The BTC Cup is a Group 1 race held each year at Doomben Racecourse in Brisbane.  This weight for age event is run over 1200 metres, with both local and interstate horses battling it out for $400,000 prizemoney.  The BTC Cup is a relatively new inclusion on the Australian thoroughbred calendar, inaugurated in 1964  and achieving Group 1 status in 2006.

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The BTC Cup was originally called the J.T. Delaney Quality Handicap between 1964 and 1982, and has been known by a number of other names since this time.  This event was known as the Tourist Minister’s Cup between 1985-1990, the Robin’s Kitchen Cup between 1991-1994, the Foster’s Cup between 1995-1997, the Carlton Cup between 1998-2000, and the Wyndham Estate Cup between 2002-2003.  This event has also been known by other names, taking its current title in 2004.

The BTC Cup was a Principal Race between 1964-1979, before becoming a Listed Race in 1980, a Group 3 race in 1983, a Group 2 race in 1987, and a Group 1 race in 2006.  Originally run over 7 furlongs, the BTC Cup became a 1200 metre race in 1973, a 1350 metre race in 1980, and a 1200 metre race in 1991.

The slow elevation of this event over its history has brought more and more quality competitors into the field, with some well known horses winning this race in recent years.  Recent winners of this event include Apache Cat in 2008, Duporth in 2009, Albert The Fat in 2010, Black Caviar in 2011, Sea Siren in 2012, and Your Song in 2013.

If you go back a little further into history, winners of the BTC Cup also include Strawberry Road in 1983 and Buck’s Pride in 1993 and 1994.  The BTC Cup  is a great lead up event to one of the biggest races of the Brisbane winter – the Group 1 Doomben 10,000.  This prestigious race is run over 1350 metres at Doomben, just two weeks after the BTC Cup.  The last horse to take out the BTC Cup and Doomben 10,000 double was Sea Siren in 2012.

BTC Cup 2014 Odds comparison

News:

The odds are shortening about the chances of superstar Buffering making a bid to win all three Group One sprints in Brisbane this winter.

Buffering is favourite for what trainer Rob Heathcote describes as his nemesis race, the Group One BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday as he attempts to add one of the few honours missing from his scrapbook – a hometown win in elite company.

The BTC Cup and Doomben 10,000 have always been inked in as Buffering’s winter targets but connections have been less certain about running in the Stradbroke Handicap.

However, Heathcote has confirmed Buffering will tackle all three, provided he comes through the first two races unscathed and is weighted fairly in the Stradbroke.

“The general feeling is that Apache Cat got 60kg in a Stradbroke and he is the mark in recent times,” Heathcote said.

“Buffering hasn’t the Apache Cat form so the opinion around the ridges is he will get 58.5kg or 59kg.

“Rough Habit and Campaign King hold the metric weight-carrying record at 58.5kg, I can’t see how we can get much more than that on a higher minimum scale.”

Heathcote isn’t joking when he says the BTC Cup has been Buffering’s nemesis race.

“In 2011 we ran into a horse called Black Caviar at her best, then in 2012 he got a stone bruise the day before and missed the race before going down by a neck to Sea Siren in the Doomben 10,000.

“Last year we got caught on a bog track in the BTC Cup and ran fourth.”

Heathcote said Buffering had done well since his third to Lankan Rupee on a heavy track in the T J Smith Stakes at Randwick on April 12.

Buffering’s overall Brisbane record stands at 18 starts for eight wins and six minor placings but in eight Group One starts in Queensland he has recorded three seconds, two third and two fourths.

Heathcote is very keen to win a Group One race with his stable star in Brisbane.

“He has been so honest over a four-year period all around Australia. He has raced the best and he is still going while many have gone,” he said.

“I don’t think there would be anyone who would begrudge him a Group One win at home.”

Heathcote said long-term he would plot a campaign which could take Buffering to Hong Kong in December.