Preux Chevalier - defeated Village Kid in the 1985 WA Winter Cup
Somewhat strangely the Winter Cup was first run in the springtime on 6th September 1913 and was won by a gelding of unknown pedigree called Dandy which was trained by Alfred Abbott and driven by 18yo Harold Abbott.
The race was not run again until June 1932 when it was won by the Harry Moran owned, trained and driven gelding Canton which beat the 1930 WA Pacing Cup winner Tommy Dillon and the outstanding mare Armatree Princess. The race was known at that time as the Winter Handicap.
The 2015 edition of the Winter Cup has only a small field of six runners but features a clash between the State’s best pacer at the moment in David Hercules and a couple of rising stars in Machtu and Libertybelle Midfrew which are expected to challenge for the title in the next year or so.
David Hercules beat Please Release Me and Ima Rocket Star in last year’s Winter Cup. Machtu’s trainer Gary Hall won in 2013 with the champion Im Themightyquinn. Im Themightyquinn won the 2009 Winter Cup and was runner-up to Has The Answers in 2011.
Arguably the most memorable Winter Cup in history was the 1985 edition when Preux Chevalier beat Village Kid. The same horses had finished in the same order in the 1985 Inter Dominion final at Moonee Valley four months earlier while in January 1985 a rising star in Village Kid beat the raging favourite Preux Chevalier in the WA Pacing Cup.
Past Winners WA Winter Cup
| |
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Date
|
Race Name
|
Trainer
|
Driver
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Winner
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6/09/1913
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Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
A (Alfred) Abbott
|
H A J (Harold) Abbott
|
DANDY
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25/06/1932
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
H C (Harry) Moran
|
H C (Harry) Moran
|
CANTON
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|
17/06/1933
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
C F (Charlie) Thomas
|
C F (Charlie) Thomas
|
HUON PIC
|
|
29/05/1937
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
G W (George) Gaynor
|
F E (Frank) Kersley
|
ARAB CHIEF
|
|
26/06/1943
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
C J (Cliff) Clarke
|
C J (Cliff) Clarke
|
ROYAL SHEIK
|
|
31/05/1947
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
J (Jim) Hand
|
L J (Leo) Keys
|
LOYAL REY NZ
|
|
22/05/1948
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
L J (Leo) Keys
|
A E (Alex) McLean
|
INDIAN CLIPPER NZ
|
|
21/05/1949
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
L J (Leo) Keys
|
L J (Leo) Keys
|
BULLDOZER NZ
|
|
4/06/1949
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
G (George) McAlpine
|
B (Bernie) Cushing
|
CLASSIC STEP
|
|
20/05/1950
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
G E (George) Carey
|
A E (Alex) McLean
|
GAY TENNESSEE
|
|
16/06/1951
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
C O (Charlie) Sweetman
|
O R (Ray) Sweetman
|
DALLINGWOOD
|
|
7/06/1952
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
A J (Arthur) Hough
|
A J (Arthur) Hough
|
DOUBLE NOTE
|
|
25/05/1954
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
H C (Harry) Moran
|
M R (Max) Johnson
|
DAINTY PATSY
|
|
11/07/1959
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
L S (Les) Mourbey
|
I H (Ian) Garrow
|
LUCKY BEN
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|
16/07/1960
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
W F (Bill) Johnson
|
M R (Max) Johnson
|
CALENDAR
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|
17/06/1961
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
J M (Joe) Petricevich
|
F R (Fred) Kersley
|
BEAU CORSE
|
|
9/06/1962
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
H T (Harry) Schrader
|
J H (Jim) Schrader
|
FRICTIONS PRIDE
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|
22/06/1963
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
F (Fred) Hough
|
F (Fred) Hough
|
CORMINT
|
|
13/06/1964
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
M E (Mick) Taylor
|
M E (Mick) Taylor
|
NUFFIELD
|
|
3/07/1965
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
L J (Leo) Keys
|
L J (Leo) Keys
|
FESTIVE SPRING
|
|
18/06/1966
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
P C (Phil) Coulson
|
P C (Phil) Coulson
|
COLOR GLO
|
|
30/06/1967
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
E C (Ted) Abbott
|
L J (Leo) Keys
|
NOOKENBURRA
|
|
26/07/1968
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
F (Fred) Kersley Snr
|
F (Fred) Kersley Snr
|
MERCEDES
|
|
25/07/1969
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
W (Bill) Whitfield
|
W (Bill) Whitfield
|
EXPRESS ADIOS
|
|
3/07/1970
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
J M (Jack) Retzlaff
|
J M (Jack) Retzlaff
|
RADIANT ORO
|
|
23/07/1971
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
R W (Ron) Buswell
|
R W (Ron) Buswell
|
BURKES LAW
|
|
14/07/1972
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
G E (George) James
|
G E (George) James
|
NO DILL
