Ladbrokes Tip: The Fred Best Classic now serves as a potential Stradbroke lead-up each year
The Group 3 Fred Best Classic is a feature race for middle-distance three-year-olds taking place Eagle Farm Racecourse in late May each Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival on the new-look Kingsford-Smith Cup Day. Held on the same day as the Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300m), which was formerly known as the BTC Cup, the 1400m contest is run at set weights and now serves as a potential lead-up to the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) back at the track and distance a fortnight later. La Montagna (2006) was the last horse to do the Fred Best Classic – Stradbroke Handicap race double.
As of 2021 the Fred Best Classic offers a generous $250,000 in total prize money and is also now a likely aim for three-year-old graduates out of the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) held earlier during the carnival.
The 2021 Fred Best Classic winner Apache Chase improved on a lead-up second in the Queensland Guineas to win the event.
The next edition of the Fred Best Classic takes place on Saturday May 28th, 2022.
2022 Fred Best Classic Results
The official Fred Best Classic results & finishing order for the 2022 edition of the race will be published here as soon as the race takes place on Saturday May 28th, 2022.
Fred Best Classic Race Info
- Date: Saturday May 28th, 2022
- Track: Eagle Farm Racecourse
- Distance: 1400m
- Conditions: 3YOs – Set Weights
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $250,000
- First Run: 1984
Fred Best Classic Betting
Fred Best Classic betting markets favour three-year-olds with proven ability in Group races in either Brisbane or Sydney.
Previous Group winners, those with form over at least 1200m and the best out of a lead-up race like the Group 2 Queensland Guineas (1600m) earlier in the season all head the markets. Apache Chase (2nd in 2021) was the last horse to back-up out of the Queensland Guineas and win the Fred Best Classic.
The Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) is another good lead-up into the Fred Best Classic.
Dawn Passage ($2.15 in 2020) was the last favourite in Fred Best Classic betting to win, while in 2021 the odds-on favourite Ayrton ($1.50) ran second in an upset to 10/1 shot Apache Chase.
Ayrton atoned winning the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) next start.
2022 Fred Best Classic Odds
The season’s official Fred Best Classic 2022 betting odds will be available on the hopeful three-year-olds right here the week of the race so stay tuned for access to the best Brisbane racing odds on the potential Stradbroke Handicap-bound youngsters.
Early market betting odds on the 2022 Fred Best Classic will be displayed below once available. Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live markets, please visit ladbrokes.com.au.
Fred Best Classic Field
Dawn Passage (pictured in Sydney)
won the 2020 Fred Best Classic as the short-priced favourite. Photo: Steve Hart.
The Fred Best Classic field features a line-up of the best performing three-year-olds of the season from local and interstate stables.
Runners come via a number of different lead-up races including the Group 2 Queensland Guineas, which was previously held after the race before a reschedule to the line-up in 2021.
An earlier lead-up into the Fred Best Classic field taking place in late April in New South Wales is the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas (1400m). Military Zone (2019) and Dawn Passage (2020) are the last horse to complete the Hawkesbury Guineas – Fred Best Classic double.
Fred Best Classic nominations close on the Monday of race week with final acceptances announced on the Wednesday.
2022 Fred Best Classic Field
The official Fred Best Classic 2022 final field & barriers will be provided below as soon as acceptances are taken by Queensland Racing on the Wednesday leading-up to Kingsford-Smith Cup Day so bookmark this page to see what youngsters make the cut for the set weights clash.
The 2022 Fred Best Classic field features a full line-up of three-year-olds including the flying Robert Heathcote-trained Prince Of Boom chasing a fourth straight win and coming off a good lead-up victory in the Gold Coast Guineas.
2022 Fred Best Classic Nominations
The early Fred Best Classic 2022 nominations are taken on the Wednesday of race week.
Fred Best Classic Form Guide
The Fred Best Classic form guide features all the crucial race information like the saddlecloth numbers, jockeys, trainers, barriers and lead-up runs of the two-year-olds in the field. Looking for Queensland Guineas graduates on the form is important, as is seeking out the well-performing Sydney raiders heading to Brisbane.
