Hobart Cup

Winners and Past Results

The Hobart Cup is an open handicap race hosted by Tasmanian Racing Club at Elwick Racecourse in Hobart each year in February during the Tasmanian summer racing carnival. Horses travel a distance of 2200 metres in this Group 3 event for a chance to take home prize money worth $225,000. Free $200 Bet

The Hobart Cup is a major event on the social calendar in the city and among the only three group races held in Tasmania, which also includes the Group 3 Launceston Cup and Bow Mistress Stakes. The premier staying event brings out the best local stayers with a few interstate horses adding to the competition.

Although not a race tackled by high quality stayers, the Hobart Cup does boast of a few winners of major Group 1 races held later during the Sydney autumn racing carnival. After winning the 2007 edition of the Hobart Cup, Blutigeroo ran fifth in the Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington Racecourse, one of the major follow up races for stayers that perform well in the Hobart Cup, and then scored an impressive win in the Group 1 The BMW over an extended distance of 2400 metres at the Rosehill racetrack. Other races that horses may aim for includes the gruelling Group 1 Sydney Cup over 3200 metres at Randwick in April.

Top performers in Hobart Cup may look to repeat their performance in the Group 3 Launceston Cup at Launceston a few weeks later. St. Andrews in 2002, Zacielo in 2004, and third placed Itsa Kareem in 2008 went on to win at Launceston. 2009 runner up, Zavite, also took home the Launceston Cup. Horses may come from a variety of handicap and listed races. Bid Spotter finished third in the 2011 Australia Day Cup, a listed race over 2200 metres at Warwick Farm before winning here. Ella won the first Hobart Cup back in 1875.

The Hobart Cup remained a principal race until 1980 when it was granted Group 3 status by Tasmanian Racing Club. Between 2004 and 2006 it enjoyed the status of a Group 2 event but has been a Group 3 race ever since.

The other feature of the day is the Listed Hobart Guineas run over 2100 metres. Offenbach in 2008, Gotta Keep Cool in 2009, and Growl in 2010 are among the recent winners. In earlier times, several horses scored back to back victories in the Hobart Cup.

2011 Hobart Cup

Sydney visitor Bid Spotter made the trip south well worthwhile, keeping the leaders withing striking distance for most of the race before being asked to make his effort at the top of the straight. The gelding responded in good style and always seemed to have his challengers covered including local galloper Organised who finished strongly for second, just ahead of Davcon.

2011 Hobart Cup result

1. Bid Spotter
2. Organised
3. Davcon

Then came:

4. Red Buttons
5. Dream Pedlar
6. White Yard
7. Skystreamer
8. Abitofado
9. Fast Future
10. Forbidden Quest
11. Geegees Blackflash
12. Guest Wing
13. Mr Tipsy
14. Stadacona
15. Testasaurus
16. Family Trust