54kg | 74 | ||
| 11 | 9860×79369 | STEEL BLAZE | Brett Lazzarini | Zac Spain | 2 | 54kg | 71 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Nominations
Early Queen Elizabeth Stakes (VRC) 2024 nominations for the Stakes Day race at Flemington in November close the Monday leading-up to the event.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 234015×035 | AMADE (IRE) | G | 11 | Phillip Stokes | 100 |
| 2 | x6442x8001 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | G | 6 | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 104 |
| 3 | 2512×81122 | BERKELEY SQUARE | G | 5 | Dan O’Sullivan | 102 |
| 4 | 468×858576 | CANBERRA LEGEND (IRE) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 81 |
| 5 | x6356x0544 | DILLIAN (IRE) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 70 |
| 6 | 117×044170 | FIRST LIGHT (GB) | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 97 |
| 7 | 170×071174 | HERMAN HESSE (GB) | G | 8 | Ciaron Maher | 100 |
| 8 | 0041132229 | HIT THE ROAD JACK (NZ) | G | 8 | Symon Wilde | 94 |
| 9 | x5427x4496 | I’M A DIRTY RASCAL (IRE) | G | 7 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 81 |
| 10 | 82×12222 | KINESIOLOGY (GB) | H | 4 | Chris Waller | 90 |
| 11 | 172x00x899 | LE DON DE VIE (GB) | G | 9 | Ciaron Maher | 100 |
| 12 | x242274x74 | MANKAYAN (IRE) | G | 9 | Ciaron Maher | 95 |
| 13 | 92441×3450 | MISSION OF LOVE | M | 5 | John Symons & Sheila Laxon | 94 |
| 14 | 4042x086x6 | MR WATERVILLE (IRE) | G | 6 | Chris Waller | 88 |
| 15 | 64282×1741 | ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA) | G | 7 | Brian Ellison | 102 |
| 16 | x5966x0948 | PESTO (GB) | G | 9 | Gavin Bedggood | 74 |
| 17 | 31123×8495 | SAINT GEORGE (GB) | H | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 95 |
| 18 | x11404x402 | SERPENTINE (IRE) | G | 8 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 103 |
| 19 | x634820x54 | SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) | G | 8 | Ciaron Maher | 99 |
| 20 | x876214233 | STAR VEGA (IRE) | G | 5 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 90 |
| 21 | 9860×79369 | STEEL BLAZE | G | 4 | Brett Lazzarini | 71 |
| 22 | 3650×00984 | STOCKMAN (NZ) | G | 8 | Joseph Pride | 97 |
| 23 | 05580×4320 | SUNSETS | G | 4 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 85 |
| 24 | 4041×57788 | VOW AND DECLARE | G | 9 | Danny O’Brien | 101 |
| 25 | 115x8x943 | WALTHAM (GB) | G | 5 | Matthew Smith | 86 |
| 26 | x068x63110 | WHISKY ON THE HILL (GB) | G | 5 | Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson | 81 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes History
The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a very old race. Inaugurated in 1854, it is seven years older than the Melbourne Cup and almost as prestigious. Originally known as the Queen’s Plate and until recently the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, it was first run over 24 furlongs, which is the equivalent of around 4800m.
In its long history, there have been only two dead heats. The first was in 1895, between Wallace and Auraria. The second was more recently in 1997, between Vita Man and Bright Spot.
Throughout its history, the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes has not been held on a total of eight years.
The 2019 and 2020 editions saw Irish-trained mare True Self post back-to-back wins.
The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes has been through many name changes since its inception, which are documented below.
| Period | Name |
|---|---|
| 2023 | VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
| 2022 | Queen’s Cup |
| 2016 – 2021 | VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
| 2015 | Queen’s Cup |
| 2011-2014 | Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
| 2010 | Queen’s Cup |
| 1986-2009 | Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
| 1985 | Queen’s Cup |
| 1979-1984 | Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
| 1975-1978 | C.B. Fisher Plate |
| 1974 | Queen’s Cup |
| 1970-1973 | C.B. Fisher Plate |
| 1969 | Queen’s Cup |
| 1895-1968 | C.B. Fisher Plate |
| 1875-1894 | Canterbury Plate |
| 1873-1874 | Flemington Plate |
| 1854-1872 | Queen’s Plate |
Along with multiple name changes, the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes has also changed distance multiple times. The various distances of the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes / Queen’s Cup are documented below.
| Period | Distance |
|---|---|
| 2010-now | 2600m |
| 1973-2009 | 2500m |
| 1972 | 2400m |
| 1895-1971 | 12 furlongs |
| 1890-1894 | 16 furlongs |
| 1889 | 18 furlongs |
| 1888 | 24 furlongs |
| 1886-1887 | 16 furlongs |
| 1885 | 20 furlongs |
| 1881-1884 | 16 furlongs |
| 1880 | 18 furlongs |
| 1879 | 16 furlongs |
| 1877-1878 | 18 furlongs |
| 1875-1876 | 16 furlongs |
| 1854-1874 | 24 furlongs |
*A furlong is approximately 200 metres.
