Liverpool City Cup

The annual Group 3 Liverpool City Cup runs at Royal Randwick on Verry Elleegant Stakes Day in the autumn as a possible Doncaster Mile lead-up.

2024 Liverpool City Cup Results

  • 1st: #8 Phearson
  • 2nd: #6 New Energy
  • 3rd: #11 Hard To Say



The Liverpool City Cup is a Group 3 race run at Royal Randwick Racecourse in late February or early March during the Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival.

Run over a middle-sprint distance of 1300m the event is an open quality handicap for horses aged three-years-old and above. The Liverpool City Cup offers $250,000 in total prize money as of 2024 and is one of six Group status races held on Verry Elleegant Stakes Day (formerly Chipping Norton Stakes Day).

The meeting’s headline event is the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes (1600m) followed by the recently upgraded Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m). Other key races on the card include the Group 2 Skyline Stakes (1200m), Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes (1200m), Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes (1400m), and the Liverpool City Cup.

The Liverpool City Cup is often one of the first autumn features contested by horses in the field and good follow-up races include the Group 2 Ajax Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill in March, the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) and possibly even the Group 1 Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick in April during The Championships.

The 2019 Liverpool City Cup winner Dreamforce went on to run third in the George Ryder and second in the Doncaster Mile results later that autumn. The upset Liverpool City Cup winner Think It Over went on to win the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) two starts later and enjoyed a stellar rest of the year headlined by three straight victories in the spring that culminated with success in the lucrative Rosehill Gold Cup.

The 2022 Liverpool City Cup form was franked with the winner Ellsberg running third in that season’s Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) before returning in the spring to win the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) as well as the $1 million The Five Diamonds Prelude and $2 million The Five Diamonds double.

The Liverpool City Cup 2023 winner Think About It firmly franked the form that winter winning Brisbane’s Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup and Stradbroke Handicap before returning in the spring to claim the $20 million The Everest – the world’s richest turf race

The Liverpool City Cup 2024 ran at Royal Randwick on Saturday March 2, 2024 as a potential lead-up to the Group 1 Brisbane races in the winter and was won in a first-up upset by the Brad Widdup-trained Phearson ($12). 

2024 Liverpool City Cup
Date: Saturday March 2, 2024
Track: Royal Randwick Racecourse
Distance: 1300m
Race Type: Open Handicap
Status: Group 3
Prize Money: $250,000

2024 Liverpool City Cup Results

  • 1st: #8 Phearson ($12)
  • 2nd: #6 New Energy
  • 3rd: #11 Hard To Say
  Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
  1 8 PHEARSON Brad Widdup Tom Sherry   5 55kg   $12
  2 6 NEW ENERGY (IRE) Ciaron Maher Jason Collett 0.97L 3 56kg   $8
  3 11 HARD TO SAY Jason Deamer Ashley Morgan 1.43L 1 53kg   $9
  4 4 KOVALICA (NZ) Chris Waller James McDonald 2.07L 4 59.5kg   $10
  5 2 COAL CRUSHER Joseph Pride Tyler Schiller 2.3L 10 60kg   $3.80F
  6 5 DEMOCRACY MANIFEST Chris Waller Tommy Berry 3.14L 9 57kg   $8.50
  7 13 WHINCHAT David Pfieffer Jay Ford 3.64L 11 53kg   $3.90
  8 3 GOLDEN MILE James Cummings Tom Marquand 5.11L 6 59.5kg   $15
  9 9 CAESARS PALACE Anthony Cummings Chad Schofield 5.66L 2 54kg (cd 55kg)   $151
  10 10 DARK DREAM Allan Kehoe Reece Jones 8.64L 7 54kg   $201
  11 1 CEPHEUS (GB) Matthew Dunn Nash Rawiller 8.99L 8 60kg   $31
    7 ACQUITTED (IRE) Kris Lees Dylan Gibbons (a)   0      
    12 MORAVIA Michael Freedman Kerrin McEvoy   0  

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2024 Liverpool City Cup Betting Odds

The latest Liverpool City Cup 2024 betting odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au will be available below the week of the race.

There was a notable upset in 2021 with the winner Think It Over saluting at Liverpool City Cup odds of $51!

Ellsberg ($2.60F in 2022) followed by Think About It ($3.90 in 2023) are the last favourites in Liverpool City Cup betting to win.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2024 LIVERPOOL CITY CUP ODDS (Final Field)

2024 Liverpool City Cup Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 LIVERPOOL CITY CUP FORM GUIDE

2024 Liverpool City Cup Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Liverpool City Cup 2024 Tips on the autumn lead-up at Randwick this season.

  • To Win: #11 Hard To Say ($13 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Hard To Say presents an intriguing upset possibility in the Group 3 Liverpool City Cup. Jason Deamer’s four-year-old is peaking in form, ready for a step up in class. His strong record, including a recent Randwick win, and competitive performances in Group 3 Southern Cross Stakes and $1 million Magic Millions Snippets add to his appeal. While the 1300m distance raises some questions, his potential and value make him a worthwhile risk.

