The Gold Rush is a $1.5 million feature race held in Western Australia in December each summer
The Gold Rush is a Perth Summer Racing Carnival feature race held in December for the first time in 2022.
2022 The Gold Rush winner The Astrologist (pictured at Flemington). Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Following the triple shot of Group 1 races run at Ascot in WA over the spring – summer season the action now continues with The Gold Rush offering $1.5 million in stakes.
Run over 1400m the race will begin as a Group 3 race despite its lucrative prize money on offer, and the aim is for it to gradually increase in prestige and class over the years.
The Gold Rush race name was chosen from thousands of suggestions by readers of The West Australian by Racing and Wagering Western Australia to reflect WA’s rich history of gold discovery in the 1800s.
The Gold Rush winner is also likely to chase a slot in the following year’s $4 million The Quokka back in Perth.
The second edition of the event ran as the Damien Oliver Gold Rush in honour of retiring star Australian hoop Damien Oliver who won the race in a fairy tale result off a sensational ride aboard the Nick Ryan-trained Victorian visitor Munhamek ($7).
The third edition of $1.5 million The Gold Rush ran on Saturday December 14, 2024 at Ascot Racecourse in Perth and saw locally trained Group 1 winner Western Empire ($7) return to his best for Grant & Alana Williams.
2024 The Gold Rush Results
The full The Gold Rush 2024 Results & Finishing Order on the $1.5 million showdown will be available below after the Group 3 is run and won on Saturday December 14, 2024.
- 1st: #1 Western Empire
- 2nd: #8 Magnificent Andy
- 3rd: #14 Super Smink
2024 The Gold Rush Odds
The season’s top The Gold Rush 2024 odds and Perth Group race betting market links will be provided below so stay tuned for access to the best summer prices.
Early market betting odds on the 2025 The Gold Rush will be displayed below once available. Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live markets, please visit ladbrokes.com.au.
The Gold Rush Race Info
- Date: Saturday December 14, 2024
- Track: Ascot Racecourse
- Distance: 1400m
- Conditions: Weight-for-age; 3YOs & Upwards
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $1.5 million
- First Run: 2022
The Gold Rush Betting
The Gold Rush betting is dominated by in-form sprinters and middle-distance gallopers coming off big runs in the Perth Group 1 races earlier in the season.
Runners that perform well over the spring are installed at shorter The Gold Rush odds including in races including Sydney’s $1 million The Hunter (1300m) and $1 million The Gong (1600m).
There was a blowout result in the first edition of the race with The Astrologist winning at The Gold Rush odds of $19.
The Gold Rush Tips
Key The Gold Rush tips include looking for locally-trained Perth gallopers, proven weight-for-age stars and Group 1 runners down in grade for the lucrative feature race.
Locally horses that run well in the earlier Perth summer features including any three-year-olds out of the Group 3 WA Guineas (1600m) make a good The Gold Rush betting tip.
The inaugural The Gold Rush winner was The Astrologist who improved on a lead-up eighth in the Group 1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) at the track, so looking at the Winterbottom graduates is another top tip.
The Winterbottom also produced the 2024 The Gold Rush winner with Western Empire improving on his lead-up ninth in the Group 1 sprint to claim the third edition.
2024 The Gold Rush Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ exclusive The Gold Rush 2024 betting tips and exotic summer racing selections will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned for the Perth locals and interstate raiders to get behind this season.
- To Win: #14 Super Smink ($4.80 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Back to the 1400m looks ideal for Super Smink who is a deserving favourite at time of publish. Dan Morton’s four-year-old Super One mare has plenty of upside and presents fit off a good campaign. She won November’s Group 3 Asian Beau at this track and trip before an eye-catching Group 1 third in the Railway Stakes over a mile. She was luckless last time out when ninth in the Northerly over 1800m but still under four lengths beaten despite a horror run. Drops in trip, loves the course, and is drawn a dream gate five with the other best in betting all wider out. Can win.
The Gold Rush Field
The Gold Rush race field attracts a quality line-up of both local and visiting weight-for-age horses eyeing the $1.5 million in stakes on offer in the new Perth event.
Key lead-up races locally for runners eyeing a spot in The Gold Rush field include the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) and the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m).
The official The Gold Rush field of final acceptances is announced the Monday of race week following on from the early nominations in October.
2024 The Gold Rush Field
The official The Gold Rush 2024 Final Field is announced by Perth Racing the Monday leading-up to the race and will be available in full below as soon as released so stay tuned to see what gallopers make the starting line-up in the latest edition of the WFA event.
