THE Gawler & Barossa Jockey Club will host a qualification race for the recently revived $300,000 Jericho Cup at its Gawler Cup meeting in late October.

The Jericho Cup was reinstalled last year by the Warrnambool Racing Club – 100 years after it was first run – and the 2019 edition of the 4600m race will be staged on December 1.

The Cup was a part of a race meeting organised by the Australian Light Horse as an offensive against the Turkish Empire towards the end of the First World War.

It was used to lull the enemy into believing nothing unusual was afoot before the assault was launched the next day, and the main race was called the Jericho Cup – an event over three miles through the desert sands.

The winner was Bill the Bastard, recognised as one of Australia’s Greatest War Horses.

Any race across Australia that is at least 3000m in distance classifies a qualifying race, and there is also one automatic qualification race granted to each state.

Gawler & Barossa Jockey Club chief executive Shane Collins was delighted to secure the qualification race for South Australia, with the $25,000 event to be held over 3340m on October 25.

“In the past, that (race) had been held elsewhere, and I had enquired to the Warrnambool Racing Club and (Jericho Cup CEO) Bill Gibbins about how we can get involved in it,” he said.

“From there, they advised we could hold a lead-up race, and if we could do it on a significant day they would give us automatic qualification.

“I threw out the option of putting it on our Gawler Cup day, and they jumped at it.

“It’s on a month just before the actual final, so the timing is perfect.

“It’s exciting, it’s the longest flat race to ever be held here at Gawler, and we’ll see the horses do two laps on Gawler Cup night.”

Mr Collins hopes the qualification race will bring in plenty of attention from trainers across the country, and also attract more patrons.

“This time last year, there were trainers all over Australia trying to qualify, so we’re hoping this may create some interest from interstate trainers who want to participate and maybe take part in our Gawler Cup,” he said.

I think the novelty of the two lap race is quite exciting for people.

“Trainers around the place are quite excited for it.”