Cranbourne Cup

See the 2023 Cranbourne Cup Preview & results

See the 2022 Cranbourne Cup Preview & results

See the 2021 Cranbourne Cup Preview & results

The race was first run in 1947 when it was won by a mare called Lady Antog. It became a Listed race in 1979 and was held over a distance of 2050m until 1997 and has been raced over 2025m since 1998.

In 2021 the Spring Carnival was revamped and with the Zipping Classic meeting vacating its traditional November timeslot, Racing Victoria  announced the Cranbourne Cup would move from a Sunday in October to Saturday, 13 November 2021, becoming Victoria’s sixth standalone Saturday metropolitan meeting with the TAB. To mark its new metropolitan timeslot and prominence within the Spring Racing Carnival, prizemoney was boosted by 25% to $500,000, while the distance has been reduced from 2025m to 1600m.

The change in distance ensures the Cranbourne Cup is a good lead to the $500,000 Sportsbet Ballarat Cup (2000m) which retains its current timeslot as a standalone metropolitan meeting a week later.

In 2022 Uncle Bryn set a new track record over 1600m when he won by 2 lengths. Altogether 4 track records were broken on the day.

Last mare to win: Midnight Martini (2012)

Multiple winners: Index (1970 & 1971)

Fastest time (1600m): Uncle Bryn (2022) 1:35:34 (new track record)

Fastest time (2025m): Figurehead (2001) 2:02:49

Interesting trivia: Race not held in 2016 when the 10-race meeting was postponed after one race due to extremely strong winds and not held until March 2017 over a decreased distance of 1600m.

Winners of past Cranbourne Cups include Pakal (2013), Emerald Jack (2007), On A Jeune (2004), Brave Chief (2000), Big Barron (1992), and Celtic Spirit

(The 2016 Cup was actually run in March 2017 over the shorter distance of 1600m)