The AG Hunter Cup is a competition in harness racing. It is contested over 2,760 metres at Melton Entertainment Park in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It was one of the world's richest handicap standing start events, but it is now contested under mobile start conditions. The race was formerly staged at Moonee Valley before Victoria's new home of harness racing was opened at Melton Entertainment Park.
The race was named after Alex G Hunter, the Trotting Control Board’s first chairman who was inducted into the Victorian Harness Racing Hall Of Fame in 2011. The inaugural race was held for a stake of two thousand pounds ($4000) in 1949 with Silver Peak winning, driven by Frank Culvert.[1]
Race winners
editThe following are winners of the A G Hunter Cup.[2][3]
| Year | Dist. | Winner | Trainer | Driver | Mile Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024[4] | 2760m | Leap To Fame | G W Dixon | G W Dixon | 1:54.0 |
| 2023[5] | 2760m | Honolua Bay[6] [7] | Emma Stewart | David Moran | 1:55.2 |
| 2022 | 2760m | King Of Swing | Belinda McCarthy | Luke McCarthy | 1:56.7 |
| 2021 | 2760m | Lochinvar Art | David Moran | David Moran | 1:54.8 |
| 2020 | 2760m | King Of Swing (NZ) | Craig Cross | Gary E Hall Jnr | 1:55.4 |
| 2019 | 2760m | Tiger Tara (NZ) | Kevin Pizzuto | Todd McCarthy | 1:53.2 |
| 2018 | 2760m | Lazarus (NZ)[8] | Mark Purdon | Mark Purdon | 1:54.1 |
| 2017 | 3280m | Bling It On | John McCarthy | Luke McCarthy | 1:55.1 |
| 2016 | 3280m | Smolda | Mark Purdon | Mark Purdon | 1:57.3 |
| 2015 | 3280m | Arden Rooney(NZ) | Kerryn Manning | Kerryn Manning | 1:58.4 |
| 2014 | 3280m | Christen Me (NZ) | Cran Dalgety | Dexter Dunn | 1:59.2 |
| 2013 | 3280m | Mah Sish (NZ) | Tim Butt | Anthony Butt | 1:59.2 |
| 2012 | 3280m | Choise Achiever (NZ) | Tim Butt | Anthony Butt | 1:59.9 |
| 2011 | 3280m | Stunnin Cullen (NZ) | Tim Butt | Anthony Butt | 2:01.1 |
| 2010 | 3065m | Bondy (NZ) | David Butt | David Butt | 2:01.7 |
| 2009 | 3065m | Mr Feelgood (USA) | Tim Butt | Anthony Butt | 1:59.3 |
| 2008 | 3065m | Blacks A Fake | Natalie Rasmussen | Natalie Rasmussen | 1:58.9 |
| 2007 | 3065m | Sting Lika Bee | Brian Tuddenham | Chris Alford | 2:00.6 |
| 2006 | 3050m | About To Rock | Andy Gath | Kate Thompson (now Gath) | 2:03.0 |
| 2005[9] | 3050m | Elsu (NZ) | Geoff Small | David Butcher | 2:01.9 |
| 2004 | 3050m | Mister D G | Tim Butt | Anthony Butt | 2:03.5 |
| 2003 | 3050m | Mont Denver Gold | Barry W Alford | Chris Alford | 2:02.6 |
| 2002 | 3050m | Safe and Sound[10] | John D Justice | Lance J Justice | 2:01.9 |
| 2001 | 3050m | Another Party | M B Reed | M B Reed | 2:01.4 |
| 2000 | 3020m | Yulestar | Judith Lorraine Nolan | Tony Shaw | 2:01.3 |
| 1999 | 3280m | Paris Affair | Peter Tonkin | Chris Alford | 2:04.3 |
| 1998 | 3280m | Try a Fluke | Justin Warwick | Brian Hancock | 2:02.5 |
| 1997 | 3280m | Surprise Package | Barry Purdon | Tony Herlihy | 2:02:4* |
| 1996 | 3280m | Vics Vance | Barry Purdon | 2:03.4 | |
| 1995 | 3280m | Blossom Lady | Derek Jones | Anthony Butt | 2:00.6 |
| 1994 | 3280m | Blossom Lady | Derek Jones | Anthony Butt | 2:01.1 |
| 1993 | 2840m | Master Musician | Robert Dunn | Robert Dunn | 2:02.8 |
| 1992 | not run | ||||
| 1991 | 2380m | Odds Torado | Stephen Dove | 2:01.0 | |
| 1990 | 2380m | Our Brenray | Tracey L O’Sullivan | 2:02.3 | |
| 1989 | 2380m | Victorys | Phil T Mahar | 2:00.2 | |
| 1988 | 2380m | Sir Reilly | Vincent Knight | 1:59.3 | |
| 1987 | 2380m | Trunkey Sting | T B Warwick | 2:00.8 | |
| 1986 | 2380m | Village Kid[11] | Bill Horn[12] | Chris Lewis | 1:59.4 |
| 1985 | 2870m * | Preux Chevalier (WA) fr | Barry Perkins | Barry Perkins | 1:58.5 |
