SYDNEY CUP
After three months of exhilarating racing action, punters and spectators are treated to one final race meeting at the illustrious Sydney Autumn Carnival, the Sydney Cup Day. The opening event and the highlight of the day is the Group 1 Sydney Cup, a challenging open handicap race over 3200m. Other exciting events on the day include the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes, All Aged Stakes, Champagne Stakes and the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes; ensuring that the Autumn Carnival concludes with a bang!
The $400 000 Sydney Cup is the longest distanced race of the whole carnival and only the top quality gallopers see victory on the Randwick racecourse track in this event. The length and conditions of the race are the same as Australia’s premier race the Melbourne Cup. Because of its position as one of only two Group 1 races run over the traditional Cup length of 3200m, the Sydney Cup attracts a highly competitive field of elite stayers, which makes for some of the best value and entertaining betting out of the whole autumn season.
The list of victors in the Sydney Cup is full of racing champions including the magnificent Melbourne Cup winning mare Makybe Diva (2004), multiple winner Tie The Knot (1998 & 1999) and Count Chivas (1996). The Sydney Cup draws entries from right across the globe, and in recent years international raiders have dominated the event. In 2009 the top three placegetters were all New Zealand runners, Ista Kareem, Divine Rebel and Mr Tipsy in third. The previous year, 2008, when No Wine No Song won, the runner-up and third place went to Pentathon and Lang also both from New Zealand. The 2007 winner Gallic was another victorious New Zealand stayer, as was Honor Babe in 2003 and Henderson Bay in 2002. Punters who spot winning trends such as this will see the most success, so for the next Sydney Cup watch for international entries who have had impressive recent form and are ridden by an accomplished jockey especially for your Place bets.
In the lead-up to the Sydney Cup, horses have many elite competitions to gain valuable racing experience. Successful punting on the Cup relies on bettors studying the form of contenders in these previous races. A good handicap event to watch as an indication for the Sydney Cup is the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap (1600) held the week before. Probably the best guide is the 2600m Chairman’s Handicap two weeks before the Cup. Many Chairmans Handicap winners have continued on to take victory in the Sydney Cup including No Wine No Song (2008), Henderson Bay (2002), Linesman (1997) and King Aussie (1990). This Chairmans Handicap – Sydney Cup duo is a fantastic and highly popular betting double well worth checking out if you are keen to make a nice profit towards the end of the Autumn Carnival.
The results of races like the Chairmans Handicap and The BMW, held on Golden Slipper Day, can have huge consequences on the betting markets for the Sydney Cup. A horse’s odds for the Sydney Cup are directly affected by their performance in these earlier carnival events, so watch the runners, races and the odds carefully to secure the best value wager!
The Sydney Cup was first run in 1862 when Talleyrand won; making it one of Australia’s most established and esteemed races. It began as a principal race run over 16 furlongs and didn’t attain Group 1 status until 1980 when the famous Kingston Town, one of the five inaugural inductees into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, claimed victory.
Sydney Cup Day is one of your last chances to place a wager in the Autumn Carnival, so make the most of it and start making your selections today!
Race Details & Information for the Sydney Cup:
Date: Late April
Track Location: Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney
Race Distance: 3200m
Race Status: Group 1
Race Conditions: Open Handicap
Purse: $400 000
Inaugurated: 1862
Recent Results & Winners for the Sydney Cup:
Year Winner Jockey Weight(kg) Second Third Time
2009 Ista Kareem C. Williams 52.0 Divine Rebel Mr Tipsy 3:27.42
2008 No Wine No Song D. Oliver 55.5 Pentathon Lang 3:25.51
2007 Gallic S. W. Arnold 56.0 Irazu No Wine No Song 3:27.30
2006 County Tyrone J. Cassidy 55.5 Zabeet Three Chimneys 3:22.69
2005 Mahtoum D. Beadman 52.5 County Tyrone Philosophe 3:27.69
2004 Makybe Diva G. Boss 55.5 Manawa King Mummify 3:21.21
2003 Honor Babe K. McEvoy 53.0 County Tyrone Grey Song 3:30.53
2002 Henderson Bay D. McLellan 54.0 Mr. Prudent Spirit Of Westbury 3:26.74
2001 Mr. Prudent C. Brown 50.5 Prophet’s Kiss Starina 3:26.94
2000 Streak S.R. King 53.5 Sharscay Ears’ Ronny 3:30.36
1999 Tie The Knot R.S. Dye 57.0 Praise Indeed Lahar 3:22.85
1998 Tie The Knot R.S. Dye 50.5 Doriemus Praise Indeed 3:25.78
1997 Linesman L. Cassidy 51.5 Nothin’ Leica Dane Ebony Grosve 3:20.59
1996 Count Chivas S. King 55.5 The Bandette Beaux Art 3:26.36
1995 Daacha B. Prebble 51.0 Dark Ksar Gold Sovereign 3:24.31
1994 Cross Swords G. Eades 55.5 Hear That Bell Azzaam 3:28.8
1993 Azzaam L. Dittman 53.5 Te Akau Nick Subzero 3:28.3
1992 My Eagle Eye G. Cooksley 52.5 Aquidity Castletown 3:23.8
1991 Just A Dancer G. Cooksley 52.0 Castletown I’m In Heaven 3:19.0
1990 King Aussie N.G. Harris 53.0 Chaleyer Palace Revolt 3:36.6
1989 Palace Revolt K. Moses 48.5 Coshking Regal Chela 3:38.1
1988 Banderol P. Cook 53.5 Round The World Equity Girl 3:34.1
1987 Major Drive G. Hall 54.5 Myocard Foxseal 3:21.2
1986 Marooned J. Cassidy 49.5 Our Sophia Foxseal 3:27.0
1985 Late Show N. Campton 51.0 Imaprince Secured Deposit 3:26.7
