The ''Duke Of York Cup'' is the fourth and final Classic race on the Mauritius Horse Racing calendar. It was originally contested over the mile in 1927, when the Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess Of York Cup visited the island. A special day was organized on Thursday 2nd June that year, with five races on the card.

 

The very first edition of the Gold Cup, as the race is popularly known, had many twists and turns. Gander, who was the favourite, fell five furlongs from the finishing post, much to the dismay of the huge crowd that had flocked to the Champ de Mars. The pacemaker, Harry Of Monmouth led from start-to-finish, and did enough to fend off the fast-finishing Chica. His jockey, Allan Lewis, was in the spotlight on that day, winning in each of the three races he rode on the card.

 

The phenomenal Tommy Boy, who arrived from England at the age of two in 1934, wrote another chapter of this Classic race by winning the first of his five wins in 1936. His owners would bring him back to the winner's enclosure in 1937, 1938, 1941 and 1944. It is worth noting that two of his wins came despite the fact he was handicapped at 68 kg. In those days, the race was run at handicap conditions.

 

The conditions of the race were modified in 1955 in order to make it a genuine Classic. Contested at weight-for-age, the race was won for the second time in-a-row by Little Abner, brilliantly ridden by Australian jockey Charlie Malavich in a five-horse race.

 

Under weight-for-age conditions, the mighty South African steed Prodigal proved to be the best miler on the island three years in-a-row. This exploit in 1960, 1961 and 1962 would not be matched for almost a quarter of a century, by which the offspring of the legendary Irish stallion Noble Chieftain took Mauritian turf by storm. His sons Azul and Noble Salute went on to match Prodigal's exploits - Azul in 1977, 1978 and 1979, and Noble Salute in 1983, 1984 and 1985.

 

It is easy to understand how the Gold Cup became the Milers' Championship. Since the introduction of the metric system in 1981, the 1600 metres track record has been broken on three occasions. In 1991, St Johns Wood set a time of 1m37.4s, nibbling three tenths of a second off the time set by the legendary Wild Amber on August 27th 1988. However in 2004, the legendary Hinterland, set the bar high by setting a time of 1m35.76s, which would stand until Disa Leader's exploits in this very race in 2010, when he clocked 1m34,46s.

 

It is not only horses that have made history in this race. Jockeys have also made their contributions. Mauritian jockey Rye Joorawon has won this race five times - 2007, 2008, 2012, 2015 and 2016. Before him, South Africa's Pieter de Villiers Graff achieved a hat-trick in 1942, 1943 and 1944, before scoring his fourth win in 1947. Charlie Malavich, Jimmy Langdon, Len Hill and Karl Neisius are the other four jockeys to have achieved a treble in this race. 

 

