The $1.5 million The Gold Rush is a Group 3 WFA event held at Ascot Racecourse in Perth in mid December each summer running for the first time in 2022.
2023 The Gold Rush Results
- 1st: #4 Munhamek
- 2nd: #16 Ripcord
- 3rd: #7 Comfort Me
The Gold Rush News
The Gold Rush – run in 2023 as the Damien Oliver Gold Rush – is a recent addition to the Perth Summer Racing Carnival taking place for the first time at Ascot Racecourse in mid-December, 2022.
Following on from Perth’s three Group 1 feature races – the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m), Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) and the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m) – The Gold Rush is also worth $1.5 million but only holds Group 3 status currently.
The inaugural The Gold Rush winner, The Astrologist, came via a lead-up eighth in the Winterbottom Stakes and scored an upset at $19 odds.
It was a fairy tale The Gold Rush result in 2023 for the second edition with retiring super hoop Damien Oliver producing a 10/10 ride to score victory in his final feature race ride aboard Munhamek.
Perth Racing is aiming at getting the weight-for-age showdown to grow to Group 1 status over the years with the race set to attract the best local and interstate talent of the season.
Open to horses aged three and above, The Gold Rush field faces off over 1400m.
The race name, The Gold Rush, was chosen by Racing and Wagering Western Australia from thousands of suggestions by readers of The West Australian to reflect WA’s rich history of gold discovery in the 1800s.
The 2022 The Gold Rush form was franked with the winner, The Astrologist, later sent overseas where he finished runner-up in Dubai’s Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) in March of 2023.
The 2023 The Gold Rush ran for the second time on Saturday December 16th, 2023 at Ascot Racecourse in Perth offering $1.5 million in stakes and was known as the Damien Oliver Gold Rush in honour of retiring Australian champion jockey Damien Oliver who produced an incredible ride aboard Nick Ryan’s veteran eight-year-old Munhamek ($7) to finish up his feature riding career with a win.
| 2023 The Gold Rush | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday December 16th, 2023 |
| Track: | Ascot Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1400m |
| Race Type: | 3YO & Upwards – Weight-for-age |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prizemoney: | $1.5 million |
2023 The Gold Rush Results
- 1st: #4 Munhamek ($7)
- 2nd: #16 Ripcord
- 3rd: #7 Comfort Me
Retiring G.O.A.T. Damien Oliver won his final ever feature race with a sensational weaving late run aboard the Nick Ryan-trained Group 1 performing veteran Munhamek ($7) to salute by a half-length in The Gold Rush 2023 results.
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | MUNHAMEK (GB) | Nick Ryan | Damien Oliver | 14 | 59kg | $7 | |||
| 2 | 16 | RIPCORD | Luke Fernie | Clint Johnston-Porter | 0.52L | 7 | 54kg | $6F | ||
| 3 | 7 | COMFORT ME | Rhys Radford | Shaun McGruddy | 1.17L | 3 | 59kg | $7 | ||
| 4 | 3 | BUSTLER | Neville Parnham | Steven Parnham | 1.98L | 12 | 59kg | $10 | ||
| 5 | 5 | RED CAN MAN | Steve Wolfe | Paul Harvey | 2.06L | 6 | 59kg | $21 | ||
| 6 | 2 | VALOUR ROAD | Simon A Miller | Chris Parnham | 2.55L | 13 | 59kg | $7.50 | ||
| 7 | 11 | RESORTMAN | Michael Lane | Brad Rawiller | 2.76L | 8 | 59kg | $21 | ||
| 8 | 12 | LAVERROD | Sean & Jake Casey | Craig Williams | 2.8L | 10 | 59kg | $26 | ||
| 9 | 1 | DOM TO SHOOT | Sean & Jake Casey | Jarrad Noske | 2.95L | 11 | 59kg | $9 | ||
| 10 | 13 | MY BELLA MAE | Dion Luciani | Patrick Carbery | 3.32L | 15 | 57kg | $61 | ||
| 11 | 10 | AYRTON (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Damian Lane | 3.83L | 9 | 59kg | $8.50 | ||
| 12 | 15 | KARLI’S KARMA | Summer Dickson | Michael Poy | 4.68L | 4 | 57kg | $31 | ||
| 13 | 8 | SAVATOXL | Will Savage | Ms Holly Watson | 5.4L | 1 | 59kg | $101 | ||
| 14 | 14 | BABY PARIS | Colin Webster | Peter Knuckey | 7.17L | 2 | 57kg | $17 | ||
| 15 | 9 | HOT ZED | Lou Luciani | Jason Whiting | 7.53L | 16 | 59kg | $41 | ||
| 16 | 6 | MASSIMO | Chris & Michael Gangemi | Brad Parnham | 7.62L | 5 | 59kg | $41 | ||
| 19e | MAGNIFICENT ANDY | Stephen Miller | 0 | |||||||
| 18e | SUPER SMINK | Daniel Morton | Craig Williams | 0 | ||||||
| 17e | LET’S GALAHVANT | Daniel & Ben Pearce | 0 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2023 The Gold Rush Betting Odds
The top The Gold Rush odds will be provided below along with links to the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au for you to back your insider The Gold Rush betting tips at the right price this summer.
