Geelong Cup

The Geelong Cup is a Group 3 staying event held at Geelong in October as a key early guide for the Melbourne Cup.

2023 Geelong Cup Results

  • 1st: #11 Amade
  • 2nd: #2 Ashrun
  • 3rd: #10 Sir Lucan



The Geelong Cup is a Group 3 race held at Geelong Racecourse towards the end of October on a mid-week Wednesday spring meeting.

Contested over the same mile and a half distance as the previous weekend’s Caulfield Cup (2400m), the Geelong Cup is an important race on the spring calendar and a top early Melbourne Cup form guide.

One of the major lead up events to the iconic Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) over the two miles at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November, the Geelong Cup is targeted by foreign raiders and local hopefuls looking to make the 24-horse field for the ‘race that stops a nation’.

The Geelong Cup form  has stacked-up a number of times in the Melbourne Cup results including a trio of internationals doing the double: Media Puzzle (2002), Americain (2010), and Dunaden (2011).

The Geelong Cup is held under handicap conditions and is open to horses of all ages and sexes. With $500,000 in prize money as of 2022, this is a very lucrative Group 3 event.

The Geelong Cup is the headline event on its race day. It shares the race program with two Listed races including the Geelong Classic (2200m) for three year olds. The biggest event on the local racing calendar, it is a public holiday in Geelong on Cup Day.

One of the better lead-up races to the Geelong Cup is the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) held at Caulfield a week and a half prior. Emissary (8th in 2022) was the last Geelong Cup winner to come off a run in the Herbert Power Stakes.

The Geelong Cup has long been considered a good guide to the Melbourne Cup, where many of the better contenders in the field end up. Indeed, due to the high correlation between successful runners in both cups, the Geelong Racing Club has adopted the slogan “Gateway to Glory”.

The 2022 Geelong Cup form was franked with the winner Emissary going on to run second in the Melbourne Cup results.

The 2023 Geelong Cup ran on Wednesday October 25, 2023 as a key Melbourne Cup lead-up race and was won in a thrilling upset by the Phillip Stokes-trained 10-year-old Amade ($31). 

Geelong Cup 2023
Date: Wednesday October 25, 2023
Track: Geelong Racecourse
Distance: 2400m
Race Type: Handicap
Status: Group 3
Prize Money: $500,000

2023 Geelong Cup Results

  • 1st: #11 Amade ($31)
  • 2nd: #2 Ashrun
  • 3rd: #10 Sir Lucan

Amade ($31) was good at big odds charging up the middle late in a blanket finish in the 2023 Geelong Cup results with the 10-year-old posting his first win in over 900 days but unlikely to run in the Melbourne Cup field on November 7.

Click here to read more on the narrow Geelong Cup 2023 win by the veteran Amade.

2023 Geelong Cup Results & Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 11 AMADE (IRE) Phillip Stokes Zac Spain 11 54kg $31
2 2 ASHRUN (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Mark Zahra 0.3L 1 56.5kg $5
3 10 SIR LUCAN (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Ms Linda Meech 0.4L 2 54kg $19
4 16 MR WATERVILLE (IRE) Chris Waller Craig Williams 0.5L 7 54kg $26
5 6 MORE FELONS (IRE) Chris Waller Michael Dee 0.6L 10 55kg $12
6 5 MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) Chris Waller Damien Oliver 1.1L 5 55kg (cd 55.5kg) $21
7 13 FIRST IMMORTAL Mark & Levi Kavanagh Ms Jamie Kah 1.6L 12 54kg $2.90F
8 7 VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) Liam Howley Damian Lane 4.6L 4 55kg $5
9 3 KING FRANKEL (IRE) Annabel Neasham Jamie Mott 5.6L 3 56kg $9.50
10 15 FERAGO Patrick F Ryan Jnr Harry Grace 6L 6 54kg $31
11 17 THE MAP Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray Ben Price (a) 8.25L 8 54kg $61
12 14 TIMOUR (FR) Chris Waller Beau Mertens 8.65L 9 54kg $101
13 9 HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Harry Coffey 10.4L 13 54kg $31
4 SHERAZ (FR) Chris Waller 0
1 SPANISH MISSION (USA) Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Blake Shinn 0
12 MOUNT POPA (IRE) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jye McNeil 0
8 FANCY MAN (IRE) Annabel Neasham John Allen 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Geelong Cup Betting Odds

The latest Geelong Cup 2023 betting markets on the internationally-rich field will be listed below, prices provided by Ladbrokes.com.au for you to lock in your Geelong Cup tips at the best price this spring.

