Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup 2025 Preview: Class, Depth and a Kyoto Test
- Archie Brookes
- Nov 14
- 8 min read
The 50th running of the Queen Elizabeth II Cup (G1) on Sunday, 16 November 2025, returns this flagship mares’ championship to its traditional home at Kyoto Racecourse and does so with the weight of half a century of history behind it. Run over 2,200 metres on the right‑handed outer turf course, the race is restricted to fillies and mares aged three and up and offers a winner’s purse of roughly JPY 130 million, or around GBP 700,000. It serves not only as a standalone championship event but also as the opening act of the Japan Autumn International Series, which leads on to the Mile Championship, the Japan Cup and the Champions Cup.
What makes the QEII Cup particularly fascinating is its unpredictability. The bare numbers tell the story. Only two favourites have triumphed in the past decade. Six of the last ten winners have been four‑year‑olds, a reminder of how maturity without accumulated wear often defines success in this division. Yet three‑year‑olds have enjoyed isolated bursts of dominance when arriving in peak form from the Shuka Sho. Kyoto’s layout, with its undulating profile and long home straight, introduces a further variable: the horse must not only possess stamina and class but also maintain balance and rhythm while conserving enough energy for a sustained finishing drive. Add a full field of sixteen, ranging from battle‑hardened veterans to lightly raced improvers, and the 2025 renewal presents itself as a deep and layered contest.
Race Overview: A Wide‑Open 50th Running
The Queen Elizabeth II Cup was inaugurated in 1976 to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II’s 1975 visit to Japan, during which she attended races at both Tokyo and Kyoto. Although originally part of the Japanese fillies’ Triple Tiara over 2,400 metres and restricted to three‑year‑olds, the race underwent a major transformation in 1996 when it was shortened to 2,200 metres and opened to older mares. This adjustment effectively created a new race: one that demanded tactical intelligence, adaptability and a strong sustained finish rather than the more grinding stamina that defined the older 2,400‑metre iteration.
The elevation to international status in 1999 added prestige and occasionally attracted top overseas talent. Snow Fairy’s electric back‑to‑back victories in 2010 and 2011 remain iconic, yet the cost and complexity of international travel have often deterred foreign challengers. In 2025, although nineteen overseas nominations were submitted, none have made the journey. As a result, this year’s field is entirely Japanese, allowing domestic form lines to dominate the conversation.
Trends That Shape the Picture
The past decade offers a rich set of clues for interpreting the modern QEII Cup.
Only two favourites have won in ten years, suggesting caution towards short‑priced contenders.
Four‑year‑olds have dominated, with six victories.
Horses trained at Ritto Training Centre, Kyoto’s local training base, have won eight of the last ten editions.
Three‑year‑olds succeed when entering with Shuka Sho momentum, as Brede Weg did in 2023.
Viewed through that lens, the favourites’ prospects weaken, the four‑year‑olds’ claims strengthen and the three‑year‑old trio of Erika Express, Paradis Reine and Lynx Tip gain interest as weight‑assisted improvers.
Kyoto Racecourse and the 2,200m Outer Course
Kyoto Racecourse is revered for the quality of its turf and the fairness of its test, but the outer course presents its own complexities. At 1,894 metres in circumference, the track’s right‑handed configuration contains subtle but influential elevation shifts that demand balance and pace discipline. Horses climb gently toward the third corner, crest the rise and then accelerate downhill before straightening for a long, flat finishing run.
Key Course Features
A 4.3‑metre incline along the back straight, draining excess energy from keen horses.
A sharp downhill turn into the home straight, favouring those with balance and agility.
A 400‑metre straight allowing both closers and strong travellers to strike.
A generous run‑up to the first bend, reducing scrimmaging and allowing riders to sort their positions.
This combination of rising ground, downhill acceleration and a long straight makes Kyoto unique among Japanese turf tracks. Horses that prefer long, uninterrupted runs tend to enjoy it. Front‑runners who cannot settle early often struggle during the uphill segment. Deep closers can launch late, but only if the tempo is honest enough.
Turf and Weather Expectations
November generally brings crisp, dry weather to the Kyoto region. Turf conditions are typically good to firm, rewarding runners with a clean stride and a turn of foot rather than those reliant on softer going. Because the A‑course rail is positioned closest to the hedge early in the autumn, the ground is usually fresh and even across lanes.
Pace and Race Shape
A defining feature of the 2025 renewal is the pace map. There is no abundance of confirmed leaders, but those capable of going forward have the ability to stretch the field.
Potential Leaders
Erika Express is almost certain to roll forward. Her Shuka Sho front‑running performance confirms she can control fractions.
Sekitoba East has led before in graded company and may apply early pressure.
Kelly Fled Ask possesses enough tactical speed to be placed prominently if connections choose that route.
Lynx Tip has pressed the pace previously and may be asked to race handier.
The Stalking Brigade
Behind them sit four horses with the most to gain from a smooth early rhythm: Stellenbosch, Aurora X, Kana Tape and Bond Girl. All prefer to settle within two to four lengths of the lead and track a workable tempo.
The Midfield Group
Coconuts Brown, Paradis Reine, Safira, Shinryokuka and Verehrung occupy the middle of the map. They are likely to settle between eighth and twelfth place, saving energy and waiting for the downhill turn to position themselves.
The Deep Closers
Finally, Regaleira, Vermicelles, Lilac and occasionally Paradis Reine will be ridden quietly at the rear. Their riders will wait for the third‑corner crest before asking for acceleration.
A slowly run race would empower the leaders, but the presence of several pace‑pressers should prevent a dawdle. A genuinely run tempo is the likeliest outcome, which favours proven stayers and horses capable of sustaining a long burst.
