The next edition of the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes runs on Saturday, November 7, 2026 on Stakes Day at Flemington.
The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 is where many of the Melbourne Cup Carnival’s toughest stayers get one final chance to shine at Flemington. Run on Champions Day, this historic handicap feature has built a reputation for attracting proven distance performers, spring carnival hard-knockers, and horses looking to add valuable black-type success to their résumés before heading to the paddock. With $300,000 in prize money on offer and a testing 2600m journey, the race is often a true examination of stamina, toughness, and race fitness.
From a betting perspective, the race regularly produces a fascinating mix of Melbourne Cup runners, emerging stayers, and value chances from key lead-up races throughout the spring. The latest VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds 2026 are expected to spark plenty of interest among punters searching for staying value, while the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting 2026 markets can provide important clues as to which runners are primed to finish their campaigns on a winning note. Whether you’re following proven two-mile form or looking for a horse ready to peak at 2600m, you’ll find everything you need right here, including the latest VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes odds, betting updates, form guide, field, tips, and race results.
2026 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Odds
The season’s top VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 betting odds and Flemington market links to the Stakes Day support act will be available below the week of the race so stay tuned for the top prices on the spring stayers followed by the official finishing order after the event.
| 1. Defiantly (9) 59.5kg4211x | |||
| Is first-up after a break of 11 weeks and has been in the money when fresh before. Finished off last preparation post a big 5.5 len win. Deauville G2 Pr Kergolay August 23 over 3000m slow track defeating Santorini Star carrying 59kg at $5.60. Previously first up; ran last of 16 at Cork April 24 over 2112m, 18 len behind Final Voyage carrying 63.5kg at $7.50. One-time Melbourne Cup favourite, have to respect. | |||
| 2. Vauban (1) 59.5kg33×90 | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resuming 9th of 13 in the G3 Geelong Cup on October 21 over 2400m, 6 len behind Point Of Law with 60.5kg at $19. Second run from a spell ran last of 23 in the G1 Melbourne Cup at this track on November 3 over 3200m, on a slow track; 30 len behind Point Of Law carrying 56.5kg at $61. Hard to have off Tuesday’s run. | |||
| 3. Berkeley Square (8) 57.5kg60042 | |||
| Racing well recently. At the latest run 2nd of 13 in the G3 Bendigo Cup on October 28 over 2400m, 0.8 len behind So You Are with 59.5kg at $31. The run before that 4th of 13 in the G3 Geelong Cup on October 21 over 2400m, 4.5 len behind Point Of Law with 57.5kg at $31. Going very well and the Point Of Law form two back stands out. | |||
| 4. Pinhole (7) 56kgx3117 | |||
| At the latest run 7th of 16 in the G2 Moonee Valley Cup at this track on October 24 over 2500m, 3.5 len behind Juja Kibo carrying 58kg at $6.50. Before that won by a nose in the G2 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield on October 10 over 2400m defeating Suntora with 56kg at $3.70. Luckless last time and that form provided the Melbourne Cup third. | |||
| 5. King Pedro (10) 55.5kg11×44 | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. Resuming ran on strongly from last on the turn; 4th of 8 in the G2 Hill Stakes at Rosehill on October 10 over 1900m, 2.25 len behind Attrition carrying 59kg at $21. Last start 4th of 16 in the G2 Moonee Valley Cup at this track on October 24 over 2500m, 2 len behind Juja Kibo with 57kg at $7. Fitter again now and should be ready to fire. | |||
| 6. Torranzino (3) 55kg5×060 | |||
| Last start faded in the straight 12th of 16 in the G2 Moonee Valley Cup at this track on October 24 over 2500m, 4.5 len behind Juja Kibo carrying 57.5kg at $61. The race before that ran last in a small field in the G1 Might And Power Stakes at Caulfield on October 10 over 2000m, 11 len behind Land Legend carrying 59kg at $101. Needs to improve. | |||
| 7. Valiant King (4) 55kgx0038 | |||
| At the latest run 8th of 16 in the G2 Moonee Valley Cup at this track on October 24 over 2500m, 3.5 len behind Juja Kibo with 57.5kg at $26. The start before that made ground from midfield; 3rd of 13 in a G3 The Bart Cummings at this track on October 3 over 2520m, in the wet; 5.5 len behind Mr Monaco with 55.5kg at $13. Can improve again, not the worst. | |||
