Perth Cup

See the 2024 Perth Cup Preview and results.

See the 2023 Perth Cup Preview and results.

See the 2021 Perth Cup Preview and results.

The race is held at Perth’s Ascot Racecourse on New Year’s Day of each year. Ascot, called by some “the grand old lady” of Australian racecourses, is regarded as the country’ toughest test for thoroughbreds.

The circumference of the track is 2022 metres with the straight being 294 meters long. There is a good cambered home turn and a slight rise from the 400-metre pole to the finish line. Experts regard the home stretch as the most severe test of stayers in Australia.

The Western Australian Turf Club, now operating as Perth Racing, has been hosting thoroughbred racing in the state for over 150 years and runs Ascot Racecourse along with Belmont Park. Both are within minutes of Perth.

A six-year-old, Black Tom, ridden by Peter Hall and trained by Frank H. Maynard, won the 2006 Perth Cup. In 2005, Crown Prosecutor, a four-year-old, was the champion.

On 1 January 2023 the Perth Cup was abandoned mid-race after a horrific fall 200m into the race where the beautiful mare Chili Is Hot clipped the heels of a horse in front and crashed to the turf then Dom To Shoot couldn’t avoid her and also fell. He picked himself up and with the saddle slipped right back and over one flank made his way to the front of the field with no rider until stewards flagged the field down before it came back into the straight, Chili Is Hot was euthanised and the race rescheduled for 14 January. A terrible thing to happen on what should have been a happy day.

Last mare to win; Mississippi Delta (2020)

Last 3YO to win: C&G – Field Officer (1993); Filly – none

Multiple winners: Star Exhibit (2016 & 2019); Magistrate (1981 & 1982); Fait Accompli (1970 & 1972); Fairetha (1958 & 1959); Cueesun (dec 1933 & Jan 1935); Artesian (1911 & 1013); Scarpa (1893 & 1894); Wandering Willie (1890 & 1892).

Interesting trivia: 1919 winner Eurythmic won the 1920 Caulfield Cup. 1904 winner Blue Spec won the 1905 Melbourne Cup.

Other recent winners include King Canute, 2004; Tumeric, 2003; Cardinal Colours, 2002; Lottila Bay, 2001; Luna Tudor, 2000; King Of Saxony, 1999; Heed The Toll, 1998; Time Frame, 1997; and Crying Game 1996. Seven Horses have captured two Perth Cups. The last was Magistrate with wins in 1981 and 1982.

Jockey F. J. Treen has ridden five champions: 1949, 1952, 1963, 1964 and 1969.

Six other riders have three wins each. Both J. J. Kelly and G. A. Towton have saddled seven winners. Kelly’s wins were in the early 1900’s and Towton’s in the late 1800’s. More recently, Alan D. Mathews has trained six winners. They were in 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2001 and 2003.

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There is a full field of 16 plus one emergency for the $500,000 TABTouch Perth Cup. The early favourite is Material Man who was 2^nd in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic then 2^nd in the G2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes and drops 2.5 kg here. Second favourite is Trap For Fools who has won 8 of his last 9 starts and is facing his toughest test, but clearly has talent. Third favourite is Pounamu who won the Kingston Town Classic then the Ted Van Heemst Stakes over 2100m last start, but is badly weighted here.

Royal Star ran on strongly from last for 6^th on the Kingston Town than ran 5^th in the ATA Stakes. Dark Alert tried hard for a close 2^nd in the ATA Stakes. Zarantz wound up from last for 3^rd in the Ted Van Heemst. Angola ran 2^nd in the GA Towton Cup over 2200m last start. Star Value won by 2.5 lengths over 2200m in a BM 66 and up last start.  All other runners are currently 20 to 1 or longer in the early market.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.