Monday night’s Hume Cup is one of only two metropolitan Group 1 middle-distance races held in Australia, and it traditionally draws a huge crowd with the public holiday the next day.

When: Monday, 8.54pm
Track: The Meadows
Distance: 600 metres

Prize money: $108,000 total; $75,000 (1st); $22,000 (2nd); $11,000 (3rd)

Here’s a snapshot of the contenders:

1 TRUE DETECTIVE
Breeding: August 2017 Black Magic Opal x Little Grey
Sex: Male
Breeder: Jill Harper, Wyee NSW
Owner: Kramerica Syndicate (George Farrugia), Eseendon VIC
Trainer: Jeffrey Britton, Anakie VIC
Record: 17 starts: 11-0-1
Prize money: $48,695
Record from Box 1: 3 starts: 3-0-0

Hume Cup Heat: Had Chief Fernando in his sights for most of the trip, before motoring home over the concluding stages.

Comment: Four starts over 600m at The Meadows for a 100% record. And undefeated in three starts from box one. Set the time standard in the heats (34.20sec) – only a ‘whisker’ outside his 34.19sec PB, also from the ‘red’ alley.

2 LEKTRA SPRING
Breeding: November 2016 Spring Gun x Lektra Scarlett
Sex: Male
Breeder/Owner: Phillip Lenehan, Toolong VIC
Trainer: Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC
Record: 35 starts: 9-9-3
Prize money: $86,900
Record from Box 2: 3 starts: 0-2-0

Hume Cup Heat: Appeared poised for victory with around 250 metres to travel, but wasn’t expecting the withering finishing burst of Zipping Potter. His overall time was 34.63sec.

Comment: A model of consistency with one win and six seconds from eight starts over 600m at The Meadows. One of three finalists for the Andrea Dailly kennel.

3 GWYDION
Breeding: February 2017 Fernando Bale x Rhonda Rocks
Sex: Female
Breeder: Zbigniew Wudarczyk, Alberton SA
Owner: Corby Wudarczyk Syndicate (Kirin Corby), Hindmarsh Valley SA
Trainer: Steven White, Buln Buln East VIC
Record: 18 starts: 9-6-1
Prize money: $38,700
Record from Box 3: 0 starts: 0-0-0

Hume Cup Heat: Kept angling for an inside run, and once she found the rails that was the end of the penny section.

Comment: Has notched three wins and two seconds from five starts over 600m at The Meadows. The second fastest qualifier (34.31sec) – just under two lengths off True Detective.

4 BLUE STRIKER
Breeding: November 2016 Blue Giant x Blue Lavros
Sex: Male
Breeder/Owner/Trainer: Peter Akathiotis, Reservoir VIC
Record: 53 starts: 15-13-7
Prize money: $152,980
Record from Box 4: 5 starts: 4-0-0

Hume Cup Heat: Catapulted out of the traps and quickly set up a handy break, and was never in danger of defeat.

Comment: Multiple Group race finalist, but somewhat a ‘forgotten hero’. Yet to finish out of the money over 600m at The Meadows, with three wins and two thirds from five starts. Has an 80% winning strike rate from box four.

5 CHIEF FERNANDO
Breeding: January 2017 Fernando Bale x Apache Kitten
Sex: Male
Breeder: John Clancy, Murwillumbah NSW
Owner: Cecil Wallace Syndicate (Desmond Cecil), Uki NSW
Trainer: Steven White, Buln Buln East VIC
Record: 26 starts: 9-6-1
Prize money: $37,475
Record from Box 5: 2 starts 2-0-0

Hume Cup Heat: Came out flying and established a good lead, and was only collared by True Detective around halfway down the home straight. His overall time was 34.37sec.

Comment: Likely to adopt catch-me-if-you-can tactics once again. He’d prove hard to run down with a sizeable break.

6 BOOM DOWN   
Breeding: May 2016 Magic Sprite x Lochinvar Vogue
Sex: Male
Breeder: Kevin Gordon, Mount Hutton NSW
Owner: Selling Dreams Syndicate (Natalie Crook), Halls Head WA
Trainer: Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC
Record: 50 starts: 18-8-11
Prize money: $221,325
Record from Box 6: 6 starts 3-0-1

Hume Cup Heat: Was slow to begin, but showed track nous by sticking like glue to the rails. Absolutely flew home after being in a hopeless position early. His overall time was 34.57sec.