2024 Liverpool City Cup Field

The Liverpool City Cup field attracts a strong line-up of middle-distance autumn gallopers that could be eyeing a run in the upcoming Doncaster Mile Handicap.

The official 2024 Liverpool City Cup field and barriers are set for release on the Wednesday of race week and will be listed below in full.

The Liverpool City Cup 2024 final field is now out with a 13-horse field led in betting by the Joe Pride-trained Coal Crusher coming off a close first-up second in the Group 2 Expressway Stakes. 

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 342151120x CEPHEUS (GB) Matthew Dunn Nash Rawiller 10 60kg     109
2 410x3441x2 COAL CRUSHER Joseph Pride Tyler Schiller 12 60kg     109
3 0x901393x7 GOLDEN MILE James Cummings Tom Marquand 7 59.5kg     108
4 3131x9250x KOVALICA (NZ) Chris Waller James McDonald 4 59.5kg     108
5 761x01544x DEMOCRACY MANIFEST Chris Waller Tommy Berry 11 57kg     103
6 287x26x43x NEW ENERGY (IRE) Ciaron Maher Jason Collett 3 56kg     101
7 35720x211x ACQUITTED (IRE) Kris Lees Dylan Gibbons (a) 8 55.5kg     100
8 212x02310x PHEARSON Brad Widdup Tom Sherry 6 55kg     99
9 010x24133x CAESARS PALACE Anthony Cummings Chad Schofield 2 54kg 55kg   94
10 7x8073140x DARK DREAM Allan Kehoe Reece Jones 9 54kg     86
11 66x1111x52 HARD TO SAY Jason Deamer Ashley Morgan 1 53kg     92
12 12260×4 MORAVIA Michael Freedman Kerrin McEvoy 5 53kg     87
13 9x30117x11 WHINCHAT David Pfieffer Jay Ford 13 53kg     84

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2024 Liverpool City Cup Nominations

Early nominations on the Liverpool City Cup in 2024 close the Monday of race week and will be published below.

  Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 35720x211x ACQUITTED (IRE) G 7 Kris Lees 100
2 410x8907x9 BANK MAUR H 4 Richard Laming 95
3 010x24133x CAESARS PALACE G 6 Anthony Cummings 94
4 342151120x CEPHEUS (GB) G 7 Matthew Dunn  
5 410x3441x2 COAL CRUSHER G 6 Joseph Pride 110
6 7x8073140x DARK DREAM G 9 Allan Kehoe 86
7 761x01544x DEMOCRACY MANIFEST G 5 Chris Waller 103
8 0x901393x7 GOLDEN MILE H 4 James Cummings 108
9 66x1111x52 HARD TO SAY G 4 Jason Deamer 92
10 844x40786x HINGED M 5 Chris Waller 104
11 6x8241930x HOSIER (IRE) G 7 Mark Minervini 100
12 878x67500x INVER PARK (GB) G 6 Kris Lees 88
13 3131x9250x KOVALICA (NZ) G 4 Chris Waller 108
14 x1576x3633 MALKOVICH G 6 Bjorn Baker 103
15 12260×4 MORAVIA C 3 Michael Freedman 87
16 3x0x0666x1 NEVER NO MORE (IRE) G 8 Matthew Dunn 87
17 287x26x43x NEW ENERGY (IRE) G 5 Ciaron Maher 101
18 212x02310x PHEARSON G 6 Brad Widdup 99
19 9x30117x11 WHINCHAT G 4 David Pfieffer 84

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Liverpool City Cup History

The Liverpool City Cup has been run since 1970 and the maiden winner of the race was Blue Plume.

Since then a host of smart gallopers have won the event including Lord Nelson (1973), Boasting (1989-1990), Danleigh (2008), Terravista (2014), It’s Somewhat (2015), Dreamforce (2019), and that year’s subsequent The Everest hero Think About It (2023). 

The event started as a 2400m race holding Principal status. From 1979 it has been run as a Group 3 race and there have been a number of distance changes over the years.

It has been contested over its current 1300m distance since 2008. The race has taken place at a number of Sydney’s racecourses including Warwick Farm and has gone by other names including the Liverpool Handicap and Warwick Farm Autumn Cup.

Recent Liverpool City Cup Winners

Check out the table of Liverpool City Cup results & winners going back to 2000 below.

