3 minute read
Will this Moonee Valley Cup run at Moonee Valley on Saturday be any guide to the big one?
Prince Of Penzance was close up prior to his Melbourne Cup win. Could it occur again in the 2020 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday?
2020 Moonee Valley Cup: Nominations
2020 MOONEE VALLEY CUP - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND
The Moonee Valley Cup is a Group 2 race run under Weight For Age conditions for open class stayers at Moonee Valley conducted by the Moonee Valley Racing Club.
The Moonee Valley Cup is run over 2500m. It was first run in 1883 and was won by Castaway.
The race has been run over as short as a mile over a century ago but was around this distance from 1919 onwards.
The Moonee Valley Cup was a Principle race but became a Group 3 from 1979 then was a Group 2 from 1980.
Has had several name changes but has always essentially been known by its registered name the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.
For many years the Moonee Valley Cup was the main race on this day. It has only been in the last 40 years that the Cox Plate has become the feature and not the Melbourne Cup lead up event.
Yippyio defeated Brew in the 2000 edition then they reversed the placings in the Melbourne Cup.
Prince Of Penzance won the MV Cup in 2014 and then was second in 2015 before winning a bigger race at Flemington over two miles.
Coolmore had more international success as Hunting Horn outstayed the rivals in 2019.
Not many horses have done the Moonee Valley Cup/Melbourne Cup double – Kingston Rule, Wodalla, Blue Spec, Clean Sweep those to do it.
The Moonee Valley Cup was worth $500,000 in 2020.
Notable winners of the Moonee Valley Cup include Hunting Horn (2019), Who Shot Thebarman (2017), The United States (2015), Prince Of Penzance (2014), Precedence (2010/2013), Americain (2011), Gallic (2007), Zipping (2006), Yippyio (2000), Streak (1999), Istidaad (1996), Kingston Rule (1990), Sydeston (1989), Reckless Tradition (1986), Holiday Waggon (1975), Wodalla (1953), Shadow King (1930), Blue Spec (1905), Clean Sweep (1900) and Newmaster (1888).
The 2019 Moonee Valley Cup was won by Hunting Horn from Mr Quickie and Downdraft.