Moonee Valley Cup
The Moonee Valley Cup is a Group 2 set weight and penalties event that takes place at Moonee Valley racecourse in October during the Melbourne spring racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 2500 metres and worth $500,000 in prize money. The 2019 Moonee Valley Cup was won by Hunting Horn from Mr Quickie with Downdraft third.
The Moonee Valley Cup is held alongside the Moonee Valley Racing Club's premier race of the spring, the Group 1 WS Cox Plate.
Moonee Valley Cup info
| Date: | Saturday 23rd October 2021 |
| Track: | Moonee Valley racecourse, Melbourne |
| Distance: | 2500 metres |
| Race Type: | 4yo&Up - Set Weights + Penalty |
| Status: | Group 2 |
| Prize Money: | $500,000 |
| 2019 Winner: | Hunting Horn |
The Moonee Valley Cup is the major distance race on Moonee Valley's biggest race day of the spring and while the race is only Gr2 status and does not have the prestige of the big spring races such as the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, it does have its own niche on the racing calendar for stayers.
Horses contesting this race may be either heading towards the Melbourne Cup, or simply be stayers not good enough for the major staying events and looking for something a bit easier and the Moonee Valley Cup fits the bill nicely.
Generally speaking, the Moonee Valley Cup will assemble above average stayers rather than the elite, although class gallopers Americain (2011) and Zipping (2006) have won the race in recent times. Most of the time the Moonee Valley Cup winner will simply be a more than handy type who'll prove to be the best stayer on the day.
Hunting Horn (2019) finished eighth in the Group 1 Irish Champion over 2012m at Leopardstown in Ireland before heading down under to win this event in stylish fashion for Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien.
Recent Moonee Valley Cup winners include Ventura Storm (2018) and Who Shot Thebarman (2017).
Spring Carnival Guide
The Moonee Valley Cup hasn't been a great guide to the Melbourne Cup over the years and Kingston Rule (1990) was the last horse to win both races, although Prince Of Penzance (2nd in 2016) went on to win the Melbourne Cup with Michelle Payne aboard. Mr Prudent (2nd in 2002) placed in both races, while Brew (2nd in 2000) managed to win the Melbourne Cup in the same year. Precedence (2010) finished eighth in the Melbourne Cup after winning this race.
The Jarrod McLean trained Trap For Fools (2nd in 2018) went on to capture the Group 1 Emirates Stakes at Flemington on the final day of the four-day Melbourne Cup carnival.
Cismontane (3rd in 2017) headed to Flemington on Derby Day to score an exciting all the way victory in the Gr3 Hotham Handicap.
Precedence (2013) returned three years later to win this race before heading to Flemington to claim the Gr3 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
Americain (2011) went on to win the Gr2 Sandown Classic at Sandown after taking out the Moonee Valley Cup and prior to that Capecover (3rd in 2010) ran and Baughurst (2nd 2008) both went on to run second & third respectively in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington on Emirates Stakes day.
Zipping (2006) won the Sandown Classic in four consecutive years from 2007 to 2010.
2019 Moonee Valley Cup
1. $4.20 Hunting Horn 56.0 Ryan Moore
2. $3.80 Mr Quickie 56.0 Luke Nolen
3. $3.90 Downdraft 56.5 John Allen
then followed
4. $4.40 Humidor 55.0 Damian Lane
5. $15.00 Ventura Storm 57.0 Mark Zahra
6. $31.00 Shraaoh 58.0 Nash Rawiller
7. $21.00 Alfarris 55.0 Kerrin McEvoy
8. $26.00 Etymology 56.5 Ben Melham
Margins: 1.25 len, 0.30 len
Time: 2:39.48
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Moonee Valley Cup winners & placegetters
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2019 | Hunting Horn | Mr Quickie | Downdraft | 2:39.4 |
| 2018 | Ventura Storm | Trap For Fools | Libran | 2:34.3 |
| 2017 | Who Shot Thebarman | Libran | Cismontane | 2:37.3 |
| 2016 | Grand Marshal | Who Shot Thebarman | Pentathlon | 2:41.4 |
| 2015 | The United States | Prince Of Penzance | Bohemian Lily | 2:34.4 |
| 2014 | Prince Of Penzance | Le Roi | Au Revoir | 2:36.0 |
| 2013 | Precedence | Shoreham | Gotta Take Care | 2:36.9 |
| 2012 | Vatuvei | Reuben Percival | Ironstein | 2:35.7 |
| 2011 | Americain | Tullamore | Illo | 2:36.4 |
| 2010 | Precedence | Above Average | Capecover | 2:38.9 |
| 2009 | The Sportsman | Irazu | Think Money | 2:37.3 |
| 2008 | Gallopin | Baughurst | Ice Chariot | 2:36.5 |
| 2007 | Gallic | Lazer Sharp | Jukebox Johnny | 2:36.5 |
| 2006 | Zipping | Show Barry | Gallic | 2:38.9 |
| 2005 | Umbula | Bazelle | Kindjhal | 2:45.1 |
| 2004 | Another Warrior | Rizon | Hard To Get | 2:37.1 |
| 2003 | Frightening | Legible | County Tyrone | 2:38.5 |
| 2002 | Thong Classic | Rain Gauge | Mr Prudent | 2:40.9 |
| 2001 | Rain Gauge | Spirit Of Westbury | Big Pat | 2;37.6 |
| 2000 | Yippyio | Brew | Cronus | 2:41.3 |
| 1999 | Streak | Cronus | Second Coming | 2:38.2 |
| 1998 | Prince Standaan | Skybeau | Zdenka | 2:36.3 |
| 1997 | Court Of Honour | Linesman | Yobro | 2:36.8 |
| 1996 | Istidaad | Protaras Bay | Cheviot | 2:41.0 |
| 1995 | Storm | Bullwinkle | Quick Ransom | 2:38.9 |
| 1994 | Top Rating | Starstruck | Our Pompeii | 2:45.9 |
| 1993 | Glastonbury | Notwithstanding | Ramyah | 2:38.7 |
| 1992 | Donegal Mist | Cross Swords | Fraar | 2:38.0 |
| 1991 | Al Maheb | The Hipprogriff | Rasheek | 2:41.9 |
| 1990 | Kingston Rule | Flying Luskin | Chaleyer | 2:40.1 |
| 1989 | Sydeston | Cosign | Tawrrific | 2:42.2 |
| 1988 | Ideal Centreman | Zamakima | Shantaroun | 2:46.4 |
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