Australian Cup
Australian Cup
Group One Betting Guide
| Date: | Saturday March 30, 2023 |
| Location: | Flemington Racecourse – Victoria, Australia |
| Prize Money: | $3,000,000 |
| Distance: | 2000m |
The Group 1 Australian Cup is one of the oldest races to be run and won over the years in Australia. First run in 1863, the race’s honour roll hosts several hall-of-famers, showing the class that is required to take out the staying event over 2000m.
The race was held over a variety of distances up to two miles until it was set at 2000m in 1973, which is where it has remained ever since.
It was granted Group 1 status in 1979.
The Australian Cup brings together some of the countries best stayers who are on track to compete in the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
2024 Australian Cup Betting Odds
Markets for the 2024 Australian Cup are currently unavailable.
Best Australian Cup bookmakers
With the Australian Cup being one of the more time-honoured races in the country, it always attracts a quality field that punters can bet on with confidence.
Not only will Australian Cup betting markets go up earlier than previously anticipated, but the winner of the race will no doubt shorten for the Sydney Cup the following month.
The bookmakers below offer markets on the Australian Cup:
Sport Table
Latest Australian Cup News
Valiant King will not be among the final declarations for the Melbourne Cup, with the promising four year old withdrawn ...
In this week’s Follow Files, we have found three horses that are worth following after impressive runs in Group 1 ...
Ben Melham and James Cummings have combined with Cascadian to take out the feature Group 1 race of the day ...
The Group 1 Australian Cup takes top billing at Flemington on Saturday afternoon, and HorseBetting's James Herbert presents his race-by-race ...
Liam Howley was a nervous man this week as he waited to hear whether Virtuous Circle had made the field ...
Mark Walker's disappointment at Group One performer Campionessa missing a start in Saturday's Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington ...
Australian Cup Betting Guide
The Australian Cup dates all the way back to 1863, when Barwon took out the inaugural running.
Over the years, the strongest form reference looks to be from the Group 3 Carlyon Cup, held three weeks prior to the Australian Cup.
The race has been run over five different distances. From 1863-1942 it was held over two-and-a-quarter miles, and between 1943-1962 it was held at 3500m. In 1963 the race was held at one-and-three-quarter miles, and between 1964-1972 it moved to one-and-a-quarter miles. Since 1973, however, the race has been run over 2000m.
Since 1979 the Australian Cup has been run at Group 1 level, and the race in 2007 was the only time the Australian Cup was held away from Flemington, when Caulfield hosted the prestigious event.
It is no surprises to see that the late great Bart Cummings has the most Australian Cups to his name with an impressive thirteen under his belt.
The Australian Cup has produced plenty of eventual Melbourne Cup winners, so it is always a good idea to keep the winner in mind for that first Tuesday in November.
2024 Australian Cup Final Field
Horsebetting.com.au will update this page when the 2024 Australian Cup field is released.
Previous Australian Cup Fields
Many a Group 1 sprinting superstar has used the Australian Cup to kick off their autumn campaigns.
No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 
Cascadian James Cummings Ben Melham 11 59kg 2 Regal Power John Leek (Jnr) Craig Newitt 10 59kg 3 Mo’ungaAnnabel NeashamDaniel Moor1559kg4 Nonconformist Grahame Begg Jordan Childs 14 59kg 5 Emissary Mike Moroney Blake Shinn 19 59kg 6 Smokin’ Romans Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Beau Mertens 5 59kg 7 Numerian Annabel Neasham Jamie Mott 1 59kg 8 MarocchinoLou LucianiTroy Turner1359kg9 Right You AreCiaron Maher & David EustaceBen Allen859kg10 Hezashocka Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Damien Oliver 3 59kg 11 Pounding Peter Moody Luke Nolen 9 59kg 12 Lunar Flare Grahame Begg Michael Dee 16 57kg 13 El Patroness Danny O’Brien Patrick Moloney 6 57kg 14 Steinem Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Harry Coffey 12 57kg 15 Bank Maur Richard Laming Jye McNeil 7 54.5kg 16 Virtuous Circle Liam Howley Daniel Moor 2 54.5kg 17 Yaphet (1E) Cliff Brown Ben Allen 18 59kg 18 Campionessa (2E) Mark Walker Opie Bosson 4 57kg 19 Bear Story (3E) Clinton McDonald Daniel Stackhouse 17 59kg No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Cascadian James Cummings Damien Oliver 2 59kg 2 Think It Over Kerry Parker Nash Rawiller 4 59kg 3 Spanish Mission Peter Moody James McDonald 10 59kg 4 Ho Ho Khan Mitchell Freedman Tahlia Hope 12 59kg 5 Steel Prince Anthony & Sam Freedman Jye McNeil 7 59kg 6 Surprise Baby Gavin Bedggood Dean Holland 6 59kg 7 Yonkers Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 5 59kg 8 Callsign Mav Danny O’Brien Jamie Mott 11 59kg 9 Delphi Anthony & Sam Freedman Mark Zahra 1 59kg 10 Maximal John O’Shea Hugh Bowman 3 58.5kg 11 She’s Ideel Bjorn Baker Jamie Kah 9 57kg 12 Duais