33 Nominations were received for the
$304,000 Warrnambool Race Club 2020 JERICHO CUP to be conducted on Sunday 29 November over
4,600m under High-weighted Handicap Conditions (
66.0kg minimum) at
Benchmark 90 grade.
Dynamic Syndications have qualified and hold the Top 2 Nominations with our horses (1) FRENZIED (72.0kgs) and (2) DAMBULLA (69.5kgs).
Both our horses are
“exempt from ballot” having been last start winners in
Guaranteed Start / Double Points qualifying events.
FRENZIED having won over 3400m at Canberra on 15/11 and
DAMBULLA having won at 3850m at Moonee Valley on 13/11.
The Warrnambool Racing Club hosts the
2020 $304,000 Haymes Paint Jericho Cup, a commemorative race day
honouring the heroic servicemen and their magnificent mounts, the Australian Walers, for their heroic deeds in the Middle East Conflicts of World War I.
Commenced in 2018 being the centenary year, this special race commemorated the 100-year anniversary of the Jericho Cup and is run as a 4,600m flat race across the Brierly Paddock.
On Sunday 29th November 2020 this will be the third running of the race.
The course follows the Grand Annual Steeplechase circuit through the paddocks (
minus the jumps).
The race is now run annually on the f
ourth Sunday after the Melbourne Cup, to honour the achievements of the Australian Light Horse in the Middle East.
The reincarnation of the Jericho Cup – first run on the desert sands of Palestine just outside the city of Jericho in 1918 – has proven a huge hit in its first two years as the racing industry gathers to remember and celebrate the light horsemens’ bravery and achievements.
The 2018 edition marked the centenary year of the original Jericho Cup, and was taken out by the Anthony Freedman-trained / Clayton Douglas-ridden
High Mode.
In 2019 the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained / John Allen-ridden
Ablaze took out the second edition. Ablaze went on to complete a prized Warrnambool double when claiming victory in the Grand Annual Steeplechase (5500m).
In 2020, Dynamic Syndications have nominated the Top Two (2) Horses in order of entry with both being last start winners in Guaranteed Start Qualifying Races:
1. FRENZIED – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott ($20,000 VOBIS GOLD eligible)
2. DAMBULLA – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
33 Nominations By (1) Point Score (2) Benchmark Rating (3) Prizemoney & Anticipated Weight
FORM HORSE SEX AGE TRAINER BM POINTS WEIGHT
JERICHO CUP & DYNAMIC SYNDICATIONS
The Jericho Cup's aim is to preserve the fighting spirit of the service men and their mounts, their sacrifices and bravery.
For
Dynamic Syndications, the story of the
Australian Light Horsemen of WWI and their Waler Horses including famed Waler BILL THE BASTARD and its connection to our
proud Australian heritage, make the story a passion we want to acknowledge and share.
It’s been well over 15 months in the planning for Team Dynamic to have a runner qualify for the 2020 race and we are excited and extremely humbled to have achieved our goals by qualifying both runners we targeted at the race for their respective co-ownership teams.
Naturally owned by different co-owners and trained from different stables, both sets of connections have embraced our passion to identify with the ANZAC Spirit and to be involved in the Commemoration of our Brave Australian Light Horsemen and their Walers, and to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in World War I.
It’s the legend of the
ANZAC Spirit we are embracing and, we can play a role in casting a spotlight on the victorious
Battle of Megiddo that has its conception and ultimate success in racing. We can do our part of spreading the story we believe more Australians need to hear.
No matter the result of the 2020 race, we are all winners today, due to the sacrifices of those brave men, women and horses. We are truly honoured to be sharing in this history by just being able to partake and becoming a part of the story of the JERICHO CUP of 2020 - first run 103 years ago.
JERICHO CUP - HOW IT WORKS / POINTS SYSTEM & QUALIFYING RACES
The main requirement is it’s a race for
Australasian Bred Stayers that race in Australia and New Zealand.
With a capacity field of
14 runners, it is conducted under
Benchmark 90 handicap conditions with
licensed jumps jockeys / highweight jockeys in the saddle and offers
$304,000 in prizemoney + a $20,000 VOBIS GOLD Bonus for those eligible horses.
The first three Australasian bred horses over the line in any flat race 3,000m or more in Australia and New Zealand at TAB fixtures, earned 3, 2 and 1 points toward the Jericho Cup 2020.
In addition, the first Australasian bred horse over the line in selected Guaranteed Start (GS) races gain automatically entry to the 2020 Jericho Cup, with the minor ‘’placegetters” earning double points, that is 4 (2nd) and 2 (3rd).
The final field for the Jericho Cup 2020 will be determined according to:
Total accrued points, after allowing for any exempt from ballot guaranteed starters. It is feasible that a horse could gain a start with no points (as long as it passes the breeding requirement).
