Australian Cup

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.

Held on the same day as the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington, the Australian Cup brings together some of the countries best stayers who are on track to compete in the Sydney Autumn Carnival.

2021 Australian Cup betting odds

In an autumn without an out-and-out favourite for the 2021 Australian Cup, there looks to be some decent value no matter where you look in the market.

Verry Elleegant brings a whole lot of class to the field and heads the 2021 Australian Cup betting at $7. The six-time Group 1 winner has saluted over the Flemington 2000m before, taking out the Turnbull Stakes last year.

The 2020 Australian Cup winner, Fifty Stars, looks set to defend his crown in the Group 1 race. The six-year-old stallion is on the second line of betting at $8 alongside Kolding and Shared Ambition.

Up-and-coming stayer Defibrilliate from the Patrick Payne yard is a $12 shot to take out the Australian Cup. He shares that quote with Nonconformist and last year’s Cox Plate winner, Sir Dragonet, who is looking to make up for his poor return in the CF Orr Stakes.

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

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.

2020 Australian Cup result

Recent Australian Cup results

• 2020: Fifty Stars makes it a hat-trick for Dabernig & Hayes
  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.
• 2019: Harlem holds on to go back to back in the Australian Cup
  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.
• 2018: An upset in the Australian Cup!
  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.
• 2017: Humidor finally breaks through
  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.
• 2016: Australian Cup decided in the Stewards Room
  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 Pre 2000

Comments are closed.