The Geelong Cup favourites saluted three times on the trot from 2019-21 with victories by Prince Of Arran, Steel Prince and Tralee Rose ($2.60) respectively.

There was a notable upset in 2022 with Emissary winning at Geelong Cup odds of $18, while in 2023 Amade won as a 10-year-old at a huge $31 price.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 GEELONG CUP ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Geelong Cup Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 GEELONG CUP FORM GUIDE

2023 Geelong Cup Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Geelong Cup 2023 Tips on the Melbourne Cup lead-up event this spring.

  • To Win: #13 First Immortal ($2.60 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Hard to knock the favourite here for Mark & Levi Kavanagh. The ultra-consistent Churchill four-year-old is progressing nicely with a potential Melbourne Cup target in sight. Co-trainer Mark Kavanagh won that back in 2009 with Shocking and could be in with a lightweight chance should this gelding salute for the punters here and make the 24-horse field. He is a seven-time winner from 14 starts and has won up to 2500m so the mile and a half is ideal. Carted a hefty 63kg to a big 3.5 length win over 2000m at Caulfield in Benchmark 78 two back, before crossing second in the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington when up in grade last start. Had barrier 16 of 16 that run, and he is drawn wide again here with gate 15. Jamie Kah comes aboard. Big chance.

2023 Geelong Cup Field

The Geelong Cup field attracts a star-studded list of both local and international stayers each Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival that are targeting the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Runners in the Geelong Cup field may come off lead-up spring runs in races like Flemington’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m), the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) or even the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) run just four days before Geelong Cup Day.

The Geelong Cup field usually features a broad selection of talented stayers from around the world. Largely made up of Victorian and foreign runners, the Geelong Cup race provides a fairly accurate indication of which horses are hoping for success in major staying events down the track. A large number of foreign horses enter the Geelong Cup for their first start in Australia in preparation for the Melbourne Cup.

The official Geelong Cup Field & Barriers are announced on the Monday of race week and will be provided in full belong once released by Racing Victoria.

The 2023 Geelong Cup final field features a bumper line-up of spring stayers eyeing a Melbourne Cup start on the first Tuesday of November with First Immortal heading markets off a lead-up Group 3 The Bart Cummings second.

Click here to read more on the key runners in the Geelong Cup 2023 field and betting markets.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 4x339x3x78 SPANISH MISSION (USA) Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman Blake Shinn 11 60kg 110
2 5x22410x76 ASHRUN (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Mark Zahra 1 56.5kg 103
3 1x1430x003 KING FRANKEL (IRE) Annabel Neasham Jamie Mott 3 56kg 102
4 72x295x080 SHERAZ (FR) Chris Waller 12 56kg 102
5 15x0x06x90 MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) Chris Waller Damien Oliver 5 55kg 104
6 11265x728x MORE FELONS (IRE) Chris Waller Michael Dee 10 55kg 100
7 2x8802x090 VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) Liam Howley Damian Lane 4 55kg 100
8 2x858x5861 FANCY MAN (IRE) Annabel Neasham John Allen 17 54.5kg 99
9 13x5840x70 HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Harry Coffey 16 54kg 102
10 x1390x7040 SIR LUCAN (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Ms Linda Meech 2 54kg 98
11 5x83300x95 AMADE (IRE) Phillip Stokes Zac Spain 13 54kg 97
12 9x0050x806 MOUNT POPA (IRE) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jye McNeil 14 54kg 97
13 111011×212 FIRST IMMORTAL Mark & Levi Kavanagh Ms Jamie Kah 15 54kg 96
14 x7043100x0 TIMOUR (FR) Chris Waller Beau Mertens 9 54kg 95
15 1×23136713 FERAGO Patrick F Ryan Jnr Harry Grace 6 54kg 84
16 312x18x740 MR WATERVILLE (IRE) Chris Waller Craig Williams 7 54kg 84
17 1x558x3641 THE MAP Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray Ben Price (a) 8 54kg 79

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Geelong Cup Nominations

Early nominations for the Geelong Cup in 2023 close the Thursday prior to the race and will be published below.

