Fred Best Classic

The Fred Best Classic is a Brisbane Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old, at set weights, over a distance of 1400 metres, held annually at Eagle Farm Racecourse, Brisbane, Australia during the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival. Prizemoney is A$300,000.

History

The race is named in honour of former top trainer Fred Best, who dominated Brisbane racing for 20 years into the 1970s.
The race has its beginnings from the sponsor, Brisbane's newspaper The Courier-Mail, which sponsored a two-year-old race in 1984. The race was not sponsored again by the newspaper until 1987, when the race was run for three-year-olds. The race has seen many name changes.
Trainer Peter Snowden holds the record with three wins in this race.
The race record is held by 2007 winner Gold Edition, who ran the 1,350 metres in 1.17.52.

Name

1984 - Courier Mail 2YO Stakes
1986 - Channel Seven 2YO Classic
1987-2001 - Courier Mail Classic
2002 - Powerhouse Classic
2003 – Wyndham Estate Classic
2004-2005 – Richmond Grove Classic
2006-2009 – BTC Classic
2010 onwards – Fred Best Classic

Grade

1996-2002 – Listed race
2003 onwards – Group 3

Venue

Winners

2025 - Spicy Martini
2024 - Roll On High
2023 - Hawaii Five Oh
2022 - Vilana
2021 - Apache Chase
2020 - Dawn Passage
2019 - Military Zone
2018 - Perast
2017 - Niccanova
2016 - Counterattack
2015 - Najoom
2014 - Havana
2013 - Platinum Kingdom
2012 - Mental
2011 - Skilled
2010 - Stryker
2009 - Court
2008 - El Cambio
2007 - Gold Edition
2006 - La Montagna
2005 - Gumnuts
2004 - Gallieni
2003 - Proudly Agro
2002 - Tellson
2001 - Marlina
2000 - Cryptavia
1999 - Mr Innocent
1998 - Staging
1997 - Crafty Beau
1996 - Proud Player
1995 - Chief De Beers
1994 - Ferragamo
1993 - Affirmed Star
1992 - Social Rule
1991 - Committal
1990 - Jonaron
1989 - Spot The Rock
1988 - race not held
1987 - Mirraben
1986 - Christopher
1985 - race not held
1984 - Bonne Princess