| 8. Litzdeel (6) 54kg25253 | |||
| Most recently raced on the pace when 3rd of 13 in the G3 Bendigo Cup on October 28 over 2400m, 1.3 len behind So You Are carrying 54.5kg at $9.50. Before that 5th of 13 in the G3 Geelong Cup on October 21 over 2400m, 5 len behind Point Of Law carrying 54kg at $5.50. Making headway. Been so game all Spring and will run well again. | |||
| 9. Manzor Blue (2) 54kgx4640 | |||
| Last start 13th of 16 in the G2 Moonee Valley Cup at this track on October 24 over 2500m, 4.5 len behind Juja Kibo carrying 55.5kg at $101. The race before that 4th of 14 in a Hcp at Hawera on October 3 over 2100m, in the wet; 1.4 len behind Donnybrook carrying 56.5kg at $15.90. Outclassed. | |||
| 10. Newlook (5) 54kgx9047 | |||
| Most recently eased back early on 7th of 10 in the G3 Atc St Leger Stakes at Randwick on October 17 over 2600m, slow going 5.5 len behind So You Are carrying 58.5kg at $21. The start before that 4th of 13 in a G3 The Bart Cummings at this track on October 3 over 2520m, in the wet; 6 len behind Mr Monaco carrying 54kg at $41. Not going well enough. | |||
| 11. Bella Montagna (11) 54kgx4335 | |||
| Last start 5th of 10 in the G3 Atc St Leger Stakes at Randwick on October 17 over 2600m, on a slow track; 4.5 len behind So You Are with 53.5kg at $4.40. Before that 3rd in a small field in the G3 Colin Stephen Quality at Rosehill on September 26 over 2400m, 1.2 len behind So You Are with 53kg at $3. Going well in Sydney, in the minor mix. | |||
| 12. House Of Lords (10)SCRATCHED: | |||
VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Tips
VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes tips to take to the bookmakers during the Melbourne Cup Carnival include backing stayers with proven race experience, any Group 1 graduates down in grade, those with winning form over at least 2400m, and the better-weighted runners in the handicap event.
Watching out for horses out of key lead-ups including the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) is also key when looking for the best VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting tips.
The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes makes a nice target for stayers that didn’t make the24-horse Melbourne Cup field
2026 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Predictions & Best Bets
Our Ladbrokes’ insider VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 tips and Flemington racing selections will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned for the stayers to back and sack in the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes betting markets this spring.
| 4. Pinhole (7) 56kgx3117 | |||
| At the latest run 7th of 16 in the G2 Moonee Valley Cup at this track on October 24 over 2500m, 3.5 len behind Juja Kibo carrying 58kg at $6.50. Before that won by a nose in the G2 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield on October 10 over 2400m defeating Suntora with 56kg at $3.70. Luckless last time and that form provided the Melbourne Cup third. | |||
| 1. Defiantly (9) 59.5kg4211x | |||
| Is first-up after a break of 11 weeks and has been in the money when fresh before. Finished off last preparation post a big 5.5 len win. Deauville G2 Pr Kergolay August 23 over 3000m slow track defeating Santorini Star carrying 59kg at $5.60. Previously first up; ran last of 16 at Cork April 24 over 2112m, 18 len behind Final Voyage carrying 63.5kg at $7.50. One-time Melbourne Cup favourite, have to respect. | |||
| 11. Bella Montagna (11) 54kgx4335 | |||
| Last start 5th of 10 in the G3 Atc St Leger Stakes at Randwick on October 17 over 2600m, on a slow track; 4.5 len behind So You Are with 53.5kg at $4.40. Before that 3rd in a small field in the G3 Colin Stephen Quality at Rosehill on September 26 over 2400m, 1.2 len behind So You Are with 53kg at $3. Going well in Sydney, in the minor mix. | |||
The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes – recently run as the Queen’s Cup – is a Group 3 staying showdown held on Champion Stakes Day at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The meeting is headlined by a triple shot of Group 1 racing action with the running of the $3 million Champions Stakes (2000m), $3 million Champions Sprint (1200m), and the $3 million Champions Mile (1600m).
The event should not be confused with the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) held in Sydney during the autumn.
It is a popular end-of-spring target for stayers that may originally have been aimed at the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) over the two miles on the first Tuesday of November.
