Victoria’s second-biggest pacing race of the season, the $250,000 Victoria Cup, takes centre stage at Melton Entertainment Park on Saturday, October 17, with another stellar field set to contest the 2240-metre feature.
Since its inception in 1974, the Victoria Cup has attracted many of the sport’s greatest pacers. Champions of the golden age, including Popular Alm, Paleface Adios, Koala King, Sinbad Bay, Franco Ice, Major Musician, Chokin, Desperate Comment, Sokyola and Smoken Up, have all contested the race.
The honour roll also features Inter Dominion champions Preux Chevalier, Jofess, Golden Reign, Blakes A Fake, Shakamaker, Lazarus, Lennytheshark and Tiger Tara, to name just a few.
One of the race’s most memorable victories came in 1990 when Queenslander Sovereign Cloud, driven by Brad Connelly, pulled off a massive betting plunge to defeat Thorate and Reba Lord in a mile rate of 1:58.9.
Often likened to harness racing’s Cox Plate during its time at Moonee Valley, owing to its middle-distance format, the Victoria Cup has cemented its place in Victorian harness racing history, despite undergoing a name change in 1990.
Let’s reflect on one of the great editions of the race, the 1998 Group 1 Victoria Cup, which attracted an outstanding field.
| Barrier | Horse | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salinger | Fred Kersley |
| 2 | Rainbow Knight | Gavin Lang |
| 3 | Our Sir Vancelot | Brian Hancock |
| 4 | Anvils Star | Anthony Butt |
| 5 | Quantum Lobell | Mark Tracey |
| 6 | Late Bid | Dennis Wilson |
| 7 | Sovereign Hill | Darren Hancock |
| 8 | Brabham | Tony Herlihy |
Second line
| Barrier | Horse | Driver |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Happy Asset | David Butt |
| 10 | Allwoods Chief | Justin Warwick |
| 11 | Sam Malone | Jim O’Sullivan |
| 12 | Harley Hanover | Emergency |
| 13 | Captain Rufus | Ted Demmler |
As the starter released the field on a rain-soaked track, brilliant beginner Salinger had little difficulty holding the lead, with Rainbow Knight settling outside him. Happy Asset immediately latched on to the back of the pacemaker, followed by Allwoods Chief, Quantum Lobell, Captain Rufus and Sovereign Hill.
Our Sir Vancelot was driven hard three wide and eventually joined the leader, allowing Rainbow Knight to ease. Anvils Star moved around the pair and briefly raced without cover before surrendering that position to Late Bid at the post with two laps remaining, having travelled four wide since the outset.
Sam Malone was then sent forward three wide from near the rear of the field to join Salinger, giving Late Bid some respite as runners in the moving line were shuffled back through the field.
As torrential rain began to fall approaching the bell, Our Sir Vancelot was urged forward to join Salinger, while Late Bid raced three wide and Sovereign Hill moved four wide in the back straight.
Sprinting brilliantly out wide, Our Sir Vancelot joined the leader on the home turn and dashed clear, opening up a gap on his rivals. Brabham, who had been driven quietly throughout, also joined the contest, sweeping into contention despite racing four and five wide around the final bend.
In a thrilling finish, Brabham and Tony Herlihy, Mark’s brother-in-law, got the better of Our Sir Vancelot in the final stride to score by a half-head in a finish that left the big crowd guessing.
Rainbow Knight finished strongly out wide to claim third, 3.75 metres away, while Captain Rufus was just a nose further back in fourth.
Quantum Lobell, Allwoods Chief and Late Bid, who turned in an exceptional effort, filled fifth, sixth and seventh respectively, with only two metres separating the trio.
Happy Asset was arguably the unlucky runner of the race, never finding daylight and appearing to be bolting before finishing at the tail of the field.
Brabham recorded a mile rate of 2:02.4, with sectional quarters of 32.2, 33, 28.2 and 29.4 seconds.
Brabham was no stranger to the Victorian racing scene, having won the Bendigo Cup on January 26 during his Australian debut. He subsequently contested the 1997 Adelaide Inter Dominion series, where he failed to qualify for the final but went on to win the consolation.
