Caulfield Cup
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Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox horseraces
The Caulfield Cup is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held under handicap conditions. This is for all horses aged three years old and older. It takes place over a distance of 2400 metres at the Caulfield Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in mid October. The prize money is A$5,000,000.<ref name="Cox Plate">Template:Cite web</ref>
History
The race has become one of Australia's richest Thoroughbred horse races. The race is held annually on the third Saturday in October, the third day and final day of the Caulfield Carnival. Performances in the Caulfield Cup are one of the possible qualification methods for a run in the Melbourne Cup which is held 17 days later.
During World War II the race was run at Flemington Racecourse and in 1943 the race was run in divisions.<ref name="Flem">Template:Cite news</ref>
Race qualification
The field is limited to 18 starters with four emergency entries which is decided by a ballot system. The prize money, wins and placings in lead up races are among the major factors that determine the eligibility of a horse. Automatic entry is awarded to winners of the Toorak Handicap, Herbert Power Stakes and the Mornington Cup.<ref name="CCUP">Template:Cite web</ref>
Sponsors
- 1985–1999 - Foster's
- 2000–2005 - Carlton Draught
- 2006–2013 - BMW
- 2014 - Crown Golden Ale
- 2015–2017 - BMW
- 2018–2020 - Stella Artois
- 2021–2023 - Carlton Draught
- 2024–present - Sportsbet
Distance
- 1879–1971 - 1Template:Frac miles (~2400 metres)
- 1972 onwards - 2400 metres
Grade
- 1879–1978 - Principal Race
- 1979 onwards - Group 1
Dual winners
The following thoroughbreds have won two Caulfield Cups.
- Paris (1892, 1894), Hymettus (1898, 1901), Poseidon (1906–07), Uncle Sam (1912, 1914), Whittier (1922, 1925), Rising Fast (1954-1955) and Ming Dynasty (1977, 1980).
Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double wins
The following thoroughbreds have won the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double in the same year.
- Poseidon (1906), The Trump (1937), Rivette (1939), Rising Fast (1954), Even Stevens (1962), Galilee (1966), Gurner's Lane (1982), Let’s Elope (1991), Doriemus (1995), Might and Power (1997), Ethereal (2001),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Without A Fight (2023) and Half Yours (2025).
Caulfield Cup-Cox Plate double wins
The following thoroughbreds have won the Caulfield Cup-Cox Plate double in the same year.
- Tranquil Star (1906), Rising Fast (1954), Tobin Bronze (1967) and Northerly (2002).
Caulfield Cup-Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup triple wins
The following thoroughbreds have won the Caulfield Cup-Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup triple in the same year.
- Rising Fast (1954).
Notable runnings
- Australian Test cricketer Clem Hill was the handicapper for the Victoria Amateur Turf Club (VATC) and responsible for setting the weights for the Caulfield Cup from 1937 to 1943.
- Jockey Scobie Breasley rode the winner of four consecutive Caulfield Cups from 1942 to 1945. This included a division of the 1943 race, which was run in two divisions. He also holds the record for most wins by a jockey of the race - five wins.<ref name="CCUP"/>
- Trainer Bart Cummings holds the record for training Caulfield Cup winners with seven - Galilee, Big Philou, Leilani, Ming Dynasty (twice), Let's Elope and Viewed.<ref name="CCUP"/>
- 2014 Caulfield Cup winner Admire Rakti died after his run in the Melbourne Cup from natural causes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Horses trained outside Australia and New Zealand have been participating in the race since 1998. Six have won the race. They are Taufan's Melody (1998) for British trainer Lady Herries, All the Good (2008) and Best Solution (2018) for Saeed bin Suroor of the Godolphin stables, Dunaden (2012) for French trainer Mikel Delzangles, Admire Rakti (2014) for Japanese trainer Tomoyuki Umeda and Mer De Glace (2019) for Japanese trainer Hisashi Shimizu.
- The worst race fall in Australian history occurred at the 1885 Caulfield Cup when 15 of the 44 horses competing fell as they turned onto the straight, resulting in the death of 25-year-old jockey Donald Nicolson.<ref name="R1885">Template:Cite news</ref>
- In 2007, Maldivian and Eskimo Queen were late scratchings. Maldivian, shortest price favourite for 41 years, misbehaved and injured himself in the starting stalls, frightening second priced favourite Eskimo Queen who for a time was trapped beneath the stalls.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The race started almost nine minutes late.
