Caption: Lala Kiwi takes out last year’s Australian Cup to hand trainer Andrea Dailly her sixth victory in the time-honoured race. (Photo: Clint Anderson, BlueStream Pictures)
THE Australian Cup highlights a huge few weeks of Group One racing at The Meadows in mid-February and this year’s time-honoured feature promises to be another cracking race.
With the likes of superstar Wow She’s Fast, She’s A Pearl, Amron Boy and Hot Scotch all at the top of early Australian Cup markets, the $300,000-to-the-winner final on February 25 should be another classic edition of a race that was first run in 1958.
Wow She’s Fast has already proven herself a star at The Meadows, winning back-to-back runnings of the rich The TAB Phoenix (525m) in 2021-22, as well as the Group One Maturity Classic (525m) at the track last July.
The Australian Cup has a rich history.
Prizemoney was 800 pounds ($1600) when Rookie Rebel, trained by Wally Hooper, won the inaugural running of the Australian Cup in 1958.
Prizemoney jumped to $10,000 in 1970, then to $100,000 in 1996 and has continued to increase over the years.
The race was initially run over 675 yards at the North Melbourne Oval before moving to its long-time home at Olympic Park in 1964.
The Australian Cup venue changed again to Sandown Park in 1997 and 1998 before settling at its current home at The Meadows in 1999.
The Gary Ball-trained China Trip is the only back-to-back winner of the Australian Cup, completing that feat in 1992-93.
Leading Victorian trainer Andrea Dailly has won the race a remarkable six times – Dyna Lachlan (2010). Spud Regis (2013), Dyna Double One (2016), Hecton Bale (2018), Dyna Patty (2019) and Lala Kiwi (2022).
A host of track stars have added their names to the honour board, including the likes of Brett Lee (2001) and Qld champ Bogie Leigh (2004) for trainer Tony Brett.
The MGRA’s other Group One events this month kick off on February 11 with the $100,000-to-the-winner Temlee (525m), the $75,000 Rookie Rebel (600m) and the $75,000 Zoom Top (730m).
A week later are the heats of the Fanta Bale Super Stayers (730m).
Supporting the Australian Cup final on February 25 are the $100,000 Fanta Bale Super Stayers Final (730m) and the $20,000 Australian Cup Consolation (525m).
Recent Australian Cup winners:
2022 – Lala Kiwi (Andrea Dailly)
2021 – Tommy Shelby (Steve Withers)
2020 – Fernando’s Riot (An. Azzopardi)
2019 – Dyna Patty (Andrea Dailly)
2018 – Hecton Bale (Andrea Dailly)
2017 – Fanta Bale (Robert Britton)
2016 – Dyna Double One (Andrea Dailly)
2015 – Luca Neveek (Gerald Kleeven)