There was a notable upset for the first edition with The Astrologist winning at The Gold Rush odds of $19.
CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 THE GOLD RUSH ODDS (Final Field)
2023 The Gold Rush Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 THE GOLD RUSH FORM GUIDE
2023 The Gold Rush Tips
Stay tuned for our insider The Gold Rush 2023 Tips on the $1.5 million Festival of Perth Racing showdown this December.
- To Win: #16 Ripcord ($6.50 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Tipping Ripcord to frank the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) form from a fortnight back with Luke Fernie’s third place-getter out of that down in grade here. The classy Written By three-year-old won the Listed Placid Ark narrowly two back before rounding out the Winterbottom trifecta over six furlongs here. Putting together a nice record, should see out a furlong further without worry, gets a run from a good gate, and is down in weight. Ticking plenty of boxes in a wide open affair.
2023 The Gold Rush Field
The Gold Rush field is filled with some of the better Perth thoroughbreds as well as visiting stayers from the eastern states.
Horses in The Gold Rush field may come via earlier runs in events including the Railway Stakes and Northerly Stakes (formerly the Kingston Town Stakes).
Three-year-old runners in the field may have their final lead-up in the Group 2 W.A. Guineas (1600m) on Railway Stakes Day.
The 2023 Gold Rush field is announced on the Monday of race week and will be published in full below once released by Perth Racing.
The Damien Oliver Gold Rush 2023 final field features a capacity line-up of summer hopefuls led in betting by the second emergency Super Smink with the WA Guineas third placed filly sweating on a start and Group 1 performer out of Victoria Ayrton.
The 2023 The Gold Rush barrier draw took place on Tuesday evening with plenty of the top fancies drawing out wide.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x31823x231 | DOM TO SHOOT | Sean & Jake Casey | Jarrad Noske | 14 | 59kg | 114 | |
| 2 | 291x45x121 | VALOUR ROAD | Simon A Miller | Chris Parnham | 16 | 59kg | 113 | |
| 3 | 60113×7514 | BUSTLER | Neville Parnham | Steven Parnham | 15 | 59kg | 111 | |
| 4 | 117x128x30 | MUNHAMEK (GB) | Nick Ryan | Damien Oliver | 17 | 59kg | 102 | |
| 5 | 22630×1364 | RED CAN MAN | Steve Wolfe | Paul Harvey | 8 | 59kg | 107 | |
| 6 | 9x7008x446 | MASSIMO | Chris & Michael Gangemi | Brad Parnham | 7 | 59kg | 102 | |
| 7 | 3x5225x337 | COMFORT ME | Rhys Radford | Shaun McGruddy | 3 | 59kg | 106 | |
| 8 | 110x3230x0 | SAVATOXL | Will Savage | Ms Holly Watson | 1 | 59kg | 104 | |
| 9 | x7156x3716 | HOT ZED | Lou Luciani | Jason Whiting | 19 | 59kg | 107 | |
| 10 | 48x578x176 | AYRTON (NZ) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Damian Lane | 11 | 59kg | 104 | |
| 11 | 1340x473x8 | RESORTMAN | Michael Lane | Brad Rawiller | 10 | 59kg | 107 | |
| 12 | 3043x0x407 | LAVERROD | Sean & Jake Casey | Craig Williams | 13 | 59kg | 101 | |
| 13 | 1159×52555 | MY BELLA MAE | Dion Luciani | Patrick Carbery | 18 | 57kg | 99 | |
| 14 | x301x81701 | BABY PARIS | Colin Webster | Peter Knuckey | 2 | 57kg | 100 | |
| 15 | x11200x610 | KARLI’S KARMA | Summer Dickson | Michael Poy | 6 | 57kg | 102 | |
| 16 | 13×22813 | RIPCORD | Luke Fernie | Clint Johnston-Porter | 9 | 54kg | 99 | |
| 17e | 9283226131 | LET’S GALAHVANT | Daniel & Ben Pearce | 4 | 59kg | 98 | ||
| 18e | 31211×123 | SUPER SMINK | Daniel Morton | Craig Williams | 12 | 52kg | 90 | |
| 19e | 211×211442 | MAGNIFICENT ANDY | Stephen Miller | 5 | 59kg | 93 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2023 The Gold Rush Nominations
The early The Gold Rush 2023 nominations are taken a couple of months prior to The Gold Rush Day in mid-December and will be provided in full below.
