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We’ve seen some exciting runnings of The Q22 run at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
None more so than Rough Habit's last start here when he won. Who takes the 2022 The Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday?
2022 THE Q22 - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The PJ O'Shea Stakes is a Group 2 weight-for-age race conducted by the Brisbane Racing Club as a feature event of the Brisbane racing carnival.
The PJ O'Shea Stakes was first run in 1947 and is named after Patrick O'Shea, a former prominent Brisbane racehorse owner and treasurer of the Queensland Turf Club.
However the race has a history dating back to 1887 and was run under various titles including the Queen's Plate, King's Plate and Royal Stakes.
The PJ O'Shea Stakes has been run over varying distances from 2000m to 2400m and has always been run at Eagle Farm as a preliminary to the Brisbane Cup with the exception of 2015 when it was transferred to Doomben and also in 2017.
However it was at Caloundra due to the Eagle Farm problems in 2018. It was at Doomben again in 2019 over 2200m but then at Eagle Farm in 2021.
The PJ O'Shea Stakes attained Group 2 status in 1979. The race was run as the Sir Winston Churchill Stakes in 1972 and was known as the Eagle Farm Cup between 2010 and 2015 and was not run in 2016 after the Oaks Day meeting was cancelled due to inclement weather.
There have been 10 winners of the PJ O'Shea Stakes/Brisbane Cup double in the same year since 1947 - Hydrogen (1953), Redcraze (1956), Tulloch (1961), Fair Patton (1965), Balmerino (1976), Four Crowns (1981), Lord Hybrow (1988), Shuzohra (1990), Scenic Shot (2009) and Lights Of Heaven (2012).
One of the most famous wins was the final curtain on Rough Habit's career in Australia. Back near last in a field of 20, Shane Scriven got him moving 600 out and he swept home bringing Eagle Farm to a standstill. It topped off his record in Queensland winning the Queensland Derby, 2 x Hollindales, 2 x Stradbrokes and 3 x Doomben Cups.
There have also been five dual winners of the PJ O'Shea Stakes since 1947 – Redcraze (1956/57), Tulloch (1960/61), Striking Force (1966/67), Roman Consul (1969/70) and Scenic Shot (2008/09).
Those to do the Doomben Cup/O'Shea Stks (Q22) double – Lord Hybrow (1988), Scenic Shot (2009), Kenedna (2019), Zaaki (2021).
Zaaki would go on to win an Underwood Stakes and a Mackinnon Stakes the following Spring.
In 2022, The Q22 was over 2200m and worth prizemoney of $1,200,000.
It had to be cancelled in 2020 due to the coronavirus.
Other notable winners of the PJ O'Shea Stakes since 1947 include Russia, Dark Marne, Sailor's Guide, Tails, Baghdad Note, Passetreul, Ngawyni, Belmura Lad, Iko, Prince Majestic, Rising Fear, Rough Habit, The Phantom Chance, Intergaze, Sharscay, Yippyio, Pentastic, Triple Honour, Glass Harmonium, Quintessential, Werther, Egg Tart, Kenedna and Zaaki.
The 2021 The Q22 was won by Zaaki from Homesman and Paths Of Glory.
