Moonee Valley Gold Cup Race Information

The Moonee Valley Gold Cup is a 2500 metre set weights plus penalties race for horses four-years-old and upwards run by the Moonee Valley Racing Club on the eve of the Cox Plate day in October. It is run at Moonee Valley as part of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

  • Race Type: Group 2
  • Distance: 2500 metres
  • Conditions: Set weights plus penalties, 4YO & upwards
  • Track: Moonee Valley Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria
  • Prizemoney: $750,000
  • Date: Friday 27 October 2023

Moonee Valley Gold Cup Race History

See the 2023 Moonee Valley Gold Cup Preview and results

See the 2022 Moonee Valley Gold Cup Preview and results

See the 2021 Moonee Valley Gold Cup Preview and results

The race has a very long history as it was first run as a Principal race over a mile (about 1600m) in 1883 when it was called the Moonee Valley Cup and was won by a horse called Castaway.It has had a huge number of changes in distance and was even a 6 furlong (about 1200m ) sprint from 1885 to 1888. Since 1900 it has always been over 2000m or more. It has also had several name changes. In 1979 it was upgraded to a Group 3 race and from 1980 onwards it has been a Group 2 race. It has been run at the current 2500 metre distance from 1995 onwards.

For many years it was held on the same day as the W.S. Cox Plate. In early 2023 there was a revamp of the Victorian Spring Carnival and it was moved to the Friday night meeting before the Cox Plate while the Manikato Stakes, which had previously been the feature race of the Friday meeting, was moved to Cox Plate day.

Moonee Valley Gold Cup Facts

Last mare to win; Butternut (1985)

Multiple winners: Precedence (2010 & 2013); Valcurl (1945-46); Gilltown (1939 & 1940); Gladwyn (1914 & 1915); Little Bob (1891 & 1892)

Fastest time (2500m): Vatuvei (2001) 2:35:73

Interesting trivia: Trainer Chris Waller prepared the quinella in both 2016 and 2017. In 2002 Thong Classic survived a protest from Rain Gauge.

Past winners of the Moonee Valley Gold Cup

Winners of past Moonee Valley Gold Cups include horses that go on to win major spring races.

Year Winner Second Third
2023 Cleveland Vow And Declare Future History
2022 Francesco Guardi Lunar Flare Persan
2021 Lunar Flare Floating Artist Sound
2020 Miami Bound Shared Ambition Oceanex
2019 Hunting Horn Mr Quickie Downdraft
2018 Ventura Storm Trap For Fools Libran
2017 Who Shot Thebarman Libran Cismontane
2016 Grand Marshal Who Shot Thebarman Pentathlon
2015 The United States Prince Of Penzance Bohemian Lily
2014 Prince Of Penzance Le Roi Au Revoir
2013 Precedence Shoreham Gotta Take Care
2012 Vatuvei Reuben Percival Ironstein
2011 Americain Tullamore Illo
2010 Precedence Above Average Capecover
2009 The Sportsman Irazu Think Money
2008 Gallopin Baughurst Ice Chariot
2007 Gallic Lazer Sharp Jukebox Johnny
2006 Zipping Show Barry Gallic
2005 Umbula Bazelle Kindjhal
2004 Another Warrior Rizon Hard To Get
2003 Frightening Legible County Tyrone
2002 Thong Classic Rain Gauge Mr Prudent
2001 Rain Gauge Spirit Of Westbury Big Pat
2000 Yippyio Brew Cronus
1999 Streak Cronus Second Coming
1998 Prince Standaan Skybeau Zdenka
1997 Court Of Honour Linesman Yobro
1996 Istidaad Protaras Bay Cheviot
1995 Storm Bullwinkle Quick Ransom
1994 Top Rating Starstruck Our Pompeii
1993 Glastonbury Notwithstanding Ramyah
1992 Donegal Mist Cross Swords Fraar
1991 Al Maheb The Hipprogriff Rasheek
1990 Kingston Rule Flying Luskin Chaleyer