The Gold Rush 2024 final field features a capacity line-up of summer hopes led in betting by Railway Stakes third placed mare Super Smink and the Grant & Alan Williams-trained seven-year-old Western Empire.
2024 The Gold Rush Nominations
The early The Gold Rush 2024 nominations are taken around two months before The Gold Rush Day in mid-December, the full entries to be released below.
The Gold Rush 2024 nominations attracted 121 horses, up from 104 early entries last year, led in all-in betting by the Grant & Alana Williams-trained Group 1 winner Western Empire.
| |
Last 10 |
Horse |
Sex |
Age |
Trainer |
Ballot |
Weight |
Penalty |
Hcp Rating |
| 1 |
25632421×8 |
A LOT OF GOOD MEN |
H |
4 |
Trevor Andrews |
|
59kg |
|
94 |
| 2 |
4110248×60 |
ALASKAN |
G |
4 |
Neville Parnham |
|
59kg |
|
69 |
| 3 |
12422151×3 |
ALL THE KING’S MEN |
G |
5 |
Trevor Andrews |
|
59kg |
|
88 |
| 4 |
x12x230x11 |
ALMIGHTY CLASS |
G |
4 |
Mitchell Pateman |
|
59kg |
|
87 |
| 5 |
1174×23187 |
AMOR VICTORIOUS |
G |
5 |
Bjorn Baker |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 6 |
112×4411 |
ANGLAND (NZ) |
G |
4 |
Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 7 |
x91603x693 |
AZTEC RULER |
G |
5 |
Stefan Vahala |
|
59kg |
|
94 |
| 8 |
111133116 |
BARAQIEL |
G |
6 |
Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 9 |
117x1111x4 |
BOOTS LIKE BRUCE |
G |
7 |
Anne King |
|
59kg |
|
96 |
| 10 |
132114×330 |
BRAVE SPIRIT |
G |
4 |
Steve Wolfe |
|
59kg |
|
76 |
| 11 |
7514490×02 |
BUSTLER |
G |
5 |
Neville Parnham |
|
59kg |
|
110 |
| 12 |
331330×369 |
CELUI |
H |
4 |
Brent Stanley |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 13 |
20x766x100 |
CHRYSAOR |
G |
4 |
Chris Waller |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 14 |
x5244x80x0 |
CLEMENCEAU |
G |
6 |
Chris & Michael Gangemi |
|
59kg |
|
94 |
| 15 |
674132×550 |
COASTWATCH |
G |
6 |
Richard & Will Freedman |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 16 |
3x84640x19 |
COMFORT ME |
G |
8 |
Rhys Radford |
|
59kg |
|
107 |
| 17 |
3×12131220 |
CRAIG (GB) |
G |
4 |
Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 18 |
23614Dx113 |
CRIPPALENKO |
G |
5 |
Greg Beauglehole |
|
59kg |
|
84 |
| 19 |
0869x2480x |
DEVOTED |
G |
6 |
Luke Fernie |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 20 |
22x1111x67 |
ESPRIT GARCON |
G |
5 |
Tiarnna Noske |
|
59kg |
|
75 |
| 21 |
00×7911136 |
GENTLEMAN ROY |
G |
8 |
Ben, Will & JD Hayes |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 22 |
13x111x221 |
GRINGOTTS (NZ) |
G |
5 |
Ciaron Maher |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 23 |
1x2512520x |
HANCHI |
G |
4 |
Sean & Jake Casey |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 24 |
0x569x00x1 |
HELL I AM |
G |
5 |
Grant & Alana Williams |
|
59kg |
|
83 |
| 25 |
31210×2110 |
HERE TO SHOCK (NZ) |
G |
7 |
Ben, Will & JD Hayes |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 26 |
716076760x |
HOT ZED |
G |
7 |
Lou Luciani |
|
59kg |
|
101 |
| 27 |
2231322×51 |
IKNOWASTAR |
G |
5 |
Bjorn Baker |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 28 |
2151x2x7x7 |
INVESTMENTSTRATEGY |
G |
4 |
Neville Parnham |
|
59kg |
|
80 |
| 29 |