Edward Cummings Joshua Parr 8 57kg No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Humidor Chris Waller Damian Lane 12 59kg 2 Harlem Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes Michael Walker 7 59kg 3 Fifty Stars Tom Dabernig & Ben Hayes John Allen 3 59kg 4 Homesman Anthony & Sam Freedman Jye McNeil 14 59kg 5 Warning Anthony & Sam Freedman Damien Oliver 15 59kg 6 Angel Of Truth Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes William Pike 13 59kg 7 Best Of Days James Cummings Luke Nolen 17 59kg 8 Steel Prince Anthony & Sam Freedman Jamie Kah 11 59kg 9 Chapada Mike Moroney Daniel Stackhouse 9 59kg 10 Platoon Neville Parnham Brad Parnham 10 59kg 11 Shared Ambition Chris Waller Mark Zahra 2 59kg 12 Defibrillate Patrick Payne Billy Egan 4 59kg 13 San Huberto Matt Cumani Dean Yendall 6 59kg 14 Nonconformist Grahame Begg Luke Currie 16 59kg 15 Miami Bound Danny O’Brien Daniel Moor 8 57kg 16 Miss Siska Matthew Smith Michael Dee 3 57kg 17 Paradee Danny O’Brien Craig Williams 1 57kg
2023 Australian Cup result
1st – Cascadian ($3.80)
2nd – Numerian ($3.50)
3rd – Pounding ($6.00)
Recent Australian Cup results
- After a massive run in the $5 million All Star Mile at Moonee Valley seven days prior, Cascadian has backed up into the Group 1 Australian Cup and won his first Group 1 at Flemington. The win in the Australian Cup goes with his other Group 1 wins in the Doncaster Handicap and All Aged Stakes. James Cummings trained his star gelding to the minute and he was breath taking when he let down on the outside, picking up the eventual runner-up Numerian in the final 100m of the 2000m event. As soon as Cummings and his team confirmed that the son of New Approach would back up into the Australian Cup, he was backed into favouritism with online bookmakers and he remained the favourite all the way up until the jump, although he did drift out to $3.80 in the final minutes before the feature event of the day at Flemington. After setting a very quick tempo, Numerian and Smokin’ Romans must be credited for sticking on to finish in second and fourth, respectively, while Pounding looked the winner at the 200m mark before Cascadian went straight by him like he was standing still.
- Having finished off strongly in the Chipping Norton Stakes the start prior, the Ed Cummings-trainedThe veteran that is Homesman wore down a brave Best Of Days in the shadows of the winning post to claim an emotion-charged Australian Cup. One of the part owners of Homesman was the music icon Michael Gudinski who passed away in the days leading up to the race, so the win was made extra special and was recognised right around the world. It was summed up perfectly by Matt Hill who called him across the line with “Homesman, with the music man cheering above.”It was a barnstorming finish that saw Fifty Stars take out the Australian Cup. At the clock tower Fifty Stars still had four to five lengths to make up on the leaders, but produced a barnstorming run to finish over the top of his rivals. The win handed trainers Tom Dabernig, Ben Hayes and David Hayes their third successive Australian Cup success. It was a handy field that Fifty Stars managed to beat with All Star Mile winner Regal Power having to settle for second and the former Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare in for third.Having been guided by an A-grade steer by Jamie Kah it was Harlem who sprung another surprise at big odds to take out the Australian Cup. Having sat just off the leaders heels the entirety of the race, Kah gave Harlem every conceivable chance to get the job done. Having been headed by the eventual runner up Shillelagh, Harlem needed to lift himself of the canvas to score. He did just that, doing the better over the final 100m to get up in a driving finish and score by the barest possible margin.In a field consisting of the likes of Galio Chop, Almandin and Hartnell it was the Dabernig and Hayes trained Harlem, who as the rank outsider of the field took out his first Australian Cup. Having been held up until the 300m just off the leaders’ heels, a patient ride paid off for Michael Walker when the gap appeared and Harlem responded underneath him. When he was held up it looked like the back markers would have been able to sail past him, but it was the $61 chance who did his best work late to win going away from his rivals.Having finished second in both the Group 3 Carlyon Cup and Group 2 Peter Young Stakes it was the former kiwi Humidor who charged home late to take out the Australian Cup.The race had been set up as a match race between Humidor and the Caulfield Cup winner Jameka, but it was Humidor who hit lead over the final 100m and went on to claim his first win in Australia.Having sat outside the leader throughout the running Preferment looked to have just fallen short in his quest to take out the Australian Cup. Despite crossing the line in second place behind Awesome Rock, Hugh Bowman and Chris Waller took the result into the stewards roopm alleging interferance in the home straight. To the joy of some punters on course, the decision was overturned and Preferment was handed his third Group 1 success.
