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

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

1997 winning driver, Tony Herlihy
Year
Dist.
Winner
Trainer
Driver
Mile Rate
2023[4] 2760m Honolua Bay[5] [6] 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) C A Cross G E Hall Jnr 1:55.4
2019 2760m Tiger Tara (NZ) Kevin Pizzuto Todd McCarthy 1:53.2
2018 2760m Lazarus (NZ)[7] 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[8] 3050m Elsu (NZ) Geoff Small David Butcher 2:01.9
20043050mMister D GTim ButtAnthony Butt2:03.5
20033050mMont Denver GoldBarry W AlfordChris Alford2:02.6
20023050mSafe and Sound[9]John D JusticeLance J Justice2:01.9
20013050mAnother PartyM B ReedM B Reed2:01.4
20003020mYulestarJudith Lorraine NolanTony Shaw2:01.3
19993280mParis AffairPeter TonkinChris Alford2:04.3
19983280mTry a FlukeJustin WarwickBrian Hancock2:02.5
19973280mSurprise PackageBarry PurdonTony Herlihy2:02:4*
19963280mVics VanceBarry Purdon2:03.4
19953280mBlossom LadyDerek JonesAnthony Butt2:00.6
19943280mBlossom LadyDerek JonesAnthony Butt2:01.1
19932840mMaster MusicianRobert DunnRobert Dunn2:02.8
1992not run
19912380mOdds ToradoStephen Dove2:01.0
19902380mOur BrenrayTracey L O’Sullivan2:02.3
19892380mVictorysPhil T Mahar2:00.2
19882380mSir ReillyVincent Knight1:59.3
19872380mTrunkey StingT B Warwick2:00.8
19862380mVillage Kid[10]Bill Horn[11]Chris Lewis1:59.4
19852870m *Preux Chevalier (WA) frBarry PerkinsBarry Perkins1:58.5
19842870m *Rapid Frost (NSW) frM. Cunningham2:04.0
19832870m *Popular Alm (VIC) frBob KnightVincent Knight1:59.4
19822870m *Gammalite (VIC) frLeo O'ConnorBruce Clarke2:05.4
19812870m *Koala King (NSW) frRay WisbeyBrian Gath2:04.5
19802870m *Pure Steel (WA) frPhil CoulsonTed Demmler2:08.3
19792900m *Hanna's Boy (VIC) frH. Hocking2:06.0
19782800m *Pure Steel (WA) frPhil CoulsonTed Demmler2:01.7
19772900m *Pure Steel (WA) frPhil CoulsonJ. Retzlaff2:04.6
19762851mTruant Armagh (VIC) frGraeme MorganBrian Gath2:10.4
19752851mRoyal Gaze (VIC) frK. Pocock2:07.5
19742851mMonara (VIC) frD. V. Dove2:07.9
197314f.36yMonara (VIC) frD. V. Dove2:11.0
197214f.36yDixie Boy (NSW) frJ. L. Young2:09.0
197114f.36ySon of Nancy (VIC) frN. Welsh2:07.6
197014f.36yAdios Court (SA) frC. J. Webster2:07.0
196914f.36yGolden Alley (TAS) frH. Pullen2:07.8
196814f.36yBon Adios (SA) frW. Shinn2:08.8
196714fWaitaki Hanover (NZ) 24yDoody Townley2:06.6
196614fMinuteman (SA) 12yEric R. Hurley2:08.8
196514fStormy Bruce (NSW) frB. J. Forrester2:08.0
196414fMinuteman (SA) frEric R Hurley2:09.2
196314fIdle Raider (NSW) frP. J. Ryan2:10.0
196214fSheffield Globe (VIC) 12yW. Shinn2:09.6
196114fSheffield Globe (VIC) frW. Shinn2:10.2
196014fSibelia (NSW) 12yM. Adams2:07.8
195914fPay Load (VIC) frW. A. Hickey2:14.2
195814fRadian Venture (SA) 12yF. Connor2:12.0
195712½fMineral Spring (NSW) 12yM. Adams2:09.2
195612½fMerchant (SA) 12yW. K. Webster2:10.0
195512½fGentleman John (VIC) frE. J. Rothacker2:09.6
195412½fRibands (NSW) 48yP. J. Hall2:08.2
195312½fNew Oro (VIC) frJ. W. King2:10.2
195212½fFloodlight (TAS) frD. L. Cornish2:09.4
195112½fAvian Derby (NSW) frS. W. Bray2:10.4
195012½fAmorous (VIC) 24yA. R. Gath2:11.6
194912½fSilver Peak (NSW) fr[12]Frank Culbert2:11.0

See also

References

  1. ↑ "News Article - Australian Harness Racing". www.harness.org.au.
  2. ↑ https://www.harness.org.au/hra/feature/rc_agcp.pdf
  3. ↑ "Champions - Hunter Cup". Harness Racing Victoria.
  4. ↑ "Australian Harness Racing". www.harness.org.au.
  5. ↑ Howard, Michael. "Corner cut clinches Honolua Bay dramatic Hunter Cup". Harness Racing Victoria.
  6. ↑ "Despite winning the Hunter Cup Honolua Bay was acknowledged as inferior to his boom stablemate". racenet.com.au. 5 February 2023.
  7. ↑ "Lazarus too tough, too strong in A G Hunter Cup in Victoria". Stuff. 4 February 2018.
  8. ↑ "Racing: Roll of horror for Hunter Cup". NZ Herald. 24 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "Australasian Grand Circuit - Stories 2001/2002 - AG Hunter Cup". www.harness.org.au.
  10. ↑ "News Article - Australian Harness Racing". www.harness.org.au.
  11. ↑ "Emotional tribute to Village Kid's iconic trainer". www.hrnz.co.nz.
  12. ↑ "Surprise Possible In A. G. Hunter Cup". 1 January 1949 – via Trove.
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