22131x90x8 |
KAIZAD |
G |
4 |
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 30 |
x009213x78 |
LET’S GALAHVANT |
G |
6 |
Daniel & Ben Pearce |
|
59kg |
|
107 |
| 31 |
716165×304 |
MAGNASPIN |
G |
5 |
Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 32 |
x1431x8033 |
MAGNIFICENT ANDY |
G |
6 |
Stephen Miller |
|
59kg |
|
108 |
| 33 |
x1409x6949 |
MAKRAM (IRE) |
G |
8 |
Ben, Will & JD Hayes |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 34 |
916x22317x |
MAN CRUSH |
G |
5 |
Luke Fernie |
|
59kg |
|
98 |
| 35 |
8x4460x900 |
MASSIMO |
G |
8 |
Chris & Michael Gangemi |
|
59kg |
|
96 |
| 36 |
5320897×09 |
MOJO RHYTHM |
G |
6 |
Mitchell Pateman |
|
59kg |
|
91 |
| 37 |
314020×100 |
MOOD SWINGS |
G |
8 |
George Dupre |
|
59kg |
|
101 |
| 38 |
6212532569 |
NICOLINI VITO |
G |
7 |
Ben, Will & JD Hayes |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 39 |
24531111×7 |
OLY’S CHOICE |
G |
6 |
Daniel & Ben Pearce |
|
59kg |
|
89 |
| 40 |
2x2135x286 |
OSCAR’S FORTUNE |
G |
4 |
Gavin Bedggood |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 41 |
0x321x1110 |
OSTRAKA |
G |
4 |
Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 42 |
280x00x220 |
PHANTA |
G |
7 |
Chris & Michael Gangemi |
|
59kg |
|
100 |
| 43 |
117x0x8x40 |
PLANET CASH |
G |
5 |
Hayden Ballantyne |
|
59kg |
|
74 |
| 44 |
x26772x366 |
PORT LOCKROY |
H |
4 |
Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 45 |
26034×4665 |
PRIVATE EYE |
G |
7 |
Joseph Pride |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 46 |
5x085360x6 |
RED CAN MAN |
G |
8 |
Steve Wolfe |
|
59kg |
|
101 |
| 47 |
129x360x00 |
RESONATOR |
G |
5 |
Chris & Michael Gangemi |
|
59kg |
|
79 |
| 48 |
06231243×5 |
RHEINBERG (NZ) |
G |
6 |
Ben, Will & JD Hayes |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 49 |
132x30x509 |
RIPCORD |
G |
4 |
Luke Fernie |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 50 |
225×105476 |
ROBUSTO |
G |
5 |
Bjorn Baker |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 51 |
329x21511x |
ROCKIN’ RUPERT |
G |
6 |
Sean & Jake Casey |
|
59kg |
|
81 |
| 52 |
x41211x125 |
ROPE THEM IN |
G |
4 |
Steve Wolfe |
|
59kg |
|
89 |
| 53 |
11117x60x9 |
RUSSIAN TO THE BAR |
G |
4 |
Luke Fernie |
|
59kg |
|
80 |
| 54 |
574×328122 |
SALOON BAR |
G |
5 |
Daniel Morton |
|
59kg |
|
97 |
| 55 |
34x190x07x |
SNOW PATROL (NZ) |
G |
4 |
Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 56 |
x2219x5139 |
SOUTHPORT TYCOON |
H |
4 |
Ciaron Maher |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 57 |
1126x31x6x |
STORMCHASER |
G |
4 |
Luke Fernie |
|
59kg |
|
83 |
| 58 |
412x9817x4 |
TAMERLANE |
G |
7 |
James Cummings |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 59 |
398×448886 |
THE ASTROLOGIST |
G |
8 |
Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 60 |
40x533x504 |
THE INFERNO |
G |
8 |
Cliff Brown |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 61 |
91518×24 |
TON OF GRUNT |
G |
4 |
Rhys Radford |
|
59kg |
|
66 |
| 62 |
60x58575x4 |
TRIPLE MISSILE |
G |
7 |
Donna Riordan |
|
59kg |
|
99 |
| 63 |
840x000x07 |
TRIX OF THE TRADE |
G |
6 |
Colin Webster |
|
59kg |
|
103 |
| 64 |
x8010x0180 |
UNCLE BRYN (GB) |
G |
7 |
Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 65 |
216x80x240 |
VALOUR ROAD |
G |
9 |
Simon A Miller |
|
59kg |
|
108 |
| 66 |
642×534510 |
VAST ART |
G |
5 |
Darren McAuliffe |
|
59kg |
|
94 |
| 67 |
5x1421x090 |
VEIGHT |
H |
4 |
Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 68 |
2x715x8948 |
VON HAUKE (NZ) |
G |
5 |
Cliff Brown |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 69 |
x00x31142x |
WESTERN EMPIRE (NZ) |
G |
7 |
Grant & Alana Williams |
|
59kg |
|
111 |
| 70 |
1260×21811 |
WILLAIDOW |
G |
6 |
Marc Conners |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 71 |
x506223130 |
WILLIAMSBURG |
G |
5 |
Brett Cavanough |
|
59kg |
|
|
| 72 |
1413x303x4 |
ZIPAWAY |
G |
4 |
Neville Parnham |
|
59kg |
|
103 |
| 73 |
x2226x3134 |
ALSEPHINA |
M |
6 |
Grant & Alana Williams |
|
57kg |
|
|
| 74 |
153x426x37 |
AMBER GLIDE |
M |
5 |
Ross Price |
|
57kg |
|
81 |
| 75 |
7010x140x4 |
BABY PARIS |
M |
5 |
Colin Webster |
|
57kg |
|
99 |
| 76 |
52181×5711 |
BELCLARE (NZ) |
M |
7 |
Bjorn Baker |
|
57kg |
|
|
| 77 |
1221×23113 |
BELLA NIPOTINA |
M |
7 |
Ciaron Maher |
|
57kg |
|
|
| 78 |
1x2282538x |
DEAMBER |
M |
5 |
Stephanie Bakranich |
|
57kg |
|
71 |
| 79 |
01421×7 |
DRAKAINA (NZ) |
M |
4 |
Michael Grantham |
|
57kg |
|
70 |
| 80 |
334x34428x |
DUCHESS OF GOSSIP |
M |
5 |
Peter Fernie |
|
57kg |
|
78 |
| 81 |
x26366x000 |
FOXY CLEOPATRA |
M |
5 |
Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
|
57kg |
|
|
| 82 |
2x344x1109 |
I AM ME |
M |
6 |
Ciaron Maher |
|
57kg |
|
|
| 83 |
x31220x068 |
LACED UP HEELS |
M |
5 |
Luke Fernie |
|
57kg |
|
92 |
| 84 |
12120×7630 |
LADY LAGUNA |
M |
5 |
Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
|
57kg |
|
|
| 85 |
x112x4x950 |
LIVE TO TELL |
M |
4 |
Simon A Miller |
|
57kg |
|
78 |
| 86 |
413x2112x2 |
LUVNWAR (NZ) |
M |
4 |
Michael Grantham |
|
57kg |
|
84 |
| 87 |
1263656×58 |
MISS HELLFIRE |
M |
5 |
Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
|
57kg |
|
|
| 88 |
0x2417x143 |
OLENTIA |
M |
5 |
Chris Waller |
|
57kg |
|
|
| 89 |
10x70x3120 |
REVOLUTIONARY MISS |
M |
5 |
Ciaron Maher |
|
57kg |
|
|
| 90 |
x6477105x6 |
ROLL ON HIGH |
M |
4 |
Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
|
57kg |
|
|
| 91 |
x86410x735 |
ROYAL MERCHANT |
M |
5 |
Ciaron Maher |
|
57kg |
|
|
| 92 |
114227×191 |
RUNNING BY |
M |
5 |
Ciaron Maher |
|
57kg |
|
|
| 93 |
4215x64x36 |
RUSTY DREAMS |
M |
5 |
Michael Lane |
|
57kg |
|
83 |
| 94 |
20923×1555 |
SEARCHIN’ ROC’S |
M |
6 |
Jim Taylor |
|
57kg |
|
105 |
| 95 |
9×14195458 |
SECOND TO NUN |
M |
5 |
Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea |
|
57kg |
|
|
| 96 |
2x0877x321 |
SUPER SMINK |
M |
4 |
Daniel Morton |
|
57kg |
|
104 |
| 97 |
5x111326x4 |
THE BOSS LADY |
M |
4 |
Michael Lane |
|
57kg |
|
80 |
| 98 |
11x1111x6 |
TWAIN’S ANGEL |
M |
4 |
Sean & Jake Casey |
|
57kg |
|
79 |
| 99 |
23195 |
ARCADIA PARK (NZ) |
G |
3 |
Michael Grantham |
|
54kg |
|
66 |
| 100 |
32142×718 |
BITTERCREEK |
C |
3 |
Leon & Troy Corstens & Will Larkin |
|
54kg |
|
|
| 101 |
1135x |
DAGGERS |
C |
3 |
Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
|
54kg |
|
|
| 102 |
8x |
DAYTONA PETE |
G |
3 |
Steve Wolfe |
|
54kg |
|
|
| 103 |
