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$250,000.

History
The race is named in honour of former top trainer Fred Best (died 1990), 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 (2008, 2010, 2012).

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

 * 1984–2016 - Doomben Racecourse
 * 2017 - Eagle Farm Racecourse
 * 2018 - Doomben Racecourse
 * 2019 - Eagle Farm Racecourse
 * 2020 - Doomben Racecourse

Winners

 * 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