The Geelong Cup began as a principal race over 2 miles in 1872 when it was won by Flying Spud. It replaced the Geelong Criterian Handicap which was run from 1864 to 1871 over 3 miles. The race was not held in 1897, 1907, 1908, 1920, 1935, 1936, 1938, 1946 and 1953. The distance was reduced to 2400 metres in 1972. In 1979 it became a Listed race and in 2004 it was given Group 3 Status.

It is one of the major country cups, and attracts horses heading for the Melbourne Cup. It is often the first time Australians get to see the international horses targeting the big spring races and has proven a very good guide to the Melbourne Cup. The prizemoney for the 2020 race is $400,000 and Geelong Cup Day is a public holiday in Geelong, about 70 kilometres south-west of Melbourne.

2024 Geelong Cup Preview and results

2023 Geelong Cup Preview and results

2022 Geelong Cup Preview and results

2021 Geelong Cup Preview and results

2020 Geelong Cup Preview and results

Last mare to win: Tralee Rose (2021)

Last 3YO to win: C&G – none; Filly – none

Multiple winners: Roseview (1912 & 1914); Camerine (1885 & 1887)

Fastest time (2400m): Pacific Dancer (2004) 2:26:51

Interesting trivia: 2001 winner Karasi won three consecutive Nakayama Grand Jumps in Tokyo (2005, 2006 & 2007)

Only two horses have managed to win this race on more than one occasion – Roseview in 1912 and 1914 , and Cameene in 1885 and 1887. It is a tough race and the last mare to win before Tralee Rose in 2021 was Leica Ding in 2009. There have been no three-year-old winners. The race has been dead-heated on 3 occasions with the most recent being Sea Legend and Pacific Mirage in 1989. The 1880 dead-heaters had to rerun the race to get a winner – the horses in those days were tough!

In recent years three European-trained Geelong Cup winners have gone on to win the Melbourne Cup, with Irish horse Media Puzzle (2002) and French gallopers Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011). Many other Geelong Cup runners have placed in the Melbourne Cup. Karasi who won the Geelong Cup in 2001 won 3 consecutive Nakayama Grand Jumps in Japan in Tokyo (2005 – 07) and both Americain and Dunaden have won Group 1 races on the international circuit.

Geelong Cup Preview & Tips 2020

See the 2020 Geelong Cup Preview

Geelong Cup Preview & Tips 2018

Track: Soft   Weather: Fine

Following the scratching of Barry The Baptist there are 15 runners remaining for the $350,000 Bet365 Geelong Cup. Three of the international runners will be having their first start in Australia, five runners had their last start in The Bart Cummings, three in the ATC St Leger Stakes and two in the Cranbourne Cup. Darren Weir has five runners, Chris Waller has three and Waterhouse & Bott have two runners.

The early favourite is British gelding Withhold who is having his first start since winning in the UK over 3269m in June and goes well first-up. Second favourite is Finche who is also having his first start here and won a Group 3 over 2500m in France in August last start. Third favourite is Yogi who chased hard for 3^rd in The Bart Cummings  last start and has 2 wins over 2500m.

Midterm was less than 2 lengths from the winner when 5^th in The Metropolitan. Haripour was 7^th in the St Leger on a heavy track after winning 3 races in a row. Casterton is another overseas raider having his first start here. Northwest Passage was 4^th in the Bart Cummings and One Foot In Heaven was 2^nd in the St Leger. The other runners are currently all at 20 to 1 or longer.

The following are the top 4 selections from our tipster panel for this years race.