The Queensland Derby looks the likely next-up option for today’s Grand Prix Stakes winner at Eagle Farm, in-form grey Fun Fact, who led all-the-way to take out the Group 3 in an upset over a field of better fancied Derby hopefuls.
Trainer Bjorn Baker has a 2019 Queensland Derby hopeful after a Grand Prix Stakes upset by Fun Fact.
The Bjorn Baker-trained The Factor gelding jumped an $18 shot at Ladbrokes.com.au for this season’s Group 3 $150,000 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) and was best out the barriers from gate eight with Michael Cahill in the saddle.
Fun Fact pulled up front all the way but with no chasers in the traditional Queensland Derby lead-up, the race was his to win and the outsider in betting enjoyed a comprehensive one length success over the Kris Lees-trained Redoute’s Choice filly Angel Of Heaven.
In third rounding out the Grand Prix Stakes trifecta was the honest Home Made who still had a notable margin over any of the early fancies for the Group 1 $600,000 Queensland Derby (2400m) back at the track on Stradbroke Handicap Day on June 8.
Before his upset Grand Prix Stakes win Fun Fact was a $21 shot in pre-field Queensland Derby odds at Ladbrokes.com.au, having subsequently firmed into $10, and his trainer Baker was thrilled to see him get to the front so easily having lacked a bit of speed in earlier races to do so.
“He got there [into the lead] easily and was able to control and was still strong at the finish so thrilled,” Baker said post-win.
“I think we’ve got to look at the Queensland Derby that’s the logical race and he’s still in it I thought today 22 [hundred metres] might’ve been a stretch but we’ve got to have a crack at 24 [hundred metres].
“Win, lose or draw in a couple of weeks we’ll put him out and get him back up in Queensland for the Magic Millions Staying race.”
Angel Of Heaven’s brave second, which came on the back of an inside run settling fifth throughout, has opened up the Queensland Derby 2019 to the fillies this season.
There is a chance the consistent bay will race on successive Saturdays in Brisbane and back-up in next weekend’s Group 1 $500,000 Queensland Oaks (2200m) back against her own kind.
The Grand Prix Stakes placing has seen Angel Of Heaven firm in from $51 to $15 in futures Queensland Oaks 2019 odds.
Should Fun Fact head into the Group 1 in a fortnight he will be out to be just the fifth three-year-old in the past 20 years to do the Grand Prix – Queensland Derby double, the last being Hawkspur in 2013.
As for the Grand Prix Stakes favourite Lord Arthur, the Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman-trained Kiwi raider settled second last in running and never made up ground eventually finishing a disappointing 10th and drifting out to $13 in Queensland Derby betting as a result.
See below for the full Grand Prix Stakes 2019 results before checking the updated Queensland Derby odds online at Ladbrokes.com.au.
2019 Grand Prix Stakes Results & Finishing Order
Eagle Farm Race 3 – 25/05/2019
| Finish | # | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Br. | Wgt. | SP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | FUN FACT | Bjorn Baker | Michael Cahill | – | 8 | 57kg | $19 |
| 2 | 13 | ANGEL OF HEAVEN | Kris Lees | Tommy Berry | 1L | 1 | 55kg | $10 |
| 3 | 11 | HOME MADE | John Sargent | Jamie Kah | 1.2L | 2 | 57kg | $71 |
| 4 | 3 | TRUSTY LAD (NZ) | Matt Kropp | James Orman | 1.6L | 5 | 57kg | $21 |
| 5 | 2 | A MAN TO MATCH | Tony Gollan | Larry Cassidy | 5.85L | 11 | 57kg | $7.50 |
| 6 | 4 | VOW AND DECLARE | Danny O’Brien | Brad Rawiller | 6.05L | 7 | 57kg | $10 |
| 7 | 7 | BORAZON | Chris Waller | Robbie Fradd | 6.8L | 13 | 57kg | $61 |
| 8 | 9 | BOBBY DEE (NZ) | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Blake Shinn | 7L | 3 | 57kg | $6 |
| 9 | 6 | NAPOLEON SOLO | Peter & Paul Snowden | Kerrin McEvoy | 7.3L | 12 | 57kg | $14 |
| 10 | 8 | LORD ARTHUR | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | James McDonald | 9.55L | 4 | 57kg | $3.40F |
| 11 | 12 | PARTNERSHIP (NZ) | Ethan Ensby | Jason Taylor | 9.65L | 10 | 57kg | $151 |
| 12 | 1 | GRINZINGER STAR (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | Corey Brown | 10.4L | 9 | 57kg | $5.50 |
| 13 | 10 | FUJI FURY | Kris Lees | Jeff Lloyd | 27.4L | 6 | 57kg | $31 |
