Jericho Cup
Jericho Cup
Betting Guide
| Date: | Sunday, December 3, 2023 |
| Location: | Warrnambool Racecourse |
| Prize Money: | $304,000 |
| Distance: | 4600m |
The Jericho Cup, held over 4600m at Warrnambool Racecourse, is the longest flat race in Australia and is an event that honours the heroic Light Horsemen and their magnificent horses, The Walers, for their deeds in the Middle East from 1914-1919.
The 2023 Jericho Cup is due to be run on Sunday, December 3.
Approaching the end of the first world war, the Australian Light Horse were planning a major offensive against the Turkish Empire. In order to lull the enemy into believing nothing unusual was afoot, a race was organised on the eve of the assault.
The main race was called The Jericho Cup over three miles through the desert sands. The winner was Bill the Bastard, probably Australia’s Greatest War Horse.
The Jericho Cup is run annually (on the fourth Sunday after the Melbourne Cup) from the 100th anniversary in 2018 to honour Bill the Bastard, the Australian Light Horsemen and their magnificent mounts – The Walers 1914 to 1918.
All Veteran’s can enter the course free of charge on Jericho Cup Day.
2023 Jericho Cup odds
Markets for the 2023 Jericho Cup are currently unavailable.
Best bookies to bet on the Jericho Cup
A majority of online bookmakers will have markets out for out a week prior to the running of the Jericho Cup, once final nominations are in.
You can bet on these markets via both computer, telephone and even via online betting apps, which are the most common way Aussies bet in 2023.
The top online bookmakers for Jericho Cup odds will also have horse betting apps for the main Australian smartphones, which are Android and iOS. HorseBetting recommends taking advantage of these free downloads to maximise your ability to accept free bets and promotions.
Best Jericho Cup Bookies
Latest Jericho Cup News
Qualifying for the Jericho Cup
Commencing in late December the year prior, the first three Australasian Bred horses over the line in any 3000m or further flat race at TAB meeting across Australia and New Zealand (from a maiden to a Group 1 race) will earn 3-2-1 points. Non-TAB meetings are excluded, but all other races, no matter what class/age/sex restriction applies, will be treated equally.
Exemptions to the flat races only rule are The Grand Annual Steeple (5500m) and the New Zealand Grand National Hurdle (4200m).
In addition, the first Australasian bred horse over the line in selected Guaranteed Start (GS) races automatically gains entry to the 2023 Jericho Cup, the minor placegetters will get double points, that is 4 and 2 respectively.
The final field for the Jericho Cup 2023 will be determined according to total points accrued, after allowing for any guaranteed starters. It is feasible that a horse could get in with no points (as long as it passes the breeding requirement). But any horse with just one point will get in ahead of those without any.
The only requirement is to race Australasian Bred Stayers in Australia and New Zealand and watch your points build up. Shuttle Stallions qualify, but the horse must have been conceived and born in Australia or New Zealand.
2023 Guaranteed Start Races
The first Australasian bred horse over the line in the Guaranteed Start races will automatically gain entry to the 2023 Jericho Cup run over 4600m at Warrnambool (should they nominate and accept). The second and third Australasian bred horses over the line in these races will earn double points of 4 and 2 respectively.
The Guaranteed Start races for the 2023 Jericho Cup and winners are listed below.
- Warrnambool – 4065m BM68 (Nov 27, 2022) – Winner: There For You
- Albany – 3100m Handicap (Apr 23) – Winner: Morton’s Fork
- New Plymouth Raceway (NZ) – 3210m BM82 (Sep 16) – Winner: Nassak Diamond
- Mount Gambier – 3150m BM75 (Sep 24) – Winner: Ferago
- Gawler – 3340m BM75 (Oct 27) – Winner: Warrandyte Road
- Riccarton Park (NZ) – 3000m BM82 (Oct 28) – Winner: Eulogy Show
- Wagga Wagga 3200m – BM74 (Oct 28) – Winner: Mr Fabulous
- Beaudesert – 3090m BM70 (Nov 4) – Winner: Leather Jacket Lew
- Echuca – 3200m BM70 (Nov 7) – Winner: Botti
- Moonee Valley – 3850m BM78 (Nov 17) – Winner: Anewdaydawning
- Moonee Valley – 3850m BM78 (Nov 17) – Winner: Guido
2023 Jericho Cup Final Field
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Previous Jericho Cup Fields
Check out the stayers that have competed in the longest turf race in Australia, the Jericho Cup.