The 2023 Geelong Cup nominations attracted 32 potential Melbourne Cup-bound stayers led in all-in betting by the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained The Bart Cummings winner Future History, eye-catching runner-up in the same key Group 3 lead-up First Immortal, the Peter Moody-trained top-weight Spanish Mission with 60kg, and 2019 Melbourne Cup champion Vow And Declare.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight True Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 4x339x3x78 SPANISH MISSION (USA) H 8 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 1 60kg 60kg 110
2 x3x907x009 EL BODEGON (IRE) G 5 Chris Waller 2 59.5kg 59.5kg 109
3 1x22460x02 VOW AND DECLARE G 8 Danny O’Brien 3 59kg 59kg 108
4 15x0x06x90 MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) M 5 Chris Waller 4 55kg 55kg 104
5 12x530x950 EMISSARY (GB) G 7 Michael Moroney 5 57kg 57kg 104
6 00x11x513x OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) H 6 Joseph O’Brien 6 56.5kg 56.5kg 103
7 5x22410x76 ASHRUN (FR) G 8 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 7 56.5kg 56.5kg 103
8 1x1430x003 KING FRANKEL (IRE) G 6 Annabel Neasham 8 56kg 56kg 102
9 13x5840x70 HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) M 7 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 9 54kg 54kg 102
10 72x295x080 SHERAZ (FR) G 7 Chris Waller 10 56kg 56kg 102
11 2x8802x090 VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) H 4 Liam Howley 11 55kg 55kg 100
12 11265x728x MORE FELONS (IRE) G 5 Chris Waller 12 55kg 55kg 100
13 1154×72121 FUTURE HISTORY (GB) G 6 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 13 54.5kg 54.5kg 99
14 2x858x5861 FANCY MAN (IRE) G 6 Annabel Neasham 14 54.5kg 54.5kg 99
15 x1390x7040 SIR LUCAN (IRE) G 6 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 15 54kg 54kg 98
16 x641127x89 FAME G 4 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 16 54kg 53.5kg 97
17 34×21225 VALIANT KING (GB) H 4 Joseph O’Brien 17 54kg 53.5kg 97
18 15931×1736 DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) M 6 Michael Kent 18 54kg 51.5kg 97
19 9x0050x806 MOUNT POPA (IRE) G 9 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 19 54kg 53.5kg 97
20 5x83300x95 AMADE (IRE) G 10 Phillip Stokes 20 54kg 53.5kg 97
21 111011×212 FIRST IMMORTAL G 4 Mark & Levi Kavanagh 21 54kg 53kg 96
22 6536Px3259 INTERPRETATION (IRE) G 6 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 22 54kg 52.5kg 95
23 x7043100x0 TIMOUR (FR) G 6 Chris Waller 23 54kg 52.5kg 95
24 5x8313x006 HASTA LA WAR G 8 Sue Murphy 24 54kg 52.5kg 95
25 5×03323614 MOSTLY CLOUDY (IRE) G 5 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 25 54kg 51.5kg 93
26 7x41x95232 UNITED NATIONS (IRE) H 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 26 54kg 49.5kg 89
27 x820200x70 SO DAZZLING (NZ) M 4 John Sargent 27 54kg 47kg 88
28 312x18x740 MR WATERVILLE (IRE) G 5 Chris Waller 28 54kg 47kg 84
29 1×23136713 FERAGO G 7 Patrick F Ryan Jnr 29 54kg 47kg 84
30 1x558x3641 THE MAP M 5 Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray 30 54kg 42.5kg 79
31 455x65x635 GARACHICO (GB) G 5 Leon & Troy Corstens 31 54kg 42.5kg 75
32 x7569x3742 ARAVENE M 5 Tom Dabernig 32 54kg 40kg 74

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Geelong Cup History

The Geelong Cup has a fairly extensive history, reaching back to 1872 when Flying Scud took out the inaugural edition. Originally raced over 16 furlongs, the Geelong Cup distance was adjusted to 2400m in 1972 when the country switched to the Metric System of measurements.

