The Princess Elizabeth Stakes is a Group 3 flat horse race in Great Britain open to fillies and mares aged three years or older. It is run at Epsom Downs over a distance of 1 mile and 113 yards (1,713 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in early June.
History An event called the Princess Elizabeth Stakes used to be contested at Epsom in April. It was restricted to three-year-old fillies, and it served as a trial for the Oaks. For a period it held Group 3 status, but it was subsequently downgraded to Listed level. It was switched to Kempton Park in 1991, and it was discontinued in 1992. Winners of this race included Rockfel, Carrozza, Homeward Bound and Rafha.
The present version has developed from the Victress Stakes, a Listed race established in 1995. It was renamed the Princess Elizabeth Stakes in 2001, and it was promoted to Group 3 level in 2004.
The race is now held on the second day of Epsom's two-day Derby Festival meeting, the same day as the Epsom Derby.
Records Most successful horse (2 wins): Echelon – 2006, 2007 Antara – 2010, 2011 Thistle Bird - 2013, 2014
Leading jockey (7 wins): Frankie Dettori – Fairy Queen (1999), Gonfilia (2004), Sundrop (2005), Antara (2010, 2011), Wilamina (2018), Prosperous Voyage (2023)
Leading trainer (5 wins): Saeed bin Suroor – Fairy Queen (1999), Gonfilia (2004), Sundrop (2005), Antara (2010, 2011)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Time1988 Aim For The Top 3 Walter Swinburn Michael Stoute 1:51.741989 Sharka 3 Steve Cauthen Henry Cecil 1:53.851990 Rafha 3 Steve Cauthen Henry Cecil 1:47.521991 Joli's Princess 3 Willie Carson Mick Ryan 1:41.20 1995 Neither Nor 6 Gary Carter D. A. Wilson 1:43.34 1996 Donna Viola 4 Wendyll Woods Chris Wall 1:42.62 1997 Samara 4 Pat Eddery John Dunlop 1:44.21 1998 Lilli Claire 5 Tim Sprake David Elsworth 1:47.31 1999 Fairy Queen 3 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor 1:47.69 2000 Golden Silca 4 Steve Drowne Mick Channon 1:47.40 2001 Sheppard's Watch 3 Martin Dwyer Marcus Tregoning 1:45.42 2002 Kootenay 3 Pat Eddery John Dunlop 1:48.92 2003 Aldora 4 Martin Dwyer Mick Ryan 1:44.23 2004 Gonfilia 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor 1:45.61 2005 Sundrop 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor 1:50.27 2006 Echelon 4 Kieren Fallon Sir Michael Stoute 1:45.59 2007 Echelon 5 Kerrin McEvoy Sir Michael Stoute 1:47.67 2008 Lady Gloria 4 Tom Queally James Given 1:44.69 2009 Eva's Request 4 Edward Creighton Mick Channon 1:43.84 2010 Antara 4 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor 1:42.78 2011 Antara 5 Frankie Dettori Saeed bin Suroor 1:43.72 2012 Clinical 4 Luke Morris Sir Mark Prescott 1:43.84 2013 Thistle Bird 5 James Doyle Roger Charlton 1:46.90 2014 Thistle Bird 6 James Doyle Roger Charlton 1:42.65 2015 Arabian Queen 3 Silvestre de Sousa David Elsworth 1:43.02 2016 Epsom Icon 3 Silvestre de Sousa Mick Channon 1:47.29 2017 Laugh Aloud 4 James Doyle John Gosden 1:41.54 2018 Wilamina 5 Frankie Dettori Martyn Meade 1:44.30 2019 Anna Nerium 4 Tom Marquand Richard Hannon Jr. 1:40.82 2020 Summer Romance 3 William Buick Charlie Appleby 1:44.71 2021 Parent's Prayer 4 Oisin Murphy Archie Watson 1:44.25 2022 Bashkirova 4 Tom Marquand William Haggas 1:43.06 2023 Prosperous Voyage 4 Frankie Dettori Ralph Beckett 1:43.60 2024 Breege 4 Jason Hart John & Sean Quinn 1:46.32 2025 Spiritual 4 Robert Havlin John & Thady Gosden 1:43.94 2026 Sparks Fly 6 Laura Pearson David Loughnane 1:46.07
See also Horse racing in Great Britain List of British flat horse races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
galopp-sieger.de – Princess Elizabeth Stakes. ifhaonline.org – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Princess Elizabeth Stakes (2019). pedigreequery.com – Princess Elizabeth Stakes – Epsom.