Year Place Horse Time
 
2024 Liverpool City Cup 1st Phearson 1 minute 15.62 seconds
2nd New Energy
3rd Hard To Say
 
2023 Liverpool City Cup 1st Think About It 1 minute 16.51 seconds
2nd Gravina
3rd Bandersnatch
 
2022 Liverpool City Cup 1st Ellsberg 1 minute 20.42 seconds
2nd Brutality
3rd Blue Soldier
 
2021 Liverpool City Cup 1st Think It Over 1 minute 17.22 seconds
2nd Criaderas
3rd All Saints’ Eve
 
2020 Liverpool City Cup 1st Quackerjack 1 minute 15.35 seconds
2nd Vegadaze
3rd Rock
 
2019 Liverpool City Cup 1st Dreamforce 1 minute 15.07 seconds
2nd Snippets Land
3rd Salsonic
 
2018 Liverpool City Cup 1st Crack Me Up 1 minute 16.52 seconds
2nd Care To Think
3rd Burning Passion
 
2017 Liverpool City Cup 1st McCreery 1 minute 19.28 seconds
2nd Arod
3rd Testashadow
 
2016 Liverpool City Cup 1st Charlie Boy 1 minute 15.0 seconds
2nd Rock Sturdy
3rd Good Project
 
2015 Liverpool City Cup 1st It’s Somewhat 1 minute 15.9 seconds
2nd Rudy
3rd Gypsy Diamond
 
2014 Liverpool City Cup 1st Terravista 1 minute 16.6 seconds
2nd El Roca
3rd Ninth Legion
 
2013 Liverpool City Cup 1st Skyerush 1 minute 16.4 seconds
2nd Riva De Lago
3rd Bagman
 
2012 Liverpool City Cup 1st Ofcourseican 1 minute 17.9 seconds
2nd Somepin Anypin
3rd Fast Clip
 
2011 Liverpool City Cup 1st Triple Elegance 1 minute 15.9 seconds
2nd Graceful Anna
3rd Pureness
 
2010 Liverpool City Cup 1st Dreamscape 1 minute 17.2 seconds
2nd Triple Honour
3rd Mr Baritone
 
2009 Liverpool City Cup 1st Judged 1 minute 15.5 seconds
2nd El Cambio
3rd Faulconbridge
 
2008 Liverpool City Cup 1st Danleigh 1 minute 16.5 seconds
2nd Friday Creek
3rd Bobadah
 
2007 Liverpool City Cup 1st The Free Stater 1 minute 10.2 seconds
2nd Regal Cheer
3rd Century Serb
 
2006 Liverpool City Cup 1st Utzon 1 minute 09.5 seconds
2nd All Bar One
3rd Patezza
 
2005 Liverpool City Cup 1st Sam Sung A Song 1 minute 09.8 seconds
2nd Falkirk
3rd Patezza
 
2004 Liverpool City Cup 1st Carael Boy 1 minute 12.1 seconds
2nd Patezza
3rd Amex
 
2003 Liverpool City Cup 1st Planchet 1 minute 09.8 seconds
2nd Snowland
3rd Moon Dragon
 
2002 Liverpool City Cup 1st Bomber Bill 1 minute 09.7 seconds
2nd Defier
3rd Maitland Gold
 
2001 Liverpool City Cup 1st Continuum 1 minute 10.5 seconds
2nd Phoenix Park
3rd Nanny Maroon
 
2000 Liverpool City Cup 1st Catatonic 1 minute 10.8 seconds
2nd Mr. Bureaucrat
3rd King of Acapulco

This page and the written content within it were partially generated using AI or automated technology and edited and verified by our editorial team.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 Queen Of The Turf Stakes ...

Pride Of Jenni Wins 2024 Queen...

Pride Of Jenni Wins 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Historical Demolition Job

Racegoers at Royal Randwick witnessed what will go down in the history books...

Sydney Cup 2024 Winner Circle ...

Sydney Cup 2024 Winner Circle Of Fire Salutes for Punters

Another staying race goes to star horseman Ciaron Maher whose race favourite,...

Australian Oaks 2024 Results: ...

Australian Oaks 2024 Results: Autumn Angel Beats Zardozi on the Back-Up

Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman continued their ace The Championships’...

2024 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint Res...

2024 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint Results: Joliestar Returns a Winner for Waller

Joliestar was terrific in her first-up run since taking out last year’s...

Race Results

2024 Queen Of The Turf Stakes Results: Waller Runs Quinella with Zougotcha and Atishu

Pride Of Jenni Wins 2024 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Historical Demolition Job

Sydney Cup 2024 Winner Circle Of Fire Salutes for Punters

Australian Oaks 2024 Results: Autumn Angel Beats Zardozi on the Back-Up

2024 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint Results: Joliestar Returns a Winner for Waller

Race Previews

Australasian Oaks 2024 Field & Odds Update: Wings Of Song Favourite

Estriella Heads 2024 Robert Sangster Stakes Field & Betting Markets

2024 The Quokka Race Tips & Best Bets

Manaal Heads Champagne Stakes 2024 Field & Betting

2024 All Aged Stakes Field & Betting Update: Espiona Leads Markets

Fields & Form

Australasian Oaks 2024 Field & Odds Update: Wings Of Song Favourite

Estriella Heads 2024 Robert Sangster Stakes Field & Betting Markets

2024 The Quokka Race Tips & Best Bets

Manaal Heads Champagne Stakes 2024 Field & Betting

2024 All Aged Stakes Field & Betting Update: Espiona Leads Markets