| 1984 | 2870m * | Rapid Frost (NSW) fr | M. Cunningham | 2:04.0 | |
| 1983 | 2870m * | Popular Alm (VIC) fr | Bob Knight | Vincent Knight | 1:59.4 |
| 1982 | 2870m * | Gammalite (VIC) fr | Leo O'Connor | Bruce Clarke | 2:05.4 |
| 1981 | 2870m * | Koala King (NSW) fr | Ray Wisbey | Brian Gath | 2:04.5 |
| 1980 | 2870m * | Pure Steel (WA) fr | Phil Coulson | Ted Demmler | 2:08.3 |
| 1979 | 2900m * | Hanna's Boy (VIC) fr | H. Hocking | 2:06.0 | |
| 1978 | 2800m * | Pure Steel (WA) fr | Phil Coulson | Ted Demmler | 2:01.7 |
| 1977 | 2900m * | Pure Steel (WA) fr | Phil Coulson | J. Retzlaff | 2:04.6 |
| 1976 | 2851m | Truant Armagh (VIC) fr | Graeme Morgan | Brian Gath | 2:10.4 |
| 1975 | 2851m | Royal Gaze (VIC) fr | K. Pocock | 2:07.5 | |
| 1974 | 2851m | Monara (VIC) fr | D. V. Dove | 2:07.9 | |
| 1973 | 14f.36y | Monara (VIC) fr | D. V. Dove | 2:11.0 | |
| 1972 | 14f.36y | Dixie Boy (NSW) fr | J. L. Young | 2:09.0 | |
| 1971 | 14f.36y | Son of Nancy (VIC) fr | N. Welsh | 2:07.6 | |
| 1970 | 14f.36y | Adios Court (SA) fr | C. J. Webster | 2:07.0 | |
| 1969 | 14f.36y | Golden Alley (TAS) fr | H. Pullen | 2:07.8 | |
| 1968 | 14f.36y | Bon Adios (SA) fr | W. Shinn | 2:08.8 | |
| 1967 | 14f | Waitaki Hanover (NZ) 24y | Doody Townley | 2:06.6 | |
| 1966 | 14f | Minuteman (SA) 12y | Eric R. Hurley | 2:08.8 | |
| 1965 | 14f | Stormy Bruce (NSW) fr | B. J. Forrester | 2:08.0 | |
| 1964 | 14f | Minuteman (SA) fr | Eric R Hurley | 2:09.2 | |
| 1963 | 14f | Idle Raider (NSW) fr | P. J. Ryan | 2:10.0 | |
| 1962 | 14f | Sheffield Globe (VIC) 12y | W. Shinn | 2:09.6 | |
| 1961 | 14f | Sheffield Globe (VIC) fr | W. Shinn | 2:10.2 | |
| 1960 | 14f | Sibelia (NSW) 12y | M. Adams | 2:07.8 | |
| 1959 | 14f | Pay Load (VIC) fr | W. A. Hickey | 2:14.2 | |
| 1958 | 14f | Radian Venture (SA) 12y | F. Connor | 2:12.0 | |
| 1957 | 12½f | Mineral Spring (NSW) 12y | M. Adams | 2:09.2 | |
| 1956 | 12½f | Merchant (SA) 12y | W. K. Webster | 2:10.0 | |
| 1955 | 12½f | Gentleman John (VIC) fr | E. J. Rothacker | 2:09.6 | |
| 1954 | 12½f | Ribands (NSW) 48y | P. J. Hall | 2:08.2 | |
| 1953 | 12½f | New Oro (VIC) fr | J. W. King | 2:10.2 | |
| 1952 | 12½f | Floodlight (TAS) fr | D. L. Cornish | 2:09.4 | |
| 1951 | 12½f | Avian Derby (NSW) fr | S. W. Bray | 2:10.4 | |
| 1950 | 12½f | Amorous (VIC) 24y | A. R. Gath | 2:11.6 | |
| 1949 | 12½f | Silver Peak (NSW) fr[13] | Frank Culbert | 2:11.0 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "News Article - Australian Harness Racing". www.harness.org.au.
- ^ "HRA Annual On-Line: Race Chronicles - Australasian Pacers Grand Circuit" (PDF). www.harness.org.au. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "Champions - Hunter Cup". Harness Racing Victoria.
- ^ "Australian Group Race Results 2024/2024" (PDF). www.harness.org.au. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ "Australian Harness Racing". www.harness.org.au.
- ^ Howard, Michael. "Corner cut clinches Honolua Bay dramatic Hunter Cup". Harness Racing Victoria.
- ^ "Despite winning the Hunter Cup Honolua Bay was acknowledged as inferior to his boom stablemate". racenet.com.au. 5 February 2023.
- ^ "Lazarus too tough, too strong in A G Hunter Cup in Victoria". Stuff. 4 February 2018.
- ^ "Racing: Roll of horror for Hunter Cup". NZ Herald. 24 November 2023.
- ^ "Australasian Grand Circuit - Stories 2001/2002 - AG Hunter Cup". www.harness.org.au.
- ^ "News Article - Australian Harness Racing". www.harness.org.au.
- ^ "Emotional tribute to Village Kid's iconic trainer". www.hrnz.co.nz.
- ^ "Surprise Possible In A. G. Hunter Cup". Argus. 1 January 1949 – via Trove.