This Saturday, all eyes turn to Eagle Farm as the 2025 Queensland Derby takes centre stage, marking one of the most anticipated days of the Stradbroke Season.
A pillar of the Australian racing calendar, the Group 1 Queensland Derby unites the country’s premier three-year-old stayers in a 2400m battle of stamina, tactics, and class.
With $1 million in prize money and a history dating back to 1868, this isn’t just a race—it’s a proving ground for future champions.
Legends like Kingston Town, Rough Habit, and Kovalica have all etched their names into Derby folklore, and this year’s contenders are poised to chase that same glory.
But the Derby is just the headline act. The day also features a blockbuster undercard, including the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup, promising a full program of top-tier racing.
Now, with nine fiercely competitive races on the card, it’s time to shift focus from the past to the present because nine winners are waiting to be found.
Demon Darb has clearly found his groove over a mile, and he returns to that sweet spot again here. The Rob Heathcote-trained gelding was strong to the line last start at Doomben, finishing third behind Fukubana on a heavy track, just 2.5 lengths off the winner. He’s already proven his class at this trip, having notched back-to-back wins three and four starts ago, including one over this very course and distance. With a favourable draw and Tommy Berry in the saddle, expect him to settle just off the pace and be poised to strike late.
Lady Shotgun turned heads last start in the Listed Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast, flashing home from near last to finish just 1.2 lengths off the winner, Floozie. Her closing sectionals were the fastest of the race, an eye-catching effort that suggests she’s ready to peak. Now dropping back in grade, the Angela Plumb-trained mare looks well placed. She’s rock-hard fit, and with Noel Callow aboard, she’ll be charging home late if the tempo is strong as expected.
Immediacy heads north in red-hot form, chasing a hat-trick after dominant wins over 2000m at Mornington and Caulfield. The Busuttin & Young-trained gelding has been powering through the line, suggesting the step up to 2400m won’t be an issue. While he’s yet to place at this trip, his previous runs over the distance came in elite company, the Group 1 Australian Derby and The Metropolitan making this a far more suitable assignment. With James McDonald booked and barrier one offering a dream run, Immediacy looks ready to make his presence felt.
Tavi Time looks superbly placed under the set weights of the Lord Mayor’s Cup. The Kris Lees-trained gelding was electric in the Listed Scone Cup, unleashing a devastating turn of foot to win by nearly two lengths. Now at peak fitness, he steps up in trip, a move that should suit perfectly given his strong win in the Group 3 Summer Cup over further. From a favourable draw, James McDonald should be able to stalk the speed and pounce at the right time. He’s the standout on the card and shapes as the best bet on Queensland Derby Day.
Gallo Nero returned in excellent order last start, flashing home for a narrow second in the Group 2 Spirit Of Boom Classic. Drawn wide, he was forced to settle at the rear and circle the field, yet still surged late to miss by just a nose. The Team Hawkes-trained colt will strip fitter second-up, a scenario that saw him win at this stage of his last prep. With a better draw and a longer trip, Tyler Schiller should be able to position him closer in the run and give him every chance to go one better.
Angel Capital looks exceptionally well placed under the set weights, boasting a rating seven points clear of his nearest rival. Now under the care of Chris Waller, the talented colt has tuned up with three solid trials, his latest a sharp win that suggests he’s ready to fire fresh. A proven first-up performer, Angel Capital is unbeaten in three fresh runs, including a dominant win in the Group 2 Autumn Stakes over this distance last prep. With Ben Melham, who knows him well, retaining the ride, he shapes as a major player.
Joliestar resumes after a brilliant second in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes, where she finished just half a length behind Jimmysstar and comfortably ahead of rivals she meets again here, including Sunshine In Paris and Benedetta. The Chris Waller-trained mare is a proven fresh performer, with three wins and two placings from five first-up runs. If James McDonald can find cover from a tricky draw, she’ll be storming home late. Also worth a strong each-way play is Payline, who was enormous last start in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Doomben 10,000, charging home for third, beaten just half a length. She’s flying and looks ready to peak.
Statuario was desperately unlucky not to claim the Group 1 South Australian Derby last start, finishing just under a length behind the winner after losing ground when forced wide on the turn. Despite the tough run, he hit the line with real purpose. Three starts back, he showed his class with a strong third in the Group 2 Alister Clark Stakes, and followed that up with a dominant win in the Listed Galilee Series Final over this trip, putting 2.3 lengths on his rivals with something in hand. Freshened with four weeks between runs, just like last time, he maps to get a soft run and looks primed to peak in the Queensland Derby.
Floozie has gone from strength to strength since joining the Tony Gollan stable, and she’s quickly made her mark in Queensland. Her win in the Listed Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast was perfectly timed by Angela Jones, but it’s her form over 1200m that really stands out. She’s unbeaten over this course and distance, having scored impressively first-up and second-up this prep. While this is her toughest test to date, Gollan clearly has high hopes, he’s eyeing a Group 1 Tatt’s Tiara tilt, and that speaks volumes. She’s in form, in the right stable, and back at her pet trip. Worth following.
This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team.