The Sydney Cup is a Group 1 thoroughbred race held each autumn at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney. Run over a distance of 3200 metres and worth $1,000,000 in prize money, the Sydney Cup has become an important part of the Australian racing calendar. In 2014, this event will join the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Australian Oaks, and Queen of the Turf Stakes on the second day of the inaugural $18 million Championships racing event.
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The Sydney Cup has been run since 1862, making it one of the longest standing races on the Australian calendar. Originally called the Jockey Club Handicap, this event played an important role in the Metropolitan Autumn Meeting at Randwick. In 1863 this event became known as the Randwick Grand Handicap, becoming the Randwick Grand Handicap Sweepstakes in 1865 and the Sydney Gold Cup in 1866.
A number of notable horses have won this event over its long history, including names like Carbine in 1889-90, Wakeful in 1902, Kingston Town in 1980, Count Chivas in 1996, Tie The Knot in 1998-99, and the magnificent Makybe Diva in 2004. Kingston Town was the first horse to win this event as a Group 1 race in 1980, with the race record of 3 minutes and 19 seconds set by Apollo Eleven in 1973 and equalled by Just A Dancer in 1991.
The Sydney Cup is an important part of Sydney autumn racing, and has earned its right in inaugural 2014 ‘Championships’ event. The Chairman’s Handicap run over 2600 metres on the first day of the Randwick carnival is known as a good lead up race to this event, with Jessicabeel in 2010, No Wine No Song in 2008, Henderson Bay in 2002, Linesman in 1997, and King Aussie in 1990 all taking out the Chairmans Handicap and Sydney Cup double in recent seasons.
In the news:
A three-year-old running in a Group One race over two miles is becoming a novelty in Australian racing.
In Darley’s case, it is unheard of but what Australian Derby runner-up Tupac Amaru doesn’t know about the challenge ahead won’t hurt him.
At least that will be trainer Peter Snowden’s approach to the $1 million Sydney Cup at Randwick on Saturday.
“Weights and measures say he can’t possibly win but I haven’t told him that, he doesn’t know it,” Snowden said.
“I think he’s going to run well.”
The last three-year-old to win the Sydney Cup was Tie The Knot in 1998 when he carried 50.5kg.
Tupac Amaru will carry 54kg, just 4kg less than Irish Group One winner and topweight Voleuse De Coeurs.
Snowden is the first to admit it is a genuine task for a young, inexperienced horse.
But Darley identified the colt as a dyed-in-the-wool stayer early in his career and they are keen get a guide on his spring Cups potential.
“To me it’s about testing the horse. He’s ready to run two miles in my mind,” Snowden said.
“He’s a very dour stayer, a very tough stayer. At the end of the day, unless you have a go, you don’t know.
“It’s also food for thought for us later next preparation. If we know he’s a genuine stayer we can look at those genuine distance races knowing we’ve got a good chance.”
Gai Waterhouse’s in-form stayer The Offer continues to be the best supported Cup runner as he holds down favouritism at $2.80.
Randwick trainer John Thompson likes the chances of Tremec figuring in the finish after the no-nonsense stayer has chased home The Offer at his past two starts.
A $16 chance, Tremec didn’t come up in the spring but the five-year-old is in a similar patch of form to the one that carried him to successive staying wins during last year’s autumn carnival.
“The favourite has beaten him convincingly at their past two starts but he’s coming right at the right time and that’s the main thing,” Thompson said.
“He’s there, he’s fit and he’s well and I know he will run the distance.
“Each run has been a bit better. He pulls up well and he backs up. I can’t get him any better.”
Tremec had no answer to The Offer’s finish in the Chairman’s Handicap last week and meets him on worse weight terms on Saturday but Thompson is banking on an improved racing surface to work in his horse’s favour.
