The Royal Hunt Cup is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged three years or older. It is run at Ascot over a distance of 1 mile (1,609 metres), and it is scheduled to take place each year in June.
Handicap race | |
Location | Ascot Racecourse Ascot, England |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1843 |
Race type | Flat / Thoroughbred |
Website | Ascot |
Race information | |
Distance | 1 mile (1,609 metres) |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Straight |
Qualification | Three-years-old and up |
Weight | Handicap |
Purse | £120,000 (2021) 1st: £64,800 |
2024 | ||
Wild Tiger | Sonny Liston | Perotto |
Previous years | ||
---|---|---|
2023 | ||
Jimi Hendrix | Sonny Liston | Awaal |
2022 | ||
Dark Shift | Intellogent | Tempus |
2021 | ||
Real World | Astro King | Grove Ferry |
History
editThe event was established in 1843, and it was originally contested on a right-handed course over 7 furlongs and 166 yards. The inaugural running was won by Knight of the Whistle, with a triple dead-heat for second between Bourra Tomacha, Epaulette and Garry Owen.
The race's distance was shortened to 7 furlongs and 155 yards in 1930, and it was extended to its present length in 1956. It is now run on a straight course, and it usually features a large field.
The Royal Hunt Cup is currently held on the second day of the five-day Royal Ascot meeting. It is one of three perpetual trophies at the meeting, along with the Gold Cup and the Queen's Vase, which can be kept permanently by the winning owners.
Records
editMost successful horse (2 wins):
- Master Vote – 1947, 1948
Leading jockey (4 wins):
- Charles Wood – Thuringian Prince (1875), The Mandarin (1879), Elzevir (1883), Gay Hermit (1887)
- Lester Piggott – Spaniard's Close (1963), Casabianca (1965), Kamundu (1969), Jumping Hill (1976)
Leading trainer (5 wins):
- James Jewitt – Sweetbread (1882), Elzevir (1883), Shillelagh (1888), Suspender (1892), Knight of the Thistle (1897)
Winners since 1980
edit- Weights given in stones and pounds.
Year | Winner | Age | Weight | Jockey | Trainer | SP | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1980 | Tender Heart | 4 | 9-00 | Joe Mercer | John Sutcliffe, Jr. | 13/2 | |
1981 | Teamwork | 4 | 8-06 | Greville Starkey | Guy Harwood | 8/1 | |
1982 | Buzzards Bay | 4 | 8-12 | Joe Mercer | Hugh Collingridge | 14/1 | |
1983 | Mighty Fly | 4 | 9-03 | Steve Cauthen | David Elsworth | 12/1 | |
1984 | Hawkley | 4 | 8-06 | Tyrone Williams | Patrick Haslam | 10/1 | 1:40.38 |
1985 | Come On The Blues | 6 | 8-02 | Chris Rutter | Clive Brittain | 14/1 | |
1986 | Patriach | 4 | 7-12 | Richard Quinn | John Dunlop | 20/1 | 1:39.55 |
1987 | Vague Shot | 4 | 9-05 | Steve Cauthen | Richard F. Casey | 10/1 | 1:46.53 |
1988 | Governorship | 4 | 9-06 | John Reid | Charlie Nelson | 33/1 | 1:40.96 |
