The Queensland Derby - A Hong Kong Hunting Ground

Kristen Manning

Editor

Last updated: Fri 29 May 2026 09:42

Kristen Manning 29 May 2026

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Queensland Derby began in 1868 with just four runners at Gayndah
Recent decades have seen numerous Derby runners succeed in Hong Kong, including Werther and Eagle Way
The trend of exporting Derby horses to Asia has slowed recently, with top horses remaining in Australasia

Werther winning the 2017 Hong Kong Gold Cup. The gelding finished runner-up in the 2015 Queensland Derby before forging a stellar career in Hong Kong. (Getty)

The $1 million Group 1 Queensland Derby, Australia's final male Classic of the season, did not kick off with a bang, its first running in 1868 held at Gayndah attracting a field of only four runners.

Hong Kong Joins The Picture
Three In A Row To Hong Kong
Another Good One

Over 300km away from the 2400m feature's current home, Eagle Farm, Gayndah was home to one of the first Jockey Clubs in Queensland, established in 1852 - 13 years before Eagle Farm opened its doors and 11 years before the formation of the Queensland Turf Club.

The small town of around 2,000 residents is proud of that racing history, with a statue of The Hermit - the inaugural Queensland Derby winner - taking pride of place in the main street.

Zambesi had just one rival in 1869 and the race was not looking to have a future of importance, even when the wonderful filly Florence ventured north on the back of her successes in the VRC Derby, the VRC Oaks and the AJC Derby - remaining the only filly to achieve such a feat.

Without support, the Queensland Derby was not run between 1873 and 1877, revived the following year at a time when the Queensland Turf Club steered onto a more professional course.

World War II saw another gap, with the race not held between 1942 and 1945, but before and since it has been won by a number of high-class gallopers including Tulloch, Kingston Town, Strawberry Road, Tails, Lough Neagh, Persian Lyric, High Syce, Analie, Rough Habit, Yippyio, Freemason and Fitz Grafton (a particularly intriguing horse - the first two-year-old Stradbroke Handicap winner, going on to enjoy considerable success in India).

Hong Kong Joins The Picture

In recent years, the race has taken an interesting turn as a happy hunting ground for Hong Kong buyers seeking horses for their most prestigious race, the Hong Kong Derby.

Their version of the Classic is contested over 2000m in March, giving purchases time to acclimatise, with buyers happy to have a horse proven over a bit of ground.

It was the 2015 Queensland Derby runner-up Werther who set this ball rolling, the New Zealand-bred son of Tavistock sold for seven figures to the stables of John Moore.

The full brother to the Group 1 Australasian Oaks winner Toffee Tongue and the Group 3 New Zealand Cup winner Gobstopper adapted immediately to Hong Kong racing, six months after his Derby run winning in easy style at Sha Tin.

He went on to take out the Hong Kong Derby, as well as another three Group 1 features, earning himself the Hong Kong Horse of the Year title.

The following year's Queensland Derby winner Eagle Way was destined to end up in Hong Kong, the son of More Than Ready purchased for $200,000 as a yearling by George Moore for a client whose racing permit fell through.

And so the horse remained in Australia to begin his career, entrusted to the care of Bryan Guy.

His Derby win was an easy one and from there he headed to Hong Kong, where he made a winning debut that December.

Three In A Row To Hong Kong

Whilst not reaching the heights of Werther, Eagle Way was able to win three Group races in Hong Kong, also filling the placings in a couple of Group 1 contests.

Eagle Way was the first of three consecutive Queensland Derby winners to end up in Hong Kong, with the 2017 and 2018 winners Ruthven and Dark Dream following in his path.

Ruthven was not a success story, winning just the one race in Hong Kong and finishing out of the placings at his other 17 starts.

Dark Dream fared a bit better with a couple of wins, a Group 1 placing and a Hong Kong Derby fourth, but overall did not live up to expectations.

Dark Dream had 15 rivals in his Queensland Derby and, amazingly, another seven of those ended up being exported to Asia, including the last two home. Neither of those horses - California Turbo and Won Won Too - won in Hong Kong.

The runner-up Heavenly Thought fared a bit better with a couple of wins but did not prove to be high class. The same story applied to the unplaced Almighty Crown (racing as Tasshidelek), who also won a couple at Happy Valley.

Two others went to Singapore - Han Xin (racing as Ozzy Star) winning the Singapore Derby, whilst Banner Season did not race after being exported.

The 2019 Queensland Derby winner Mr Quickie remained at home, where he went on to further big-race success, taking out the following year's Group 1 Toorak Handicap.

His edition of the Derby was more than a decent form race, the runner-up that year being Vow And Declare.

The unplaced Home Made went to Hong Kong, failing to fill a placing.

The 2021 winner Kukeracha also stayed at home, winning another two stakes races.

A somewhat unlucky second to him at Eagle Farm was the Toronado gelding Senor Toba. Whilst that grey lost form in Hong Kong, he did race well there, winning a couple of Group 3 races and finishing fourth in the Hong Kong Derby won by Romantic Warrior.

Another three horses from that running ventured to Hong Kong.

The regally bred Bucharest (Flying Turbo - son of Deep Impact and Miss Finland) failed to fire, as did Criminal Defence (King Tourbillon), whilst Toscanini (Intrepid Winner) won twice at Happy Valley.

Maranoa, meanwhile, won a couple of races in Singapore.

The 2022 Queensland Derby won by Pinarello saw two horses exported to Hong Kong, with the unplaced Satirical Glory winning once from 28 starts.

The runner-up Paternal, renamed Rapid Rabbit, did not make it to the track in his new home.

All of the 2023 Derby runners (won by Kovalica) remained in Australasia; the same story applied in 2024 (Warmonger).

Another Good One

Last year's winner Maison Louis stayed home, though the runner-up King Of Thunder was in Hong Kong by December and, racing as Numbers, he is proving to be one of the better Queensland Derby contestants to race in Hong Kong.

Under the care of Frankie Lor, he has raced on seven occasions, finishing off well when third at Happy Valley on debut before winning his next two, including the Group 3 Centenary Vase.

Making the pace only to be run down late in the Hong Kong Derby, he raced just last weekend and was brave in defeat in the Group 1 Champions & Chater Cup, worn down over the final stages by superstar Romantic Warrior.