Geelong Cup Race Information

The Geelong Cup is a very strong country cup held during the Victorian spring racing carnival. It is an open handicap over 2400 metres held by the Geelong Racing Club in October, 13 days before the Melbourne Cup.

  • Race Type: Group 3
  • Distance: 2400 metres
  • Conditions: Open Handicap
  • Track: Geelong Racecourse, Geelong, New South Wales
  • Prizemoney: $500,000
  • Date: Wednesday 23 October 2024

Geelong Cup Race History

The Geelong Cup began as a principal race over 2 miles in 1872 when it was won by Flying Spud. It replaced the Geelong Criterian Handicap which was run from 1864 to 1871 over 3 miles. The race was not held in 1897, 1907, 1908, 1920, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1946 and 1953. The distance was reduced to 2400 metres in 1972. In 1979 it became a Listed race and in 2004 it was given Group 3 Status.

It is one of the major country cups, and attracts horses heading for the Melbourne Cup. It is often the first time Australians get to see the international horses targeting the big spring races and has proven a very good guide to the Melbourne Cup. The prizemoney for the 2020 race is $400,000 and Geelong Cup Day is a public holiday in Geelong, about 70 kilometres south-west of Melbourne.

Useful Facts

Last mare to win: Tralee Rose (2021)

Last 3YO to win: C&G – none; Filly – none

Multiple winners: Roseview (1912 & 1914); Camerine (1885 & 1887)

Fastest time (2400m): Pacific Dancer (2004) 2:26:51

Interesting trivia: 2001 winner Karasi won three consecutive Nakayama Grand Jumps in Tokyo (2005, 2006 & 2007)

Previous winners of the Geelong Cup

Only two horses have managed to win this race on more than one occasion – Roseview in 1912 and 1914 , and Cameene in 1885 and 1887. It is a tough race and the last mare to win before Tralee Rose in 2021 was Leica Ding in 2009. There have been no three-year-old winners. The race has been dead-heated on 3 occasions with the most recent being Sea Legend and Pacific Mirage in 1989. The 1880 dead-heaters had to rerun the race to get a winner – the horses in those days were tough!

In recent years three European-trained Geelong Cup winners have gone on to win the Melbourne Cup, with Irish horse Media Puzzle (2002) and French gallopers Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011). Many other Geelong Cup runners have placed in the Melbourne Cup. Karasi who won the Geelong Cup in 2001 won 3 consecutive Nakayama Grand Jumps in Japan in Tokyo (2005 – 07) and both Americain and Dunaden have won Group 1 races on the international circuit.

Year Winner Second Third
2023 Amade Ashrun Sir Lucan
2022 Emissary Surefire Makram
2021 Tralee Rose Dr Drill Hasta La War
2020 Steel Prince Le Don De Vie King Of Leogrance
2019 Prince Of Arran True Self Haky
2018 Runaway Northwest Passage Finche
2017 Vengeur Masque Gallic Chieftain Violate
2016 Qewy Grey Lion Oceanographer
2015 Almoonqith Dandino  Manndawi
2014 Caravan Rolls On Marksmanship Like A Carousel
2013 Ibicenco Verdant Moudre
2012 Gatewood Chateau Margaux Brigantin
2011 Dunaden Tanby Bauer
2010 Americain Moudre Exceptionally
2009 Leica Ding Dandaad Sterling Prince
2008 Bauer Moatize Magic Instinct
2007 The Fuzz Zavite Desert Master
2006 Mandela Vanquished Dracs Back
2005 On A Jeune Brave Lancer Men At Work
2004 Pacific Dancer Devastating Diamond Jake
2003 Zazzman She’s Archie Tumeric
2002 Media Puzzle Requiem Donarch
2001 Karasi Maythehorsebewithu Scrumptious
2000 Savrocca Apache King Bulkhead

Geelong Cup Preview & Tips 2020

See the 2020 Geelong Cup Preview

Geelong Cup Preview & Tips 2018

Track: Soft   Weather: Fine

Following the scratching of Barry The Baptist there are 15 runners remaining for the $350,000 Bet365 Geelong Cup. Three of the international runners will be having their first start in Australia, five runners had their last start in The Bart Cummings, three in the ATC St Leger Stakes and two in the Cranbourne Cup. Darren Weir has five runners, Chris Waller has three and Waterhouse & Bott have two runners.

The early favourite is British gelding Withhold who is having his first start since winning in the UK over 3269m in June and goes well first-up. Second favourite is Finche who is also having his first start here and won a Group 3 over 2500m in France in August last start. Third favourite is Yogi who chased hard for 3rd in The Bart Cummings  last start and has 2 wins over 2500m.

Midterm was less than 2 lengths from the winner when 5th in The Metropolitan. Haripour was 7th in the St Leger on a heavy track after winning 3 races in a row. Casterton is another overseas raider having his first start here. Northwest Passage was 4th in the Bart Cummings and One Foot In Heaven was 2nd in the St Leger. The other runners are currently all at 20 to 1 or longer.

The following are the top 4 selections from our tipster panel for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
9 Yogi
3 Withhold
10 Haripour
1 Finche