Victoria Cup (harness race)

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The Victoria Cup is the premier middle distance harness race of Australia. Conducted over 2575m, rather than the staying distance of over 3000m or the sprint distance of under 2000m, the Victoria Cup was run at the Melbourne Showgrounds up until 1975, when it was shifted to Moonee Valley. In 2009 the SEW Eurodrive Victoria Cup will be run at Harness Racing Victoria's new venue, Melton Entertainment Park at Melton. The race has been part of the Australasian Grand Circuit since 1987. Conducted in February from 1987 to 2003, the race is now conducted over two nights in December, alongside the Australasian Trotting Grand Prix.

Contents

The race record of 1.56.7 was set by Chokin (NZ) in 1994 when the race was run over 2380m. The race shifted to 2570m or 2575m due to a track upgrade. Double Identity in December 2003 held the record of a mile rate of 1.57.2 over the 2575m trip until Melpark Major's track record breaking performance of 1:55.8 in the 2008 event.

Winners

YearWinnerDriverTrainerMile rate2nd3rd
2024 Swayzee [1] [2] Cameron HartJason Grimson1:51.8 (2240m)Curly JamesMach Dan
2023Act Now [3] Jodi QuinlanEmma Stewart1:52.7 (2240m)Catch A Wave Leap To Fame
2022Rock N Roll Doo (NZ) [4] [5] M StanleyM Stanley1:54.0 (2240m)Honolua BayBetter Eclipse
2021Max Delight [6] Chris AlfordDavid Aiken1:53.2 (2150m)Triple Eight King Of Swing
2020Lochinvar Art [7] David MoranDavid Moran1:51.4 (2240m) King Of Swing Bling It On
2019Bling It On [8] Craig CrossLuke McCarthy1:51.5 (2240m)Colt Thirty OneCruz Bromac
2018 Tiger Tara Todd McCarthyKevin Pizzuto1:53.4 (2240m)Chicago BullCarlas Pixel
2017(Oct)LennythesharkChris AlfordDavid Aiken1:53.2 (2240m)Ameretto Tiger Tara
2017 (Jan) Lazarus Mark Purdon Mark Purdon 1:52.5 (2240m)Major CrockerBling It On
2016LennythesharkChris AlfordDavid Aiken1:55.0 (2240m)SmoldaMossdale Conner
2015Christen MeDexter DunnCran Dalgety1:55.0 (2240m)LennythesharkAdore Me
2013For A Reason [9] Luke McCarthy1:53.8 (2240m)Caribbean BlasterChristen Me

Previous winners

See also

References

  1. ↑ "News Article - Australian Harness Racing". www.harness.org.au.
  2. ↑ "Wagga breeder has good Reason to smile". November 17, 2023.
  3. ↑ Greig, Bevan (October 14, 2023). "Dramatic Victoria Cup goes to 80/1 longshot - Harnesslink".
  4. ↑ "Victoria Cup win for NZ Cup-bound Rock N Roll Doo".
  5. ↑ "Thrilling Rock N Roll Doo Group 1 sets up Victoria-New Zealand Cups assault".
  6. ↑ "Max Delight's upset Victoria Cup win".
  7. ↑ "Lochinvar Art's Victoria Cup masterpiece - Harnesslink". October 10, 2020.
  8. ↑ https://www.hrnz.co.nz/news/new-blog-post-80/
  9. ↑ Roots, Chris (January 25, 2014). "Comeback pacer For A Reason set InterDominion target". The Sydney Morning Herald.


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