Previous winners of the Australian Cup
Australian Cup Past Winners Year Horse Jockey Trainer 2023 Cascadian Ben Melham James Cummings 2022 Duais Joshua Parr Edward Cummings 2021 Homesman Jye McNeil Anthony & Sam Freedman 2020 Fifty Stars John Allen David and Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig 2019 Harlem Jamie Kah David and Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig 2018 Harlem Michael Walker David and Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig 2017 Humidor Damian Lane Darren Weir 2016 Preferment Hugh Bowman Chris Waller 2015 Spillway Michael Walker David Hayes & Tom Dabernig 2014 Fiorente Damien Oliver Gai Waterhouse 2013 Super Cool Michael Rodd Mark Kavanagh 2012 Manighar Luke Nolen Peter Moody 2011 Shocking Corey Brown Mark Kavanagh 2010 Zipping Nicholas Hall Robert Hickmott 2009 Niconero Craig Williams David Hayes 2008 Sirmione Peter Mertens Bart Cummings 2007 Pompeii Ruler Craig Newitt Mick Price 2006 Roman Arch Craig Newitt Robbie Laing 2005 Maykbe Diva Glen Boss Lee Freedman 2004 Lonhro Darren Beadman John Hawkes 2003 Northerly Patrick Payne Fred Kersley 2002 Old Comrade Paul Harvey Noel Lamey 2001 Northerly Greg Childs Fred Kersley 2000 Intergaze Craig Carmody Rod Craig
Australian Cup Past Winners Pre 2000
Australian Cup Past Winners Pre 2000 Year Horse 1999 Istidaad 1998 Dane Ripper 1997 Octagonal 1996 Saintly 1995 Starstruck 1994 Durbridge 1993 Veandercross 1992 Let’s Elope 1991 Better Loosen Up 1990 Vo Rogue 1989 Vo Rogue 1988 Dandy Andy 1987 Bonecrusher 1986 Playful Princess 1985 Noble Peer 1984 Admiral Lincoln 1983 Spectrum 1982 Kip 1981 Hyperno 1980 Ming Dynasty 1979 Dulcify 1978 Ming Dynasty 1977 Ngawyni 1976 Lord Dudley 1975 Leilani 1974 Bush Win 1973 Gladman 1972 Jan’s Beau 1971 Gay Icarus 1970 Crewman 1969 Yootha/Cyron 1968 Arcitc Coast 1967 Bore Head 1966 Craftsman 1965 Craftsman 1964 Grand Print 1963 Welkin Prince 1962 Welkin Prince 1961 Dream King 1960 Illoura 1959 Gaybao 1958 Dream Son 1957 Miss High Caste 1956 Pushover 1955 Hellion 1954 Sunish 1953 Arbroath 1952 Murray Glen 1951 Bold Belle 1950 Bold John 1949 New Cashmere 1948 Bannerette 1947 Sydney James 1946 Knockarlow 1945 Spectre 1944 Similar 1943 Taramoa 1942 Wise Counsel 1941 Saul 1940 Indignity 1939 Pageant 1938 Marauder 1937 Mutable 1936 Amalia 1935 Sylvandale 1934 Heroic Prince 1933 Topical 1932 Madstar 1931 Carry On 1930 Nadean 1929 Some Quality 1928 Sea Money 1927 Spearfelt 1926 Pilliewinkie 1925 Answer 1924 Accarak 1923 Prince Cox 1922 Harvest King 1921 The Rover 1920 Macadam 1919 New Tipperary 1918 Defence 1917 Harriet Graham 1916 Cherubini 1915 Lempriere 1914 Wallalo 1913 Almissa 1912 LSaxonite/Prizefighter 1911 The Parisian 1910 Orline 1909 Pendil 1908 Peru 1907 Realm 1906 Tartan 1905 Lord Ullin’s Daughter 1904 Marmont 1903 Great Scot 1902 Blue Metal 1901 Dreamland 1900 La Carabine 1899 Bobadil 1898 Ayrshire 1897 Coil 1896 Idolator 1895 Havoc 1894 Broken Hill 1893 Portsea 1892 Highborn 1891 Vengeance 1890 Dreadnought 1889 Lochiel 1888 Carlyon 1887 Trident 1886 Malua 1885 Ringwood 1884 Morpeth 1883 Navigator 1882 Pollio 1881 Firstwater 1880 Columbus 1879 Savanaka 1878 Hirst King 1877 Sybil 1876 Richmond 1875 Lurline 1874 Protos 1873 Warrior 1872 Saladin 1871 Nimblefoot 1870 Norma 1869 Gasworks 1868 Shenandoah 1867 Tim Whiffler 1866 Woodman 1865 Woodman 1864 Nathalie 1863 Spectrum Comments are closed.