The Fred Best Classic is a Group 3 race for three-year-olds held during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival in May (moved to a mid-week meeting in early June in 2025 due to Eagle Farm being abandoned).
2025 Fred Best Classic Results
- 1st: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
Fred Best Classic News
2025 Queensland Derby Day at Eagle Farm Postponed After Race 5
UPDATE: The rescheduled Fred Best Classic 2025 will run on Wednesday, June 4, at Doomben after the original Saturday event at Eagle Farm was washed out.
The Group 3 Fred Best Classic is a 1400m event held annually in late May at Eagle Farm Racecourse (Doomben in 2025). Held during the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival on Kingsford Smith Cup Day the event can serves as a potential lead-up for three-year-olds heading towards the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) run back at the track and distance a fortnight later.
Run under set weight conditions, the Fred Best Classic is open only to three-year-olds and now offers a lucrative $300,000 in total prize money following a prize money boost ahead of the 2023 edition.
In 2020 COVID-19 saw a number of major changes to the Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival including the Fred Best Classic taking place over 1350m at Doomben Racecourse as the key event at the meeting offering a reduced $125,000 in prize money.
The 2020 edition of the Fred Best Classic also offered a ballot exemption to the winner for the following week’s Stradbroke Handicap field, one of just two elite level races taking place during the carnival due to Coronavirus.
The 2022 Fred Best Classic form was franked with the winner Vilana going on to take out Sydney’s $1 million Silver Eagle and $1 million The Hunter race at Newcastle that spring.
In 2023 the Fred Best Classic winner Hawaii Five Oh ran a next-up third in that year’s Stradbroke Handicap trifecta.
The 2024 Fred Best Classic produced that year’s Stradbroke Handicap winner with the filly Stefi Magnetica winning the Group 1 on the back of a lead-up Fred Best third. She also won the following year’s Doncaster Mile in Sydney.
The rescheduled 2025 Fred Best Classic runs on Wednesday June 4, 2025 at Doomben (moved from Eagle Farm Racecourse) as a potential Stradbroke Handicap lead-up.
Fred Best Classic Info: |
|
Date: |
Wednesday June 4, 2025 |
Track: |
Eagle Farm Racecourse (moved to Doomben in 2025) |
Distance: |
1400m |
Race Type: |
3YOs – Set Weights |
Status: |
Group 3 |
Prizemoney: |
$300,000 |
2025 Fred Best Classic Results
- 1st: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
2025 Fred Best Classic Betting
The winter’s latest Fred Best Classic 2025 betting odds and links to the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au will be available at Races.com.au once released.
Dawn age ($2.15 in 2020) was the last favourite in Fred Best Classic betting to salute for the punters.
There was a notable upset in 2022 with the James Cummings-trained Hallowed Crown colt Vilana winning at Fred Best Classic odds of $15.
2025 Fred Best Classic Form
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 FRED BEST CLASSIC FORM GUIDE
2025 Fred Best Classic Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Fred Best Classic 2025 Tips on the popular Brisbane Group 3 showdown this winter.
- To Win: #2 Angel Capital ($3.10 at time of publish)
Deserving favourite in the Fred Best Classic, ANGEL CAPITAL (4), returns to the races and the first-up specialist looks well placed to retain his unbeaten record fresh. Chris Waller’s Harry Angel colt went out a Group 2 Autumn Stakes winner over this distance at Caulfield back in February and looks every chance to pick up where he left off. Three-from-three when resuming, the galloper looked to goods in a recent winning trial at Warwick Farm and is back at his pet 1400m distance (3:2-0-0). Races in Brisbane for the first time since his midfield finish behind Broadsiding in last year’s Group 2 BRC Sires’ as a two-year-old but can atone as a more mature three-year-old now. Drawn to get the run of the race and Ben Melham rode him to victory at his latest. When resuming last time in was impressive making up all the ground to come from last at the turn to first at the notriously tight Moonee Valley circuit to beat Bosustow, a recent six-length Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas winner, home in a Black-Type. Right pedigree, form and stats to suggest a win for the punters.
2025 Fred Best Classic Field
The Fred Best Classic field attracts a strong line-up of both local Queensland-trained three-year-olds as well as interstate raiders chasing the Brisbane winter racing riches. The race was a good lead-up to the Queensland Guineas before a change in the race schedule in 2021 and may be a next-up option for gallopers coming off a run in the Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas (1200m) earlier in the month.
In 2021 the Queensland Guineas ran prior to the Fred Best Classic, and the runner-up Apache Chase enjoyed an upset win in the latter. Beaten odds-on favourite in the 2021 Fred Best Classic, Ayrton went on to win the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) next start.