A number of very impressive horses have taken out the honours in the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes / Queen’s Cup.
Winners include Tim Whiffler (1867), Wakeful (1902), Alawa (1908, 09, 10), Eurythmic (1920), Phar Lap (1930), Ajax (1938), High Caste (1939, 40, 41), Rising Fast (1954, 55), Even Stevens (1962), Hyperno (1979), and Makybe Diva (2002) amongst many others.
Queen’s Cup / VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes results, winners and winning times since 2000 are provided below.
VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes / Queen’s Cup Results
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Smokin’ Romans | 2 minutes 47.20 seconds |
| 2nd | Star Vega | ||
| 3rd | Berkeley Square | ||
| 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Muramasa | 2 minutes 42.26 seconds |
| 2nd | Ladies Man | ||
| 3rd | Duke De Sessa | ||
| 2022 Queen’s Cup |
1st | Soulcombe | 2 minutes 43.87 seconds |
| 2nd | Luncies | ||
| 3rd | Captain Envious | ||
| 2021 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Warning | 2 minutes 44. 69 seconds |
| 2nd | Sound | ||
| 3rd | Wentwood | ||
| 2020 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | True Self | 2 minutes 44.99 seconds |
| 2nd | Pondus | ||
| 3rd | Chapada | ||
| 2019 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | True Self | 2 minutes 45.42 seconds |
| 2nd | Carif | ||
| 3rd | Maurus | ||
| 2018 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Jaameh | 2 minutes 45.09 seconds |
| 2nd | Sully | ||
| 3rd | Libran | ||
| 2017 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Vengeur Masque | 2 minutes 42.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Grey Lion | ||
| 3rd | Wheal Leisure | ||
| 2016 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Francis Of Assisi | 2 minutes 41.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Vengeur Masque | ||
| 3rd | Tom Melbourne | ||
| 2015 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Dandino | 2 minutes 46.93 seconds |
| 2nd | Secret Number | ||
| 3rd | Don Doremo | ||
| 2014 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Le Roi | 2 minutes 43.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Prince Of Penzance | ||
| 3rd | Big Memory | ||
| 2013 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Precedence | 2 minutes 46.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Sertorius | ||
| 3rd | Let’s Make Adeal | ||
| 2012 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Puissance De Lune | 2 minutes 44.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Ironstein | ||
| 3rd | Tanby | ||
| 2011 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Ironstein | 2 minutes 44.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Shootoff | ||
| 3rd | Paddy O’Reilly | ||
| 2010 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Moudre | 2 minutes 45.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Capecover | ||
| 3rd | Persian Star | ||
| 2009 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Sterling Prince | 2 minutes 34.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Crossthestart | ||
| 3rd | Naval Escort | ||
| 2008 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Capecover | 2 minutes 38.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Light Vision | ||
| 3rd | Baughurst | ||
| 2007 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Zavite | 2 minutes 38.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Cefalu | ||
| 3rd | Completion | ||
| 2006 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Gallant Guru | 2 minutes 40.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Magic Instinct | ||
| 3rd | Fooram | ||
| 2005 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Our Smoking Joe | 2 minutes 33.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Coalesce | ||
| 3rd | Grey Song | ||
| 2004 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Fantastic Love | 2 minutes 44.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Manawa King | ||
| 3rd | Da Capo | ||
| 2003 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Zazzman | 2 minutes 37.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Lord Erin | ||
| 3rd | Delvecchio | ||
| 2002 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Makybe Diva | 2 minutes 35.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Spirit Of Westbury | ||
| 3rd | Time Off | ||
| 2001 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Hatha Anna | 2 minutes 40.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Ascana | ||
| 3rd | Tiger’s Eye | ||
| 2000 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes |
1st | Savrocca | 2 minutes 37.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Ultra Smug | ||
| 3rd | Mayshiel | ||
