The Oslo Cup is a Listed flat horse race in Norway open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run over a distance of 2,400 metres (about 1½ miles) at Øvrevoll in late July or early August. It was changed from the Walter Nilsens Minneløp in 2013.
History The event was named Walter Nilsens Minneløp 2005-2012 in memory of Walter Nilsen, a successful owner-breeder in Norway. It was established in 2005, and was initially held on May 17, the Norwegian public holiday of Constitution Day. It replaced the Oslo Cup, originally staged later in the season.
The Walter Nilsens Minneløp was originally restricted to horses aged four or older. The first running was won by the previous year's Oslo Cup winner, Alpino Chileno.
The race was given Listed status in 2007. It was promoted to Group 3 level in 2011. It was moved to July and opened to three-year-olds in 2012. The race was downgraded to Listed status in 2022.
Records Most successful horse (2 wins): Appel au Maitre – 2008, 2009 Ami De Vega - 2024, 2025
Leading jockey (4 wins): Fredrik Johansson – Appel au Maitre (2008, 2009), Bank of Burden (2011), Sir Lando (2012) Sandro De Paiva - Wishformore (2021), Captain Chorus (2023), Ami De Vega (2024, 2025)
Leading trainer (7 wins): Niels Petersen - Bank of Burden (2011), Without Fear (2014), Eye In The Sky (2015), Our Last Summer (2018), Square de Luynes (2019), Privilegiado (2020), Wishformore (2021)
Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Time 2005 Alpino Chileno 6 Carlos Lopez Rune Haugen 2:33.60 2006 Mick Jerome 5 Yvonne Durant Rune Haugen 2:32.00 2007 Miss the Boat 5 Pascolina Pinto Arnfinn Lund 2:34.90 2008 Appel au Maitre 4 Fredrik Johansson Wido Neuroth 2:33.90 2009 Appel au Maitre 5 Fredrik Johansson Wido Neuroth 2:29.10 2010 Alpacco 8 Manuel Martinez Sandie Kjær Nortoft 2:35.70 2011 Bank of Burden 4 Fredrik Johansson Niels Petersen 2:34.60 2012 Sir Lando 5 Fredrik Johansson Wido Neuroth 2:37.40 2013 Touz Price 5 Jacob Johansen Rune Haugen 2:32.40 2014 Without Fear 6 Rafael Schistl Niels Petersen 2:32.70 2015 Eye In The Sky 4 Elione Chaves Niels Petersen 2:34.70 2016 Hurricane Red 6 Jacob Johansen Lennart Reuterskold Jr. 2:35.50 2017 Giuseppe Piazzi 5 Oliver Wilson Flemming Velin 2:33.00 2018 Our Last Summer 5 Rafael Schistl Niels Petersen 2:31.70 2019 Square de Luynes 4 Rafael Schistl Niels Petersen 2:30.10 2020 Privilegiado 4 Oliver Wilson Niels Petersen 2:31.00 2021 Wishformore 5 Sandro De Paiva Niels Petersen 2:35.20 2022 Quebello 5 Anna Pilroth Tobias Hellgreen 2:31.60 2023 Captain Chorus 5 Sandro De Paiva Cathrine Erichsen 2:36.70 2024 Ami De Vega 4 Sandro De Paiva Jan-Erik Neuroth 2:38.20 2025 Ami De Vega 5 Sandro De Paiva Jan-Erik Neuroth 2:30.70 2026 Schamyl 5 Nikolaj Stott Jan-Erik Neuroth 2:35.00 Eye In The Sky finished first in 2017 but was placed third for causing interference.
Oslo Cup The Oslo Cup was the precursor of the Walter Nilsens Minneløp. It was last run in 2004.
1953: Stratos 1956: Norse 1957: Cobetto 1958: Orsini 1963: Briansk 1972: Gunsmoke 1975: Noble Dancer 1976: Noble Dancer 1977: Brave Tudor 1978: Hill's Double 1979: Coulstry 1982: Rheinsteel 1983: Shaftesbury 1984: Rheinsteel 1985: Tryffoc 1986: Sand Ship 1987: Gulfland 1988: Sunset Boulevard 1990: Feuerbach 1991: Silvestro 1992: Red Hero 1993: Kateb 1994: Kateb 1995: Theatrician 1996: Ballet Prince / Laila Alawi * 1997: Inchrory 1998: Inchrory 1999: Inchrory 2000: Royal Crusade 2001: Valley Chapel 2002: Parthe 2003: Sagittarius 2004: Alpino Chileno
* The 1996 race was a dead-heat and has joint winners.
See also List of Scandinavian flat horse races
References
Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , galopp-sieger.de – Oslo Cup. galopp-sieger.de – Walter Nilsens Minneløp. horseracingintfed.com – International Federation of Horseracing Authorities – Oslo Cup (2018). ovrevoll.no – Oslo Cup / Walter Nilsens Minneløp. pedigreequery.com – Oslo Cup – Øvrevoll. pedigreequery.com – Walter Nilsens Minneløp – Øvrevoll.