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The 2023 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes – recently run as the Queen’s Cup – is a 2600m quality handicap held at Flemington Racecourse on the first Saturday of November as part of Champions Stakes Day.

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 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes ran on Saturday November 11, 2023 on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival and was won in a barnstorming finish by the Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained favourite Muramasa ($4.40F) who put over two lengths on his rivals to make it three wins on the trot. 

VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2023
Date:	Saturday November 11, 2023
Track:	Flemington Racecourse
Distance:	2600m
Race Type:	Open Quality Handicap
Status:	Group 3
Prize money:	$300,000

2023 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Results

• 1st: #9 Muramasa
• 2nd: #1 Ladies Man
• 3rd: #2 Duke De Sessa

The flying Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Deep Impact four-year-old Muramasa ($4.40F) made it three straight wins this prep backing up from his last start Group 3 Coongy Cup victory at Caulfield last month to come through 250m out from the line and charge home for an impressive 2.5 length victory on Stakes Day in the 2023 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes results.

	Finish	No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Margin	Bar.	Weight	Penalty	Starting Price
	1	9	MURAMASA	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Daniel Moor		7	54kg		$4.40F
	2	1	LADIES MAN (NZ)	Allan Sharrock	Opie Bosson	2.5L	1	58kg		$13
	3	2	DUKE DE SESSA (IRE)	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	John Allen	3L	2	57.5kg		$4.60
	4	7	REGAL POWER	John Leek (Jnr)	Michael Dee	3.75L	5	54.5kg		$14
	5	5	AMADE (IRE)	Phillip Stokes	Zac Spain	3.85L	9	56kg		$9.50
	6	14	PESTO (GB)	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	Jye McNeil	5.1L	12	54kg		$26
	7	3	KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE)	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Tim Clark	5.85L	4	57.5kg		$21
	8	8	KUKERACHA (NZ)	Chris Waller	Craig Williams	7.35L	8	54kg		$18
	9	11	SO DAZZLING (NZ)	John Sargent	Dean Yendall	7.45L	10	54kg		$9.50
	10	4	LUNCIES (GB)	Kris Lees	Mark Zahra	8.2L	13	57.5kg		$7.50
	11	6	HEZASHOCKA (NZ)	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Beau Mertens	9.45L	6	55.5kg		$20
	12	12	PORT PHILIP (IRE)	Julius Sandhu	Kerrin McEvoy	9.55L	3	54kg		$41
	13	10	THIRD REALM (GB)	Anthony & Sam Freedman	Ms Jamie Kah	9.65L	11	54kg		$26
		13	TARAMANSOUR (IRE)	Phillip Stokes	Harry Coffey		0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Betting Odds

See below for the latest VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2023 odds, betting provided by Ladbrokes.com.au with links to the market 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.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES (VRC) ODDS (Final Field)

2023 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 QUEEN ELIZABETH STAKES (VRC) FORM GUIDE

2023 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Tips

• To Win: #5 Amade ($9 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Bit of value in the Phillip Stokes-trained veteran 10-year-old Amade to make it two wins on the trot with the galloper last seen taking out the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m). The genuine stayer has winning form up to 3400m in the past so the extra metres here are a non-issue. At Geelong he defeated Ashrun for the win and that horse went on to finish an eye-catching fourth in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup results. That looks some strong form lines in an easier grade race here.

2023 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 2023 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 (VRC) 2023 final field features a quality line-up of spring stayers including Geelong Cup winner Amade and the in-form Coongy Cup champ Muramasa chasing a third win on the trot.