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Key Contenders
Regaleira: The Standard Bearer
Age: 4yo mare
Jockey: Keita Tosaki
Profile: Dual Group 1 winner; emphatic All Comers winner this autumn
Regaleira stands as the most accomplished mare in the field. Her juvenile success in the Hopeful Stakes projected stardom, and her Arima Kinen victory against older males confirmed it. Although her 2025 campaign began with disappointment in the Takarazuka Kinen, her All Comers win reasserted her position as the class mare of her generation.
Her Kyoto record, however, remains the question. She finished fifth in this race in 2024, unable to unleash her closing run effectively. Some horses simply prefer Nakayama’s grinding climbs to Kyoto’s rhythm shifts. Regaleira must prove that she can handle Kyoto’s undulations without losing her powerful late cadence. She remains the classiest runner in the line‑up but faces conditions that do not perfectly suit her strengths.
Erika Express: Front‑Running Talent with Kyoto Form
Age: 3yo filly
Jockey: Yutaka Take
Profile: G3 Fairy Stakes winner; runner‑up in the Shuka Sho
Erika Express arrives with ideal credentials: tactical speed, balance on Kyoto’s downhill turn and the 54kg weight allowance. Her Shuka Sho performance demonstrated her ability to absorb pressure up front and still fight on deep into the straight. Her action is smooth, her temperament composed and her rhythm consistent.
With Yutaka Take aboard, she will be ridden with supreme confidence. If she controls fractions and kicks early in the straight, the others may struggle to reel her in. The question is whether her stamina stretches the extra 200 metres against older horses. Her pedigree suggests it will.
Paradis Reine: The Improving Classic Closer
Age: 3yo filly
Jockey: Mirai Iwata
Profile: Consistent Classic performer; top sectional finisher in the Shuka Sho
Paradis Reine represents the profile of a filly peaking at exactly the right time. Her fourth in the Oaks and her closing burst to finish third in the Shuka Sho mark her out as one who thrives with distance and a long straight. She settles naturally, responds quickly and sustains her run better than most.
Her chance hinges on pace. A fair to strong tempo would set the race up beautifully for her. If she can improve even marginally on her Shuka Sho figures, she has a winning case.
Coconuts Brown: The Rising Older Mare
Age: 5yo mare
Jockey: Yuichi Kitamura
Profile: Sapporo Kinen placegetter; lightly raced and progressive
Coconuts Brown is the least exposed older mare in the field, with only twelve starts under her belt. Her progression this season from three‑win class to Group 2 performer marks her as a mare rising fast.
Her Sapporo Kinen second behind Top Knife is elite mixed‑company form. She travels kindly and produces a powerful late thrust, making her extremely dangerous if the leaders overcook the early tempo. Kyoto’s flat straight should suit her rhythmic acceleration.
Stellenbosch: Classic Talent Seeking Revival
Age: 4yo mare
Jockey: Christophe Lemaire
Profile: 2024 Oka Sho winner; placed in the Hong Kong Vase
Stellenbosch remains something of an enigma. At three, she produced brilliance. At four, she has so far produced puzzles. Her efforts in top‑grade mixed‑sex company have been below expectation, but her move to Ritto and a carefully managed reset suggest she may be on the cusp of a return to form.
Lemaire’s presence is reassuring. If she settles early and revives even 80% of her Classic peak, she can outrun long odds.
Other Notable Runners
Shinryokuka: Honest Stayer
She lacks the sparkle of the leading contenders but makes up for it in stamina and commitment. If the race becomes a test, she will pass rivals in the final furlong.
Kana Tape: Speedy Veteran Stretching Out
Her Group 3 mile form is excellent, but 2,200 metres stretches her stamina profile. A tactical race would improve her prospects significantly.
Vermicelles: The Stamina Specialist
Her staying qualities make her a threat if the pace is genuinely strong. She will keep finding when others tire.
Aurora X: In‑Form Dark Horse
Lightly raced and brimming with momentum, Aurora X is stepping up, but her Listed win at Kyoto showcased her explosive acceleration. She is a sleeper.
Lilac, Verehrung, Bond Girl and Others
Lilac brings experience and an enduring late kick.
Verehrung is consistent and adaptable over various distances.
Bond Girl is frequently placed and may improve at this trip.
Sekitoba East, Kelly Fled Ask and Lynx Tip could all influence tempo.
Historical Trends and Their Relevance
Four‑year‑olds have excelled in the modern QEII Cup, and the trend strengthens the claims of Regaleira, Stellenbosch, Coconuts Brown and Aurora X. Three‑year‑olds benefit significantly from their weight allowance and can turn the race upside down when entering with Shuka Sho form.
Favourites’ struggles over the past decade remind us not to lean too heavily on market leaders. Instead, horses arriving from Group 2 or Group 1 preps tend to perform best. The All Comers, Sapporo Kinen, Shuka Sho and Kyoto Daishoten are again well represented.
Verdict: A Test of Class, Temperament and Timing
The 2025 QEII Cup shapes as a deep and balanced contest. There is no overwhelming standout, but there is a cluster of mares capable of winning if conditions fall their way.
Regaleira brings class but must prove she can deliver her peak at Kyoto.
Erika Express offers tactical control and course suitability.
Paradis Reine brings the strongest closing figures among the three‑year‑olds.
Coconuts Brown is the most progressive of the older mares.
Aurora X is the dark horse with a dangerous turn of foot.
Others such as Shinryokuka, Vermicelles and Kana Tape become threats if the pace tilts in their favour. Whoever emerges triumphant will have mastered not just the opposition but the shifts of energy, balance and timing that define Kyoto’s 2,200‑metre test on one of Japanese racing’s grandest autumn stages.
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