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