No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 
Botti Kevin Myers Shaun Gannin 10 70kg 2 Bazini Symon Wilde Aaron Kuru 17 66kg 3 Royal Crown Michael Kent Will Gordon 18 66kg 4 Count Zero Symon Wilde Ronan Short 11 65kg 5 Bastida John Sargent Darryl Horner (Jnr) 15 65kg 6 Jukila Michelle Payne William McCarthy 6 65kg 7 Alienated Cliff Murray Tom Ryan 2 65kg 8 Border Leicester Emma-Lee & David Browne Emily Farr 9 65kg 9 The Rattlin’ Bog Aaron Purcell Arron Lynch 14 65kg 10 Grand ShanghaiLindsay GoughTBC565kg11 Bruno Stars Paul Preusker Richard O’Donoghue 8 65kg 12 Epizeel Declan Maher Paul Hamblin 16 65kg 13 Azzureous Steven Pateman Chris McCarthy 7 65kg 14 Savvy Acquisition Austy Coffey Luke Williams 1 65kg 15 Will To Excel (1E) James Ponsonby Lee Horner 12 65kg 16 Frankenstar (2E)Kathryn DurdenTBA465kg17 Landgrave (3E)Emma-Lee & David BrowneTBA365kg18 There For YouDane SmithTBA1365kgNo. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Wil John Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Will Gordon 1 70kg 2 Budd Fox Henry Dwyer Arron Lynch 16 66kg 3 Heberite Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Tom Ryan 14 65.5kg 4 Border LeicesterEmma-Lee & David BrowneDarryl Horner (Jnr)565kg5 Prince AlbyCharlotte LittlefieldBradley Thomas-Rantall1165kg6 Will To Excel James Ponsonby Lee Horner 7 65kg 7 American In Paris Symon Wilde Ronan Short 6 65kg 8 Beachgoer Symon Wilde Luke Williams 15 65kg 9 Zabextra Bob & Kane Post Ross O’Sullivan 4 65kg 10 Allaboutattitude Trudy Cottier Megan Dunseath 12 65kg 11 Master Poet Amy McDonald Aaron Kuru 9 65kg 12 Jumbo PrinceJohn BrooksLuke Williams1065kg13 Sivar Peter Lafferty Nathan Newton 17 65kg 14 Compulsive Bryce Stanaway Richard O’Donoghue 18 65kg 15 I Arize (1E) Steven Pateman Bradley Thomas-Rantall 2 65kg 16 Savvy Acquisition (2E)Austy CoffeyN/A865kg17 Hanaki Warrior (3E)Bryce StanawayN/A1365kg18 Ozymandias (4E)Bryce StanawayN/A365kgNo. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Frenzied Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Arron Lynch 1 72kg 2 Dambulla Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Lee Horner 8 69.5kg 3 Jukila Michelle Payne Thomas Sadler 5 69kg 4 Alienated Cliff Murray Bradley Thomas-Rantall 7 68kg 5 Wil John Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Shane Jackson 2 68kg 6 Matas Michael Hickmott Clayton Douglas 6 66kg 7 Count Zero Symon Wilde Luke Williams 17 66kg 8 Transfer Allowance Thomas Carberry Chris McCarthy 3 66kg 9 Britannicus Symon Wilde Ronan Short 16 66kg 10 Da Deputy David Noonan Will Gordon 15 66kg 11 Dewrinkler Amy McDonald Paul Hamblin 13 66kg 12 Golden Flag Patrick F Ryan Jnr Tom Ryan 12 66kg 13 So Able Shane McCusker Darryl Horner (Jnr) 10 66kg 14 Superleggera Patrick F Ryan Jnr Nathan Newton 14 66kg 15 Only A Mother (1E)Symon WildeN/A966kg16 Wolfe Tone (2E)Francis FinneganN/A1166kg17 Karakoram (3E)Chris HylandN/A1866kg18 Periscope (4E)Patrick F Ryan JnrN/A466kgNo. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Ablaze Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 3 70kg 2 Plymouth Road Matthew Williams Paul Hamblin 12 69.5kg 3 Aigne Neil O’Dowd Michael Roustoby 11 69kg 4 Da Deputy David & Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig Clayton Douglas 15 68.5kg 5 Where Are You Shaune Ritchie Daryl Horner (Jnr) 6 67kg 6 Alienated Cliff Murray Bradley Thomas-Rantall 5 66kg 7 Firefree Cliff Murray Tom Ryan 4 65.5kg 8 Golden Flag Patrick F Ryan Jnr Richard Cully 8 64.5kg 9 Hello My Friend Charlotte Littlefield Lee Horner 7 64kg 10 Pretty Mama John Salanitri Shaun Phelan 2 64kg 11 Crafty CruiserBryce StanawayN/A1064kg12 Ten Tigers Barbara Joseph Arron Lynch 16 64kg 13 Dexluther Daniel Robinson Buddy Lammas 17 64kg 14 Ventura Highway Bryce Stanaway Arron Lynch 16 64kg 15 Bemboka Queen (1E)Gavin BedggoodN/A164kg16 Wolfe Tone (2E) Francis Finnegan Ronan Short 13 64kg 17 Golden Gee (3E)Greg HayesN/A1864kg18 Cuban Fighter (4E)Darren KolpinN/A964kgNo. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Gold Medals Symon Wilde Jamie Mott 6 70kg 2 Doc Holliday Symon Wilde Darryl Horner (Jnr) 16 67kg 3 The Dominator Henry Dwyer Thomas Sadler 12 66.5kg 4 Truly High Darren Weir Shane Jackson 5 66.5kg 5 Thunder Road Emma & Lucy Longmire Lee Horner 7 65.5kg 6 High Mode Anthony Freedman Clayton Douglas 15 65kg 7 Weave Anne Yates Richard Cully 9 65kg 8 Penthouse Playboy Darren Weir John Allen 1 64kg 9 Havana Haymaker Pat Carey Tom Ryan 11 64kg 10 Barge And Charge Michael Townsend Paul Hamblin 14 64kg 11 Crafty Cruiser Bryce Stanaway Emily Farr 2 64kg 12 Grrassini Brett Charry Shaun Phelan 4 64kg 13 Beach God (1E)Byron CozamanisMartin Kelly366kg14 Under The Bridge (2E)Symon WildeN/A1364kg15 Hello My Friend (3E)Charlotte LittlefieldN/A1064kg16 Nelsons Arch (4E)Charlotte LittlefieldN/A864kg
2022 Jericho Cup result
1st – Bastida (+450)
2nd – Botti (+230)
3rd – Epizeel (+2040)
Recent Jericho Cup runnings
- There were scenes of joy at Warrnambool as the John Sargent-trained galloper Bastida claimed the Jericho Cup (4652m) in front of enthusiastic connections who travelled from New Zealand. A New Zealand bred four-year-old, Bastida ($5.50), who won his way into the race after bolting in at Canberra over 3400m the Sunday prior, sat just rear of midfield and unleashed a winning turn-of-foot under Darryl Horner Jnr. The son of Pierro finished the testing contest two lengths clear of the Kevin Myers-trained raider Botti and fellow Kiwi bred Epizeel.
- Ciaron Maher & David Eustace became the first trainers to claim multiple victories in the Jericho Cup when Wil John saluted in the 2021 edition. Wil John ($2.80 favourite), conceded 5kg to the bulk of the field, with Will Gordon aboard, ranged up three-wide on the outside of pac-emaking stablemate Heberite ($5.50) with Budd Fox ($10) between the pair as the field exited the back straight. The trio galloped together to the home turn until Heberite wilted on his run with Wil John slowly wearing down Budd Fox to win by a length. Heberite finished third a further 13 lengths away.
- Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde recorded his first victory in the Jericho and said it was particularly special given the race’s deep significance, while jockey Luke ‘Stumpy’ Williams said it had been the biggest victory in his 30 year career. Count Zero caused a boilover in the $300,000 contest, finishing ahead of the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace pair of Dambulla and Wil John.
- Ablaze’s silks may be better known as the ones that Nature Strip dons, but the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained made sure his name is also linked to the Rod Lyons-owned silks when taking out the Jericho Cup. Ablaze joined High Mode as the winners of the race struck to honour the race that took place in the Turkish desert more than 100 years ago when he proved too strong for his rivals in the 4600m contest. Allen made his move 800m out from home and whilst most of his rivals were struggling the stayer managed to carry the 70kg’s to victory and held off local hope Golden Flag in a stirring edition of the Jericho Cup.
- Clayton Douglas managed to steer the Anthony Freedman-trained High Mode into the history books as they claimed the inaugural running of the Jericho Cup at Warrnambool. For Douglas, his Jericho Cup success added to his victory aboard Gold Medals in the Grand Annual at the Bool carnival in May. Having hit the lead with 600m to go, High Mode broke away and managed to hold off the veteran Crafty Cruiser when eased down inside the final 50m once the race was wrapped up.
Past Jericho Cup winners list
| Jericho Cup Past Winners | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Horse | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2022 | Bastida | John Sargent | Darryl Horner (Jnr) |
| 2021 | Wil John | Will Gordon | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 2020 | Count Zero | Luke Williams | Symon Wilde |
| 2019 | Ablaze | John Allen | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
| 2018 | High Mode | Clayton Douglas | Anthony Freedman |