Année	Cheval	Propriétaire(s)	Poids	Jockey	Distance	Temps
2020	BLACK CAT BACK	MM. & Mmes Ramapatee, Tikanand, Dr. & Mme Hemant K. Gujadhur	58kg	G. D. Aucharuz	1600m	1m36.54
2019	WHITE RIVER	MM. Chandra Kumar Gujadhur & France Law	58kg	M.Nunes	1600m	1m35.18
2018	HARD DAY'S NIGHT	MM Chandra K., Ramesh, Bud, Dayanidhi, Moorli, Kamlakar & Anand Gujadhur	58kg	M.Nunes	1600m	1m37.24
2017	READY TO ATTACK	MM & Mmes Ramapatee, Tikanand, Dr. & Mme Hemant K. Gujadhur	58kg	I.Chisty	1600m	1.36.30
2016	PARACHUTE MAN	MM Didier V Descroizilles, M.Henri Maingard, M.&Mme Deepak Bundhoo & M. Didier Peten	58kg	R.Joorawon	1600m	1.35.71
2015	ONE COOL DUDE	M. G. Coombes, Mme M. Marie Goupille, MM. M.H Maingard, D. Peten & E. Carosin	58kg	R.Joorawon	1600m	1.36.61
2014	LOVE STRUCK	M. & Mme Paul & M. Bryan Foo Kune, M. & Mme Avishan Askurn	58kg	S. Brown	1600m	1.35.96
2013	TALES OF BRAVERY	Mmes Elisa Lagesse, M.Marie Goupille, Brigitta Dehring Maingard & M. M. Lagesse	58kg	A. Fortune	1600m	1.36.42
2012	TANDRAGEE	MM. Ramapatee, Vijay Kumar & Tikanand Gujadhur	57.5kg	R. Joorawon	1600m	1.35.00
2011	GREEN KEEPER	M. J.M. Caboche Adam, Mmes B. Sussens, L. Jean Hardy, MM. D. Peten & G. Hart de K.	57.5kg	J. Geroudis	1600m	1.36.08
2010	DISA LEADER	Dr. N.Dyall & MM. G.Rousset, D.Peten, J.C.Courtieux & A.D.de Spéville	58kg	J. Geroudis	1600m	1.34.46
2009	CAPTAIN'S KNOCK	Mme A.Howlakhan & MM.A.D.de Spéville,G.Rousset, D.Naik & Dr.G.Stasica	58kg	R.S.Dye	1600m	1.36.42
2008	RITZ CUB	MM. R.Chan, D.V.Descroizilles, I.Chuttoo, B.Holiday & V.Bhoojedhun	58kg	R.Joorawon	1600m	1.36.32
2007	LONDON DEL	M. & Mme Shekhar Ramdin & MM. R.Chan,L.Guness & V....	58kg	R.Joorawon	1600m	1.37.97
2006	Chief Warrior	M. & Mme Gunness Gujadhur	58kg	M. Neisius	1600m	1.37.50
2005	Rhythmically	M. & Mme Mukesh Balgobin & Mlle Sandrine Henry	58kg	K. Shea	1600m	1.38.10
2004	Hinterland	M. & Mrs Gunness Gojadhur	58kg	J. Taylor	1600m	1.37.31
2003	Rhythmically	Mrss Philippe Henry & Mukesh Balgobin	57kg	J. Lloyd	1600m	1.37.21
2002	Johnny B Goode	MM. A Rassool, D. H Hang, K Kistnen & Mrs j. H Mai...	58kg	J. Jago	1600m	1.36.70(R)
2001	Tub Thumper	MM &MrssP Henry&D V Descroizilles	57kg	G.Hatt	1600m	1.37 5/10
2000	Seraphos	M. Alain Perdrau	58kg	K. Wright	1600m	1.39 1/10
1999	Trump	M & Mrs Gavin Glover	58kg	J. Powell	1600m	1.37 7/10
1998	Hard Ball	M. & Mrs Philip Koon	58kg	G. Van Zyl	1600m	1.38 7/10
1997	Studded Chalice	M. Moosa, B. & A Gujadhur	58kg	T. Jackman	1600m	1.39 1/10
1996	Villiers	M. & Mrs B Jeetoo	58kg	S. Randolph	1600m	1.38 6/10
1995	Botanique	Mrss F. de C. du Mée, P. Fanchette & A.Pedrau	58kg	S. Mahadia	1600m	1.37 7/10
1994	Bold Statement	Gunness Gujadhur	58kg	P. Nagadoo	1600m	1.37 5/10
