2025 Queensland Derby Day Abandoned: Eagle Farm Races Called Off After Race 5 Due to Weather Concerns
The excitement is building for the Group 1 $1 million Ladbrokes Queensland Derby (2400m) this Saturday at Eagle Farm, as a capacity field of promising three-year-old stayers assemble for Brisbane’s lucrative mile and a half feature.
Statuario narrowly heads betting on the 2025 Queensland Derby this weekend in Brisbane. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Heading the competitive betting markets is Emma-Lee & David Browne‘s classy grey, Statuario, holding narrow favouritism at $6 through race sponsor Ladbrokes.
This D’Argento gelding is looking to go one better after an eye-catching second in Morphettville’s Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) on May 3, where he finished behind Femminile.
With Derby specialist John Allen retaining the ride and a dream draw in barrier five, Statuario’s prior two-length win over 2400m at Caulfield confirms his fitness and distance credentials, making him a formidable contender for Saturday’s blue-riband event.
Hot on Statuario’s heels in the Queensland Derby odds at $6.50 is the well-bred Tivaci gelding, King Of Thunder.
Despite drawing wider in gate 14 for jockey Mark Zahra, the consistent galloper from the John O’Shea & Tom Charlton stable brings strong form, including a credible fifth in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) in Sydney and a third in the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m) – a race that has historically produced numerous Queensland Derby champions.
Meanwhile, the talented filly Belle Detelle, prepared by three-time Queensland Derby winning trainer Chris Waller, is now out to $8.50 as she attempts to become the first filly since Dariana (2010) to claim the Derby.
Despite a wide draw in barrier 21 (which will come into 16 at best), her fifth in the Group 1 Australian Oaks (2400m) and expected improvement from a Heavy (8) track last start suggest she’s a strong chance.
Waller also saddles up his shock 60/1 Rough Habit Plate winner Imperialist ($15), who seeks to complete the double last achieved by Dark Dream (2018), and the in-form, hat-trick chasing Existential Bob ($26), rounding out a strong Waller contingent.
Other key contenders being kept safe in the markets include the rails-drawn Party Crasher ($10), Phillip Stokes’ South Australian Derby winning filly Femminile ($10), progressive Maison Louis ($13), and recent ATC Derby runner-up Firm Agreement ($15), all set for a thrilling battle at Eagle Farm.
The 2025 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby is set to run as Eagle Farm Race 8 at 3:52pm (AEST) on Saturday’s nine-race card.
2025 Ladbrokes Queensland Derby Field & Barriers
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 133×772220 | FIRM AGREEMENT | Annabel & Rob Archibald | Nash Rawiller | 6 | 57kg | 98 | ||
| 2 | 78×7332091 | IMPERIALIST (NZ) | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 15 | 57kg | 92 | ||
| 3 | 1142×50312 | STATUARIO | Emma-Lee & David Browne | John Allen | 5 | 57kg | 90 | ||
| 4 | 1737×71353 | KING OF THUNDER (NZ) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Mark Zahra | 14 | 57kg | 90 | ||
| 5 | 45x7411x38 | BEAU DAZZLER (NZ) | Tony & Maddysen Sears | Jag Guthmann-Chester | 8 | 57kg | 85 | ||
| 6 | 5554×56223 | LAVALIER | James Cummings | Ms Jamie Melham | 11 | 57kg | 78 | ||
| 7 | 3140×68421 | POLITELY DUN | Danny O’Brien | Jordan Childs | 22 | 57kg | 75 | ||
| 8 | 122532 | DEEP FOCUS (NZ) | Paul Shailer | Michael Rodd | 18 | 57kg | 75 | ||
| 9 | 7511xD6955 | OUR BENEFACTOR (NZ) | Bevan Laming | Noel Callow | 7 | 57kg | 75 | ||
| 10 | 512114 | MAISON LOUIS (NZ) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Ben Melham | 4 | 57kg | 72 | ||
| 11 | 423×41304 | SCINTILLANTE (NZ) | Cliff Brown | Billy Egan | 19 | 57kg | 72 | ||
| 12 | 37118×0847 | SAINT EMILION | Ciaron Maher | Tim Clark | 12 | 57kg | 71.5 | ||
| 13 | 21211 | PARTY CRASHER (NZ) | Michael Hickmott | Craig Williams | 1 | 57kg | 71 | ||
| 14 | 53446×6141 | ROGAN (NZ) | Cliff Brown | Chad Schofield | 20 | 57kg | 70 | ||
| 15 | 9032×34211 | EXISTENTIAL BOB (NZ) | Chris Waller | Jason Collett | 13 | 57kg | 69.5 | ||
| 16 | x9630x0671 | FEMMINILE | Phillip Stokes | Blake Shinn | 9 | 55kg | 102 | ||
| 17 | 2231156 | BELLE DETELLE | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 21 | 55kg | 81 | ||
| 18 | 3×36112512 | CHASE YOUR DREAMS (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Ethan Brown | 16 | 55kg | 76.5 | ||
| 19e | x425x32212 | ECLAIR ENCORE (JPN) | Kris Lees | Andrew Mallyon | 10 | 55kg | 69.5 | ||
| 20e | 35×3123 | THE MUFFIN MAN | Charlotte Littlefield | Ethan Brown | 17 | 57kg | 68 | ||
| 21e | 341×9160 | LIBERTY PARK (NZ) | Chris Waller | Ryan Maloney | 23 | 57kg | 66 | ||
| 22e | 62×1214620 | PRINCE LEVI | William Kropp | 2 | 57kg | 66 | |||
| 23e | 47×3142152 | SAN JOSE BOY | Jack Bruce | 3 | 57kg | 64 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
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