1924 and 1934 racebooks
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1924 VATC Caulfield Cup racebook front cover -
1924 VATC Caulfield Cup showing raceday officials -
1924 VATC Caulfield Cup starters and results showing the winner, Purser -
1924 VATC Caulfield Cup starters and results -
Back cover showing entrance gate and railway charges -
1934 VATC Caulfield Cup racebook front cover -
1934 VATC Caulfield Cup starters and results showing the winner, Journal -
1934 VATC Caulfield Cup starters and results
1950 racebook
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1950 VATC Caulfield Cup racebook front cover -
1950 VATC Caulfield Cup showing raceday officials -
1950 VATC Caulfield Cup showing starters & results -
1950 VATC Caulfield Cup showing the winner, Grey Boots -
1950 VATC Caulfield Cup showing starters & results -
Back cover showing railway arrangements and charges at the entrance gates
Winners since 1988
| Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Half Yours | Jamie Melham | Tony & Calvin McEnvoy | 2:29.05 |
| 2024 | Duke De Sessa<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Harry Coffey | Ciaron Maher | 2:31.42 |
| 2023 | Without A Fight<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Mark Zahra | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 2:26.45 |
| 2022 | Durston<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Michael Dee | Chris Waller | 2:33.68 |
| 2021 | Incentivise<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Brett Prebble | Peter Moody | 2:30.88 |
| 2020 | Verry Elleegant<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Mark Zahra | Chris Waller | 2:31.97 |
| 2019 | Mer De Glace<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Damian Lane | Hisashi Shimizu | 2:30.16 |
| 2018 | Best Solution<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Pat Cosgrave | Saeed bin Suroor | 2.33.72 |
| 2017 | Boom Time<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Cory Parish | David and Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig | 2:27.66 |
| 2016 | Jameka<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Nicholas Hall | Ciaron Maher | 2:28.88 |
| 2015 | Mongolian Khan<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Opie Bosson | Murray Baker | 2:27.76 |
| 2014 | Admire Rakti<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Zac Purton | Tomoyuki Yumeda | 2:32.12 |
| 2013 | Fawkner<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Nicholas Hall | Robert Hickmott | 2:29.10 |
| 2012 | Dunaden<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Craig Williams | Mikel Delzangles | 2:28.82 |
| 2011 | Southern Speed<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Craig Williams | Leon MacDonald & Andrew Gluyas | 2:28.44 |
| 2010 | Descarado<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Chris Munce | Gai Waterhouse | 2:35.69 |
| 2009 | Viewed<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Brad Rawiller | Bart Cummings | 2:29.70 |
| 2008 | All The Good<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Kerrin McEvoy | Saeed bin Suroor | 2:27.45 |
| 2007 | Master O'Reilly<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Vlad Duric | Danny O'Brien | 2:26.15 |
| 2006 | Tawqeet<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Dwayne Dunn | David Hayes | 2:27.69 |
| 2005 | Railings<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Greg Childs | John Hawkes | 2:27.96 |
| 2004 | Elvstroem<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Nash Rawiller | Tony Vasil | 2:31.37 |
| 2003 | Mummify<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Danny Nikolic | Lee Freedman | 2:25.98 |
| 2002 | Northerly<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Greg Childs | Fred R. Kersley | 2:30.38 |
| 2001 | Ethereal<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Scott Seamer | Sheila Laxon | 2:30.93 |
| 2000 | Diatribe<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Jim Cassidy | George Hanlon | 2:25.32 |
| 1999 | Sky Heights<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Damien Oliver | Colin Alderson | 2:30.10 |
| 1998 | Taufan's Melody<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Ray Cochrane | Lady Herries | 2:30.16 |
| 1997 | Might And Power<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Jim Cassidy | Jack Denham | 2:26.20 |