The Damien Oliver Gold Rush 2023 nominations attracted 104 early entries led in all-in betting by last year’s Group 1 Northerly Stakes winner Amelia’s Jewel and Dan Morton’s Group 2 Karrakatta Plate winning filly Super Smink.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7125x2473x | ABOVE THE PEG | G | 5 | Simon A Miller | 59kg | 80 | ||
| 2 | 248x578x1x | AYRTON (NZ) | G | 6 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 59kg | |||
| 3 | 7x00x4700x | BEAU ROSSA | G | 6 | Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea | 59kg | |||
| 4 | x421111x2x | BENJI’S | G | 6 | Cliff Green | 59kg | 80 | ||
| 5 | 125x60113x | BUSTLER | G | 4 | Neville Parnham | 59kg | 101 | ||
| 6 | x221x5244x | CLEMENCEAU | G | 5 | Chris & Michael Gangemi | 59kg | |||
| 7 | 4523x5225x | COMFORT ME | G | 7 | Rhys Radford | 59kg | 106 | ||
| 8 | 24120x330x | CORNER POCKET | G | 7 | Lindsey Smith | 59kg | |||
| 9 | 34x126590x | CREATOR | G | 7 | Chris & Michael Gangemi | 59kg | 84 | ||
| 10 | 5x0x59x20x | CUP NIGHT | G | 8 | Bernie Miller | 59kg | 102 | ||
| 11 | 8101x8114x | CURRIMUNDI | G | 5 | Steve Wolfe | 59kg | 80 | ||
| 12 | 53x0x10x7x | DAJRAAN (GB) | H | 6 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 59kg | |||
| 13 | 4410x9180x | DEFIANT DIORITE | G | 4 | Chris Willis | 59kg | 69 | ||
| 14 | 945x31823x | DOM TO SHOOT | G | 6 | Sean & Jake Casey | 59kg | 103 | ||
| 15 | 2142x7224x | EM TEE AYE | G | 6 | Trevor Andrews | 59kg | 92 | ||
| 16 | 311168141x | GINGER BAKER | G | 6 | Vernon Brockman | 59kg | 95 | ||
| 17 | 123x87707x | GOD HAS CHOSEN | G | 6 | Donna Riordan | 59kg | 102 | ||
| 18 | 35590x990x | HALATORION | G | 6 | Roy Rogers | 59kg | 81 | ||
| 19 | 000x82685x | HILAL | H | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 59kg | |||
| 20 | 9146x7156x | HOT ZED | G | 6 | Lou Luciani | 59kg | 103 | ||
| 21 | 1119x4111x | IKNOWASTAR | G | 4 | Bjorn Baker | 59kg | |||
| 22 | 2369x9010x | IRONCLAD (GB) | G | 8 | Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea | 59kg | |||
| 23 | x111101x5x | JIGSAW | G | 5 | Cindy Alderson | 59kg | |||
| 24 | 8x12312x5x | JOURNALISM | G | 5 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 59kg | |||
| 25 | 45x845221x | LAST OF THE LINE | G | 7 | Stephen Miller | 59kg | 104 | ||
| 26 | x08x3x907x | LAUDA SION (JPN) | H | 7 | Chris Waller | 59kg | |||
| 27 | 04x3043x0x | LAVERROD | G | 7 | Sean & Jake Casey | 59kg | 102 | ||
| 28 | 211x1147x | LENIENCY | G | 4 | Colin Webster | 59kg | 75 | ||
| 29 | 049283226x | LET’S GALAHVANT | G | 5 | Daniel & Ben Pearce | 59kg | 90 | ||
| 30 | x66445x13x | LORD VLADIVOSTOK (NZ) | G | 7 | Michael Hickmott | 59kg | |||
| 31 | 32211x211x | MAGNIFICENT ANDY | G | 5 | Stephen Miller | 59kg | 90 | ||
| 32 | 126552150x | MAN CRUSH | G | 4 | Luke Fernie | 59kg | 83 | ||
| 33 | 3109x7008x | MASSIMO | G | 7 | Chris & Michael Gangemi | 59kg | 102 | ||
| 34 | 181x76x7Nx | MINSK MOMENT | H | 5 | Chris Waller | 59kg | |||
| 35 | 23117x128x | MUNHAMEK (GB) | G | 8 | Nick Ryan | 59kg | |||