Any horse with just one point will get in ahead of those without any.
Shuttle Stallions progeny qualify, but the horses must have been conceived and born in Australia or New Zealand.
8 GUARANTEED START Races and DOUBLE POINTS Races:
There are 8 races programmed to as Guaranteed Start (GS) (Exempt From Ballot) and Double Points races.
In 2020, from these 8 events the following occurred:
The winner of the 2019 Jericho Cup Consultation Race First Qualifier
did not nominate.
One race based at Wagga was
lost due to COVID-19.
The Winners of both the two NZ Qualifying Races
did not nominate.
GS Winners which did nominate were: FRENZIED, DAMBULLA, MATAS, CUBAN FIGHTER
The GUARANTEED STARTERS (GS) and DOUBLE POINTS Race Results were:
No. Horse
1. CALIFORNIAGRANDCRU ~ 5/12/19 ~ NOT RUNNING
2. RACE ABANDONED Covid-19 ~ 9/8 ~ Wagga Wagga NSW ~ 3800m BM74
3. MASTER FIN ~ 26/9 ~ New Plymouth NZ ~ 3210m Open ~ NOT RUNNING
4. CUBAN FIGHTER ~ 27/9 ~ Naracoorte ~ 3160m BM75
5. MATAS ~ 23/10 ~ Gawler Jockey Club ~ 3340m BM75
6. DRAGON STORM ~ 24/10 ~ Riccarton NZ ~ 3000m BM82 ~ NOT RUNNING
7. DAMBULLA ~ 13/11 ~ Moonee Valley VIC ~ 3800 BM78
8. FRENZIED ~ 15/11 ~ Thoroughbred Park ACT ~ 3400m BM85
3 EXEMPTIONS to the FLAT RACES ONLY Rule:
1. The Grand Annual Steeple 5,500m at Warrnambool (May).
2. The Great Eastern Steeple 4,950m at Oakbank (Easter).
3. New Zealand Grand National Hurdle 4,200m at Riccarton (August).
The POINTS SYSTEM in Review:
Commencing 17th November 2019, the first three Australasian Bred horses over the line in any flat race at 3,000m or further at any 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.
The order of ballot will be the number of Jericho Cup points earned throughout the year up until the close of date of 15th of November 2020.
Horses on the same points level will be then graded according to their benchmark rating.
Horses on same benchmark rating will be determined by prize money won.
Horses with nil points can still get a run in either race, provided there are not sufficient points earners accepting.
The FINAL DATE to EARN POINTS will be 14 DAYS before the running of the JERICHO CUP.
In 2020, this was SUNDAY 15TH NOVEMBER.
CLOSING TIME for NOMINATIONS for the 2020 JERICHO CUP was TUESDAY 17th NOVEMBER 2020.
FINAL ACCEPTANCES on 24th NOVEMBER 2020.
$60,000 CONSOLATION RACE
Further, should there be sufficient acceptances for the 2020 Jericho Cup, Racing Victoria have programmed an additional consolation race over 4,065m on the course proper for those who do not gain a run in the main event. The prize money is less, but the sweetener is that this race (should it be held) will be a first guaranteed start and double points race for the 2021 Jericho Cup.
The consolation race has been conducted in 2018 and 2019 and hopefully will do the same in 2020.
The Consolation had been worth $40,000 plus a $20,000 VOBIS GOLD bonus in its first two running’s.
In 2020 this has been boosted to $60,000 plus the bonus to encourage as many acceptors as possible.
All conditions for the consolation race will be identical to The Jericho Cup
RV Executive General Manager Racing, Greg Carpenter, said, “The Jericho Cup, now in its third year, continues to go from strength to strength thanks to the significant efforts of Mr Bill Gibbins who is committed to honouring the efforts of Australian and New Zealand’s light horse involvement in World War 1.
“I will be watching with interest which promising stayers are able to secure their spot via the upcoming guaranteed start races here in Australia and across the Tasman.
“We remain hopeful that crowds will be permitted to attend the Jericho Cup in some capacity, and we’ll be working closely with Bill and the Warrnambool Racing Club.”
BILL GIBBINS & WARRNAMBOOL RACE CLUB
The concept of the
JERICHO CUP being officially recognised under Australian Racing was created by
Mr Bill Gibbins in conjunction with the committee of the
Warrnambool Race Club.
When Bill heard the story of the legendary
BILL THE BASTARD and the
famed WWI victory at the Battle of Medgiddo, he thought of a way to combine doing his work and going to races.
To commemorate the end of
“the war to end all wars” and horses and men that didn’t come home, the Warrnambool Racing Club now stages the annual
“Jericho Cup”.
