Moonee Valley Cup

The Moonee Valley Cup is a Group 2 set weight and penalties event that takes place at Moonee Valley racecourse in October during the Melbourne spring racing carnival. The race is run over a distance of 2500 metres and worth $250,000 in prizemoney. The 2011 Moonee Valley Cup was won by Americain from Tullamore with Illo third.

Run as the 'Cathay Pacific Airways Cup' in recent years, the race is held on the same day as the Moonee Valley Racing Club's premier race of the spring, the Group 1 WS Cox Plate.

Moonee Valley Cup info
Date:	Saturday 27th October 2012
Track:	Moonee Valley racecourse, Melbourne
Distance:	2500 metres
Race Type:	4yo&Up - Set Weights + Penalty
Status:	Group 2
Prizemoney:	$250,000
2011 Winner:	Americain

The Moonee Valley Cup is the major distance race on Moonee Valley's biggest race day of the spring and while the race is only Gr2 status and does not have the prestige of the big spring races such as the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, it does have its own niche on the racing calendar for stayers.

Horses contesting this race may be either heading towards the Melbourne Cup, or simply be stayers not good enough for the major staying events and looking for something a bit easier and the Moonee Valley Cup fits the bill nicely.

More often than not, the Moonee Valley Cup will assemble above average stayers rather than the elite and Zipping (2006) was the last quality galloper to salute. In recent times the Cup winner has simply been a more than handy type who proved the best stayer on the day.

Americain (2011) finished unplaced in the Gr2 Kergorlay over 3000m in Deauville, France prior to scoring an easy win in this event and recent Moonee Valley Cup winners include Precedence (2010) and The Sportsman (2009).

Spring Carnival Guide
The Moonee Valley Cup hasn't been a great guide to the Melbourne Cup over the years and Kingston Rule (1990) was the last horse to win both races, while Mr Prudent (2nd in 2002) was the last horse to run a place in both races. Precedence (2010) finished eighth in the Melbourne Cup after winning this race.

In recent times Capecover (3rd in 2010) ran and Baughurst (2nd 2008) both went on to run second & third respectively in the Gr3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Flemington on Emirates Stakes day.

Brew (2nd in 2000) went on to win the Melbourne Cup in the same year, while Zipping (2006) won the Gr2 Sandown Classic in three consecutive years from 2007 to 2009.

2011 Moonee Valley Cup
1. $3.50 Americain 58.0 G Mosse
2. $4.00 Tullamore 57.0 N Rawiller
3. $8.50 Illo 56.5 L Nolen

then followed
4. $21.00 Anudjawun 55.0 M Rodd
5. $5.50 Shewan 57.0 C Symons
6. $26.00 Harris Tweed 56.0 B Rawiller
7. $18.00 Paddy O’Reilly 56.0 C Williams
8. $21.00 Swooper 54.0 B Melham
9. $61.00 Pergola 55.0 J Winks
10. $18.00 Lalla Rookh 51.0 Ms C Lindop

Margins: 2 1/4 len, 1 1/4 len
Time: 2:36.41

Moonee Valley Cup recent winners & placegetters
Year	Winner	2nd	3rd	Time
2011	Americain	Tullamore	Illo	2:36.4
2010	Precedence	Above Average	Capecover	2:38.9
2009	The Sportsman	Irazu	Think Money	2:37.3
2008	Gallopin	Baughurst	Ice Chariot	2:36.5
2007	Gallic	Lazer Sharp	Jukebox Johnny	2:36.5
2006	Zipping	Show Barry	Gallic	2:38.9
2005	Umbula	Bazelle	Kindjhal	2:45.1
2004	Another Warrior	Rizon	Hard To Get	2:37.1
2003	Frightening	Legible	County Tyrone	2:38.5
2002	Thong Classic	Rain Gauge	Mr Prudent	2:40.9
2001	Rain Gauge	Spirit Of Westbury	Big Pat	2;37.6
2000	Yippyio	Brew	Cronus	2:41.3
1999	Streak	Cronus	Second Coming	2:38.2
1998	Prince Standaan	Skybeau	Zdenka	2:36.3
1997	Court Of Honour	Linesman	Yobro	2:36.8
1996	Istidaad	Protaras Bay	Cheviot	2:41.0
1995	Storm	Bullwinkle	Quick Ransom	2:38.9
1994	Top Rating	Starstruck	Our Pompeii	2:45.9
1993	Glastonbury	Notwithstanding	Ramyah	2:38.7
1992	Donegal Mist	Cross Swords	Fraar	2:38.0
1991	Al Maheb	The Hipprogriff	Rasheek	2:41.9
1990	Kingston Rule	Flying Luskin	Chaleyer	2:40.1
1989	Sydeston	Cosign	Tawrrific	2:42.2
1988	Ideal Centreman	Zamakima	Shantaroun	2:46.4