Parramatta Cup
The Parramatta Cup is Listed Race for three-year-olds and upwards run at Rosehill Gardens racecourse by the Australian Turf Club.
The Parramatta Cup was first run in 1961 when it was introduced as a 10 furlong race by the Sydney Turf Club. The inaugural winner was Valerius, an outstanding stayer of the era trained by Frank Dalton.
Other top class thoroughbreds to win the Parramatta Cup in its early years included the 1961 Melbourne Cup winner Lord Fury (1964), Doncaster Handicap winner Persian Puzzle (1966) and dual AJC Metropolitan winner Duo (1968).
Champion trainer TJ Smith won the Parramatta Cup eight times and his daughter Gai Waterhouse has trained six winners.
The Parramatta Cup was run over 10 furlongs from 1961-1964. The race was increased to 12 furlongs from 1965 until 1970 when it reverted to 10 furlongs for just two years before returning to 12 furlongs in 1972.
There was no Parramatta Cup run in 1973 and when it resumed in 1974 after the introduction of metrics it was run over 2400m, remaining at that distance until 1981 with the exception of 1977 when it reverted to 2000m.
The Parramatta Cup was run over 2000m from 1982 until 2014 when it was reduced to 1900m.
The 2017 Parramatta Cup will be run over 1900m at Rosehill Gardens on February 18 for $125,000 prizemoney. The handicap conditions stipulate a maximum topweight of 61kg and a minimum weight of 53kg.
The Parramatta Cup is established as an early autumn lead-up race for stayers preparing for the Sydney Cup (3200m).
The 2014 Parramatta Cup winner Opinion, trained by Chris Waller, finished second in the 2014 Sydney Cup. Waller also trained the 2007 Parramatta Cup winner Silky Red Boxer.
TJ Smith’s Parramatta Cup winners – Alpensea (1963), Man About Town (1967), Court Prince (1969), Sir Francis (1972), King’s Ideal (1981), Powerful Prince (1982), Our Shout (1984), Rajamah (1988).
Gai Waterhouse’s Parramatta Cup winners – Balmaressa (1995); Jazzac (1999); Primrose Sands (2001); Laguna Lake (2003); Restless (2004); Greatwood (2015).