The 2017 Bendigo Cup is a 2400m staying event held at Bendigo Racecourse during the Spring Racing Carnival.

Holding Group 3 status, the Bendigo Cup is run under handicap conditions and is open to horses aged three years and older.

With $300,000 prize money on offer, the Bendigo Cup is one of the most exciting country cup events in the nation, and certainly one of the most renowned having been recently promoted to Group 3 status.

The Bendigo Cup is often targeted by horses as a preparatory race for the $3 million Melbourne Cup. If a horse isn’t up to the level of the Melbourne Cup, they might still seek to target group level events. The quality of the Bendigo Cup field usually ensures that the winner is a fairly handy horse. The Group 2 Sandown Classic has been a later target in the past. For the more country horses, the Ballarat Cup is a great follow up event.

The listed Cranbourne Cup can act as a fairly good guide to the Bendigo Cup. Otherwise, non black type events held at courses in and around Melbourne can also provide some form guidance on the horses in the Bendigo Cup.

The Bendigo Cup was inaugurated in 1868 as the Sandhurst Cup. The first winner of the Bendigo Cup was Old England. Following over a century of racing, the Bendigo track received considerable upgrades in 1998, ensuring the Bendigo Cup would retain its place as a top quality country cup.

Prior to 2009, the Bendigo Cup was held in November. It was shifted to October to allow horses to target it as a lead up race to the major staying events of the Spring Racing Carnival.

In 2011, the Bendigo Cup was increased to 2400m, following two years as a 2200m event.

Notable Bendigo Cup winners include Chigarow (1989), Rasputins Revenge (1992), Forlorna (2002), Gallic (2004, 06) and Puissance De Lune (2012).

2017 Bendigo Cup Field

The Bendigo Cup field regularly features some top quality stayers. As of 2016 it holds a Group 3 status and the Bendigo Cup field regularly exceeds expectations. Some of the best stayers in the country have previously been seen in the Bendigo Cup field, often on their way to the top.

The 2017 Bendigo Cup field will be published below.

2017 Bendigo Cup Nominations

The Bendigo Cup nominations provide a fairly accurate indication of the late spring plans for a lot of horses. As such, punters tend to pay a fair bit of attention to the Bendigo Cup nominations. Keep an eye out here for the Bendigo Cup nominations; you’ll be sure to spot a few top quality runners amongst them.

The 2017 Bendigo Cup nominations will be provided here.

Bendigo Cup Results

Bendigo Cup results, winners and winning times since 2000 are provided below.