Grand Prix Stakes 2023

The Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes is a Brisbane Summer Racing Carnival staying race for three-year-olds conducted at Eagle Farm Racecourse in mid-December annually.

Run on the same date as the Group 3 $1.5 million The Gold Rush (1400m) in WA, the Grand Prix Stakes field faces off for $300,000 in stakes as of 2023 at set weights.

The Grand Prix Stakes was first held in 1971 and runs over 2100m.

It was previously held in the winter before being moved to December for the first time in 2019.

It serves as an early lead-up for three-year-olds eyeing a run in the following year’s Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) or Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m).

Horses to complete the Grand Prix Stakes / Queensland Derby double (before the Grand Prix was moved to the summer) include Brambles (2012), Ice Chariot (2006), Half Hennessy (2003), Air Seattle (1993), Dorset Downs (1991), Hidden Rhythm (1989), Handy Proverb (1986), Librici (1984), Our Planet (1982), Mr Cromwell (1981), Kingston Town (1980), Double Century (1979), and Lefroy (1978).

Most recently the 2022 Grand Prix Stakes winner Kovalica returned in 2023 to complete the Queensland Guineas – Queensland Derby double.

The 2021 Grand Prix Stakes winning filly Gypsy Goddess meanwhile won the following year’s Queensland Oaks.

The latest edition of the Grand Prix Stakes ran at Eagle Farm on Saturday December 16th, 2023 and was won in an eye-catching upset by the fast finishing Encoder ($12).

2023 Grand Prix Stakes Results

The full Grand Prix Stakes 2023 Results & Finishing Order will be provided below once the race is run and won on Saturday December 16th, 2023.

• 1st: #2 Encoder
• 2nd: #4 Kirikan
• 3rd: #6 Imezaaki

Lee Freedman’s progressive Encryption three-year-old Encoder ($12) continued his undefeated record at Eagle Farm improving on a lead-up sixth at Doomben a fortnight ago to storm home down the outside and post a stylish upset in the 2023 Grand Prix Stakes results.

2023 Grand Prix Stakes Odds

The season’s top Grand Prix Stakes 2023 odds and betting market links will be available below the week of the race.

Grand Prix Stakes Race Info

• Date: Saturday December 16th, 2023
• Track: Eagle Farm Racecourse
• Distance: 2100m
• Conditions: 3YOs – Set Weights
• Status: Group 3
• Prize Money: $300,000
• First Run: 1971

Grand Prix Stakes Betting

Grand Prix Stakes betting is open at the start of race week and markets are led by proven young staying types mares winning form over at least 1800m and previous Brisbane winners.

Any last start winners, returning runners that finished well in the event the year before, Group 3 or higher performers and in-form locals are traditionally installed at shorter Grand Prix Stakes odds.

Chains Of Honour ($1.90 in 2019), The Elanora ($2.35 in 2020), Gypsy Goddess ($1.24 in 2021), and Kovalica ($1.45 in 2022) are the latest favourites in Grand Prix Stakes betting to win.

There was an upset result in 2023 with Encoder saluting at Grand Prix Stakes odds of $12.

Grand Prix Stakes Tips

Good Grand Prix Stakes tips include backing in-form stayers, last start winners and those drawn well in the field.

Any Group 2 race graduates in the field down in grade off a potential interstate spring lead-up campaign also make a strong Grand Prix Stakes betting tip.

Odds-on favourites have an outstanding recent record so any top elects jumping under $2 in the markets make nearly a sure bet in the Grand Prix Stakes based on the latest runnings.

2023 Grand Prix Stakes Tips

Our Ladbrokes’ exclusive Grand Prix Stakes 2023 betting tips and exotic Brisbane racing selections will be detailed below the week of the race so bookmark this page for the runners to back and sack in the $300,000 feature.

• To Win: #4 Kirikan ($6 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Going for a touch of value and taking on the Brissy locals with this Chris Waller-trained Sydney raider who is in flying form. The Tivaci gelding comes off a good Canterbury win and is fit now on the quick back-up. Has winning form over 1900m so can see him stretching a furlong further without too much worry. Going well enough to challenge.

Grand Prix Stakes Field

The Grand Prix Stakes race field attracts a quality line-up of end-of-spring three-year-old staying types that may be coming off a tougher lead-up runs interstate.

Grand Prix Stakes nominations are taken the Monday before the race runs on the Saturday with final acceptances and the barrier draw released on the Wednesday.

2023 Grand Prix Stakes Field

The official Grand Prix Stakes 2023 Field & Barriers will be published in full below once announced on the Wednesday of race week so stay tuned to see what gallopers make the starting line-up.

The 2023 Grand Prix Stakes field features a small but quality line-up of of summer gallopers led in betting by Tony Gollan’s rails-drawn Felix The Scat. 

2023 Grand Prix Stakes Nominations

The official Grand Prix Stakes 2023 Nominations close the Monday leading-up to early summer showdown in Brisbane, and the full list of early entries will be available below.

2023 Grand Prix Stakes nominations extended until 10:00am – 12/12/2023. 

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Grand Prix Stakes Form Guide

The Grand Prix Stakes form guide details all the need-to-know facts and stats including the jockeys, trainers, barriers, weights and lead-up runs of the horses in the field.

The Grand Prix Stakes form has gone on to stack-up in tougher races many times over the years including when the 2021 Grand Prix Stakes winner Gypsy Goddess came back the next year to run third in the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) in second in the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) in 2022. Gypsy Goddess then also won the Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) in the winter before a third in the spring in the $10 million The Golden Eagle (1500m) as a four-year-old.

The 2022 Grand Prix Stakes form was franked with the short-priced winner Kovalica returning in 2023 for a big autumn – winter campaign that included wins in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas and Group 1 Queensland Derby as well as a Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) third and second in that spring’s Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) in Sydney.

2023 Grand Prix Stakes Form Guide

A link to the comprehensive Grand Prix Stakes 2023 Form Guide will be provided below the week of the race.

Grand Prix Stakes Results

Notable recent Grand Prix Stakes winners include Gypsy Goddess (2021), Hawkspur (2013), Sirmione (2007), Distinctly Secret (2002), Stargazer (1990), Handy Proverb (1986), Our Sophia (1985), Kingston Town (1980), Double Century (1979), Surround (1977), Balmerino (1976), Latin Knight (1972), and Mode (1971).

Kovalica holds the current Grand Prix Stakes race record winning in 2022 in a time of 2 minutes 09.59 seconds.

Gypsy Goddess (2021) was the last Grand Prix Stakes winning filly.

Past Grand Prix Stakes Winners

Recent Grand Prix Stakes winners and place-getters dating back to the year 1999 are detailed in the below table.