The Sydney Cup is an Australian Turf Club Group 1 Thoroughbred handicap horse race, for horses three years old and older, run over 3200 metres at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia in the autumn during the ATC Championships series and it is the longest race in the club.[1] Total prize money is A$2,000,000.

Sydney Cup
Group I race
Lucrative, 1941 winner Maurice McCarten up
LocationRandwick Racecourse
Sydney, Australia
Inaugurated1862 (as Jockey Club Handicap)
Race typeThoroughbred - Flat racing
SponsorSchweppes (2023)
WebsiteAustralian Jockey Club
Race information
Distance3,200 metres
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationThree year old and older
WeightHandicap
PurseA$2,000,000 (2023)

The origins of this race are associated with colonial Sydney and the growth of thoroughbred racing in the colony during the 1850s. The Australian Jockey Club initiated an Autumn race meet of initially two days and expanded it as horse racing became the most attended sport meeting.

Name

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The inaugural running of the race was 1 May 1862 as part of the Metropolitan Autumn Meeting at Randwick.[2] The race was known as Jockey Club Handicap and it was the third race on the card.[2] The race attracted 9 runners over the famed 2 miles and was won by the odds on favourite Talleyrand in a time of 3 minutes 52 seconds.[2]

In 1863 the Randwick Autumn Meeting, the third race on the first day of the meet was the Randwick Grand Handicap.[3] The race was run by five entrants with the winner Traveller in a time of 3 minutes 42 seconds.[3]

By 1865 the race was called the Randwick Grand Handicap Sweepstakes.[4] With influx of money that was being offered by the Victoria Racing Club in Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup the AJC decided to change the name of the race in 1866 to the Sydney Gold Cup[5] and move its scheduling to the second day of the meet.[6] The 1866 Sydney Cup was presented to jockey Samuel Holmes and the immensely popular colonial horse, Yattendon, who demonstrated prowess by winning 11 out of his 17 starts. The gold cup was presented for the first time in this race and was made of 18 carat gold.[7]

Of the more famous horses to win the race was dual winner of the race The Barb (1868–69) and also winner of the Melbourne Cup[8] and from the same era Carbine who also won the race twice (1889–90).[1]

In the 20th century the race held its prominence and although it never overtook the Melbourne Cup the race complemented the Australian Racing Calendar by being held in the autumn.

Other dual winners include: Mosaic (1939–40), Veiled Threat (1942, 1944), Tie The Knot (1998–99).

In 1973 the race was set at a distance of 3,200 metres due to the metric conversion in Australia.

Kingston Town was the first to win the Sydney Cup as a Group 1 race in 1980. The distinction for the fastest recorded time is 3 minutes and 19 seconds, set by 'Apollo Eleven' in 1973 and equalled by Just A Dancer in 1991.[1]

History

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Electro, 1957 winner jockey Doug Weir
 
