The JRA Cup is a Group 3 open handicap race that takes place towards the end of September at Moonee Valley racecourse during the Melbourne spring racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 2040 metres and offers $200,000 in prizemoney. The 2011 JRA Cup was won by Dream Pedlar from Carnero with Domesky third.
Held on Group 1 Manikato Stakes night on Grand Final eve at Moonee Valley, the JRA Cup was upgraded from a listed race to a Group 3 event for the 2010/2011 racing season.
The JRA Cup has grown in stature over the past few years and serves as an ideal race for staying types honing their fitness for the quality longer races to come during the carnival. The field generally assembles more than handy types as a rule but in recent times has managed to produce a Melbourne Cup and WS Cox Plate winner.
Shocking (3rd in 2009) ran third in this race before going on to taste success in the Melbourne Cup in November, while Maldivian (2007) won the WS Cox Plate the following year.
Dream Pedlar (2011) ran sixth in the Gr3 Naturalism Stakes over 2000m at Caulfield prior to winning this event and recent JRA Cup winners include Precedence (2010) and Alcopop (2009).
Spring Carnival Guide
Precedence (2010) ran third in the Gr2 Herbert Power Stakes at Caulfield and then won the Gr2 Moonee Valley Cup at Moonee Valley, while Linton (3rd in 2010) won the Herbert Power Stakes before finishing runner-up in the Gr3 The Lexus Stakes at Flemington.
Shocking (3rd in 2009) won the Melbourne Cup in November and Maldivian (2007) won the WS Cox Plate the next spring.
Devil Moon (3rd in 2008) went on to run multiple group race placings during that same spring while Capecover (7th in 2008) scored in the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington on Group 1 Emirates Stakes day in November.
Master O'Reilly (3rd in 2007) was successful in the Gr1 Caulfield Cup the following month and the JRA Cup has proven a pivotal race of the spring in recent times.
2011 JRA Cup result
11. $6.50 Dream Pedlar 54.5 Craig Newitt
2. $5.50 Carnero 53.0 Luke Currie
3. $3.10 Domesky 53.0 Craig Williams
then followed
4. $9.00 Silent Surround 53.0 Simon Price
5. $8.00 Innocent Lady 53.0 Ben Melham
6. $4.60 Cosmonaut 53.0 Luke Nolen
Margins: 2 len, short 1/2 head Time: 2:08.71
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