Queen Elizabeth II Stakes betting

Held on British Champions Day in October, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes pits the top milers against each other on the straight course at Ascot.

It’s now one of the most valuable mile races in the world, and for that reason, it can attract plenty of runners.

Only Brigadier Gerard (1971 & 1972) and Rose Bowl (1975 & 1976) have managed to win this race twice. But there have been many notable winners, including Dubai Millennium (1999) and the incredible Frankel (2011).

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes was also the third leg of Frankie Dettori’s ‘Magnificent Seven’ back in 1996, where he guided Mark Of Esteem to victory, before going through the card.

Get the latest Queen Elizabeth II Stakes odds with our ante-post markets for Royal Ascot.

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Queen Elizabeth II Stakes betting tips

Many previous winners had won on their most recent outing and had raced within the previous five or six weeks. Previous winning form in the same season is another common factor when considering your Queen Elizabeth II Stakes bet.

Three-year-olds have a particularly good recent record in the race. Five-year-olds won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes for four out of five years between 2003 and 2007 but did not do so again until 2015. The race is run over the straight mile and there is no significant draw bias.

Saeed bin Suroor claimed a record fifth Queen Elizabeth II Stakes victory with Poet’s Voice in 2010. Minding (2016) was a fourth winner for Aidan O’Brien following George Washington (2006), Rip Van Winkle (2009) and Excelebration (2012).

John Gosden claimed his fourth Queen Elizabeth II Stakes victory when the heavily backed Roaring Lion won in 2018.

France enjoyed back-to-back success in this race with Charm Spirit (2014) and Solow (2015), both trained by Freddy Head. Prior to that, you must go back to Bigstone in 1993 for the last French-trained winner.

Geldings were banned from Group 1 races in Britain, but the popularity of 1984 winner Teleprompter contributed to changes in the rules. He won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 1984 when it held Group 2 status and won the Arlington Million in 1985.

Fillies do not often contest this race and it takes an exceptional one to win it. Minding was the first filly to win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes since Milligram in 1987. She was immediately followed by Persuasive in 2017, a sixth winner in the race for Frankie Dettori.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes betting trends

Favourites have a good recent record in the race. Rip Van Winkle (2009), Frankel (2011) and Excelebration (2012) were all very popular Queen Elizabeth II Stakes bets and started odds-on favourites.

Other successful favourites in recent years include Solow (2015), Minding (2016) and Roaring Lion (2018).

Buzzards Bay was a 50-1 outsider in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes betting when winning in 1982. The longest priced winner was Maroof at 66-1 in 1994, previously only placed in a Group 3 race. He beat a field which included the winners of 16 Group 1 races and 6 Classics.

Most recent winners featured in the first three in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes odds.

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes betting tips should usually focus on horses previously successful in at least one Group 1 race. An official rating of 120 or higher is normally required to win here. Brigadier Gerard (1971, 1972) and Rose Bowl (1975, 1976) won the race in successive seasons.

Queen II Stakes betting - ante-post pointers

The Sussex Stakes has often been a good guide for this race. Ramonti (2007), Rip Van Winkle (2009), Frankel (2011) and Solow (2015) all won both races.

Falbrav (2003) and Roaring Lion (2018) won the International Stakes at York on their way to winning the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. The Prix du Moulin at Longchamp is another race that often produces leading contenders.

With this race coming at the end of the season, the only remaining targets for Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winners are at the Breeders’ Cup or in Hong Kong.

Ramonti won the Hong Kong Cup in 2007 and Raven’s Pass went on to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic in 2008 after winning here. Roaring Lion also ran at the Breeders’ Cup in 2018 but a long season took its toll and he finished last.

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Queen Elizabeth II Stakes history and memorable winners

The Queen Elizabeth II Stakes was first run in 1955, replacing the Knights’ Royal Stakes. The inaugural running under its new title was won by His Highness The Aga Khan’s Hafiz. It was given Group 1 status in 1987.

Bahri won the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes in 1995 under an inspired ride from Willie Carson. The race used to be run on the round course and heavy rain had turned the ground soft.

Carson took his mount wide to race on ground sheltered by overhanging trees and crossed over with a three lengths lead on the home turn.

Bahri ran on strongly to beat odds-on favourite Ridgewood Pearl by six lengths. He provided the Scot with his eighth and final victory and he remains the most successful jockey in the history of the race.

The victory of 2000 Guineas winner Mark of Esteem in 1996 is best remembered as one of Frankie Dettori’s “Magnificent Seven”. He provided the Italian with his third winner of the day when defeating Bosra Sham by a length. It was rated the finest performance of his career.

Dubai Millennium was a popular Queen Elizabeth II Stakes bet in 1999. Sheikh Mohammed’s colt suffered his only defeat when failing to stay a mile and a half in the Epsom Derby. He won this race by six lengths and would go on to win the Dubai World Cup and Prince of Wales’s Stakes in 2000.

Frankel dominated the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes betting in 2011 as he concluded his brilliant three-year-old campaign. In his previous race, Sir Henry Cecil’s colt had won the Sussex Stakes to become officially the highest rated racehorse in the world.

He beat Excelebration by four lengths, the third of five defeats that he would inflict on that rival. Other notable Queen Elizabeth II Stakes winners include Known Fact (1980), Zilzal (1989), George Washington (2006) and Minding (2016).

Queen Elizabeth II Stakes betting 2021

After finishing second in 2019, French raider The Revenant scooped the top prize in last year’s renewal.

It was a race that saw him get the better of Roseman in the final furlong, with 8/11 favourite Palace Pier having to settle for third.

The Revenant could return to Ascot and defend his crown, while Palace Pier will look to add another Group 1 to his tally, after victory in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting.

With the race held in October, some horses may find the ground has gone against them. A lot of summer form comes on quicker ground, like good to firm, so when studying the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes betting, look for form on a slower surface or a horse with stamina.

In the lead up to British Champions Day, get the latest Queen Elizabeth II Stakes betting tips and news at news.williamhill.com.