The Fred Best Classic form, since the race was moved from Doomben Cup Day to Kingsford-Smith Cup Day, is expected to stack-up in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
It is key to look for the in-form interstate runners – especially any from the three-time winning stables of Peter Snowden – on the Fred Best Classic form guide.
2022 Fred Best Classic Form Guide
Stay tuned for a link to our comprehensive Fred Best Classic 2022 race form guide, available following final declarations the week leading up to Kingsford-Smith Cup Day.
Fred Best Classic Tips
Fred Best Classic tips include looking for youngsters coming off a win in a similar class race like the Gold Coast Guineas or Queensland Guineas in Brisbane or a Sydney equivalent and to back runners with winning form at least up to 1200m.
2022 Fred Best Classic Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ insider Fred Best Classic 2022 betting tips with the three-year-old gallopers to back and sack this winter will be detailed below a day or so out from the race so stay tuned.
- To Win: #2 Prince Of Boom ($3.80 at time of publish) – BET NOW
This Rob Heathcote-trained son of Spirit Of Boom is airborne and nothing to suggest he can’t continue his winning ways with a fourth straight turf triumph. Was good last start in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas, up in grade, winning narrowly in the wet. This is tougher again, but he’s going so well and is drawn a treat in barrier three. Handles the conditions and looks a genuine chance to salute for the punters.
Fred Best Classic Results
Fred Best Classic results in recent years show a dominance by successful interstate raiders from Sydney.
Some of the more notable Fred Best Classic winners since the race was inaugurated in 1984 include Chief De Beers (1995), Gold Edition (2007), Mental (2012) and Military Zone (2019).
Fred Best Classic Winners
Year |
Winner |
Trainer |
Jockey |
Weight |
Time |
2022 |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
TBD |
2021 |
Apache Chase |
Desleigh Forster |
Jim Byrne |
57kg |
1:20.06 |
2020 |
Dawn Passage |
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
Brad Stewart |
57kg |
1:18.83 (over 1350m) |
2019 |
Military Zone |
Peter & Paul Snowden |
James McDonald |
57kg |
1:22.06 |
2018 |
Perast |
Paul Perry |
Tim Clark |
57kg |
1:19.70 |
2017 |
Niccanova |
Steve Tregea |
James Orman |
57kg |
1:26.59 |
2016 |
Counterattack |
Chris Waller |
James McDonald |
57kg |
1:18.86 |
2015 |
Najoom |
Gai Waterhouse |
Tommy Berry |
55kg |
1:19.00 |
2014 |
Havana |
Paul Messara |
Luke Nolen |
57kg |
1:19.23 |
2013 |
Platinum Kingdom |
Lisa Latta |
Jonathan Riddell |
57kg |
1:19.81 |
2012 |
Mental |
Peter Snowden |
Kerrin McEvoy |
57kg |
1:19.36 |
2011 |
Falino |
Jeffrey Caught |
Tim Clark |
56kg |
1:18.82 |
2010 |
Stryker |
Chris Waller |
Jim Cassidy |
56kg |
1:19.14 |
2009 |
Court |
Clarry Conners |
Damien Oliver |
54kg |
1:19.42 |
2008 |
El Cambio |
Peter Snowden |
Corey Brown |
56.5kg |
1:19.25 |
2007 |
Gold Edition |
Ron Maund |
Jim Cassidy |
54kg |
1:17.52 |
2006 |
La Montagna |
Barry Baldwin |
Scott Galloway |
52.5kg |
1:18.57 |
2005 |
Gumnuts |
Bryan Guy |
Jim Byrne |
55.5kg |
1:18.84 |
2004 |
Gallieni |
Gerald Ryan |
Brad Pengelly |
55.5kg |
1:18.18 |
2003 |
Proudly Agro |
Barry Bowditch |
Lacey Morrison |
55.5kg |
1:18.91 |
2002 |
Tellson |
Rex Lipp |
Stathi Katsidis |
55.5kg |
1:17.87 |
2001 |
Marlina |
Clarry Conners |
Leanne G Henry |
52.5kg |
1:19.21 |
2000 |
Cryptavia |
Russell Cameron |
Jim Byrne |
52.5kg |
1:20.79 |