| 1996 | Arctic Scent<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Brent Stanley | Jim Mason | 2:30.27 |
| 1995 | Doriemus<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Damien Oliver | Lee Freedman | 2:28.10 |
| 1994 | Paris Lane<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Damien Oliver | Lee Freedman | 2:26.50 |
| 1993 | Fraar<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Peter Hutchinson | David Hayes | 2:28.00 |
| 1992 | Mannerism<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Damien Oliver | Lee Freedman | 2:34.90 |
| 1991 | Let's Elope<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Steven King | Bart Cummings | 2:30.30 |
| 1990 | Sydeston<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Mick Dittman | Bob Hoysted | 2:31.60 |
| 1989 | Cole Diesel<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Michael Kerr | Greg Mance | 2:27.20 |
| 1988 | Imposera<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Brian York | Ross McDonald | 2:29.40 |
Earlier winners
- 1987 – Lord Reims
- 1986 – Mr. Lomondy
- 1985 – Tristarc
- 1984 – Affinity
- 1983 – Hayai
- 1982 – Gurner's Lane
- 1981 – Silver Bounty
- 1980 – Ming Dynasty
- 1979 – Mighty Kingdom
- 1978 – Taksan
- 1977 – Ming Dynasty
- 1976 – How Now
- 1975 – Analight
- 1974 – Leilani
- 1973 – Swell Time
- 1972 – Sobar
- 1971 – Gay Icarus
- 1970 – Beer Street
- 1969 – ¶ Big Philou
- 1968 – Bunratty Castle
- 1967 – Tobin Bronze
- 1966 – Galilee
- 1965 – Bore Head
- 1964 – Yangtze
- 1963 – Sometime
- 1962 – Even Stevens
- 1961 – Summer Fair
- 1960 – Ilumquh
- 1959 – Regal Wench
- 1958 – Sir Blink
- 1957 – Tulloch
- 1956 – Redcraze
- 1955 – Rising Fast
- 1954 – Rising Fast
- 1953 – My Hero
- 1952 – Peshawar
- 1951 – Basha Felika
- 1950 – Grey Boots
- 1949 – Lincoln
- 1948 – Red Fury
- 1947 – Columnist
- 1946 – Royal Gem
- 1945 – St. Fairy
- 1944 – Counsel
- 1943 – † Saint Warden / Skipton
- 1942 – Tranquil Star
- 1941 – Velocity
- 1940 – Beaulivre
- 1939 – Rivette
- 1938 – Buzalong
- 1937 – The Trump
- 1936 – Northwind
- 1935 – Palfresco
- 1934 – Journal
- 1933 – Gaine Carrington
- 1932 – Rogilla
- 1931 – Denis Boy
- 1930 – Amounis
- 1929 – High Syce
- 1928 – Maple
- 1927 – Textile
- 1926 – Manfred
- 1925 – Whittier
- 1924 – Purser
- 1923 – Wynette
- 1922 – Whittier
- 1921 – Violoncello
- 1920 – Eurythmic
- 1919 – Lucknow
- 1918 – King Offa
- 1917 – Bronzetti
- 1916 – Shepherd King
- 1915 – Lavendo
- 1914 – Uncle Sam
- 1913 – Aurifer
- 1912 – Uncle Sam
- 1911 – Lady Medallist
- 1910 – Flavinius
- 1909 – ‡ Blue Book / Aborigine
- 1908 – Maranui
- 1907 – Poseidon
- 1906 – Poseidon
- 1905 – Marvel Loch
- 1904 – Murmur<ref>Called 'Whisper' the horse Jack West is supposed to have rigged to win the Cup, according to Frank Hardy 's novel Power Without Glory.</ref>
- 1903 – Sweet Nell
- 1902 – Lieutenant Bill
- 1901 – Hymettus
- 1900 – Ingliston
- 1899 – Dewey
- 1898 – Hymettus
- 1897 – Amberite
- 1896 – Cremorne
- 1895 – Waterfall
- 1894 – Paris
- 1893 – ¶ Sainfoin
- 1892 – Paris
- 1891 – G'naroo
- 1890 – Vengeance
- 1889 – Boz
- 1888 – Chicago
- 1887 – Oakleigh
- 1886 – Ben Bolt
- 1885 – Grace Darling<ref name="R1885"/>
- 1884 – Blink Bonny
- 1883 – Calma
- 1882 – Little Jack
- 1881 – Master Avenel
- 1881 – Blue Ribbon
- 1880 – Tom Kirk
- 1879 – NewminsterTemplate:Refend
Key:
† Run in divisions<ref name="Flem"/>
¶ Won by Protest<ref name="CCUP"/>
‡ Dead heat
Attendance
- 2024 – 25,676<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2023 – 25,121
- 2022 – 24,289
- 2021 – 0 (no public attendance due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- 2020 – 0 (no public attendance due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- 2019 – 28,000
- 2018 – 30,000
- 2017 – 30,000
- 2015 – 30,000
- 2014 – 32,000
- 2013 – 33,056
- 2012 – 35,500
- 2011 – 30,097
- 2010 – 23,697
- 2009 – 43,210
- 2008 – 51,328
- 2007 – 48,529
- 2006 – 47,551<ref>Tawqeet brings BMW Caulfield Cup glory for Hayes and Dunn</ref>
- 2005 – 52,000
- 2004 – 51,015
- 2003 – 46,873
Template:Refend <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sponsorship
In March 2015, BMW Australia and the Melbourne Racing Club announced a reunion in partnership, effective as of August 1, 2015<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> after the eight-year partnership ended in 2014.