The race was first held over 1800m in January 1979 and was won by Observatory ridden by legendary jockey Pat Eddery. It was granted domestic Group 1 status in 1991/92 and in 1992/93 the distance was increased to 2000m. It is now the second leg of the Hong Kong Triple Crown where the first leg is the Group 1 Stewards’ Cup over 1600m and the third leg is the Group 1 Champions & Chater Cup over 2400m. It became a Group 1 race in the 2014/15 season with prizemoney of HK$10 million

It is held on the same day as the Group 1 Queen’s Silver Jubilee Cup over 1400m.

Last 3YO to win: no 3YO has won

Multiple winners: Golden Sixty (2021 & 2023); Time Warp (2018 & 2020); Designs On Rome (2015 & 2016); Military Attack (2013 & 2014); Viva Pataca (2008 & 2009); Indigenous (1998 & 1999); Makarpura Star (1995 & 1006); River Verdon (1992, 1993 & 1994).

Fastest time (2000m): Time Warp (2018) 1:59:97

Leading trainer: John Moore with 11 wins.

Interesting trivia: In 2018 Time Warp became the first horse to win in under two minutes He won this race again in 2020, bringing his trainer Tony Cruz a ninth Gold Cup victory (two as a jockey and seven as a trainer).

Past winners include River Verdon who won this race 3 times (1992, 1993 & 1994) and is the only horse to ever win the Hong Kong Triple Crown, which he did in 1994