Caulfield Cup

Winners, Past Results and History for the Caulfield Cup

Every year in October Australian horse racing fans look forward to one of the most prestigious horse races at the Caulfield Racecourse, the Caulfield Cup.

During the 2nd war the Caulfield Racecourse was closed and used as an army camp. In 1941, 1942 and 1943 the Caulfield Cup was run at the Flemington Racecourse.

In 1881 there were two Cups held as the race was moved to the spring, with the autumn winner Blue Ribbon and the spring winner Master Avenel. Again in 1943 the race was run twice due to the large number of entries.

The Group 1 event is one of the richest handicap races run over 2400 meters on the final day of the racing carnival.

The Caulfield Cup is hosted by the Melbourne Racing Club with $2,500,000 banked by the winners. The race is the most followed event after the Melbourne Cup. The Group 1 Caulfield Guineas and Thousand Guineas held earlier are among the lead up races, which serve as a good form guide.

Top stayers move on to big time racing in the Melbourne Cup, Group 1 WS Cox Plate and AAMI Victoria Derby. Many horses seek to score a Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double during the spring carnival while punters look to make the most of the world's most prestigious races. Some horses may make their way to the Caulfield Cup from the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes. Prior to lifting the 2011 Caulfield Cup, Southern Speed ran fourth in the Turnbull Stakes.

Viewed, winner in 2009, won the Melbourne Cup the previous year. Other high class runners to win the Caulfield Cup include Northerly in 2002, Mannerism in 1992, and Elvstroem in 2004. The winner has an open invitation for the Melbourne Cup, which is why the race has top notch stayers fight it out over the 2400 meter distance.

The Caulfield Cup is open to international competition since 1998, with British bred Taufan's Melody obliging punters the very same year followed by All The Good a decade later in 2008. 18 runners come under the starter's orders in the Caulfield Cup, which is decided by a ballot system. The prize money, wins, and placing in lead up races are among the major factors that determine the eligibility of a horse.

Automatic entry may be awarded to winners of the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes and the Listed Mornington Cup. Other races for which the Caulfield Cup is a good form guide are the Wakeful Stakes, Moonee Valley Cup, and Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

Important spring races in Sydney and Melbourne that are likely to produce Caulfield Cup runners are the Autumn Classic, Herbert Power Stakes, Listed Cranbourne Cup, Spring Champion Stakes and the Craven Plate.

MOST SUCCESSFUL JOCKEY IN THE CAULFIELD CUP:

• Scobie Breasley - 5 wins
• Damien Oliver - 4 four wins
• Frank Demsey - 3 wins
• Neville Sellwood - 3 wins
• Mick Mallyon - 3 wins

MOST SUCCESSFUL FEMALE TRAINERS IN THE CAULFIELD CUP:

• 1998 Lady Herries - Taufan's Melody
• 2001 Sheila Laxon - Ethereal
• 2010 Gai Waterhouse - Descarado

MOST SUCCESSFUL TRAINER IN THE CAULFIELD CUP:

• Bart Cummings - 7 wins
• Tommy Smith - 4 wins
• Jack Holt - 3 wins
• CT Godby - 3 wins
• H McCalman - 3 wins

WINNING FEMALE TRAINERS:

• 1998 Lady Herries - Taufan's Melody
• 2001 Sheila Laxon - Ethereal 

UNLUCKIEST TRAINER:

• George Hanlontrained 2nd place getter 3 times (by narrow margins) 

LONGEST PRICED WINNERS IN THE CAULFIELD CUP:

• 1884 Blink Bonny - 50-1
• 1902 Lieutenant Bill - 40-1
• 1936 Northwind - 66-1
• 1943 Saint Warden - 100-1
• 1988 Imposera - 50-1
• 1998 Taufan's Melody - 66-1

SHORTEST PRICED FAVORITES IN THE CAULFIELD CUP:

• ran 6th: 8-11 Tobin Bronze
• first : 4-6 Tulloch
• first : 5-4 Manfred
• first : 7-4 Eurythmic
• first : 7-4 Rising Fast
• ran 3rd: 7-4 Comic Court
• ran 3rd: 7-4 Sir Simpe
• ran 8th: 7-4 Pink Un

FALLS IN THE CAULFIELD CUP:

• 1885 17 of 44 horses fell at the turn into the straight, resulting in the death of jockey Donald Nicholson (considered Australia's worst race fall)
• 1906 7 horses

PROTESTS IN THE CAULFIELD CUP:

• 1893 Tim Swiveller won, but was disqualified for pushing another horse out of the race (name of that horse was boring)
• 1969 Nausori came in first, a protest by jockey Roy Higgins on Big Philou for interference at the furlong pole (200m) was upheld

2012 Caulfield Cup

Starting from barrier 18, Craig Williams settled Dunaden near the rear of the field to find cover, while Glencadam Gold went hard early and into the lead, going at a reasonable rate as they made their way down the back straight. At the 600 metre mark, Dunaden was sent on a long run around the outside of the field and was in striking distance at the top of the straight. By this stage, Glencadam Gold was a spent force and Alcopop went clear with 300 to go only for Dunaden, fresh after a terrific ride, to storm home and grab the win. Alcopop hung on for second, about a length clear of Lights Of Heaven.

2012 Caulfield Cup result

1. Dunaden
2. Alcopop
3. Lights Of Heaven

Then came:

4. Americain
5. My Quest For Peace
6. Zabeelionaire
7. Folding Gear
8. Sneak A Peek
9. Winchester
10. Sanagas
11. Secret Admirer
12. Niwot
13. Jakkalberry
14. Moudre
15. Glencadam Gold
16. Sabrage
17. December Draw
18. Voila Ici