The Perth Cup is Western Australia

Western Australia

Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...

's premier Thoroughbred

Thoroughbred

The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...

 horse race

Horse racing

Horse racing is an equestrian sport that has a long history. Archaeological records indicate that horse racing occurred in ancient Babylon, Syria, and Egypt. Both chariot and mounted horse racing were events in the ancient Greek Olympics by 648 BC...

 and is held at Ascot Racecourse

Ascot Racecourse, Western Australia

Ascot Racecourse is the major racecourse in Perth, Western Australia, situated approximately 8 kilometres east of the Perth central business district, with the headquarters of the Western Australian Turf Club positioned directly opposite....

 on New Year's Day

New Year's Day

New Year's Day is observed on January 1, the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar as well as the Julian calendar used in ancient Rome...

 each year. It has been run since 1887.

The Group two race is run and sponsored by BMW

BMW

Bayerische Motoren Werke AG is a German automobile, motorcycle and engine manufacturing company founded in 1916. It also owns and produces the Mini marque, and is the parent company of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. BMW produces motorcycles under BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna brands...

 and known as the BMW Perth Cup. Prize money in 2008 was $400,000.

Race history

Mr P.A. Connolly had an amazing five consecutive and two later wins in the Perth Cup, with Blue Spec

Blue Spec

Blue Spec was a good Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who established a new record in winning the Melbourne Cup in 1905. He was a brown stallion bred by Augustus Hooke, jnr...

 (in 1904), Czarowitch (1905), May King (1906), Post Town (1907), Scorcher (1908), Jolly Beggar (1910) and Jolly Cosy (a son of Jolly Beggar) in 1922.

• 1887-1946 - Two miles (3,219 metres)
• 1947-1961 - Two miles and 11 yards
• 1962-1972 - Two miles (3,219 metres)
• 1972-2008 - 3,200 metres
• From 2009 - 2,400 metres

Recent winners

Year	Winner	Age	Trainer	Jockey
2011	Guest Wing	4	Shane Edwards	Brad Parnham
2010	Lords Ransom	6	Adam Durrant	Alan Kennedy
2009	Guyno	5	L.Luciani	J.Whiting
2008	Cat's Fun	4	M.Grant	D.Oliver
2007	Respect	8	P. Cave	J. Whiting
2006	Black Tom	6	F. H. Maynard	P. Hall
2005	Crown Prosecutor	4	L. Smith	W. Pike
2004	King Canute	4	Lou. Luciani	J. Whiting
2003	Tumeric	6	A. D. Mathews	J. P. Claite
2002	Cardinal Colours	5	M. H. Miller	N. A. Chapman
2001	Lottila Bay (NZ)	10	A. D. Mathews	P. J. Carbery
2000	Luna Tudor	5	N. D. Parnham	J. J. Brown
1999	King Of Saxony	7	J. J. Miller J. J. Miller John Miller is a former champion jockey and horse trainer. Miller rode more than 2200 winners in a career which started with his first win after just six races in 1947. He rode his last race in 1988 and then went on to a successful career as a trainer...	S. J. Miller
1998	Heed The Toll	5	S. R. Wallace	N. L. Rudland
1997	Time Frame	8	Mrs A. J. Smith	D. D. Gundry
1996	Crying Game	3	Miss A. C. Johnson	P. J. Harvey
1995	Ros Reef	5	Mrs K. Miller	M. D. Miller
1994	Palatious	4	A. D. Mathews	D. D. Gundry
1993	Field Officer	3	A. D. Mathews	P. D. Knuckey
1992	Mirror Magic (NZ)	4	A. D. Mathews	T. K. Jackman
1991	Zamlight (NZ)	6	S. R. Bates	M. Sestich

Past winners

• 1990 Word Of Honour
• 1989 Saratov
• 1988 Linc The Leopard
• 1987 Rocket Racer
• 1986 Ullyatt
• 1985 Phizam
• 1984 Moss Kingdom
• 1983 Bianco Lady
• 1982 Magistrate
• 1981 Magistrate
• 1980 Rothschild
• 1979 Meliador
• 1978 Golden Centre
• 1977 Muros
• 1976 Philomel
• 1975 Runyon
• 1974 Allegation
• 1973 Dayana
• 1972 Fait Accompli
• 1971 Artello Bay
• 1970 Fait Accompli
• 1969 Jenark
• 1968 Lintonmarc
• 1967 Special Reward
• 1966 Royal Coral
• 1965 Fair's Print
• 1964 Resolution
• 1963 Bay Count
• 1962 Royal Khora
• 1961 England's Dust
• 1960 Rendition
• 1959 Fairetha
• 1958 Fairetha
• 1957 Elmsfield
• 1955 Yabaroo

• 1955 Lenarc
• 1954 Beau Scot
• 1953 Raconteur
• 1952 Avarna
• 1950 Azennis
• 1949 Beau Vasse
• 1949 Gurkha
• 1948 Kingscote
• 1947 Sydney James
• 1946 Maddington
• 1945 Gay Parade
• 1944 Loyalist
• 1942 Ragtime
• 1942 Temple Chief
• 1941 Fernridge
• 1939 Tomito
• 1938 Maikai
• 1938 Gay Balkan
• 1937 Manolive
• 1936 Picaro
• 1935 Cueesun
• 1933 Cueesun
• 1932 Alienist
• 1932 Bonny Note
• 1931 The Dimmer
• 1930 Coolbarro
• 1929 Jemidar
• 1927 Au Fait
• 1927 Phoenix Park
• 1925 Mercato
• 1925 Great Applause
• 1923 Lilypond
• 1922 Jolly Cosy
• 1921 Earl Of Seafield
• 1920 Seigneur

• 1919 Rivose /Eurythmic
  Eurythmic (horse)
  Eurythmic was a versatile Australian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who had the ability to produce a brilliant finishing run in staying races and he also won important sprint races, too. At four he won 12 of his 13 starts including the Caulfield Cup and Sydney Cup. When Eurythmic finished racing he...
  
   (dead heat)
• 1918 Macadam
• 1917 Downing Street
• 1916 Lucky Escape
• 1915 Irish Knight
• 1914 Dollar Dictator
• 1913 Artesian
• 1912 Sparkle
• 1911 Artesian
• 1910 Jolly Beggar
• 1909 Loch Shiel
• 1908 Scorcher
• 1907 Post Town
• 1906 May King
• 1905 Czarovitch
• 1904 Blue Spec
  Blue Spec
  Blue Spec was a good Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who established a new record in winning the Melbourne Cup in 1905. He was a brown stallion bred by Augustus Hooke, jnr...
  
  
• 1903 Cypher
• 1902 Novitiate
• 1901 Flintlock
• 1901 Australian
• 1900 Carbineer
• 1899 Mural
• 1898 Le Var
• 1897 Snapshot
• 1896 Inverary
• 1895 Durable
• 1894 Scarpia
• 1893 Scarpia
• 1892 Wandering Willie
• 1891 The Duke
• 1890 Wandering Willie
• 1889 Aim
• 1888 Telephone
• 1887 First Prince

2008 race fall

The 2008 Perth Cup was marred by a six-horse fall which resulted in two horses being destroyed and three jockeys being taken to hospital with minor injuries.
Following a stewards inquiry, apprentice jockey Chloe Chatfield was suspended for 10 weeks. The race was won by favourite Cats Fun.