Boulder Cup

The Boulder Cup is one of Kalgoorlie Racecourse's biggest events held on a Sunday in mid-late September.

The 2023 Boulder Cup is a Listed event held at Kalgoorlie Racecourse around mid-September each year on the Sunday after Sydney’s Golden Rose Stakes Day program.

Run under quality handicap conditions, the Boulder Cup provides country horses with an opportunity to compete against some metropolitan stabled horses. Raced over a distance of 2100m, the Boulder Cup is an ideal step-up for milers. Stayers can also step down relatively easily to the 2100m event. Prior to 2014, the Boulder Cup was raced over 1760m. With $125,000 prize money as of 2021, the event attracts plenty of local talent each spring.

While the Boulder Cup could form any stage in a variety of spring campaigns, it usually attracts locals who will be hitting the Kalgoorlie track regularly over the season. The Boulder Cup often falls into the sights of horses who are targeting the Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m) and who may have already raced in the Coolgardie Cup. Those top-class horses who perform above expectations might go on to contend the Group 1 Railway Stakes or even the Group 2 Perth Cup.

In 2020 the Boulder Cup winner Friar Fox went on to run third in that season’s Kalgoorlie Cup, while Divine Shadow ran second in both events.

Friar Fox returned and made Boulder Cup history in 2021 becoming the first back-to-back winner in over 70 years.

Stafford’s Lad (2022) was the last horse to complete the Boulder Cup – Kalgoorlie Cup double. He further franked the form running second in the 2023 Group 2 Perth Cup results the following January.

The 2023 Boulder Cup was held on Sunday September 24, 2023 as an early Perth Cup lead-up and saw the Grant & Alana Williams-trained favourite Villeins ($2.15F) storm home for a one and three-quarter length win for the punters. 

Boulder Cup 2023
Date: Sunday September 24, 2023
Track: Kalgoorlie Racecourse
Distance: 2100m
Race Type: Open Quality Handicap
Status: Listed
Prize Money: $125,000

2023 Boulder Cup Results

  • 1st: #10 Villeins ($2.15F)
  • 2nd: #3 Be Optimistic
  • 3rd: #4 Dancing Jack

Former Sydney galloper Villeins ($2.15F) was too good under the guidance of the ‘Wizard of the West’ William Pike who continues associations aboard the Grant & Alana Williams-trained stayer to post a big win in the 2023 Boulder Cup results.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 10 VILLEINS Grant & Alana Williams William Pike 8 54kg $2.15F
2 3 BE OPTIMISTIC Luke Fernie Clint Johnston-Porter 1.73L 3 54kg $3.80
3 4 DANCING JACK Pamela Oram Ms Natasha Faithfull 2.69L 1 54kg $61
4 7 GROUND BRAKER Ted Martinovich Brandon Louis (a) 5.09L 4 54kg $7.50
5 8 OUR NORMAN Chris Willis Ms Holly Watson 6.49L 2 54kg $11
6 5 ELAFELLA Nadia Bishop Peter Knuckey 8.19L 6 54kg $26
7 9 ROCKY PATH Brian Allen Ms Kristy Bennett 8.97L 9 54kg $41
8 2 GENERAL GRANT Stephen Miller Michael Poy 9.19L 10 57.5kg $21
9 6 FRIAR AWAY Justine Erkelens Shaun O’Donnell 9.91L 5 54kg $10
10 1 UTGARD LOKI Peter Fernie Laqdar Ramoly 12.96L 7 58kg $21

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Boulder Cup Betting

Betting on the Boulder Cup opens following final acceptances on the Wednesday before the event and will be available below once available through Ladbrokes.com.au.

Villeins ($2.15 in 2023) was the last favourite in Boulder Cup betting to salute for the punters.

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

2023 Boulder Cup Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 BOULDER CUP FORM GUIDE

2023 Boulder Cup Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Boulder Cup 2023 tips on the popular WA showdown this spring.

  • To Win: #7 Ground Braker ($7 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Open Boulder Cup and Ground Braker is building momentum at the right time. The Al Maher five-year-old looks top value here drawn well in barrier four and looking to add to his solid record at the distance (2:1-0-1). Won over the 2100m at Belmont two back with more weight before a last start second on September 10 when back in distance for the Coolgardie Cup (1760m). Will appreciate returning to the staying distance here, apprentice Brandon Louis continues associations and looks right up to this.

2023 Boulder Cup Field

The 2023 Boulder Cup field will be officially released on Wednesday of race week and published below.

