2023 Grand Prix Stakes: Race History

We saw a good one in the Grand Prix Stakes run at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

2023 GRAND PRIX STAKES - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Grand Prix Stakes is a Group 3 race for three-year-olds conducted by the Brisbane Racing Club at Eagle Farm as part of the Queensland Summer racing carnival.

The Grand Prix Stakes is run over 2100m under set weights and was introduced in 1971 as a major lead-up to the G1 Queensland Derby. It was moved to December from 2019.

The Grand Prix Stakes was run at Eagle Farm from 1971 until 2009. From 2010 it was held at Doomben but is back to Eagle Farm.

The distance has varied many times, fluctuating from 2020m up to 2400m.

The Grand Prix Stakes was a Group 2 race from 1979 until 2005 and has been Group 3 since 2006.

All three placegetters from 2018 were raced in Asia after the Winter carnival.

Gypsy Goddess would end up the Queensland Oaks winner six months after winning the Grand Prix.

The following horses have completed the Grand Prix Stakes–Queensland Derby double: Lefroy (1978), Double Century (1979), Kingston Town (1980), Mr. Cromwell (1981), Our Planet (1982), Librici (1984), Handy Proverb (1986), Hidden Rhythm (1989), Dorset Downs (1991), Air Seattle (1993), Half Hennessy (2003), Ice Chariot (2006), Brambles (2012) and Hawkspur (2013). Kovalica won that double in 2023 as the first to do it with the races six months apart.

Other notable winners of the Grand Prix Stakes include Mode, Latin Knight, Asgard, Balmerino, Surround, Our Sophia, Stargazer, Distinctly Secret, Reenact, Vilanova, Gypsy Goddess and Kovalica.

The 2023 Grand Prix Stakes was run for prizemoney of $300,000 as a final of the 3yo Eagle Way Stayers Series.

The 2022 Grand Prix Stakes was won by Kovalica from Noah 'N' A Deel and Kandos Cosmos.