The official Fred Best Classic 2025 final field & barriers are set for release by Racing Queensland on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The 2025 Fred Best Classic field features a crack field of three-year-olds led in betting by Chris Waller’s resuming Group 2 winner Angel Capital.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | H Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x2642612x1 | BOSUSTOW | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Joshua Parr | 3 | 57kg | 103 | ||
| 2 | 159x116x1x | ANGEL CAPITAL | Chris Waller | Ben Melham | 5 | 57kg | 102 | ||
| 3 | 64422x68x2 | JUST PARTY | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | Nash Rawiller | 19 | 57kg | 87.5 | ||
| 4 | 21x5536x11 | MEDIA WORLD | Peter Snowden | Mark Zahra | 11 | 57kg | 87.5 | ||
| 5 | 4x217x9544 | PISCES | James Cummings | Ms Jamie Melham | 1 | 57kg | 86 | ||
| 6 | x305x55611 | STAY FOCUSED | Phillip Stokes | Ethan Brown | 17 | 57kg | 85 | ||
| 7 | x12673x117 | BOOMTOWN BOSS | Tony Gollan | Blake Shinn | 8 | 57kg | 85 | ||
| 8 | 64×2141127 | GOODLUCKTOME | Ciaron Maher | Ryan Maloney | 16 | 57kg | 84 | ||
| 9 | 11x55x5 | EMIRATE | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 18 | 57kg | 81 | ||
| 10 | 2110×1 | RAIKKONEN | Bjorn Baker | Chad Schofield | 20 | 57kg | 79.5 | ||
| 11 | 17332112 | MERCHANT GOLD | Brett Cavanough | 12 | 57kg | 77 | |||
| 12 | 121×4123 | TUNED | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Jamie Mott | 4 | 57kg | 76.5 | ||
| 13 | x34518x570 | SUPERALLOY | Rex Lipp | Tyler Schiller | 7 | 57kg | 76 | ||
| 14 | 33×5172 | RUINS OF ROME | Chris & Corey Munce | Martin Harley | 14 | 57kg | 68.5 | ||
| 15 | 4x78x51x01 | EL MORZILLO | Kelly Schweida | Jason Collett | 13 | 55kg | 95 | ||
| 16 | 116×19 | SPICY MARTINI | Toby Edmonds & Stephen McLean | Craig Williams | 6 | 55kg | 83 | ||
| 17 | 121×16 | CANDLEWICK | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Zac Lloyd | 10 | 55kg | 75 | ||
| 18 | 2×14 | EDITING | Ciaron Maher | Tommy Berry | 2 | 55kg | 68 | ||
| 19e | 47×1217 | PIPERITA | Sara Ryan | Tim Clark | 9 | 55kg | 67 | ||
| 20e | 2x800x1x0 | HEAVENLY IMPACT | Marcus Wilson | Damien Thornton (late alt) | 15 | 57kg | 66 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 Fred Best Classic Nominations
The early Fred Best Classic 2025 nominations close on the Monday of race week and will be updated in full below.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | H Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 159x116x1x | ANGEL CAPITAL | C | 3 | Chris Waller | 102 | |
| 2 | x12673x117 | BOOMTOWN BOSS | G | 3 | Tony Gollan | 85 | |
| 3 | x2642612x1 | BOSUSTOW | C | 3 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | ||
| 4 | 121×16 | CANDLEWICK | F | 3 | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 75 | |
| 5 | 1×199463 | COSMO CENTAURUS | G | 3 | Robert Heathcote | 70 | |
| 6 | 2×14 | EDITING | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 68 | |
| 7 | 4x78x51x01 | EL MORZILLO | F | 3 | Kelly Schweida | ||
| 8 | 11x55x5 | EMIRATE | C | 3 | Chris Waller | 81 | |
| 9 | 42×110 | ENGINE ROOM (NZ) | G | 3 | Bryce Heys | 72 | |
| 10 | 0x3556x271 | GIN A TONIC | G | 3 | Bevan Laming | 71 | |
| 11 | 64×2141127 | GOODLUCKTOME | G | 3 | Ciaron Maher | ||
| 12 | 2x800x1x0 | HEAVENLY IMPACT | G | 3 | Marcus Wilson | 66 | |
| 13 | 64422x68x2 | JUST PARTY | G | 3 | Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | 87.5 | |
| 14 | 21x5536x11 | MEDIA WORLD | C | 3 | Peter Snowden | 87.5 | |
| 15 | 17332112 | MERCHANT GOLD | G | 3 | Brett Cavanough | 77 | |
| 16 | 1515×0 | MOON SWEEPER | G | 3 | Matthew Dunn | ||
| 17 | 47×1217 | PIPERITA | F | 3 | Sara Ryan | 67 | |
| 18 | 4x217x9544 | PISCES | G | 3 | James Cummings | 86 | |
| 19 | 2110×1 | RAIKKONEN | G | 3 | Bjorn Baker | 79.5 | |
| 20 | 33×5172 | RUINS OF ROME | G | 3 | Chris & Corey Munce | ||
| 21 | 3x40x17 | SILVER WEDDING | F | 3 | Ciaron Maher | 66 | |
| 22 | 116×19 | SPICY MARTINI | F | 3 | Toby Edmonds & Stephen McLean | 83 | |
| 23 | x305x55611 | STAY FOCUSED | G | 3 | Phillip Stokes | 85 | |
| 24 | x34518x570 | SUPERALLOY | G | 3 | Rex Lipp | 76 | |
| 25 | 121×4123 | TUNED | C | 3 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 76.5 | |
| 26 | 11230×8 | WANARUAH | C | 3 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 78 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Fred Best Classic History
The Fred Best Classic was first run in 1984, when Bonnie Princess seized victory. Initially, the race was run for two-year-olds and was known as the Courier Mail 2YO Classic. The Fred Best Classic has experienced many name changes over the years. Since 2000, the race has been known variously as the Powerhouse Classic, the Wyndham Estate Classic, the Richmond Grove Classic, the BTC Classic (2006-2009) and finally the Fred Best Classic from 2010 onwards.
