Australian Cup

Australian Cup

Group I race
Location	Flemington Racecourse Melbourne, Australia
Inaugurated	1863
Race type	Thoroughbred – Flat racing
Race information
Distance	2,000 metres
Surface	Turf
Track	Left-handed
Qualification	Horses three years old and older Maidens ineligible
Weight	Weight for Age
Purse	A$1,500,000 (2016)

The Australian Cup is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, held under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival.^[1] Total prize money for the race is A$1,500,000.

Race history

The race was once Australia's premier long distance race, raced at a distance longer than the Melbourne Cup. In 1943 the race was shorten to 17 furlongs 110 yards to allow the race to be started from the top of Flemington's famous Straight Six, to have bigger fields.^[2]

The VRC in the early 1960s shortened the distance to  1 ¹⁄₄ miles to attract classier middle distance gallopers.^[2]

Stakes were increased from $1 million to $1.5 million in 2016.

Race distance

• 1863–1942 -  2 ¹⁄₄ miles (~3627m)
• 1943–1962 – 2 miles  1 ¹⁄₂ furlongs (~3528m)
• 1963 -  1 ³⁄₄ miles (~2821m)
• 1964–1972 -  1 ¹⁄₄ miles (~2015m)
• 1973 onwards - 2000 metres

Race conditions

• 1863–1978 - Handicap
• 1978–1981 - Weight for Age
• 1982–1986 - Handicap
• 1987 onwards - Weight for Age

Race grade

• 1863–1979 - Principal Race
• 1979 onwards - Group 1

Race venue

In 2007 the race was run at Caulfield Racecourse due to refurbishment work at Flemington Racecourse.^[2]

Race records

Makybe Diva won this race in 2005 in the Australian record time of 1:58:73, which beat Northerly's previous record. The most successful trainer has been Bart Cummings with thirteen wins^[2] – 1968, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2008.^[3]

The most successful jockey is Tom Hales who won the Australian Cup eight times^[4] – Lurline (1875), Richmond (1876), Savanaka (1879), Navigator (1883), Morpeth (1884), Trident (1887), Carlyon (1888), Dreadnought (1890).^[5]

The winners

• 2016 - Preferment ^[6]
• 2015 - Spillway ^[7]
• 2014 - Fiorente ^[8]
• 2013 - Super Cool ^[9]
• 2012 - Manighar ^[10]
• 2011 - Shocking ^[11]
• 2010 - Zipping ^[12]
• 2009 - Niconero ^[13]
• 2008 - Sirmione ^[14]
• 2007 - Pompeii Ruler ^[15]
• 2006 - Roman Arch ^[16]
• 2005 - Makybe Diva ^[17]
• 2004 - Lonhro ^[18]
• 2003 - Northerly ^[19]
• 2002 - Old Comrade ^[20]
• 2001 - Northerly ^[21]
• 2000 - Intergaze ^[22]
• 1999 - Istidaad ^[23]
• 1998 - Dane Ripper ^[24]
• 1997 - Octagonal ^[25]
• 1996 - Saintly ^[26]
• 1995 - Starstruck ^[27]
• 1994 - Durbridge ^[28]
• 1993 - Veandercross ^[29]
• 1992 - Let's Elope ^[30]
• 1991 - Better Loosen Up ^[31]
• 1990 - Vo Rogue ^[32]
• 1989 - Vo Rogue ^[33]
• 1988 - Dandy Andy ^[34]
• 1987 - Bonecrusher ^[35]
• 1986 - Playful Princess ^[36]
• 1985 - Noble Peer ^[37]
• 1984 - Admiral Lincoln ^[38]
• 1983 - Spectrum ^[39]
• 1982 - Kip
• 1981 - Hyperno
• 1980 - Ming Dynasty
• 1979 - Dulcify
• 1978 - Ming Dynasty
• 1977 - Ngawyni
• 1976 - Lord Dudley
• 1975 - Leilani
• 1974 - Bush Win
• 1973 - Gladman
• 1972 - Jan's Beau
• 1971 - Gay Icarus
• 1970 - Crewman
• 1969 - †Yootha / Cyron^[40]
• 1968 - Arctic Coast
• 1967 - Bore Head
• 1966 - Craftsman
• 1965 - Craftsman
• 1964 - Grand Print
• 1963 - Welkin Prince
• 1962 - Welkin Prince
• 1961 - Dream King
• 1960 - Illoura
• 1959 - Gaybao
• 1958 - Dream Son
• 1957 - Miss High Caste
• 1956 - Pushover
• 1955 - Hellion
• 1954 - Sunish
• 1953 - Arbroath
• 1952 - Murray Glen
• 1951 - Bold Belle
• 1950 - Bold John
• 1949 - New Cashmere
• 1948 - Bannerette
• 1947 - Sydney James
• 1946 - Knockarlow
• 1945 - Spectre
• 1944 - Similar
• 1943 - Taramoa
• 1942 - Wise Counsel
• 1941 - Saul
• 1940 - Indignity
• 1939 - Pageant
• 1938 - Marauder
• 1937 - Mutable
• 1936 - Amalia
• 1935 - Sylvandale
• 1934 - Heroic Prince
• 1933 - Topical
• 1932 - Madstar
• 1931 - Carry On
• 1930 - Nadean
• 1929 - Some Quality
• 1928 - Sea Money
• 1927 - Spearfelt
• 1926 - Pilliewinkie
• 1925 - Answer
• 1924 - Accarak
• 1923 - Prince Cox
• 1922 - Harvest King
• 1921 - The Rover
• 1920 - Macadam
• 1919 - New Tipperary
• 1918 - Defence
• 1917 - Harriet Graham
• 1916 - Cherubini
• 1915 - Lempriere
• 1914 - Wallalo
• 1913 - Almissa
• 1912 - †Saxonite / Prizefighter^[41]
• 1911 - The Parisian
• 1910 - Orline
• 1909 - Pendil
• 1908 - Peru
• 1907 - Realm
• 1906 - Tartan
• 1905 - Lord Ullin's Daughter
• 1904 - Marmont
• 1903 - Great Scot
• 1902 - Blue Metal
• 1901 - Dreamland
• 1900 - La Carabine
• 1899 - Bobadil
• 1898 - Ayrshire
• 1897 - Coil
• 1896 - Idolator
• 1895 - Havoc
• 1894 - Broken Hill
• 1893 - Portsea
• 1892 - Highborn
• 1891 - Vengeance
• 1890 - Dreadnought
• 1889 - Lochiel
• 1888 - Carlyon
• 1887 - Trident
• 1886 - Malua
• 1885 - Ringwood
• 1884 - Morpeth
• 1883 - Navigator
• 1882 - Pollio
• 1881 - Firstwater
• 1880 - Columbus
• 1879 - Savanaka
• 1878 - First King
• 1877 - Sybil
• 1876 - Richmond
• 1875 - Lurline
• 1874 - Protos
• 1873 - Warrior
• 1872 - ‡Saladin
• 1871 - Nimblefoot
• 1870 - Norma
• 1869 - Gasworks
• 1868 - Shenandoah
• 1867 - Tim Whiffler
• 1866 - Woodman
• 1865 - Woodman
• 1864 - Nathalie
• 1863 - Barwon

