2025 Brisbane Cup: Race History

Some bigger Cups form emanates from the Brisbane Cup run at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

2025 BRISBANE CUP - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Brisbane Cup is a feature staying race conducted by the Brisbane Racing Club as a highlight of the Queensland winter racing carnival.

The Brisbane Cup was first run in 1866 – five years after the first Melbourne Cup – and varied in distance in its formative years from one and three quarter miles (2800m) up to two and a quarter miles (3600m).

Traditionally run in June at Eagle Farm, the Brisbane Cup distance settled at two miles (3200m) in 1884 and remained at that trip until 2006 with the exceptions of 1888 (1¾ miles) and 1946 (1½ miles).

The race was suspended during the war years from 1942-1945 when the military occupied Eagle Farm. When racing resumed in 1946 the race was named the Victory Cup.

The Brisbane Cup, run under handicap conditions, held Group One status from 1979 until 2007 when it was downgraded to Group 2 and the distance reduced to 2400m. From 2021 it went back to being a two mile race.

It has only been run once at Doomben in 2015 over 2200m and returned to that track and distance in 2017/2018.

Many notable stayers have won the Brisbane Cup including the Melbourne Cup winners Macdougal (1959) and Viewed (2008). Reckless won the Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane Cups in 1977 before finishing second in the Melbourne Cup.

Multiple winners of the Brisbane Cup – Zanco (1872/1874), Fitz Grafton (1904/05), St Valorey (1932/1934), Spear Chief (1938/39), Fair Patton (1964/65) and Desert Chill (1995/1997).

New Zealand stayers have a great record in the race with current and former kiwis recent winners.

Bjorn Baker won the Brisbane Cup in 2024 with Alegron becoming one of only 3 trainers to win the Cup/Stradbroke in the same season. Father Murray had also won the Cup with Prized Gem.

Queen's Road (1982) was the last 3YO to win the Brisbane Cup.

The 2025 Brisbane Cup was worth prizemoney of $400,000.

The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the coronavirus.

Other notable winners of the Brisbane Cup include Lough Neagh, Hydrogen, Redcraze, Timor, Valerius, Tulloch, Fulmen, Royal Shah, Mode, Igloo, Balmerino, Grey Affair, Love Bandit, Amarant, Chiamare, Foxseal, Lord Hybrow, Just A Dancer, Praise Indeed, Yippyio, Prized Gem, Scenic Shot, Lights Of Heaven, Knights Order and Selino.

The 2024 Brisbane Cup was won by Alegron from Mostly Cloudy and Captain Envious.