No	Last 10	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight	Probable Weight	Penalty	Hcp Rating
1	1413×32216	LADIES MAN (NZ)	Allan Sharrock	Opie Bosson	1	58kg			105
2	x131x8x069	DUKE DE SESSA (IRE)	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	John Allen	2	57.5kg			104
3	9x8663x000	KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE)	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Tim Clark	5	57.5kg			104
4	x22418x984	LUNCIES (GB)	Kris Lees	Mark Zahra	14	57.5kg			104
5	x83300x951	AMADE (IRE)	Phillip Stokes	Zac Spain	10	56kg			101
6	05420×8070	HEZASHOCKA (NZ)	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	Beau Mertens	7	55.5kg			100
7	x70x050296	REGAL POWER	John Leek (Jnr)	Michael Dee	6	54.5kg			98
8	05314×7096	KUKERACHA (NZ)	Chris Waller	Craig Williams	9	54kg			97
9	725x900x11	MURAMASA	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Daniel Moor	8	54kg			97
10	19x64x069x	THIRD REALM (GB)	Anthony & Sam Freedman	Ms Jamie Kah	12	54kg			97
11	820200×705	SO DAZZLING (NZ)	John Sargent	Dean Yendall	11	54kg			92
12	3x0100x758	PORT PHILIP (IRE)	Julius Sandhu	Kerrin McEvoy	3	54kg			88
13	x6925x1153	TARAMANSOUR (IRE)	Phillip Stokes	Harry Coffey	4	54kg			85
14	05926×4617	PESTO (GB)	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	Jye McNeil	13	54kg			84

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Nominations

Early Queen Elizabeth Stakes (VRC) 2023 nominations for the Stakes Day race at Flemington in November close the Monday leading-up to the event.

	Last 10	Horse	Sex	Age	Trainer	Ballot	Weight	True Weight	Penalty	Hcp Rating
1	x69x00x059	ALENQUER (FR)	G	6	Michael Moroney	1	59.5kg	59.5kg		109
2	6x50x49621	CLEVELAND (IRE)	H	6	Kris Lees	2	57.5kg	57.5kg		105
3	1413×32216	LADIES MAN (NZ)	G	6	Allan Sharrock	3	57.5kg	57.5kg		105
4	5x0x06x906	MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE)	M	5	Chris Waller	4	55kg	55kg		104
5	x131x8x069	DUKE DE SESSA (IRE)	H	5	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	5	57kg	57kg		104
6	x22418x984	LUNCIES (GB)	G	7	Kris Lees	6	57kg	57kg		104
7	9x8663x000	KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE)	G	9	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	7	57kg	57kg		104
8	213x3L7331	KALAPOUR (IRE)	G	7	Kris Lees	8	56.5kg	56.5kg		103
9	2x295x0808	SHERAZ (FR)	G	7	Chris Waller	9	55.5kg	55.5kg		101
10	x83300x951	AMADE (IRE)	G	10	Phillip Stokes	10	55.5kg	55.5kg		101
11	1265x728x5	MORE FELONS (IRE)	G	5	Chris Waller	11	55kg	55kg		100
12	05420×8070	HEZASHOCKA (NZ)	G	6	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	12	55kg	55kg		100
13	x70x050296	REGAL POWER	G	8	John Leek (Jnr)	13	54kg	54kg		98
14	725x900x11	MURAMASA	G	4	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	14	54kg	53.5kg		97
15	05314×7096	KUKERACHA (NZ)	G	6	Chris Waller	15	54kg	53.5kg		97
16	19x64x069x	THIRD REALM (GB)	G	6	Anthony & Sam Freedman	16	54kg	53.5kg		97
17	7043100×00	TIMOUR (FR)	G	6	Chris Waller	17	54kg	52kg		94
18	820200×705	SO DAZZLING (NZ)	M	4	John Sargent	18	54kg	49kg		92
19	22110×8038	REBEL RACER	G	7	Amy & Ash Yargi	19	54kg	50.5kg		91
20	12x18x7404	MR WATERVILLE (IRE)	G	5	Chris Waller	20	54kg	49.5kg		89
21	3x0100x758	PORT PHILIP (IRE)	G	6	Julius Sandhu	21	54kg	49kg		88
22	x6925x1153	TARAMANSOUR (IRE)	G	7	Phillip Stokes	22	54kg	47.5kg		85
23	05926×4617	PESTO (GB)	G	8	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	23	54kg	47kg		84
24	7x51330x78	HARMYSIAN (GB)	G	7	Clayton Douglas	24	54kg	44kg		78
25	14×31122	INSULATION (GB)	G	5	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	25	54kg	40.5kg		71

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
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