At 4600m, the $300,000 Cup is the longest flat race in Australasia (
the Melbourne Cup is a mere sprint in comparison at 3200m).
The event has become what Mr Gibbins and the club had planned, a permanent fixture, on the 4th Sunday after the Melbourne Cup every year.
Mr Gibbins said,
“The Jericho Cup is a race like no other. It’s about horsemanship, bravery, camaraderie, a real celebration of the history and foundation of our country. The Jericho Cup not only commemorates our wonderful light horsemen, it allows us to learn about the history of many of our current industry participants.
“The countdown is now on to our third Jericho Cup at Warrnambool on Sunday, 29 November and I can’t wait. I hope that owners and trainers across Australia and New Zealand have their horses ready and with the confirmation of the guaranteed start races they can now start plotting their path to the Cup."
The HISTORY of the Original JERICHO CUP
Harry Chauvel was a Lieutenant General in command of the Desert Mounted Corps, in Palestine, in 1917-18.
Lieutenant General Chauvel was the first Australian to be promoted to this rank and command an Army Corps.
Chauvel was described as a commander that understood the capabilities of his mounted troops; used them wisely, taking calculated risks and withdrawing when necessary; and kept losses to a minimum.
In September of 1918, Chauvel was able to achieve a military masterstroke. A secret deployment of three mounted divisions without detection and launched a surprise attack on the Turkish Army.
That deception proved a total success that won the
Battle of Megiddo.
The ruse to avoid suspicion, allowing Lieutenant General Chauvel to
amass 34,000 light horsemen hidden in the orange groves near the city of
Jaffa, was to hold a five-event race meeting at Jericho, in full view of the Turkish Army and civilian spies, and reports say the event was watched by over 10,000 local spectators.
The main event on the day was called the
Jericho Cup.
The race meeting at Jericho is described fully in the book by author Rowland Perry “BILL THE BASTARD” and can be located in Chapter 24 headed “The Ruse.”
BILL THE BASTARD was entered into that day’s main race, a three-mile event and was ridden by an Aboriginal horse handler (strapper) come jockey, named
Jackie Mullagh.
BILL THE BASTARD won the race by half a length, beating race favourite Khartoum.
Within twenty-four hours of the running of the Jericho Cup, Lieutenant General Chauvel’s corps had positioned themselves approximately thirty miles behind enemy lines of the disorganized Turkish armies, blocking the Turks communication lines and Australians had moved in and seized the few crossings available over the Jordan.
The Battle of Megiddo was one of the most completely successful operations conducted in the Suez / Palestine campaigns of WWI.
ABOUT BILL THE BASTARD
BILL THE BASTARD was probably Australia’s Greatest War Horse.
His name sounds unflattering, but as an absolute rogue, he was well named early before turning into an
Aussie hero.
He was one of the more than
136,000 Australian “Walers” that were sent to Word War I a century ago but sadly, couldn’t come home.
BILL THE BASTARD was with the Australian 2nd Light Horse Regiment.
The story goes that by the end of WWI
“BILL THE BASTARD” had survived the war and was given to a Turkish family on the Gallipoli Peninsula.
The stories of the Australian Waler are emotional for all horse lovers and these stories need to be re-told, generation upon generation, to remember their sacrifices.
The real worth of
BILL THE BASTARD was not how fast he was, but how tough he was.
Descriptions say he was "a big and rough chestnut gelding of uncertain breeding and poor temperament."
Like thousands of other Walers sold to the army by outback stations, he had probably run wild in his early life — and then proved too stubborn to break-in.
After being sent to the Middle East with shiploads of others,
BILL grew into his famed moniker of
BILL THE BASTARD as early on he proved an incurable buckjumper.
He was then mostly used as a packhorse until
Queenslander Major Michael Shanahan, managed to break him in and ride him.
Recounts of
BILL THE BASTARD’s contributions include the day he saved 4 Australian soldiers when he and Major Shanahan rescued them at the battle for Romani on August 4, 1916.
The story goes that Shanahan rode up and down the line under fire to rally the troops.
BILL THE BASTARD endured this several hours longer than all other officers’ horses.
According to the account: “Shanahan and Bill found four Tasmanian soldiers stranded next to their dead horses and under gun fire. Shanahan rode up and ordered them
“Get up on Bill, get up! One on each stirrup, two on BILL’s back, and we will get out of here.”
The rogue horse, considered unrideable only a few months earlier, carried the four soldiers plus Major Shanahan (a weight of maybe
380kg) to safety.
Unfortunately, Major Shanahan was shot later in the battle and lost his leg. The amputation had him sent to England, then home to Queensland, where he was awarded the
DSO bravery medal, and
his fame in a war story of a lifetime.
The legend of BILL THE BASTARD carrying five men became inspirational for our troops in the Middle East during WWI.