VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes

The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a Group 3 quality handicap race held at Flemington racecourse annually during the Melbourne spring racing carnival in November. The race is run over a distance of 2600 metres and worth $250,000 in prizemoney. The 2012 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes was won by Puissance De Lune from Ironstein with Tanby third.

The race was held as the 'Queen's Cup' in 2010 and also increased in distance from 2500m to 2600m. The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes takes place on Emirates Stakes day on the last day of the four day Flemington carnival, alongside feature Group 1 races, the Emirates Stakes and Patinack Farm Classic.

VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes info
Date:	Saturday 9th November 2013
Track:	Flemington racecourse, Melbourne
Distance:	2600 metres
Race Type:	Quality Handicap
Status:	Group 3
Prizemoney:	$250,000
2012 Winner:	Puissance De Lune

The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes is a handicap race over 2600m and suits horses that may have raced previously in either the Gr1 Caulfield Cup or Gr1 Moonee Valley Cup or occasionally a Gr1 Melbourne Cup entrant may back up in this race on the following Saturday.

Horses contesting this event may head on towards the Gr2 Sandown Classic the following week and Tanby (3rd in 2012) went on to win the Classic at his next start.

Generally attracting above average stayers rather than the elite, the VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes has attracted some quality types over the years including triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva (2002) and Might and Power (1998).

Puissance De Lune (2012) scored an 8 length victory in the listed Bendigo Cup over 2400m prior to scoring an outstanding win in this event and recent VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes winners have been Ironstein (2011) and Moudre (2010).

Spring Carnival Guide
The VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes is held on the final day of the Flemington carnival and attracts staying types looking for an easier staying race than the Caulfield Cup or Melbourne Cup.

Moudre (2010) ran second in the Gr3 Geelong Cup at Geelong and then finished fourth in the Gr3 The Lexus Stakes on Derby Day at Flemington on his way to winning this event, while Sterling Prince (2009) ran fifth in the The Lexus Stakes and Naval Escort (3rd in 2009) ran fourth in the same race.

2012 Queen Elizabeth Stakes result
1. $3.00 Puissance De Lune 54.5 Glen Boss
2. $26.00 Ironstein 56.0 Brenton Avdulla
3. $21.00 Tanby 56.5 Hugh Bowman

then followed
4. $7.50 Dare To Dream 54.5 Damien Oliver
5. $16.00 Lost In The Moment 58.0 Kerrin McEvoy
6. $21.00 Lightinthenite 55.0 Craig Williams
7. $5.00 Shahwardi 58.0 Michael Rodd
8. $41.00 Moudre 57.5 Steven Arnold
9. $11.00 Folding Gear 56.5 Ben Melham
10. $15.00 Vatuvei 55.0 Vlad Duric
11. $101.00 Streaky Fella 54.5 Dwayne Dunn
12. $151.00 Miss With Attitude 54.5 Jim Cassidy
13. $18.00 Excluded 54.5 Nicholas Hall
FF $31.00 The Verminator 56.5 Craig Newitt

Margins: 5 len, 2 1/2 len
Time: 2:44.23

VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes recent winners & placegetters
Year	Winner	2nd	3rd	Time
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
1999	Zerpour	Ithiyati	Cronus	2:41.0
1998	Might And Power	Oregon Star	Bulta	2:38.5
1997	Vita Man =1	Bright Spot =1	Royal Snack	2:38.0
1996	Valance	Beau Heed	Storm	2:36.1
1995	Pindi	Quick Ransom	Dark Ksar	2:40.1
1994	Bullwinkle	Bonamichie	Nassabidi	2:40.3
1993	Hear That Bell	Fans	London Bridge	2:35.0
1992	Kawtuban	Rough Habit	Nassa Rocket	2:33.0
1991	Frontier Ban	Mantlepiece	Stylish Century	2:33.4
1990	Savage Toss	Tramaurea	Ideal Centreman	2:31.8
1989	Our Shannon Lad	Vo Rogue	It's Candide	2:36.6
1988	Zamakima	Alfarasdq	Be Reasonable	2:38.0