Gold Cup ? Race Details: |
|
When: |
February |
Track Location: |
Sha Tin Racecourse |
Race Distance: |
2000m |
Race Status: |
Group 1 |
Race Conditions: |
Three-year-olds thoroughbreds and older ? Open sex at Set Weights |
Stakes: |
HK$8million |
Inaugurated: |
1979 |
The Hong Kong Gold Cup is one of the premier thoroughbred races in the country. It is a Group 1 event and the second race in the coveted Hong Kong Triple Crown for three-year-olds. Raced over a distance of 2000m on a turf track at the Sha Tin Racecourse in February each year, stakes are set at HK$8million. First run in 1979 the race distance was originally 1800m but was later increased.
Many horses who have just contested the first Hong Kong Triple Crown race, the Stewards? Cup, will be found in the field for the Gold Cup as they attempt to become only the second horse ever to claim Triple Crown success. It is a good idea to watch the runners in this earlier event as an indication for the Stewards? Cup.
There have been a number of horses to win multiple Gold Cups including Indigenous (1998 & 1999), Viva Pataca (2008 & 2009) and not forgetting champion former Horse of the Year River Verdon who won this race three times, and became the only Triple Crown winner in 1994. So when making your selections for the race it can be worth looking at the defending champions. Although over the years the Gold Cup has been renowned for its upset wins, Viva Pataca winning the race as the favourite for the last two years has bought on a new trend for the punters to consider.
Following the Gold Cup, the strongest and most in form runners will continue on to the last leg of the Triple Crown, the Champions & Chater Cup with the hopes of keeping their Triple Crown dreams alive and living up to the challenge of this third, increased distance race.
Gold Cup ? Division of the Stakes:
All amounts in Hong Kong dollars.
1st – $4 560 000
2nd – $1 760 000
3rd – $920 000
4th – $480 000
5th – $280 000
Gold Cup ? Recent Race Results:
Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Owner |
Time |
2009 |
Viva Pataca |
Darren Beadman | John Moore | Stanley Ho Hung-Sun | 2:04.61 |
2008 |
Viva Pataca |
Darren Beadman | John Moore | Stanley Ho Hung-Sun | 2:03.90 |
2007 |
Vengeance of Rain |
Anthony Delpech | David E. Ferraris | Chow Nam & R.G. Chow Hon Man | 2:04.40 |
2006 |
Super Kid |
Shane Dye | John Moore | Wong Yuk Kwan | 2:02.80 |
2005 |
Perfect Partner |
Christophe Soumillon | Tony Cruz | Gowin C.S. Tseng/Ringo N.Y.Kwok | 2:06.30 |
2004 |
Bullish Luck |
Felix Coetzee | Tony Cruz | Wong Wing Keung | 2:02.30 |
2003 |
Olympic Express |
Weichong Marwing | Ivan W. Allan | Larry Yung Chi Kin | 2:02.90 |
2002 |
Industrial Pioneer |
Gerald Mosse | Brian Kan Ping-chee | Albert Hu Si Nok et.al. | 2:02.40 |
2001 |
Idol |
Michael Kinane | David Oughton | Wong Chi Muk | 2:02.10 |
2000 |
Industrialist |
Alan Munro | Brian Kan Ping-chee | Albert Hu Si Nok/Peter W.Y.Ming | 2:00.20 |
1999 |
Indigenous |
Douglas Whyte | Ivan W. Allan | Pang Yuen Hing | 2:01.30 |
1998 |
Indigenous |
Baqsil Marcus | Ivan W. Allan | Pang Yuen Hing | 2:02.50 |