Rogilla, 1933 winner George Robinson

1941 racebook

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1942 and 1952 racebooks

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Winners

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  • 2024 - Circle Of Fire[9]
  • 2023 - Explosive Jack[10]
  • 2022 - Knights Order[11]
  • 2021 - Selino[12]
  • 2020 - Etah James[13]
  • 2019 - Shraaoh[14]
  • 2018 - Who Shot Thebarman[15]
  • †2017 - Polarisation[16]
  • 2016 - Gallante[17]
  • 2015 - Grand Marshal[18]
  • 2014 - The Offer[19]
  • 2013 - Mourayan[20]
  • 2012 - Niwot[21]
  • 2011 - Stand To Gain[22]
  • 2010 - Jessicabeel[23]
  • 2009 - Ista Kareem[24]
  • 2008 - No Wine No Song[25]
  • 2007 - Gallic[26]
  • 2006 - County Tyrone[27]
  • 2005 - Mahtoum[28]
  • 2004 - Makybe Diva[29]
  • 2003 - Honor Babe[30]
  • 2002 - Henderson Bay[31]
  • 2001 - Mr. Prudent[32]
  • 2000 - Streak[33]
  • 1999 - Tie The Knot[34]
  • 1998 - Tie The Knot[35]
  • 1997 - Linesman[36]
  • 1996 - Count Chivas[37]
  • 1995 - Daacha[38]
  • 1994 - Cross Swords[39]
  • 1993 - Azzaam[40]
  • 1992 - My Eagle Eye[41]
  • 1991 - Just A Dancer[42]
  • 1990 - King Aussie[43]
  • 1989 - Palace Revolt[44]
  • 1988 - Banderol[45]
  • 1987 - Major Drive[46]
  • 1986 - Marooned[47]
  • 1985 - Late Show[48]
  • 1984 - Trissaro[49]
  • 1983 - Veloso[50]
  • 1982 - Azawary
  • 1981 - Our Paddy Boy
  • 1980 - Kingston Town
  • 1979 - Double Century
  • 1978 - My Good Man
  • 1977 - Reckless
  • 1976 - Oopik
  • 1975 - Gay Master
  • 1974 - Battle Heights
  • 1973 - Apollo Eleven
  • 1972 - Dark Suit
  • 1971 - Gallic Temple
  • 1970 - Arctic Symbol
  • 1969 - Lowland
  • 1968 - General Command
  • 1967 - Galilee
  • 1966 - Prince Grant
  • 1965 - River Seine
  • 1964 - Zinga Lee
  • 1963 - Maidenhead
  • 1962 - Grand Print
  • 1961 - Sharply
  • 1960 - Grand Garry
  • 1959 - On Line
  • 1958 - Straight Draw
  • 1957 - Electro
  • 1956 - Sailor's Guide
  • 1955 - Talisman
  • 1954 - Gold Scheme
  • 1953 - Carioca
  • 1952 - Opulent
  • 1951 - Bankstream
  • 1950 - Sir Falcon
  • 1949 - Carbon Copy
  • 1948 - Dark Marne
  • 1947 - Proctor
  • 1946 - Cordale
  • 1945 - Craigie
  • 1944 - Veiled Threat
  • 1943 - Abspear
  • 1942 - Veiled Threat
  • 1941 - Lucrative
  • 1940 - Mosaic
  • 1939 - Mosaic
  • 1938 - L'Aiglon
  • 1937 - Mestoravon
  • 1936 - Contact
  • 1935 - Akuna
  • 1934 - Broad Arrow
  • 1933 - Rogilla
  • 1932 - Johnnie Jason
  • 1931 - The Dimmer
  • 1930 - Gwillian G.
  • 1929 - Crucis
  • 1928 - Winalot
  • 1927 - Piastoon
  • 1926 - Murray King
  • 1925 - Lilypond
  • 1924 - Scarlet
  • 1923 - David
  • 1922 - Prince Charles
  • 1921 - Eurythmic
  • 1920 - Kennaquhair
  • 1919 - Ian 'Or
  • 1918 - Rebus
  • 1917 - The Fortune Hunter
  • 1916 - Prince Bardolph
  • 1915 - Scotch Artillery
  • 1914 - Lilyveil
  • 1913 - Cadonia
  • 1912 - Saxonite
  • 1911 - Moorilla
  • 1910 - Vavasor
  • 1909 - Trafalgar
  • 1908 - Dyed Garments
  • 1907 - Realm
  • 1906 - Noreen
  • 1905 - Tartan
  • 1904 - Lord Cardigan
  • 1903 - Street Arab
  • 1902 - Wakeful
  • 1901 - San Fran
  • 1900 - La Carabine
  • 1899 - Diffidence
  • 1898 - Merloolas
  • 1897 - Tricolor
  • 1896 - Wallace
  • 1895 - Patroness
  • 1894 - Lady Trenton
  • 1893 - Realm
  • 1892 - Stromboli
  • 1891 - Highborn
  • 1890 - Carbine
  • 1889 - Carbine
  • 1888 - The Australian Peer
  • 1887 - Frisco
  • 1886 - Cerise And Blue
  • 1885 - Normanby
  • 1884 - Favo
  • 1883 - Darebin
  • 1882 - Cunnamulla
  • 1881 - Progress
  • 1880 - Petrea
  • 1879 - Savanaka
  • 1878 - Democrat
  • 1877 - Kingfisher
  • 1876 - A.T.
  • 1875 - Imperial
  • 1874 - Speculation
  • 1873 - Vixen
  • 1872 - The Prophet
  • 1871 - Mermaid
  • 1870 - Barbelle
  • 1869 - The Barb[8]
  • 1868 - The Barb
  • 1867 - Fishhook[51]
  • 1866 - Yattendon[6]
  • 1865 - Union Jack[4]
  • 1864 - Tarragon[52]
  • 1863 - Traveller[3]
  • 1862 - Talleyrand[2]