536x12x10 |
ELITE MISSILE |
G |
3 |
Stephen Miller |
|
54kg |
|
71 |
| 104 |
0x04 |
GOD’LL GETYA |
G |
3 |
Mitchell Pateman |
|
54kg |
|
57 |
| 105 |
1×46 |
HORCRUX |
G |
3 |
Simon A Miller |
|
54kg |
|
66 |
| 106 |
11 |
MAGNA’S CHOICE |
G |
3 |
Trevor Andrews |
|
54kg |
|
66 |
| 107 |
113 |
OLYMPIC PARK (NZ) |
G |
3 |
Michael Grantham |
|
54kg |
|
69 |
| 108 |
1×41 |
REPOSSESSION |
G |
3 |
Chris & Michael Gangemi |
|
54kg |
|
74 |
| 109 |
1×21 |
SEPTEMBER BORN |
C |
3 |
Neville Parnham |
|
54kg |
|
78 |
| 110 |
22x113x978 |
STREET BAND |
C |
3 |
Trevor Andrews |
|
54kg |
|
71 |
| 111 |
13×28179 |
TRUE APOSTLE |
G |
3 |
Daniel Morton |
|
54kg |
|
69 |
| 112 |
3x11x21 |
WEST STAR |
G |
3 |
Simon A Miller |
|
54kg |
|
79 |
| 113 |
1×4 |
WIND AND THE LION |
G |
3 |
Sean & Jake Casey |
|
54kg |
|
66 |
| 114 |
4×851 |
CASHEL PALACE |
F |
3 |
Daniel Morton |
|
52kg |
|
58 |
| 115 |
51x454x73 |
DEFINE BEAUTIFUL |
F |
3 |
Trevor Andrews |
|
52kg |
|
64 |
| 116 |
3232×037 |
EARTHSTORM |
F |
3 |
Russell Stewart |
|
52kg |
|
69 |
| 117 |
12623×87 |
GOLDEN KATHLEEN |
F |
3 |
Russell Stewart |
|
52kg |
|
70 |
| 118 |
123×2410 |
KUROYANAGI |
F |
3 |
Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea |
|
52kg |
|
|
| 119 |
5152×1682 |
MADHI GIRL |
F |
3 |
Simon A Miller |
|
52kg |
|
72 |
| 120 |
2×132 |
RON’S FINALFLUTTER |
F |
3 |
Daniel Morton |
|
52kg |
|
66 |
| 121 |
2x31153x6 |
SIREN ASSAULT |
F |
3 |
Sean & Jake Casey |
|
52kg |
|
70 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
The Gold Rush Form Guide
The Gold Rush form guide details all the crucial information for punters like the jockeys, trainers, barriers and lead-up runs of the horses in the field.
2024 The Gold Rush Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive The Gold Rush 2024 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
The Gold Rush Results
The official The Gold Rush race results are known when the event takes place in December each summer.
The first The Gold Rush winner in 2022 was the Leon & Troy Corstens-trained interstate raider The Astrologist who was ridden to an upset victory by ace local hoop William Pike.
The second The Gold Rush winner in 2023 was the Nick Ryan-trained eight-year-old Munhamek from Melbourne who was given a peach of a ride by retiring G.O.A.T. Damien Oliver in the hoop’s final feature race ride.
The third The Gold Rush winner in 2024 was the Grant & Alana Williams-trained seven-year-old local hope Western Empire ($7) who was ridden to an impressive victory by Billy Egan in a race record time of 1 minute 21.94 seconds.
The Gold Rush Winners
| Year |
Winner |
Second |
Third |
Time |
| 2024 |
Western Empire |
Magnificent Andy |
Super Smink |
1:21.94 |
| 2023 |
Munhamek |
Ripcord |
Comfort Me |
1:22.75 |
| 2022 |
The Astrologist |
Kissonallforcheeks |
Comfort Me |
1:22.44 |
FAQ
Who won the 2024 The Gold Rush?
The 2024 The Gold Rush was won by Western Empire for Grant & Alana Williams at $7 with Billy Egan in the saddle.
When is The Gold Rush 2024?
Saturday December 14, 2024
What is the prize money for The Gold Rush 2024?
$1,500,000
Where is The Gold Rush 2024?
Ascot Racecourse, 71 Grandstand Road, Ascot Western Australia 6104.