Any horse balloted out of the Melbourne Cup that goes on to win the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (VRC) / Queen’s Cup race is eligible for a VRC bonus.
Irish-trained mare True Self (2019) for the first of her two victories was the last Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner to collect on the bonus.
The quality handicap event is contested of 2600m so is a gruelling staying test and offers $300,000 in prize money.
The race has been known under a host of various names over its long history that dates back to the inaugural running in 1854 when it was first run as the Queen’s Plate (1854-1872).
VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Race Facts
- Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026
- Track: Flemington Racecourse
- Distance: 2600m
- Conditions: Quality Handicap
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $300,000
- First Run: 1854
2026 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Results
Stay tuned for the official VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 results and finishing order on the staying showdown on Champions Day at HQ on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
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VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Betting
Betting on the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes is led by the season’s second-best stayers that could have been on the Melbourne Cup path but unable to make the 24-horse field in the world’s richest two-mile handicap.
Warning ($3.40 in 2021), Soulcombe ($3 in 2022) – who was making his Australian race debut as an import for trainer Chris Waller and would return in the 2023 Melbourne Cup to finish second – and Muramasa ($4.40 in 2023) are the latest VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes favourites to win.
2026 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Big Bets
VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Field
The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes race field attracts a line-up of classy stayers every spring, the majority of which are using it as a final chance to secure a Group win for the season before turning out for a spell.
Some of the key lead-up races into the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes field include the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m), Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m), and even the Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) earlier in the spring.
True Self (2019) improved on a first-up second in the Geelong Cup before her first VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes win.
Whisky On The Hill (5th in 2025) was the last VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner to come via a lead-up run in the Geelong Cup.
The Geelong Cup – VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes double meanwhile was last completed by Vengeur Masque who also placed second in that year’s Lexus Stakes results.
Runners that are not heading to the paddock may back-up in the Group 2 $750,000 Zipping Classic (2400m) currently held at Caulfield in early December.
In 2024, the VRC Queen Elizabeth winner Smokin’ Romans ran a next-up second in the Zipping Classic while Berkeley Square ran third in both races before taking out the Listed Ballarat Cup (2000m) that summer.
VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes nominations close the Monday before Champions Stakes Day runs on the Saturday and the final field and barriers are out on the Wednesday.
2026 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
The official VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 Final Field & Barriers are announced on the Wednesday leading-up to Champions Stakes Day and will be published in full below once released so stay tuned to see what stayers make the line-up in the lucrative Group 3 showdown.
The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 final field features a quality line-up of spring stayers led in betting by the Chris Waller-trained recent Herbert Power Stakes winner Pinhole coming off a credible seventh behind subsequent Melbourne Cup third placegetter Juja Kibo in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (run at Flemington).
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Defiantly
J: Dylan Browne Mcmonagle
T: Joseph O’brien |
04211x | G | 9 | 59.5kg | |
|
2. Vauban
J: Jordan Childs
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
133×90 | G | 1 | 59.5kg | |
|
3. Berkeley Square
J: Declan Bates
T: Dan O’sullivan |
560042 | G | 8 | 57.5kg | |
|
4. Pinhole
J: James McDonald
T: Chris Waller |
2×3117 | G | 7 | 56kg | |
|
5. King Pedro
J: Mark Zahra
T: John O’shea & Tom Charlton |
211×44 | G | 10 | 55.5kg | |
|
6. Torranzino
J: Billy Egan
T: Paul Preusker |
15×060 | G | 3 | 55kg | |
|
7. Valiant King
J: Ben Melham
T: Chris Waller |
0x0038 | G | 4 | 55kg | |
|
8. Litzdeel
J: Damian Lane
T: Danny O’brien |
425253 | M | 6 | 54kg | |
|
9. Manzor Blue
J: Michael Dee
T: Lisa Latta |
2×4640 | M | 2 | 54kg | |
|
10. Newlook
J: Jamie Melham
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
4×9047 | G | 5 | 54kg | |
|
11. Bella Montagna
J: Rachel King
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
5×4335 | M | 11 | 54kg | |
| 12. House Of Lords (10) Scratched: | |||||
2026 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Nominations
The early VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 Nominations close on the Monday ahead of the race – Melbourne Cup eve – and will be available below once confirmed by Racing Victoria.
VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Form Guide
The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes form guide provides punters with all the crucial information and statistics from the jockeys, trainers and barriers to the track / distance records of all the stayers in the field.
The 2021 Queen Elizabeth Stakes form was franked with second place-getter Sound continuing on to win the Sandown (Zipping) Classic next start, while Wentwood finished third in both events.
The 2023 Queen Elizabeth Stakes form from Flemington was franked the following spring with the third placed Duke De Sessa winning the 2024 Group 1 Caulfield Cup.
2026 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Form Guide
A link to the comprehensive VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes 2026 Form Guide will be provided below the week of the race so stay tuned for all the facts / stats you need to place a winning wager on the field this spring.
VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes Results
The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes race results have seen a host of very good stayers take out the title including a number of either former or subsequent Melbourne Cup winners.
Tim Whiffler (1867 & 1870) was the first dual Queen Elizabeth Stakes (VRC) winner. He also completed the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (VRC) – Melbourne Cup double in 1867.
True Self (2019-2020) is the last dual VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner.
Other multiple VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners include: Hyperno (1979 & 1980), Sailor’s Guide (1956 & 1958), Rising Fast (1954 & 1955), Hydrogen (1952 & 1953), High Caste (1939, 1940 & 1941), and Alawa (1908, 1909 & 1910).
Other Melbourne Cup winners to also take out the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (VRC) during their careers include: Warrior (1871), Don Juan (1873), Patron (1893), Artilleryman (1919), Phar Lap (1930), Even Stevens (1962), Galilee (1966), Rain Lover (1968), Hyperno (1979-80), Might And Power (1998), and history’s only three-time Melbourne Cup champion Makybe Diva (2002).
Notable recent VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes / Queen’s Cup winners include Puissance De Lune (2012), Precedence (2013), Francis Of Assisi (2016), Warning (2021), and Soulcombe (2022).
True Self (2020) was also the last VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winning mare.
Francis Of Assisi holds the current VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes race record winning over 2600m in 2016 in a time of 2 minutes 41:13 seconds.
Recent VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes / Queen’s Cup Winners
Recent VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes / Queen’s Cup winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | Whisky On The Hill | Etna Rosso | Golden Snap | 2:49.17 |
| 2024 | Smokin’ Romans | Star Vega | Berkeley Square | 2:47.20 |
| 2023 | Muramasa | Ladies Man | Duke De Sessa | 2:42.26 |
| 2022 | Soulcombe | Luncies | Captain Envious | 2:43.87 |
| 2021 | Warning | Sound | Wentwood | 2:44.69 |
| 2020 | True Self | Pondus | Chapada | 2:44.99 |
| 2019 | True Self | Carif | Maurus | 2:45.4 |
| 2018 | Jaameh | Sully | Libran | 2:45.0 |
| 2017 | Vengeur Masque | Grey Lion | Wheal Leisure | 2:42.9 |
| 2016 | Francis Of Assisi | Vengeur Masque | Tom Melbourne | 2:41.1 |
| 2014 | Le Roi | Prince Of Penzance | Big Memory | 2:43.1 |
| 2013 | Precedence | Sertorius | Let’s Make Adeal | 2:46.4 |
| 2012 | Puissance De Lune | Ironstein | Tanby | 2:44.2 |
| 2011 | Ironstein | Shootoff | Paddy O’Reilly | 2:44.8 |
| 2010 | Moudre | Capecover | Persian Star | 2:45.2 |
| 2009 | Sterling Prince | Crossthestart | Naval Escort | 2:34.5 |
| 2008 | Capecover | Light Vision | Baughurst | 2:38.8 |
| 2007 | Zavite | Cefalu | Completion | 2:38.5 |
| 2006 | Gallant Guru | Magic Instinct | Fooram | 2:40.6 |
| 2005 | Our Smoking Joe | Coalesce | Grey Song | 2:33.8 |
| 2004 | Fantastic Love | Manawa King | Da Capo | 2:44.8 |
| 2003 | Zazzman | Lord Erin | Delvecchio | 2:37.5 |
| 2002 | Makybe Diva | Spirit Of Westbury | Time Off | 2:35.7 |
| 2001 | Hatha Anna | Ascana | Tiger’s Eye | 2:40.9 |
| 2000 | Savrocca | Ultra Smug | Mayshiel | 2:37.8 |