Western Australian Cup - 3200m

PC · April 2015

Couldn't believe my eyes when I was running my eyes over the fields for Ascot WA today........a 3200m race being run in WA!!

I would think this is the first 2-mile race run in WA since Cats Fun won the Perth Cup in January 2008.

Anyhow, great to see the WATC restore a traditional 2-mile race to their calendar.

Its attracted a fairly good field today with many runners coming through the Bunbury (2200m) and Pinjarra (2300m) Cups.

Here's hoping its a successful initiative & maybe the WA Cup can
get Listed status in the future. With the $400k WA Derby being run on
the same day it could be a race that's on the radar of some eastern
states trainers for horses that are not going to measure up to Sydney
carnival Derby & Cups.

Hopefully down the track this race becomes a Group race. But for now - a great initiative by the WATC.

DamienWyer · April 2015

I can't help think that this race has been setup to appease but ultimately will be doomed to fail. The lead up races have been pretty much non-existent. Perhaps 15 lengths will separate this field from front to back at the end of two miles with a closing sectional around 38 secs or worse.

They simply can't be serious.

TSS · April 2015

This should be pushed back to the last meeting of the Ascot season, prize money boosted to $1 million and horses from Sydney can continue their campaign and snare some late prize money. The WATC Derby and Oaks horses can continue on into this race, and have a few lead up races like country cups just before this running.

Best time for a feature 3200m race too, cooler weather. Much better than a stinking hot New Years Day.

Ridersonthestorm33 · April 2015

Racing needs variety, its not all about sprint racing , It's different , takes training and jockey skill to win all races and an event over 3200 metres is no exception. Great to see. I'm all for it.

RIO · April 2015

with you rider.......3200m, would've been nice to have a few metro 2200-2400 in the lead up, but we've just finished the country cups and its the start of getting better representation of distance races...i reckon the timing, concept and value is spot on for re-developing distance racing here..

maybe in a few years they can bump up stakes, but not yet. $120k is a good purse for this quality of stock

DamienWyer · April 2015

I have been on the front foot about a 3200M Perth Cup return from the day it was announced as being reduced. But just chucking in a 3200M race into the calendar without significant increased distances in lead up racing, just sets this race up to be window dressing. We should have had a series leading into this event where at least a 2800M was offered somewhere to better condition runners as a final hitout before this event.

Typical.

LIGHTNINGWITHHOOVES · April 2015

Closing sectional in sydney cup group one was 38.04 so if our stayers having their first crack at the two miles replicate that they will be doing well

The_Bull · April 2015

$1m for a 2 mile race in WA? Surely you jest...

RIO · April 2015

LIGHTNING WITH HOOVES said:
Closing sectional in sydney cup group one was 38.04 so if our stayers having their first crack at the two miles replicate that they will be doing well

very similar 38.10...and from the stands it looked to have a good pace

LIGHTNINGWITHHOOVES · April 2015

Overall time about 30 seconds slower but we are comparing a wa handicap with a group one in sydney. I must say i did enjoy watching it though

LuckyLongshots · April 2015

Was a great spectacle to witness - and the applause given to the winning horse and jockey at the end of the race, was fantastic!

No other race got a rousing applause today!

The timing is fine (at the end of the provincial staying races), hard to expect many 2800m races to proceed this, the horses would be gassed if you had too many long races before this!

Get it up in dollars and it will be great!

RIO · April 2015

LuckyLongshots said:

Get it up in dollars and it will be great!

LLS as long as they do the above slowly over the next 3 or 4 years i'd agree...Let us, breed or buy horses that are distance orientated, rather than just throwing money at a handicap race..

tony · April 2015

LIGHTNING WITH HOOVES said:
Overall time about 30 seconds slower but we are comparing a wa handicap with a group one in sydney. I must say i did enjoy watching it though

While I agree with your setiments the time difference was just on 12 seconds (3m 36.56 vs 3m 24.7)

theketaminekid · April 2015

great to see!

Ridersonthestorm33 · April 2015

Don't worry about the slow time guys....Time only matters if your in gaol. Was an intriguing race, well done to the winner and placegetters.

LIGHTNINGWITHHOOVES · April 2015

my bad i thought i saw semiphored 3.04.7. yeah riders i agree about times my initial reference was to damiens comment about the closing sectionals being 38+ which they were but so was the g1 runners in sydney. anything that can be done to generate interest in staying races in WA should be encouraged.

Fastmoney · April 2015

STAB win pool was 3rd highest behind the Derby and Sires Produce.

DamienWyer · April 2015

I would love to see a genuine effort made to improve the lot of stayers here in WA. It may even give the Breeders of this State an edge, as not many other areas of Australia make serious attempts at addressing the lack thereof.

If we held distance racing from 2200M through to 3000M, we would attract a lot of interest from around the Country that other States have given up on, and when it comes to trying to find a competitive horse for black type Racing in the Spring Carnival over a distance, Owners and Trainers now have to pay drug money prices to foreign markets all because we gave up on trying here.

We can't compete with the rest of the country if we breed to crap stallions that couldn't win at the highest level at races below 2000M, but if we embraced true distance racing here and bred accordingly, we may create a niche.

I will go put on my helmet now and await the grenades.

dungy · April 2015

Make it 3200 pr 4200 or 5200m wont matter the class of our stayers are woeful

paraletic · April 2015

I thought it was a great race. But you have to wonder.... A group of people cheering like the race was run and won as they went past the post for the first time. They were sitting in the owners and trainers section mind you.....

RIO · April 2015

and did anyone see the bloke leaning against the mounting yard fence???? took his mates half the second lap to convince him they were going around again!!!!!!

as for the stayers being woeful????? why would you suddenly have great stayers in April just cos there was a race then????? they'll improve in years to come if RWWA (not PR) keep supporting these types of races.

LuckyLongshots · April 2015

Whilst our race was slower (which you'd expect, seeing we didn't have last years Melbourne Cup winner in the race or be 1.5million lower in prizemoney), the final 600m in both races was within 0.08sec of each other.

I thought it was a great spectacle, and with some investment and time it would develop into a great race to conclude the provincial Cups!

Also the majority of the field finished within 12L of the winner and the final margin of a head, says a lot about the competitive nature of the race!

rot8in · April 2015

dungy said:
Make it 3200 pr 4200 or 5200m wont matter the class of our stayers are woeful

more 3200 races ..we might get same ok stayers ...a few at belmont could be good too...perfect in the cooler months

Dale · April 2015

I just don't see why it's not done. UK has 5000mtr maidens. Horses can run 5 mile at a constant gallop on the flat.

thefalcon · April 2015

remember the staying cup races they had at Belmont a few years ago....some of them were (gulp) 2400m.

Ridersonthestorm33 · April 2015

Another race run over I think 2400 metres several years ago at Belmont was the Apprentices Cup. Always was one of the best races of the winter with up and coming apprentices from all over Australia. The mile and a half journey was a good test for the apprentices and a race full of interest. Shayne Newling and Tim Stubberfield were 2 good apprentices many years ago who I'm sure have won the event. And some good interstate hoops have won it too. Was dissapointed when that race seemed to dissapear.

thefalcon · April 2015

true, riders. what about those cup races, edgar meeres cup, Belmont, Winter and I think a few others.
what happened?

Ridersonthestorm33 · April 2015

Good question Falcon I think they call it 'progress'.

G'day Punter!

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