1993	Brief Affaire	M & Mrs A K Ip Kwok Sheung	58kg	S. Sharman	1600m	1.37 7/10
1992	Shadari	Mrs Gilbert Merven	58kg	G. Schofield	1600m	1.38 5/10
1991	St.Johns Wood	Mrs Jean Michel Giraud	58kg	K. Neisius	1600m	1.37 4/10
1990	Sea Warrior	Mrs J P. Li Sung Sang	58kg	K. Shea	1600m	1.40 3/10
1989	Sea Warrior	Mrs ]. P. Li Sung Sang	58kg	K. Neisius	1600m	1.39 6/10
1988	Wild Amber	Mrs Michaël Li Sung Sang	58kg	K. Neisius	1600m	1.38 3/10
1987	Expertise	Mrs Robert Maingard	58kg	G. Waterston	1600m	1.38 1/10(
1986	Dambuster	Mrs Patrice Lagesse	55kg	A. Doyal	1600m	1.39 5/10
1985	Noble Salute	L. Edgard Adolphe, a.B.E	58kg	D. Lombard	1600m	1.38 2/10(
1984	Noble Salute	Raj Rudhun	58kg	M. Grigsby	1600m	1.39 4/10
1983	Noble Salute	Robert Konfortion	58kg	D. Grant	1600m	1.42
1982	Monsieur Blanc	Mrs. Ram Ruhee	58kg	A. Smith	1600m	1.39 8/10
1981	Laldheer	Mrs Roger Koenig	58KG	L. Hill	1600m	1.38 7/10(
1980	Holdall	Benoît Espitalier Noël	9st 2lbs	K. Walson	1 mile	1.40 2/5
1979	Azul	Mrs Roger Koenig	9st 2lbs	L. Hill	1 mile	1.4
1978	Azul	Mrs Roger Koenig	9st 2lbs	L. Hill	1 mile	1.4
1977	Azul	Mrs Roger Koenig	9st 2lbs	G. Mather	1 mile	1.40 3/5
1976	Peace Parade	Gunness Gujadhur	9st 2lbs	Deanan	1 mile	1.39 4/5(R
1975	Special ldol	Roger Koenig	9st 2lbs	A. Mc Lean	1 mile	1.41 4/5
1974	Strident	Dr J Edouard 8runel, O.B.E.	9st 2lbs	F.White	1 mile	1.42 4/5
1973	Derby O'Gill	Dr J. Edouard Brunei, O.C.E.	9st 2lbs	F.White	1 mile	1.43 2/5
1972	The Barber	Dr. Jacques Ythier 9	9st 2lbs	A. Lilley	1 mile	1.42
1971	SharpPip	Hon. Henry ythier, C.B.E	9st 2lbs	T. Little	1 mile	1.40 3/5
1970	Radlet	Gunness Gujadhur	9st	L. K. linsley	1 mile	1.42 3/5
1969	Puppet	Mrs Hervé Koenig	9st 2lbs	B. Mac Donald	1 mile	1.42 1/5
1968	Broadway Bill	Pierre Ythier	8st 7lbs	B. EIder	1 mile	1.42 3/5
1967	Mystic Snow	Balkrishna Ramphul	9st 2lbs	J. Wakker	1 mile	1.40 2/5
1966	Mystic Snow	Reesaul Ramlagan	9st	N. Pratt	1 mile	1.41 1/5
1965	Scalded Cat	Mrs H M de V-ès.offrant	9st	1. Spalding	1 mile	1.41
1964	Amoretto	Philippe Roussel	9st	B. Lewis	1 mile	1.42
1963	Winged Pharoah	Mrs Freddy Audibert	8st 11lbs	1. Spalding	1 mile	1.39 4/5(R
1962	Prodigal	Mrs V. Pierre Goupille	9st	P. King	1 mile	1.41(R)
1961	Prodigal	Mrs V. Pierre Goupille	9st	P. King	1 mile	1.41 3/5
1960	Prodigal	Philippe de Labauve d'Arifal	9st	J. Gilmore	1 mile	1.41 1/5
1959	Student Prince	Jacques G. Ducray	9st	V. Caddy	1 mile	1.42 4/5
1958	Ailill	Pierre Bonieux	8st 11lbs	L. 0' Brien	1 mile	1.42 2/5
1957	Arpad	Mrs J Daruty de Grandpré	8st 11lbs	K.Smith	1 mile	1.42 2/5
1956	Charybde	Gunness Gujadhur	8st 8lbs	L. Cannell	1 mile	1.43 3/5
1955	Little Abner	C. Phillippe Genève	9st	C. F. Malavich	1 mile	1.42