Significantly, the Geelong Cup has always attracted the best Australian trainers who have aimed to have the Geelong Cup trophy sitting on their mantelpiece. Gai Waterhouse, David Hayes, Peter Moody, Mike Moroney, Danny O’Brien ... they have all targeted and won the race in recent times on the way through to Flemington.
Over the past twenty years, the race has gained an international flavour, opening up to international trainers who have become more familiar with the race. Legendary Irish trainer Dermot Weld was the first to place his name on the trophy back in 2002 with Media Puzzle (USA). A horse that ultimately thrived on his arrival from Ireland, Media Puzzle would play a star role when winning the 2002 Melbourne Cup for Damien Oliver, writing a dramatic chapter in the history of the two-mile handicap at Flemington following the death of Damien’s brother Jason, only days before. So amazing a story, they made a film out of it, Simon Wincer’s The Cup.
Bauer (IRE) would secure the race in 2008 for Italian legend Luca Cumani, prior to running the narrowest of seconds to the Bart Cummings-trained Viewed in the Melbourne Cup soon after. Two years later, Alain de Royer-Dupré would bring the much-travelled stayer Americain (USA) to Geelong in the hope he would kick through to Flemington for the Melbourne Cup. Of course, history records Americain as the 150th winner of the Melbourne Cup, providing de Royer-Dupré with a signature win as well as for star French jockey Gérald Mossé.
Twelve months later it was almost a case of déjà vu when Mikel Delzangles, another Frenchman, secured the Geelong Cup with Dunaden (FR) prior to winning the Melbourne Cup. Delzangles, who was assistant trainer to de Royer-Dupré for ten years, openly admitted copying the plan that his former boss had executed a year earlier.
Gatewood (GB), trained by Englishman John Gosden, would add to the international list in 2012 and Qewy (IRE) would provide UK trainer Charlie Appleby a sweet taste of success Down Under in 2016.
In the most recent years, UK trainer Charlie Fellowes has targeted this race with three-time Melbourne Cup placegetter Prince Of Arran, having won the Geelong Cup in 2019 before running second to Vow And Declare in the Melbourne Cup 13 days later.
The Geelong Cup has continued to be a key race on the Victorian country cups program leading into Australia’s greatest race. Its strong prizemoney and positioning in the Spring Carnival will always ensure that this provincial Cup will hold prominence on the Australian racing calendar.