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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