History Of The Perth Cup
2 January, 2019
Thoroughbred
This Saturday sees the running of the 2019 TABtouch-Perth Cup (2400m), as the Perth Racing carnival comes to an end.
First run in 1887, the Perth Cup was originally run over 3200m, before the distance was changed back to 2400m for the 2009 edition.
The race will be run on January 5 this year, slightly later than the December 31, January 1 and January 2 dates of the past few years.
First Prince won the inaugural Perth Cup in 1887 ahead of Telephone, who returned to win the second edition of the race a year later.
Trainer George Towton enjoyed plenty of success in the Perth Cup in the early years of the race, winning six of the first 11 editions of the race, while Paddy Connolly won the race five times in a row from 1904-1908 then again in 1910 and 1922.
In recent times, Alan Mathews has built a formidable record in the race, winning on six occasions in 1990, 1992-1994, as well as 2001 and 2003, while his star galloper Pounamu was second last year.
Justin Warwick and Adam Durrant, who both have runners engaged in the race this weekend, have both won the race twice in the past eight years.
Jockey Jason Whiting has enjoyed the most success in the saddle over the past 20 years of the race, winning aboard King Canute (2004), Respect (2007) and Guyno (2009).
Whiting rides Like A Butterfly this weekend for trainer Lou Luciani, a two time Perth Cup winner himself.
Gatting carries the top weight of 59kg this weekend and will be looking to emulate the feats of star mare Delicacy, who carried that weight to victory in 2016.
WATCH: LAST SATURDAY’S ATA STAKES
Owners Bob and Sandra Peters sit alongside Connolly as seven time winners of the Perth Cup.
The famous cerise and white colours have saluted in the 1993, 2005, 2010, 2012, 2015, 2016 and 2017 (New Year’s Eve 2016) editions of the race.
The Peters’ will be represented by five runners in this Saturday’s feature, headlined by TABtouch favourite Action, along with Mississippi Delta, Perfect Jewel, Star Exhibit and Royal Star.
Over the past four decades, wide barrier draws certainly haven’t been a hindrance in the Perth Cup, with barrier 10 the equal most successful barrier since 1978 with four winners.
Barriers two, three, five and six have also produced four winners in that time.
Star Exhibit will be looking to join Wandering Willie (1890 and 1892), Scarpia (1893-94), Artesian (1911 and 1913), Cueesun (1933 and 1935), Fairetha (1958-59), Fait Accompli (1970 and 1972) and Magistrate (1981-82) as a multiple winner of the race when he lines up on Saturday from barrier 17.
Tim Walker