A G Hunter Cup

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

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The following are winners of the A G Hunter Cup.[2][3]

1997 winning driver, Tony Herlihy
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

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References

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  1. ^ "News Article - Australian Harness Racing". www.harness.org.au.
  2. ^ "HRA Annual On-Line: Race Chronicles - Australasian Pacers Grand Circuit" (PDF). www.harness.org.au. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Champions - Hunter Cup". Harness Racing Victoria.
  4. ^ "Australian Group Race Results 2024/2024" (PDF). www.harness.org.au. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Australian Harness Racing". www.harness.org.au.
  6. ^ Howard, Michael. "Corner cut clinches Honolua Bay dramatic Hunter Cup". Harness Racing Victoria.
  7. ^ "Despite winning the Hunter Cup Honolua Bay was acknowledged as inferior to his boom stablemate". racenet.com.au. 5 February 2023.
  8. ^ "Lazarus too tough, too strong in A G Hunter Cup in Victoria". Stuff. 4 February 2018.
  9. ^ "Racing: Roll of horror for Hunter Cup". NZ Herald. 24 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Australasian Grand Circuit - Stories 2001/2002 - AG Hunter Cup". www.harness.org.au.
  11. ^ "News Article - Australian Harness Racing". www.harness.org.au.
  12. ^ "Emotional tribute to Village Kid's iconic trainer". www.hrnz.co.nz.
  13. ^ "Surprise Possible In A. G. Hunter Cup". Argus. 1 January 1949 – via Trove.
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