1989 | True Panache | 4 | 9-04 | Pat Eddery | Jeremy Tree | 5/1 F | 1:40.92 |
1990 | Pontenuovo | 5 | 7-07 | Gary Bardwell | David Elsworth | 50/1 | 1:40.18 |
1991 | Eurolink the Lad | 4 | 8-09 | John Reid | John Dunlop | 25/1 | 1:42.75 |
1992 | Colour Sergeant | 4 | 7-08 | David Harrison | Lord Huntingdon | 20/1 | 1:38.07 |
1993 | Imperial Ballet | 4 | 8-12 | Pat Eddery | Henry Cecil | 20/1 | 1:47.40 |
1994 | Face North | 6 | 8-03 | Alan Munro | Reg Akehurst | 25/1 | 1:41.46 |
1995 | Realities | 5 | 9-00 | Michael Kinane | Guy Harwood | 11/1 | 1:40.08 |
1996 | Yeast | 4 | 8-06 | Kieren Fallon | William Haggas | 8/1 F | 1:39.39 |
1997 | Red Robbo | 4 | 8-06 | Olivier Peslier | Reg Akehurst | 16/1 | 1:40.30 |
1998 | Refuse to Lose | 4 | 7-11 | Jason Tate | James Eustace | 20/1 | 1:43.21 |
1999 | Showboat | 5 | 8-06 | Neil Pollard | Barry Hills | 14/1 | 1:38.59 |
2000 | Caribbean Monarch | 5 | 8-10 | Kieren Fallon | Sir Michael Stoute | 11/2 | 1:41.91 |
2001 | Surprise Encounter | 5 | 8-09 | Frankie Dettori | Ed Dunlop | 8/1 | 1:40.27 |
2002 | Norton | 5 | 8-09 | Jimmy Fortune | Terry Mills | 25/1 | 1:40.31 |
2003 | Macadamia | 4 | 8-13 | Dane O'Neill | James Fanshawe | 8/1 | 1:39.87 |
2004 | Mine | 6 | 9-05 | Richard Quinn | James Bethell | 16/1 | 1:40.85 |
2005 | New Seeker [a] | 5 | 9-00 | Philip Robinson | Clive Cox | 11/1 | 1:37.54 |
2006 | Cesare | 5 | 8-08 | Jamie Spencer | James Fanshawe | 14/1 | 1:40.62 |
2007 | Royal Oath | 4 | 9-00 | Jimmy Fortune | John Gosden | 9/1 | 1:39.78 |
2008 | Mr Aviator | 4 | 9-05 | Richard Hughes | Richard Hannon Sr. | 25/1 | 1:39.63 |
2009 | Forgotten Voice | 4 | 9-01 | Johnny Murtagh | Jeremy Noseda | 4/1 F | 1:40.41 |
2010 | Invisible Man | 4 | 8-09 | Frankie Dettori | Saeed bin Suroor | 28/1 | 1:37.16 |
2011 | Julienas | 4 | 8-08 | Eddie Ahern | Walter Swinburn | 12/1 | 1:38.53 |
2012 | Prince of Johanne | 6 | 9-03 | John Fahy | Tom Tate | 16/1 | 1:38.24 |
2013 | Belgian Bill | 5 | 8-11 | James Doyle | George Baker | 33/1 | 1:38.68 |
2014 | Field Of Dream | 7 | 9-01 | Adam Kirby | Jamie Osborne | 20/1 | 1:37.88 |
2015 | GM Hopkins | 4 | 9-03 | Ryan Moore | John Gosden | 8/1 | 1:40.30 |
2016 | Portage | 4 | 9-05 | James Doyle | Michael Halford | 10/1 | 1:43.01 |
2017 | Zhui Feng | 4 | 9-00 | Martin Dwyer | Amanda Perrett | 25/1 | 1:37.82 |
2018 | Settle For Bay | 4 | 9-01 | Billy Lee | David Marnane | 16/1 | 1:39.42 |
2019 | Afaak | 5 | 9-03 | Jim Crowley | Charles Hills | 20/1 | 1:42.36 |
2020 | Dark Vision | 4 | 9-01 | William Buick | Mark Johnston | 15/2 | 1:38.32 |
2021 | Real World | 4 | 8-06 | Marco Ghiani | Saeed bin Suroor | 18/1 | 1:38.04 |
2022 | Dark Shift | 4 | 9-01 | James McDonald | Charles Hills | 13/2 | 1:39.13 |
2023 | Jimi Hendrix | 4 | 9-05 | Rossa Ryan | Ralph Beckett | 22/1 | 1:39.48 |
2024 | Wild Tiger | 5 | 9-00 | Oisin Murphy | Saeed bin Suroor | 11/2 JF | 1:38.20 |