Initially a Principal race, the Geelong Cup was granted listed status in 1979. In 2002, it was upgraded to Group 3 and has retained that status since.

George Hanlon is the equal most prolific Geelong Cup winner with James Wilson, with a total of four Cups. Hanlon has also trained three Melbourne Cup winners, and is justifiably included in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.

The Melbourne Cup is always held on the first Tuesday in November, and the Geelong Cup is always held exactly thirteen days prior. As a result, the Geelong Cup usually falls on either the third or fourth Wednesday in October.

The Geelong Cup is famous for producing top winners.

Some of the more notable recent Geelong Cup winners include On A Jeune (2005), Leica Ding (2009), Americain (2010), Dunaden (2011), and Ibicenco (2013).

Geelong Cup results since 2000 are listed below.

Geelong Cup Results

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Geelong Cup
1st Amade 2 minutes 30.70 seconds
2nd Ashrun
3rd Sir Lucan
2022
Geelong Cup
1st Emissary 2 minutes 28.50 seconds
2nd Surefire
3rd Makram
2021
Geelong Cup
1st Tralee Rose 2 minutes 27.04 seconds
2nd Dr Drill
3rd Hasta La War
2020
Geelong Cup
1st Steel Prince 2 minutes 30.36 seconds
2nd Le Don De Vie
3rd King Of Leogrance
2019
Geelong Cup
1st Prince Of Arran 2 minutes 26.84 seconds
2nd True Self
3rd Haky
2018
Geelong Cup
1st Runaway 2 minutes  28.46 seconds
2nd Northwest Passage
3rd Finche
2017
Geelong Cup
1st Vengeur Masque 2 minutes 29.35 seconds
2nd Gallic Chieftain
3rd Violate
2016
Geelong Cup
1st Qewy 2 minutes 28.9 seconds
2nd Grey Lion
3rd Oceanographer
2015
Geelong Cup
1st Almoonqith 2 minutes 28.9 seconds
2nd Dandino
3rd Manndawi
2014
Geelong Cup
1st Caravan Rolls On 2 minutes 31.2 seconds
2nd Marksmanship
3rd Like A Carousel
2013
Geelong Cup
1st Ibicenco 2 minutes 35.2 seconds
2nd Verdant
3rd Moudre
2012
Geelong Cup
1st Gatewood 2 minutes 34.1 seconds
2nd Chateau Margaux
3rd Brigantin
2011
Geelong Cup
1st Dunaden 2 minutes 30.1 seconds
2nd Tanby
3rd Bauer
2010
Geelong Cup
1st Americain 2 minutes 30.3 seconds
2nd Moudre
3rd Exceptionally
2009
Geelong Cup
1st Leica Ding 2 minutes 27.5 seconds
2nd Dandaad
3rd Sterling Prince
2008
Geelong Cup
1st Bauer 2 minutes 30.1 seconds
2nd Moatize
3rd Magic Instinct
2007
Geelong Cup
1st The Fuzz 2 minutes 27.0 seconds
2nd Zavite
3rd Desert Master
2006
Geelong Cup
1st Mandela 2 minutes 28.2 seconds
2nd Vanquished
3rd Dacs Back
2005
Geelong Cup
1st On A Jeune 2 minutes 26.7 seconds
2nd Brave Lancer
3rd Men At Work
2004
Geelong Cup
1st Pacific Dancer 2 minutes 26.5 seconds
2nd Devastating
3rd Diamond Jake
2003
Geelong Cup
1st Zazzman 2 minutes 30.0 seconds
2nd Shes Archie
3rd Tumeric
2002
Geelong Cup
1st Media Puzzle 2 minutes 25.9 seconds
2nd Requiem
3rd Donarch
2001
Geelong Cup
1st Karasi 2 minutes 32.0 seconds
2nd Maythehorsebewithu
3rd Scrumptious
2000
Geelong Cup
1st Savrocca 2 minutes 29.9 seconds
2nd Apache King
3rd Bulkhead

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