Lord Mayor's Cup

Winners and Past Results.

Brisbane Racing Club plays host to the Lord Mayors Cup, a Group 3 race for horses three years old and over at Doomben Racecourse during the winter racing carnival. The 1615 metre race is a weight for age event with $115,000 reserved for the winner.

The day's card includes the prestigious Group 1 Doomben Cup run over 2020 metres, which leaves punters with a chance to square their positions or come out on top at the end of the day.  Free $200 Bet

Other major races of the day include the Group 2 Champagne Classic, and Group 3 Fred Best Classic, among others. Some of the three year olds may fancy their chances in the Lord Mayors Cup after a run in the Group 3 Chairman's Handicap at the same track, which is often a good warm up race held a fortnight earlier.

Weight for age conditions favour the more than handy types who have the ability to travel the mile and beyond. Notable horses have gone on to win several other Group races including the Caulfield Cup, a feat managed by Sky Heights in 2001. Runners in the event may head to Eagle Farm Races for a shot at the Group 2 PJ O'Shea Stakes over 2400 metres on Oaks Day. Rampant Lion managed to score in both events in 2009 while Head Turner also achieved the feat earlier in 2007.

Other horses may look for an entry in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas held at Eagle Farm. Rothesay managed to win both the events in 2010. The 1400 M Group 2 Dane Ripper Stakes held at Eagle Farm is also another follow up race with 2011 runner up in the Lord Mayors Cup, St. Germaine, finishing fifth in the event. The 1800 M Group 2 Hollindale Stakes held at the Gold Coast track may also have a few contestants heading for the Lord Mayors Cup.

The inaugural event, known as the BATC Labour Day Cup, was held in 1979 as a principal race. It was granted Group 3 status in 2000 and has been run under its present name since 2005. Mares with a 2 kg advantage are the ones to look out for in the Lord Mayors Cup even though they may not have produced outstanding results in their earlier runs. Often, the race has a small field.

2012 Lord Mayors Cup

Michael Rodd was feeling confident on-board Solzhenitsyn, taking the New Zealand-bred gelding to the lead and staying there to record a very emphatic win. At the 800 metre mark, Solzhenitsyn was challenged by Gathering but this didn’t deter the five year old, who continued to give his jockey an armchair ride. As Gathering faded and dropped back, Solzhenitsyn just seemed to get better, increasing tempo and sprinting his way to an unbeatable lead in the straight, looking more than comfortable as he went to the post. Firebolt finished smartly but was never going to catch Solzhenitsyn, while Ginga Dude came home in third to make it a Kiwi trifecta.   

2012 Lord Mayors Cup result

1. Solzhenitsyn
2. Firebolt
3. Ginga Dude

Then came:

4. St Germaine
5. Divorces
6. Fillydelphia
7. Miss Keepsake
8. Pepperwood
9. Gathering
10. Vespa