The 2017 Easter Cup is a Group 3 race held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne every March or April on Easter Saturday. The event is a middle distance contest run over a trip of 2000m and is worth a total of $150,000 in prize money.
The conditions of the race are open handicap meaning there’s usually a big contingent of horses on hand.
That said the genuine top line runners usually bypass this race and it’s more one for the true Group 3 horses on a day with a big crowd on hand.
Given its spot in the schedule the Sydney autumn carnival is the major focus and as such that’s where the majority of top liners will be.
There are some exceptions to the rule though and in 2007 Maldivian won this race before going on to win the Group 1 Cox Plate the following year.
That 2007 Easter Cup also featured Douro Valley which came so close to winning a Caulfield Cup when second that same year.
In terms of races leading up to the Easter Cup it’s best to follow the country cup’s circuit or look for horses rising well through the grades.
The 2011 Easter Cup champion Paddy O’Reilly came here after success in the Albury Cup.
Other winners of this race include Litmus in 2000, Tall timbers in 2004, Like It Is in 2008 and Fanjura in 2010 (runner up in 2011).
2017 Easter Cup Field
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 61019×7778 | LEEBAZ (NZ) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | Dwayne Dunn | 9 | 59kg | 105 |
| 2 | 3849x080x7 | PORNICHET (FR) | Ciaron Maher | Brad Rawiller | 1 | 59kg | 105 |
| 3 | 126×835226 | EXTRA ZERO | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Luke Nolen | 5 | 56.5kg | 100 |
| 4 | x1837x820x | GREY LION (IRE) | Matt Cumani | Craig Newitt | 13 | 56.5kg | 100 |
| 5 | 2844700×02 | JACQUINOT BAY | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Michael Dee | 17 | 55.5kg | 98 |
| 6 | 266223×690 | TOM MELBOURNE (IRE) | Lee & Anthony Freedman | Daniel Moor | 19 | 55.5kg | 98 |
| 7 | 0x59500x71 | OBSERVATIONAL (GB) | John Sadler | Thomas Sadler | 10 | 55kg | 97 |
| 8 | 7×51514110 | DARK EYES | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Stephen Baster | 15 | 54.5kg | 96 |
| 9 | 61844831×7 | PURPLE SMILE | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Jake Noonan | 11 | 54.5kg | 96 |
| 10 | 800×673127 | GOLDSTREAM (ITY) | Darren Weir | Ben Allen (a) | 12 | 54kg | 94 |
| 11 | 7x42312x49 | HIGH CHURCH (IRE) | Darren Weir | Jye McNeil | 18 | 54kg | 93 |
| 12 | x50025x166 | SECOND BULLET | Danny O’Brien | Ms Katelyn Mallyon | 8 | 54kg | 93 |
| 13 | 0x79327x85 | TARQUIN | John O’Shea | Beau Mertens (a) | 4 | 54kg | 92 |
| 14 | x906061802 | DOUBLE BLUFF (IRE) | Robbie Laing | Ms Jessica Payne (late alt) | 16 | 54kg | 91 |
| 15 | 710×415225 | ZASORCERESS (NZ) | Darren Weir | Dean Yendall | 14 | 54kg | 82 |
| 16 | 311174×396 | O’LONERA | Cindy Alderson | Ben E Thompson (a) | 3 | 54kg | 80 |
| 17e | 534157×123 | WAR LEGEND (NZ) | Michael Moroney | Patrick Moloney | 7 | 54kg | 80 |
| 18e | 9623864×45 | TRANSFER ALLOWANCE | Peter Roche | Chris Symons | 2 | 54kg | 74 |
| 19e | 4645712149 | UNFURL (NZ) | Darren Weir | – | 6 | 54kg | 72 |
Easter Cup Winners & Results
Winners and placers in the Easter Cup since 2000 with winning times.
| Year | Results | Winning Time | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 Observational | 2 Second Bullet | 3 Double Bluff | 2:01.18 |
| 2016 | 1 Leebaz | 2 Guardini | 3 Observational | 2:02.16 |
| 2015 | 1 TBD | 2 TBD | 3 TBD | 2:03.9 |
| 2014 | 1 Our Voodoo Prince | 2 Akzar | 3 Stipulate | 2:04.0 |
| 2013 | 1 Jet Away | 2 Folding Gear | 3 Whisper Downs | 2:03.9 |
| 2012 | 1 Folding Gear | 2 Viking Hero | 3 Shewan | 2:01.6 |
| 2011 | 1 Paddy O’Reilly | 2 Fanjura | 3 Launay | 2:02.7 |
| 2010 | 1 Fanjura | 2 Light Vision | 3 Hissing Sid | 2:02.0 |
| 2009 | 1 Miss Maren | 2 Raffaello | 3 Light Vision | 2:03.9 |
| 2008 | 1 Like It Is | 2 Sand Sweeper | 3 Come Fly With Me | 2:03.4 |
| 2007 | 1 Maldivian | 2 Douro Valley | 3 Spinney | 2:02.8 |
| 2006 | 1 Casual Pass | 2 Rubijon | 3 Our Spur | 2:02.2 |
| 2005 | 1 Show Barry | 2 Lord Erin | 3 Pretorius | 2:00.4 |
| 2004 | 1 Tall Timbers | 2 Sweet Corn | 3 Domine | 2:02.9 |
| 2003 | 1 Bush Padre | 2 Gunnamatta | 3 Lodger | 2:03.3 |
| 2002 | 1 Thong Classic | 2 Adolescence | 3 Aquiver | 2:01.0 |
| 2001 | 1 Adolescence | 2 Flushed | 3 Mr Prudent | 2:00.9 |
| 2000 | 1 Litmus | 2 Lady Elsie | 3 Royal Caliph | 2:03.0 |