Notes:
† The event was originally scheduled on 8 April 2017, but was abandoned when Almoonqith broke down shortly after the start of the race.[53] The race was rescheduled and run two weeks later on 22 April 2017.[54]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Winners and Past Results for the Sydney Cup". Progroup Racing (Australia). 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d "Randwick Autumn Meeting First Day (Official 1862 results and commentary)". Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle, Sydney. Trove (Digitize newspaper). 3 May 1862. p. 2 (column 4–5). Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "Randwick Autumn Meeting First Day (Official 1863 results and commentary)". Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle, Sydney. Trove (Digitize newspaper). 2 May 1863. p. 2 (column 3–5). Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  4. ^ a b "TURF. Randwick Autumn Meeting. First Day (Official 1865 results and commentary 4th Race Randwick Grand Handicap Sweepstakes)". Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle, Sydney. Trove (Digitize newspaper). 6 May 1865. p. 2 (column 3–5). Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Powerhouse Museum - 'The Sydney Cup' by Christian Ludwig Qwist, 1871". (it was an English gold cup won at the Randwick Autumn Meeting of 1866 that started the tradition gold cups awarded to winners of this key Sydney race)
  6. ^ a b "Randwick Autumn Meeting. 1866 (Official 1866 results and commentary 4th Race Sydney Gold Cup)". Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle, Sydney. Trove (Digitize newspaper). 5 May 1866. p. 2,3 (column 6 and 1). Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  7. ^ "1866 Sydney Cup". Australian Turf Club.
  8. ^ a b "TURF TALK. Randwick Autumn Meeting. Second Day (Official 1869 results and commentary 4th Race Sydney Cup)". Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle, Sydney. Trove (Digitize newspaper). 1 May 1869. p. 2 (column 2–6). Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  9. ^ "Full Result 6.15 Randwick (AUS) | 13 April 2024 | Racing Post". www.racingpost.com.
  10. ^ "2023 Result – Schweppes Sydney Cup (held 8 April 2023)". racingpost.com. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  11. ^ "2022 Result – Schweppes Sydney Cup (held 9 April 2022)". breednet.com.au. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  12. ^ "2021 Result – Schweppes Sydney Cup (held 17 April 2022)". breednet.com.au. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  13. ^ Christian Nicolussi (11 April 2020). "'The best 30-1 shot I'll ride in a group 1': Etah proves Boss right". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  14. ^ "2019 Result – Schweppes Sydney Cup (held 13 April 2019)". breednet.com. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
  15. ^ "2018 Result – Schweppes Sydney Cup (held 14 April 2018)". breednet.com. Retrieved 14 April 2018.
  16. ^ "2017 Result – Schweppes Sydney Cup (held 22 April 2017)". breednet.com. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
  17. ^ "2016 Result – Schweppes Sydney Cup (held 9 April 2016)". breednet.com. Retrieved 9 April 2016.
  18. ^ "2015 Result – Schweppes 150th Sydney Cup (held 11 April 2015)". breednet.com. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  19. ^ "2014 Result – Schweppes Sydney Cup (held 19 April 2014)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  20. ^ "2013 Result – Schweppes Sydney Cup (held 27 April 2013)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  21. ^ "2012 Result – Schweppes Sydney Cup (held 28 April 2012)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  22. ^ "2011 Result – Schweppes Sydney Cup (held 23 April 2011)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  23. ^ "2010 Result – Schweppes Sydney Cup (held 24 April 2010)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  24. ^ "2009 Result – Schweppes Sydney Cup (held 25 April 2009)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  25. ^ "2008 Result – Sydney Cup (held 3 May 2008)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  26. ^ "2007 Result – Sydney Cup (held 14 April 2007)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  27. ^ "2006 Result – Sydney Cup (held 22 April 2006)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  28. ^ "2005 Result – Sydney Cup (held 2 April 2005)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  29. ^ "2004 Result – Sydney Cup (held 17 April 2004)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  30. ^ "2003 Result – Sydney Cup (held 3 May 2003)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  31. ^ "2002 Result – Sydney Cup (held 13 April 2002)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  32. ^ "2001 Result – Sydney Cup (held 28 April 2001)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  33. ^ "2000 Result – Sydney Cup (held 6 May 2000)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  34. ^ "1999 Result – Sydney Cup (held 10 April 1999)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  35. ^ "1998 Result – Sydney Cup (held 18 April 1998)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  36. ^ "1997 Result – Sydney Cup (held 5 April 1997)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  37. ^ "1996 Result – Sydney Cup (held 13 April 1996)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  38. ^ "1995 Result – Sydney Cup (held 22 April 1995)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  39. ^ "1994 Result – Sydney Cup (held 9 April 1994)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  40. ^ "1993 Result – Sydney Cup (held 17 April 1993)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  41. ^ "1992 Result – Sydney Cup (held 25 April 1992)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  42. ^ "1991 Result – Sydney Cup (held 6 April 1991)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  43. ^ "1990 Result – Sydney Cup (held 21 April 1990)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  44. ^ "1989 Result – Sydney Cup (held 1 April 1989)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  45. ^ "1988 Result – Sydney Cup (held 9 April 1988)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  46. ^ "1987 Result – Sydney Cup (held 25 April 1987)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  47. ^ "1986 Result – Sydney Cup (held 5 April 1986)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  48. ^ "1985 Result – Sydney Cup (held 13 April 1985)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  49. ^ "1984 Result – Sydney Cup (held 28 April 1984)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  50. ^ "1983 Result – Sydney Cup (held 16 April 1983)". breednet.com. Retrieved 6 April 2015.
  51. ^ "TURF. Randwick Autumn Meeting. Second Day (Official 1867 results and commentary 4th Race Sydney Cup)". Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle, Sydney. Trove (Digitize newspaper). 6 May 1865. p. 2 (column 2–6). Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  52. ^ "TURF. Randwick Autumn Meeting 1864 First Day (Official 1864 results and commentary 4th Race Randwick Grand Handicap)". Bell's Life in Sydney and Sporting Chronicle, Sydney. Trove (Digitize newspaper). 30 April 1864. p. 2 (column 3–5). Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  53. ^ Ray Thomas; Brad Davidson (8 April 2017). "Sydney Cup abandoned mid-race after chaos on first lap". News Corp Australia Network. news.com.au. Retrieved 8 April 2017.
  54. ^ Ryan, Tim (10 April 2017). "Kiwis connections keen as Sydney Cup re-run confirmed for April 22". stuff.com.nz (New Zealand). Fairfax Media. Retrieved 10 April 2017.