| 36 | 13553x404x | NUGGET (GB) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 59kg | |||
| 37 | 1761x5730x | OSIPENKO (NZ) | H | 4 | Chris Waller | 59kg | |||
| 38 | 46x2x1132x | PHANTA | G | 6 | Chris & Michael Gangemi | 59kg | 101 | ||
| 39 | 7419x2117x | PLANET CASH | G | 4 | Hayden Ballantyne | 59kg | 76 | ||
| 40 | x9998x551x | RANTING (NZ) | G | 6 | Nick Ryan | 59kg | |||
| 41 | 205x22630x | RED CAN MAN | G | 7 | Steve Wolfe | 59kg | 107 | ||
| 42 | 60x853445x | REGARDSMAREE | G | 7 | Nick Ryan | 59kg | |||
| 43 | 11340x473x | RESORTMAN | G | 7 | Michael Lane | 59kg | 107 | ||
| 44 | 0x90x7x14x | RISE OF THE MASSES | H | 4 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 59kg | |||
| 45 | 3215x2317x | RIVER RUBICON | G | 5 | Steve Wolfe | 59kg | 89 | ||
| 46 | x110x3230x | SAVATOXL | G | 8 | Will Savage | 59kg | |||
| 47 | x0x313x13x | SENTIMENTAL HERO | G | 6 | Michael Grantham | 59kg | 79 | ||
| 48 | 0x3113132x | SNOWDOME | H | 4 | Neville Parnham | 59kg | 90 | ||
| 49 | 23628x2x8x | SPEED DREAM | G | 6 | Roland Piercey | 59kg | 79 | ||
| 50 | x3x160x11x | STAR PATROL | G | 5 | Clinton McDonald | 59kg | |||
| 51 | 0x05912x8x | STARTRADE | G | 7 | Daniel Morton | 59kg | 104 | ||
| 52 | 16460x010x | SURF DANCER (IRE) | G | 7 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 59kg | |||
| 53 | 21116x274x | TADWEER | G | 5 | Chris & Michael Gangemi | 59kg | 83 | ||
| 54 | x21140x51x | TAMERLANE | G | 6 | James Cummings | 59kg | |||
| 55 | 00x9275x4x | THE INFERNO | G | 7 | Cliff Brown | 59kg | |||
| 56 | x573747x3x | TITAN BLINDERS | G | 8 | Chris & Michael Gangemi | 59kg | 96 | ||
| 57 | 2243019x0x | TOP OF THE POPS | G | 4 | Daniel Morton | 59kg | 78 | ||
| 58 | 11x42x7x2x | TRIPLE MISSILE | G | 6 | Lindsey Smith | 59kg | |||
| 59 | 20x1316x0x | TRIX OF THE TRADE | G | 5 | Colin Webster | 59kg | 106 | ||
| 60 | 12x79x432x | TUVALU | G | 6 | Lindsey Smith | 59kg | |||
| 61 | 230x23212x | UPPER LIMITS | G | 4 | Jeremy Easthope | 59kg | 78 | ||
| 62 | 3291x45x1x | VALOUR ROAD | G | 8 | Simon A Miller | 59kg | 111 | ||
| 63 | 412111122x | VAST ART | G | 4 | Darren McAuliffe | 59kg | 85 | ||
| 64 | 10x1760x5x | VILANA | H | 5 | James Cummings | 59kg | |||
| 65 | 416x41112x | WATEGOS | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker | 59kg | |||
| 66 | 122113x05x | WEAPONSON | G | 7 | Daniel Morton | 59kg | 92 | ||
| 67 | 9x678x210x | WRITTEN MATTER | G | 6 | Chris & Michael Gangemi | 59kg | 78 | ||
| 68 | 3261x2133x | ADMIRATION EXPRESS | M | 4 | Jason Miller | 57kg | 86 | ||
| 69 | x12111111x | ALSEPHINA | M | 5 | Grant & Alana Williams | 57kg | 92 | ||
| 70 | 11x12x119x | AMELIA’S JEWEL | M | 4 | Simon A Miller | 57kg | |||
| 71 | 12x301x81x | BABY PARIS | M | 4 | Colin Webster | 57kg | 99 | ||
| 72 | 3899464x3x | CHAIN OF LIGHTNING | M | 5 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 57kg | |||
| 73 | 42112111x | DUCHESS OF GOSSIP | M | 4 | Dion Luciani | 57kg | 76 | ||
| 74 | x6117x217x | ESPIONA | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 57kg | |||
| 75 | 990x08619x | FLEUR DELACOUR | M | 4 | Chris Willis | 57kg | 58 | ||
