Easter Cup

The 2017 Easter Cup is a Group 3 race held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne every March or April on Easter Saturday. The event is a middle distance contest run over a trip of 2000m and is worth a total of $150,000 in prize money.

The conditions of the race are open handicap meaning there’s usually a big contingent of horses on hand.

That said the genuine top line runners usually bypass this race and it’s more one for the true Group 3 horses on a day with a big crowd on hand.

Given its spot in the schedule the Sydney autumn carnival is the major focus and as such that’s where the majority of top liners will be.

There are some exceptions to the rule though and in 2007 Maldivian won this race before going on to win the Group 1 Cox Plate the following year.

That 2007 Easter Cup also featured Douro Valley which came so close to winning a Caulfield Cup when second that same year.

In terms of races leading up to the Easter Cup it’s best to follow the country cup’s circuit or look for horses rising well through the grades.

The 2011 Easter Cup champion Paddy O’Reilly came here after success in the Albury Cup.

Other winners of this race include Litmus in 2000, Tall timbers in 2004, Like It Is in 2008 and Fanjura in 2010 (runner up in 2011).

2017 Easter Cup Field

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Hcp Rating
1 61019×7778 LEEBAZ (NZ) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Dwayne Dunn 9 59kg 105
2 3849x080x7 PORNICHET (FR) Ciaron Maher Brad Rawiller 1 59kg 105
3 126×835226 EXTRA ZERO David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Luke Nolen 5 56.5kg 100
4 x1837x820x GREY LION (IRE) Matt Cumani Craig Newitt 13 56.5kg 100
5 2844700×02 JACQUINOT BAY David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Michael Dee 17 55.5kg 98
6 266223×690 TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) Lee & Anthony Freedman Daniel Moor 19 55.5kg 98
7 0x59500x71 OBSERVATIONAL (GB) John Sadler Thomas Sadler 10 55kg 97
8 7×51514110 DARK EYES Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Stephen Baster 15 54.5kg 96
9 61844831×7 PURPLE SMILE David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Jake Noonan 11 54.5kg 96
10 800×673127 GOLDSTREAM (ITY) Darren Weir Ben Allen (a) 12 54kg 94
11 7x42312x49 HIGH CHURCH (IRE) Darren Weir Jye McNeil 18 54kg 93
12 x50025x166 SECOND BULLET Danny O’Brien Ms Katelyn Mallyon 8 54kg 93
13 0x79327x85 TARQUIN John O’Shea Beau Mertens (a) 4 54kg 92
14 x906061802 DOUBLE BLUFF (IRE) Robbie Laing Ms Jessica Payne (late alt) 16 54kg 91
15 710×415225 ZASORCERESS (NZ) Darren Weir Dean Yendall 14 54kg 82
16 311174×396 O’LONERA Cindy Alderson Ben E Thompson (a) 3 54kg 80
17e 534157×123 WAR LEGEND (NZ) Michael Moroney Patrick Moloney 7 54kg 80
18e 9623864×45 TRANSFER ALLOWANCE Peter Roche Chris Symons 2 54kg 74
19e 4645712149 UNFURL (NZ) Darren Weir 6 54kg 72

Easter Cup Winners & Results

Winners and placers in the Easter Cup since 2000 with winning times.

Year Results Winning Time
2017 1 Observational 2 Second Bullet 3 Double Bluff  2:01.18
2016 1 Leebaz 2 Guardini 3 Observational  2:02.16
2015 1 TBD 2 TBD 3 TBD  2:03.9
2014 1 Our Voodoo Prince 2 Akzar 3 Stipulate  2:04.0
2013 1 Jet Away 2 Folding Gear 3 Whisper Downs  2:03.9
2012 1 Folding Gear 2 Viking Hero 3 Shewan  2:01.6
2011 1 Paddy O’Reilly 2 Fanjura 3 Launay  2:02.7
2010 1 Fanjura 2 Light Vision 3 Hissing Sid  2:02.0
2009 1 Miss Maren 2 Raffaello 3 Light Vision  2:03.9
2008 1 Like It Is 2 Sand Sweeper 3 Come Fly With Me  2:03.4
2007 1 Maldivian 2 Douro Valley 3 Spinney  2:02.8
2006 1 Casual Pass 2 Rubijon 3 Our Spur  2:02.2
2005 1 Show Barry 2 Lord Erin 3 Pretorius  2:00.4
2004 1 Tall Timbers 2 Sweet Corn 3 Domine  2:02.9
2003 1 Bush Padre 2 Gunnamatta 3 Lodger  2:03.3
2002 1 Thong Classic 2 Adolescence 3 Aquiver  2:01.0
2001 1 Adolescence 2 Flushed 3 Mr Prudent  2:00.9
2000 1 Litmus 2 Lady Elsie 3 Royal Caliph  2:03.0

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Jockeys

Trainers