† Dead heat
‡ Saladin and Flying Dutchman deadheated. After a re-run they deadheated again. On a second rerun Saladin was victorious.^[40][42]

See also

• List of Australian Group races
• Group races

References

1. "Winners and Past Results for the Australian Cup". Pro Group Racing Australia. 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
2. "The changing face of Australia's Cup". Racing Victoria. 6 March 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
3. "Bart Cummings - Training Career". Bart Cummings official website. 2013.
4. "Thomas Hales - Horse Racing". South Australia Hall of Fame Sportsmen (inducted 9 Dec 1986). Retrieved 5 March 2013.
5. "Facts about the Australian Cup". Australian Associated Press. justhorseracing.com. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
6. "2016 Result – Australian Cup (held 12 March 2016)". breednet.com. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
7. "2015 Result – Australian Cup (held 14 March 2015)". breednet.com. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
8. "2014 Result – Darley Australian Cup (held 8 March 2014)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
9. "2013 Result – Darley Australian Cup (held 9 March 2013)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
10. "2012 Result – Dubai Australian Cup (held 10 March 2012)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
11. "2011 Result – Dubai Australian Cup (held 12 March 2011)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
12. "2010 Result – Darley Australian Cup (held 13 March 2010)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
13. "2009 Result – Darley Australian Cup (held 7 March 2009)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
14. "2008 Result – Australian Cup (held 8 March 2008)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
15. "2007 Result – Australian Cup (held 10 March 2007)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
16. "2006 Result – Australian Cup (held 11 March 2006)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
17. "2005 Result – Australian Cup (held 12 March 2005)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
18. "2004 Result – Australian Cup (held 8 March 2004)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
19. "2003 Result – Australian Cup (held 10 March 2003)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
20. "2002 Result – Australian Cup (held 11 March 2002)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
21. "2001 Result – Australian Cup (held 12 March 2001)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
22. "2000 Result – Australian Cup (held 13 March 2000)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
23. "1999 Result – Australian Cup (held 8 March 1999)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
24. "1998 Result – Australian Cup (held 9 March 1998)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
25. "1997 Result – Australian Cup (held 10 March 1997)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
26. "1996 Result – Australian Cup (held 11 March 1996)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
27. "1995 Result – Australian Cup (held 11 March 1995)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
28. "1994 Result – Australian Cup (held 12 March 1994)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
29. "1993 Result – Australian Cup (held 8 March 1993)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
30. "1992 Result – Australian Cup (held 9 March 1992)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
31. "1991 Result – Australian Cup (held 11 March 1991)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
32. "1990 Result – Australian Cup (held 12 March 1990)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
33. "1989 Result – Australian Cup (held 11 March 1989)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
34. "1988 Result – Australian Cup (held 14 March 1988)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
35. "1987 Result – Australian Cup (held 9 March 1987)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
36. "1986 Result – Australian Cup (held 10 March 1986)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
37. "1985 Result – Australian Cup (held 11 March 1985)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
38. "1984 Result – Australian Cup (held 12 March 1984)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
39. "1983 Result – Australian Cup (held 14 March 1983)". breednet.com. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
40. Kennedy, Tony (11 March 1969). "Great Ride by Moore got Cyron Dead-Heat". The Age, Melbourne. Google News Archive (Digitize). p. 26. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
41. Tatiara (6 March 1912). "V.R.C AUTUMN MEETING. THE AUSTRALIAN CUP. A DEAD HEAT.". The Advertiser, Adelaide. Trove Digitized Newspapers. p. 6. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
42. "Australian Cup (Official result and commentary)". The Age, Melbourne. Google News Archive (Digitize). 9 March 1872. p. 4 (column 3). Retrieved 5 March 2013. Third heat – Even betting. The pair ran locked together until close home, when the Dutchman failed, and Saladin won by half a neck.