|
|
29/06/1973
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
R B (Robert) Cushing
|
R B (Robert) Cushing
|
YOUNG ROBBIE
|
|
26/07/1974
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
L S (Lyle) Lindau
|
L S (Lyle) Lindau
|
SIGN AGAIN
|
|
25/07/1975
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
R W (Bob) Johnson
|
R W (Bob) Johnson
|
TAVIS
|
|
30/07/1976
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
V D (Val) Pereira
|
V D (Val) Pereira
|
FORWARD STEP
|
|
29/07/1977
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
W A (Wilf) Powell
|
P C (Phil) Coulson
|
PETER ANSTEY
|
|
28/07/1978
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
O R (Ray) Sweetman
|
P C (Phil) Coulson
|
PRINCE FANDANGO
|
|
27/07/1979
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
S K (Stan) Andrews
|
A S (Alan) Woodworth
|
HIGH MOORE
|
|
25/07/1980
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
A S (Alan) Woodworth
|
A S (Alan) Woodworth
|
TIMELY SCORE NZ
|
|
24/07/1981
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
W D (Bill) Duffy
|
W D (Bill) Duffy
|
LORD MASELLE
|
|
23/07/1982
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
D (Doug) Pelham
|
T B (Trevor) Warwick
|
SKIPTAR
|
|
22/07/1983
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
J F (John) Harney
|
G P (Geoff) Marriott
|
EURAMAN
|
|
20/07/1984
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
G D (Greg) Harper
|
G D (Greg) Harper
|
SINN FEIN
|
|
19/07/1985
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
B J (Barry) Perkins
|
B J (Barry) Perkins
|
PREUX CHEVALIER NZ
|
|
25/07/1986
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
W F (Bill) Prentice
|
C J (Chris) Beckett
|
MYSTERY CARGO NZ
|
|
25/07/1987
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
F R (Fred) Kersley
|
F R (Fred) Kersley
|
RITE
|
|
22/07/1988
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
L C (Lindsay) Froyland
|
G R (Gary) Lilleyman
|
MYSTERY CARGO NZ
|
|
28/07/1989
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
M G (Mike) Reed
|
J H (Jim) Schrader
|
MANAGEABLE
|
|
27/07/1990
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
T B (Trevor) Warwick
|
T B (Trevor) Warwick
|
ALL A DREAM
|
|
26/07/1991
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
W J H (Bill) Horn
|
A C (Chris) Lewis
|
VILLAGE KID NZ
|
|
24/07/1992
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
R A (Ray) Duffy
|
R A (Ray) Duffy
|
THE HARLEM BOY NZ
|
|
23/07/1993
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
A R (Alan) Tuthill
|
A R (Alan) Tuthill
|
LEG BEFORE
|
|
22/07/1994
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
G E (Gary) Hall Snr
|
G E (Gary) Hall Snr
|
KAYDEE
|
|
21/07/1995
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
M G (Mike) Reed
|
M G (Mike) Reed
|
YOUNG MAN KEN NZ
|
|
26/07/1996
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
J P (John) Green
|
K N (Kim) Prentice
|
GOLD BARON NZ
|
|
25/07/1997
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
F R (Fred) Kersley
|
G J (Greg) Kersley
|
MASTERCLASS
|
|
24/07/1998
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
G W (George) Ashcroft
|
L B (Lindsay) Harper
|
SHATTERING CLASS
|
|
23/07/1999
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
G W (George) Ashcroft
|
L B (Lindsay) Harper
|
SHATTERING CLASS
|
|
21/07/2000
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
M B (Mark) Reed
|
M G (Mike) Reed
|
ANOTHER PARTY NZ
|
|
20/07/2001
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
J D (Jason) Fry
|
A C (Chris) Lewis
|
POCKET POWER NZ
|
|
26/07/2002
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
K N (Kim) Prentice
|
K N (Kim) Prentice
|
BIG TOWN WALTON
|
|
25/07/2003
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
G E (Gary) Hall Snr
|
G E (Gary) Hall Jnr
|
THE FALCON STRIKE NZ
|
|
23/07/2004
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
C A (Carol) Warwick
|
R (Ryan) Warwick
|
FERNLEA
|
|
8/07/2005
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
P M (Patrick) Keating
|
G E (Gary) Hall Jnr
|
LOOKSLIKELIGHTNING
|
|
7/07/2006
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
G E (Gary) Hall Snr
|
C W (Clinton) Hall
|
IONTHEBALL
|
|
20/07/2007
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
P M (Patrick) Keating
|
M B (Mark) Reed
|
LOOKSLIKELIGHTNING
|
|
11/07/2008
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
G E (Gary) Hall Snr
|
G E (Gary) Hall Jnr
|
WASHAKIE NZ
|
|
10/07/2009
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
G E (Gary) Hall Snr
|
G E (Gary) Hall Jnr
|
IM THEMIGHTYQUINN NZ
|
|
9/07/2010
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
T (Tony) Svilicich
|
A C (Chris) Lewis
|
HAS THE ANSWERS
|
|
8/07/2011
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
T (Tony) Svilicich
|
M L (Morgan) Woodley
|
HAS THE ANSWERS
|
|
6/07/2012
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
G E (Gary) Hall Snr
|
G E (Gary) Hall Jnr
|
DAVY MAGUIRE NZ
|
|
5/07/2013
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
G E (Gary) Hall Snr
|
G E (Gary) Hall Jnr
|
IM THEMIGHTYQUINN NZ
|
|
4/07/2014
|
Winter Cup (Gr.3)
|
D A (David) Thompson
|
M L (Morgan) Woodley
|
DAVID HERCULES
|