The Fred Best Classic was previously on Doomben Cup Day before being moved later on the carnival schedule.
Named after renowned Brisbane trainer Fred Best, the Fred Best Classic always attracts a stellar field. Peter Snowden has had three winners in the race (2008, 2012 and 2019), making him the most successful trainer.
The fastest time is held by Gold Edition, who won the race in 2007 with a blistering 1:17.52. From 2017 onwards the Fred Best Classic will be run at Eagle Farm, moved from Doomben, and raced over 1400m (up from 1350m).
In 2020 the Fred Best Classic ran at Doomben over 1350m due to COVID-19.
The 2025 Fred Best Classic was moved from Eagle Farm to Doomben and takes place midweek on a Wednesday after the original meeting was washed out.
Fred Best Classic results since 2000 are listed below.
Fred Best Classic Results
Year |
Place |
Horse |
Time |
| 2025 Fred Best Classic(Held at Doomben) |
1st | TBD | TBD |
| 2nd | TBD | ||
| 3rd | TBD | ||
| 2024 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Roll On High | 1:24.69 |
| 2nd | Rhythm Of Love | ||
| 3rd | Stefi Magnetica | ||
| 2023 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Hawaii Five Oh | 1:22.82 |
| 2nd | Yellow Brick | ||
| 3rd | End Assembly | ||
| 2022 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Vilana | 1:22.43 |
| 2nd | Kiss Sum | ||
| 3rd | Battleton | ||
| 2021 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Apache Chase | 1:20.06 |
| 2nd | Ayrton | ||
| 3rd | Amish Boy | ||
| 2020 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Dawn age | 1:18.83 (over 1350m) |
| 2nd | Exhilarates | ||
| 3rd | Subpoenaed | ||
| 2019 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Military Zone | 1:22.06 |
| 2nd | Baccarat Baby | ||
| 3rd | Krone | ||
| 2018 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Perast | 1:19.70 |
| 2nd | Assimilate | ||
| 3rd | Mishani Bullitt | ||
| 2017 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Niccanova | 1:26.59 |
| 2nd | Sylpheed | ||
| 3rd | I Thought So | ||
| 2016 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Counterattack | 1:18.86 |
| 2nd | Takedown | ||
| 3rd | Perfect Dare | ||
| 2015 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Najoom | 1:19.00 |
| 2nd | Miss Cover Girl | ||
| 3rd | Awesome Rock | ||
| 2014 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Havana | 1:19.2 |
| 2nd | Into The Red | ||
| 3rd | Dothraki | ||
| 2013 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Platinum Kingdom | 1:19.8 |
| 2nd | Boban | ||
| 3rd | Academus | ||
| 2012 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Mental | 1:19.3 |
| 2nd | Amah Rock | ||
| 3rd | Boys On Tour | ||
| 2011 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Falino | 1:18.8 |
| 2nd | Spirit Of Boom | ||
| 3rd | Skilled | ||
| 2010 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Stryker | 1:19.1 |
| 2nd | Happy Hippy | ||
| 3rd | Graceful Anna | ||
| 2009 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Court | 1:19.4 |
| 2nd | Leapfrog | ||
| 3rd | Geeza | ||
| 2008 Fred Best Classic |
1st | El Cambio | 1:19.2 |
| 2nd | Mr Unforgettable | ||
| 3rd | Diplomatic Force | ||
| 2007 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Gold Edition | 1:8.44 |
| 2nd | Grand Reve | ||
| 3rd | J’Adane | ||
| 2006 Fred Best Classic |
1st | La Montagna | 1:18.0 |
| 2nd | Century Serb | ||
| 3rd | Pasikatera | ||
| 2005 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Gumnuts | 1:18.8 |
| 2nd | Rich Megadale | ||
| 3rd | Aqua D Amore | ||
| 2004 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Gallieni | 1:18.1 |
| 2nd | Drunken Joker | ||
| 3rd | Sky Cuddle | ||
| 2003 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Proudly Agro | 1:18.9 |
| 2nd | Brief Embrace | ||
| 3rd | Charlie Bub | ||
| 2002 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Tellson | 1:17.8 |
| 2nd | Gabfest | ||
| 3rd | Acadame | ||
| 2001 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Marlina | 1:19.2 |
| 2nd | Zariz | ||
| 3rd | Johann Lover | ||
| 2000 Fred Best Classic |
1st | Cryptavia | 1:20.7 |
| 2nd | Make Mine Magic | ||
| 3rd | The Kildare Kid | ||
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