Earlier winners
edit- 1843: Knight of the Whistle
- 1844: The Bishop of Romford's Cob
- 1845: Evenus
- 1846: Leaconfield
- 1847: Tragical
- 1848: Conyngham
- 1849: Collingwood
- 1850: Hagley
- 1851: Sir Charles
- 1852: Ephesus
- 1853: The Friar
- 1854: Brocket
- 1855: Chalice
- 1856: Forbidden Fruit
- 1857: Rosa Bonheur
- 1858: Hesperithusa
- 1859: King at Arms
- 1860: Crater
- 1861: Buccaneer
- 1862: Canary
- 1863: Victor
- 1864: Gem of the Sea
- 1865: Gratitude
- 1866: Attache
- 1867: Jasper
- 1868: Satyr
- 1869: See Saw
- 1870: Judge
- 1871: Valuer
- 1872: Ripponden
- 1873: Winslow
- 1874: Lowlander
- 1875: Thuringian Prince
- 1876: Hopbloom
- 1877: Cradle
- 1878: Julius Caesar
- 1879: The Mandarin
- 1880: Strathern
- 1881: Peter
- 1882: Sweetbread
- 1883: Elzevir
- 1884: Acrostic
- 1885: Eastern Emperor
- 1886: Despair
- 1887: Gay Hermit
- 1888: Shillelagh
- 1889: Whitelegs
- 1890: Morion
- 1891: Laureate
- 1892: Suspender
- 1893: Amandier
- 1894: Victor Wild
- 1895: Clorane
- 1896: Quarrel
- 1897: Knight of the Thistle
- 1898: Jaquemart
- 1899: Refractor
- 1900: Royal Flush
- 1901: Stealaway
- 1902: Solicitor
- 1903: Kunstler
- 1904: Csardas
- 1905: Andover
- 1906: Dinneford
- 1907: Lally
- 1908: Billy the Verger
- 1909: Dark Ronald
- 1910: Bachelor's Double
- 1911: Moscato
- 1912: Eton Boy
- 1913: Long Set
- 1914: Lie-a-bed
- 1915–18: no race
- 1919: Irish Elegance
- 1920: Square Measure
- 1921: Illuminator
- 1922: Varzy
- 1923: Weathervane
- 1924: Dinkie
- 1925: Cockpit
- 1926: Cross Bow
- 1927: Asterus
- 1928: Priory Park
- 1929: Songe
- 1930: The MacNab
- 1931: Grand Salute
- 1932: Totaig
- 1933: Colorado Kid
- 1934: Caymanas
- 1935: Priok
- 1936: Guinea Gap
- 1937: Fairplay
- 1938: Couvert
- 1939: Caerloptic
- 1940: no race
- 1941: Time Step *
- 1942–44: no race
- 1945: Battle Hymn
- 1946: Friar's Fancy
- 1947: Master Vote
- 1948: Master Vote
- 1949: Sterope
- 1950: Hyperbole
- 1951: Val d'Assa
- 1952: Queen of Sheba
- 1953: Choir Boy
- 1954: Chivalry
- 1955: Nicholas Nickleby
- 1956: Alexander
- 1957: Retrial
- 1958: Amos
- 1959: Faultless Speech
- 1960: Small Slam
- 1961: King's Troop
- 1962: Smartie
- 1963: Spaniard's Close
- 1964: Zaleucus
- 1965: Casabianca
- 1966: Continuation
- 1967: Regal Light
- 1968: Golden Mean
- 1969: Kamundu
- 1970: Calpurnius
- 1971: Picture Boy
- 1972: Tempest Boy
- 1973: Camouflage
- 1974: Old Lucky
- 1975: Ardoon
- 1976: Jumping Hill
- 1977: My Hussar
- 1978: Fear Naught
- 1979: Pipedreamer
* The race was run at Newbury in 1941.
See also
editReferences
edit- Paris-Turf:
- Racing Post:
- galopp-sieger.de – Royal Hunt Cup.
- pedigreequery.com – Royal Hunt Cup – Ascot.
- Abelson, Edward; John Tyrrel (1993). The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records. Breedon Books. pp. 81–83. ISBN 1-873626-15-0.