Comment: Recent G3 Sydney Cup winner, with a trademark paralysing finish. Will make things interesting if he can position a little closer early to the leading brigade.

7 KESSLER BALE
Breeding: February 2017 Dyna Villa x Kenju Bale
Sex: Male
Breeder: Paul Wheeler, Boorowa NSW
Owner: Janice Wheeler, Boorowa NSW
Trainer: Andrea Dailly, Anakie VIC
Record: 27 starts; 9-3-1
Prize money: $32,235
Record from Box 7: 6 starts: 2-1-1

Hume Cup Heat: Only moderately away, and tracked wide early, but soon gained momentum to hit the front at the winning post the first time around. From thereon, he quickly put paid to his rivals.

Comment: Ideally suited out wide and chasing his fourth successive win.

8 ZIPPING POTTER
Breeding: September 2015 Mogambo x Crafty Lady
Sex: Male
Breeder/Owner: Hallinan Hallinan Syndicate (Martin Hallinan), Clergate NSW
Trainer: Jason Magri, Kemps Creek NSW
Record: 38 starts: 18-6-3
Prize money: $72,090
Record from Box 8: 5 starts: 1-2-0

Hume Cup Heat: Had to contend with a couple of bumping duels early, but unleashed a powerful burst down the back straight before literally coming home like a steam train.

Comment: Has hit a purple patch with five wins from his past six starts. Watch for him late.

RESERVES

9 PERFECT MARSHALL
Breeding: November 2016 Kinloch Brae x Perfect Tess
Sex: Male
Breeder: Desmond Dooley, Maffra VIC
Owner: Mark Dooley, Wallan VIC
Trainer: Janet Cottrell, Pearcedale VIC
Record: 25 starts: 10-2-5
Prize money: $41,305

Hume Cup Heat: Quickly assumed the role of ‘pilot’, but eventually proved no match for Gwydion. His overall time was 34.69sec.

Comment: There were no excuses for him in his heat. He had every possible chance.

Comment: This would be a monumental task if she were to obtain a start.

10 ASH STAR
Breeding: June 2016 Bella Infrared x Vixon Lass
Sex: Female
Breeder: Joanne Price, Canungra QLD
Owner: Denver Melder, Darley VIC
Trainer: Marcus Lloyd, Anakie VIC
Record: 60 starts: 15-9-6
Prize money: $54,335

Hume Cup Heat: Got away cleanly, but just couldn’t match strides with Kessler Bale once he moved alongside her after 100 metres or so. Her overall time was 34.81sec.

RECENT HUME CUP WINNERS

2012 Jethro (Kelvyn Greenough, Pearcedale VIC)
2013 Alpe D’Huez (Kelly Bravo, Lovely Banks VIC)
2014 My Bro Fabio (Brooke Ennis, Lara VIC)
2015 Secret Spell (Kelly Bravo, Lovely Banks VIC)
2016 Fanta Bale (Robert Britton, Lara VIC)
2017 Rockoon (Keith Hellmuth, Pearcedale VIC)
2018 Black Impala (Glenn Dainton, Cosgrove VIC)

HUME CUP HISTORY

• Initially called the Lord Mayor’s Cup, the Hume Cup was first run over 675 yards at North Melbourne in 1960.
• It was retained on the MGRA’s race calendar when the club relocated to Olympic Park in the late 1950s. In 1964, it became known as the Lord Mayor’s Trophy and remained a sprint event until 1988.
• For a short period it was staged as a distance event, but was discontinued after the 1994 running.
• Due to the Hume City Council’s support of the MGRA, it was resurrected in 2000 and called the Hume Cup.
• In 2010, the Hume Cup was conducted over 600 metres for the first time.
• The Hume Cup was elevated to Group 1 status in 2012.

WATCH: Black Impala (7) takes out the 2018 Hume Cup ahead of Neo Cleo (4).