The Boulder Cup 2023 final field features a quality line-up of local stayers led in betting by the Grant & Alana Williams-trained Domesday five-year-old Villeins coming off some strong runs.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 5209789×85 UTGARD LOKI Peter Fernie Laqdar Ramoly 7 58kg 82
2 x9849x0617 GENERAL GRANT Stephen Miller Michael Poy 10 57.5kg 81
3 312346×263 BE OPTIMISTIC Luke Fernie Clint Johnston-Porter 3 54kg 72
4 7353615355 DANCING JACK Pamela Oram Ms Natasha Faithfull 1 54kg 56
5 0960994131 ELAFELLA Nadia Bishop Peter Knuckey 6 54kg 69
6 6011270×74 FRIAR AWAY Justine Erkelens Shaun O’Donnell 5 54kg 74
7 0x73802312 GROUND BRAKER Ted Martinovich Brandon Louis (a) 4 54kg 73
8 0x85813355 OUR NORMAN Chris Willis Ms Holly Watson 2 54kg 71
9 1×60971316 ROCKY PATH Brian Allen Ms Kristy Bennett 9 54kg 71
10 130×156122 VILLEINS Grant & Alana Williams William Pike 8 54kg 72

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Boulder Cup History

The Boulder Cup has a long and storied history. Held in the gold-mining town of Kalgoorlie, the Boulder Cup and other Kalgoorlie races have long been an intrinsic part of the local sporting culture. Kalgoorlie Racecourse is one of the best country tracks in Western Australia, which ensures that the better listed and country events remain there.

Notable Boulder Cup winners include Opening Twist (2001), Hotel Casuarina (2005) and Gondorff (2010). Reverend Lovejoy was able to take out victory in 2009 over Gondorff and then return in 2011 to win the race again over celebrated WA gelding Kincaple.

Prince Of Pop placed second in 2000 and was able to come back in 2003 for a third place. Mercedario has two third places, in 2002 and 2004. You’ll often notice the same local horses popping up in the results from year to year. Starting in 2014, the Boulder Cup changed to 2100m as opposed to 1760m.

In 2021 Friar Fox made Boulder Cup history becoming the first successive champion since Trectratic (1946-47). 

Boulder Cup winners, top results and winning times since 2000 are listed below.

Boulder Cup Results

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Boulder Cup
1st Villeins 2 minutes 10.18 seconds
Be Optimistic
3rd Dancing Jack
2022
Boulder Cup
1st Stafford’s Lad 2 minutes 09.45 seconds
No Apology
3rd He’s A Parker
2021
Boulder Cup
1st Friar Fox 2 minutes 09.47 seconds
2nd Bella’s Idol
3rd Living The Dream
2020
Boulder Cup
1st Friar Fox 2 minutes 11.73 seconds
2nd Divine Shadow
3rd Major Mambo
2019
Boulder Cup
1st Gangbuster 2 minutes 09.91 seconds
2nd First Affair
3rd Touch Of Silver
2018
Boulder Cup
1st First Affair 2 minutes 10.21 seconds
2nd State Prosecutor
3rd Gloryland
2017
Boulder Cup
1st Already Famous 2 minutes 09.17 seconds
2nd Shinta Mani
3rd Gloryland
2016
Boulder Cup
1st Don’tgetcaught 2 minutes 08.42 seconds
2nd Cougar Express
3rd Ihtsahymn
2015
Boulder Cup
1st Ask Me Nicely 2 minutes 12.12 seconds
2nd Already Famous
3rd Woodsville
2014
Boulder Cup
1st Red Blast 2 minutes 08.11 seconds
2nd Ram Jam
3rd True Gold
2013
Boulder Cup
1st Fanicio 1 minute 45.52 seconds
2nd Barnsley Lad
3rd Amelias Dancer
2012
Boulder Cup
1st Belora 1 minute 45.23 seconds
2nd Amelias Dancer
3rd Amelia Storm
2011
Boulder Cup
1st Reverend Lovejoy 1 minute 45.98 seconds
2nd Kincaple
3rd Battle Emblem
2010
Boulder Cup
1st Gondorff 1 minute 45.94 seconds
2nd Admiring
3rd Inarticulate
2009
Boulder Cup
1st Reverend Lovejoy 1 minute 47.12 seconds
2nd Gondorff
3rd Impact Rating
2008
Boulder Cup
1st Mr Diagnosis 1 minute 48.21 seconds
2nd Goldtown
3rd Stormblitz
2007
Boulder Cup
1st Impact Rating 1 minute 45.88 seconds
2nd Friar’s Touch
3rd I Command
2006
Boulder Cup
1st Scenic Assault 1 minute 46.97 seconds
2nd Moodometer
3rd Black Tom
2005
Boulder Cup
1st Hotel Casuarina 1 minute 45.30 seconds
2nd Priceless Matt
3rd Chenille Prince
2004
Boulder Cup
1st My Thornbird 1 minute 46.07 seconds
2nd Blevvo
3rd Mercedario
2003
Boulder Cup
1st Space Age 1 minute 49.07 seconds
2nd Priceless Matt
3rd Prince Of Pop
2002
Boulder Cup
1st Lawmaker 1 minute 47.71 seconds
2nd Eastern Standard
3rd Mercedario
2001
Boulder Cup
1st Opening Twist 1 minute 48.49 seconds
2nd Face Your Fears
3rd Stage Whisper
2000
Boulder Cup
1st Never Blue 1 minute 47.74 seconds
2nd Prince Of Pop
3rd Waters Rising

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