This Saturday, the spotlight turns to Eagle Farm as the 2025 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby headlines one of the most prestigious days of Stradbroke Season.
A cornerstone of the Australian racing calendar, the Group 1 feature brings together the nation’s top three-year-old stayers for a true test of endurance, strategy, and class over 2400 metres.
With a $1 million prize pool and a legacy stretching back to 1868, the Queensland Derby is more than just a race, it’s a rite of passage.
Past champions such as Kingston Town, Rough Habit, and Kovalica have used this platform to launch illustrious careers, and this year’s field is brimming with contenders eager to follow in their hoofprints.
Beyond the Derby, we can look forward to a stellar supporting card, including the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup, ensuring a full day of elite racing action.
But enough about the past, it’s time to turn our attention to the present, where nine competitive races await and nine winners must be found.
Demon Darb (7) has found his sweet spot distance which is a mile and he once again will race over that here.
The Rob Heathcote-trained gelding found the line well in heavy conditions over this distance at Doomben last start to finish 2.5 lengths third to Fukubana.
Three and four starts back, he won back-to-back races over a mile including once over this course and distance.
Tommy Berry can give him a beautiful run stalking the leaders from the good draw.
1 Unit – Demon Darb (7)
Lady Shotgun (3) caught the eye last start when finishing fourth in the Listed Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast.
The Angela Plumb-trained mare settled near last in the 1400m contest, before tearing off the quickest final 800m and 400m times of the race to get within 1.2 lengths of winner Floozie.
She’s rock hard and will appreciate the drop in class.
Nash Rawiller takes the ride and while she’ll settle worse than midfield, a strong speed will suit.
1 Unit Each Way – Lady Shotgun (3)
Immediacy (3) arrives in Queensland for the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup in great form having won his past two races.
The Busuttin & Young-trained gelding proved too strong over 2000m at Mornington two starts ago before letting down powerfully to win over 2000m at Caulfield.
He is yet to place over this distance but his past races over 2400m have been in the Group 1 Australian Derby and the Group 1 Metropolitan which are considerably harder than this.
James McDonald is a key booking and should give his mount an economical run from the inside barrier.
1 Unit – Immediacy (3)
Tavi Time (1) gets in well under the set weight conditions of the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup.
The Kris Lees-trained gelding was brilliant last start in the Listed Scone Cup when producing a devastating turn of foot to streak away for a 1.8 length win.
He’s at peak fitness now and should relish the rise in distance given he won the Group 3 Summer Cup over further.
He’s drawn to get a great run that should see James McDonald stalk the speed.
Tavi Time is my best bet on Ladbrokes Queensland Derby Day.
2 Units – Tavi Time (1)
Gallo Nero (2) returned in great order when finishing second in the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic last start.
The Team Hawkes-trained son of Wootton Bassett was snagged to the back from the wide barrier and despite making a wide, long run, he finished strongly to miss the win by a nose.
He’ll strip fitter second-up for the Group 2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes and won his second run back last preparation.
Tommy Berry can hopefully settle closer from the better draw and over the longer trip.
1 Unit – Gallo Nero (2)
Angel Capital (2) is thrown in under the set weight conditions of the race given he is seven rating points higher than his nearest rival.
The Harry Angel colt is now with Chris Waller and has warmed up for his return in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic with three trials with the most recent producing a super piece of work to win.
He does his best racing fresh having won all three of his first-up races including the Group 2 Autumn Stakes over this distance last preparation.
Ben Melham has built a great relationship with three-year-old and he retains the ride.
1 Unit – Angel Capital (2)
Joliestar (10) returns to the races for the first time since finishing second to Jimmysstar in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes.
The Chris Waller-trained mare produced an excellent effort that day, running on strongly to get within a half-length of the winner and easily defeating the likes of Sunshine In Paris and Benedetta who she meets here.
She races well fresh, having won three from five first-up races with the other two resulting in placings.
If James McDonald can find some cover from the potentially tricky gate then she should prove hard to hold out.
I’ll also be having an each way bet on Payline (6) who was enormous charging home for a half-length third last start in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000.
1 Unit – Joliestar (10)
1 Unit Each Way – Payline (6)
Statuario (3) was unlucky not to win the Group 1 South Australian Derby last start when finishing just under a length second.
The Emma-Lee & David Browne-trained grey gelding lost several lengths when fanning wide entering the straight while the winner saved ground on the turn but to his credit he hit the line hard.
Three starts ago he produced an excellent performance in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes where he chased strongly to finish third.
That put the writing on the wall for the Listed Galilee Series Final over 2400m at Flemington two starts back where he let down powerfully to win by 2.3 lengths with something in hand.
He’s four weeks between runs, as he was last start, and maps to get a great run in the Ladbrokes Queensland Derby.
1 Unit – Statuario (3)
Floozie (8) has gone from strength to strength since joining the Tony Gollan Stable from Victoria.
The daughter of Zoustar was given a peach of a ride by Angela Jones last start to win the Listed Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast but I think she’s better suited over 1200m.
She demonstrated that by easily winning first-up and second-up over this course and distance.
This is her toughest test to date but Gollan, who’s stable is flying, dreams of a Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara start so he obviously thinks she has ability so you have to back her in.
1 Unit Each Way – Floozie (8)