| 76 | 4x1336541x | FLYING MISSILE | M | 5 | Neville Parnham | 57kg | 88 | ||
| 77 | 213208x11x | GODDESS OF GIVING | M | 4 | Lou Luciani | 57kg | 75 | ||
| 78 | 3x11200x6x | KARLI’S KARMA | M | 6 | Summer Dickson | 57kg | 95 | ||
| 79 | 12x74x421x | LIFE LESSONS (NZ) | M | 5 | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 57kg | |||
| 80 | 19x1159x5x | MY BELLA MAE | M | 4 | Dion Luciani | 57kg | 94 | ||
| 81 | 4x11x1580x | OLENTIA | M | 4 | Chris Waller | 57kg | |||
| 82 | 111x1344x | REAR ADMIRAL | M | 4 | Sean & Jake Casey | 57kg | 71 | ||
| 83 | 3410x52x5x | ROOTS | M | 5 | Chris Waller | 57kg | |||
| 84 | 1x1131216x | RUSTY DREAMS | M | 4 | Michael Lane | 57kg | 77 | ||
| 85 | 21x0180x1x | SEARCHIN’ ROC’S | M | 5 | Jim Taylor | 57kg | 96 | ||
| 86 | x141211x2x | THE VELVET QUEEN | M | 5 | Darren McAuliffe | 57kg | 97 | ||
| 87 | x114x21x7x | A LOT OF GOOD MEN | C | 3 | Trevor Andrews | 54kg | 75 | ||
| 88 | 6x1x | ALMIGHTY CLASS | G | 3 | Mitchell Pateman | 54kg | 74 | ||
| 89 | 2231x | ARCADIA KNIGHT | G | 3 | Takahide Ikenushi | 54kg | |||
| 90 | 1x | BEST MOOD | C | 3 | Michael Grantham | 54kg | 60 | ||
| 91 | 12x | BLAZING HARRY | G | 3 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 54kg | |||
| 92 | 1x61x | COSMIC CRUSADER (NZ) | G | 3 | Donna Riordan | 54kg | 69 | ||
| 93 | 181x | HANCHI | G | 3 | Sean & Jake Casey | 54kg | 70 | ||
| 94 | 4x21x | IN GOOD ORDER | G | 3 | Daniel Morton | 54kg | 62 | ||
| 95 | 1x | KERMIT’S LUCK | G | 3 | Luke Fernie | 54kg | 62 | ||
| 96 | 26x8x142x | MEXICO | C | 3 | Michael Freedman | 54kg | |||
| 97 | NO BRAINER | G | 3 | Daniel Morton | 54kg | ||||
| 98 | 115x | PLEASURE CRUISE | G | 3 | Takahide Ikenushi | 54kg | 66 | ||
| 99 | 13x22x | RIPCORD | G | 3 | Luke Fernie | 54kg | 78 | ||
| 100 | VENTURO | C | 3 | Daniel Morton | 54kg | ||||
| 101 | 243x1x | ZIPAWAY | G | 3 | Neville Parnham | 54kg | 66 | ||
| 102 | 528x | KRATESIS | F | 3 | Daniel Morton | 52kg | 56 | ||
| 103 | RIGHT TO SILENCE | F | 3 | Chris Willis | 52kg | ||||
| 104 | 31211x | SUPER SMINK | F | 3 | Daniel Morton | 52kg | 86 |
The Gold Rush History
The Gold Rush history will be updated as the race grows in stature over the coming years following on from the inaugural running in 2022.
The first The Gold Rush was won by interstate raider The Astrologist ridden to victory as a $19 outsider in betting by star local jockey William Pike.
The second The Gold Rush winner was also trained outside of Perth with Nick Ryan’s Victorian visitor Munhamek ($7) saluting off a brilliant ride by retiring champion jockey Damien Oliver in 2023.
The Gold Rush Winners
The table below shows the winners, place-getters and winning times of The Gold Rush since the inaugural running in 2022.
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 The Gold Rush | 1st | Munhamek | 1 minute 22.75 seconds |
| 2nd | Ripcord | ||
| 3rd | Comfort Me | ||
| 2022 The Gold Rush | 1st | The Astrologist | 1 minute 22.44 seconds |
| 2nd | Kissonallforcheeks | ||
| 3rd | Comfort Me | ||
