Premier’s Cup Race Information

The Premier’s Cup is a 2000 metre open handicap race run by the Australian Turf Club in late August or early September. It is held at Randwick as part of the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival. In 2021 it was held at Kembla Grange due to Covid-19 lockdowns in Sydney.

  • Race Type: Group 3
  • Distance: 2000 metres
  • Conditions: Quality handicap, 3YO & upwards
  • Track: Randwick Racecourse, Sydney, New South Wales
  • Prizemoney: $250,000
  • Date: Saturday 19 August 2023

Premier’s Cup Race History

See the 2023 Premier’s Cup Preview and results

See the 2022 Premier’s Cup Preview and results

See the 2021 Premier’s Cup Preview and results

See the 2020 Premier’s Cup Preview and results

The race was first run as the Rosehill Cup in 1947 as a Principal Race over one and a half miles (about 2400m) and was won by a horse called Courier. The distance was reduced and when it became a Listed Race in 1979 it was being run over 2000 metres. In 1989 it was renamed the Premier’s Cup and the distance became 1900m. until 2002. From 2003 to 2015 it was reduced to 1800 metres then from 2016 onwards it has returned to 1900 metres. In 2018 it was upgraded to a Group 3 race. In 2021 it was run at Kembla Grange because of Covid-19 lockdowns in Sydney.

Horses may come to this race via the Premier’s Cup Prelude over 1800m at Randwick run two weeks earlier. The winner of that race is exempt from any ballot for this race. Many horses have progressed to Group 1 wins from this race. Back in 1952 Hydrogen won this race and went on to win the next two Cox Plates. 2015 winner Magic Hurricane and 2012 winner Glencadam Gold both won the Metropolitan Handicap, and 2005 winner Railings won the Metropolitan and the Caulfield Cup. 2016 winner Sense Of Occasion won the Villiers Stakes, placed in both the Doncaster Handicap and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes and won the Doomben Cup. 2018 winner Avilius won the Kingston Town Classic and the Group 3 Bart Cummings.

Premier’s Cup Facts

Last mare to win: Break Card (2011)

Multiple winners: Tails (1969 & 1970)

Fastest time (1900m): Dee I Cee (2017) 1:55:02

Premiers Cup & Kingston Town Stakes: Avilius (2018)

Leading trainers: Gai Waterhouse with 5 wins (Dee I Cee 2017; Greatwood 2014; Glencadam Gold 2012; Gamesman 2002; Mulan Princess 2001)

Interesting trivia: In 2019 Chris Waller trained the first five across the line (Wu Gok, Come Play With Me, Carzoff, So You win and Savacool). Race not held in 2007 due to equine influenza.

Past winners of the Premier’s Cup

Winners of past Premier’s Cup include Avilius (2018), Sense Of Occasion (2016), Magic Hurricane (2015), Glencadam Gold (2012), Activation (2006), Railings (2005), Bush Honey (2004), Mulan Princess (2001), Joss Sticks (1998), Donegal Mist (1992), Kessem (1990), Colour Page (1985), Americano (1975), Red God (1972), Tails (1969/1970), Talisman (1955), Hydrogen (1952) and Dark Marne (1949).

Year Winner Second Third
2023 Hosier Military Mission Bois D’argent
2022 Arapaho Francesco Guardi Lord Ardmore
2021 Harpo Marx Spirit Ridge Inverloch
2020 Mugatoo Sikandarabad Herengawe
2019 Wu Gok Come Play With Me Carzoff
2018 Avilius I Am Serious Testashadow
2017 Dee I Cee Classic Uniform Centre Pivot
2016 Sense Of Occasion Singing Magic Hurricane
2015 Magic Hurricane Silverball Kapour
2014 Greatwood Bonfire He’s Your Man
2013 Less Is More Ironstein Winning Glory
2012 Glencadam Gold Permit Stout Hearted
2011 Break Card Praecido The Verminator
2010 Snow Alert Scouting Wide Abitofado
2009 Emperor Bonaparte Voice Coach Enzedex Eagle
2008 Red Lord Hurrah Hadaaf
2007  ** Race not run **
2006 Activation Mr Martini Juerga
2005 Railings Stormhill Hasta Manana
2004 Bush Honey Keeping The Faith Brother Of Danny
2003 Domine Daniel’s The Man Go Ziggy
2002 Gamesman Abeel Hostess Dress Circle
2001 Mulan Princess Consolidator Via Sinai
2000 Super Revenir Prophet’s Kiss Motiti Road
1999 Catapult Vitrinite Tobacco Flat
1998 Joss Sticks Astro Boy Ask The Waiter
1997 Ask The Waiter Whivory Madjic
1996  ** Race not run **
1995 Ardeed Silver Auctioneer Balmeressa
1994 Century Reign Long Tan O’Hara
1993 O’Hara Zamination Chime Zam
1992 Donegal Mist Double Malt Regal Sea
1991 Hammond Cheer For Me Canny Garinsky
1990 Kessem Yarra Bay Our Magic Man
1989 Port Kingdom The Brotherhood Hunter
1988 Natural Habit Balciano Grelette
1987 Northern Plain Lord Hybrow Kareena Magic
1986 Fix The Date Petrus Beau Jacob
1985 Colour Page King Randell Beau Kingdom
1984 Just For Tristram Admiral Bllair Lancelotto
1983 Tulsa Knight Lord Seaman Together Again
1982 Bourbon Boy Lancelotto Lordship
1981 Coe Khaliran Lord Warden
1980 Diamond Park Calpurnicus Lord Folkestone
1979 In Luck Over The Ocean Dear John
1978 Leonotis Big Skipper Amicus Amico
1977 Such Fun Bazza Dandy Dresser
1976 Northbridge Lad Current Issue Gold And Black
1975 Americano Bon Teint Nourishing
1974 Broadway Hit Glad Man Golden Tally
1973 Drum Roll Arrowhead The Fixer
1972 Red God Gay Marquis Pitchman
1971 Oncidon Tails Megalo Boy
1970 Tails Roman Consul Gallicus
1969 Tails Lochcourt Honour Bright
1968 By Gee Indian Harvest Del Charro
1967 Tupaki Little Corporal Del Charro
1966 Victory Roll Strauss Tea Biscuit
1965 Duo Frame Up Blue Clan
1964 Striking Force Liege Lord Pharmacy
1963 Alpensea Travel On The Wit
1962 Tamure Silvery Sands Sharply
1961 Gemstone Dual Copy Travel On
1960 Boorala Reinsman Lochie
1959 Bardshah Flash Gem Royal Jester
1958 Caranna Sication Eudare
1957 Turkestan Straight Draw Caranna
1956 Regal Forest Gay Ranick Matchlock
1955 Talisman Salvalanche Shadford
1954 El Ziet Royal Forest Electro
1953 Maynard Friendly Feeling Tilbridge
1952 Hydrogen Jan Iron Duke
1951 Amused Elusive Hurry Up
1950 Hurry Up Persist Yamboon
1949 Dark Marne Dynamite Transaction
1948 Paktong Casanova Royal Lad
1947 Courier Proctor Cape Neddick