Australian Cup Race Information

Flemington Racecourse hosts the 2000 metre Australian Cup for thoroughbred horses every March. The Australian Cup is a weight for age race, which means the weight carried by the horse varies depending on the horse’s age, its sex, the race distance and the month of the year.

  • Race Type: Group 1
  • Distance: 2000 metres
  • Conditions: Weight for age
  • Track: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria
  • Prizemoney: $3,000,000
  • Date: Saturday 30 March 2024

Australian Cup Race History

See the 2024 Australian Cup Preview and results.

See the 2023 Australian Cup Preview and results.

See the 2022 Australian Cup Preview and results.

See the 2021 Australian Cup Preview and results.

The Australian Cup has seen a lot of changes since the race was first contested in 1863. Over the years the length of the race has varied. From 1863 to 1942 the Australian Cup was run over 18 furlongs, which is approximately 3600 metres. From 1943 to 1962 it was shortened to 17 furlongs and 110 yards or about 3500 metres. In 1963 the length was cut back to two miles or 3200 metres and since 1964 it has been contested over 10 furlongs or about 2000m.

In 2022 Duais, a four-year-old trained by Edward Cummings won. She was the first mare to win since Makybe Diva won as a 6YO in 2005. The last 4YO mare to win before her was Dane Ripper in 1998 who was trained by Bart Cummings (Edwards grandfather). Bart also won with 4YO mares Let’s Elope and Leilani and in total won this race 12 times.

Useful Facts

Last mare to win: Makybe Diva (2005)

Last 3YO to win: C&G – Super Cool (2013); Filly – none since it was run over 2000m

Multiple winners: Cascadian (2023 & 2024); Harlem (2018 & 2019); Northerly (2001 & 2003); Vo Rogue (1989 & 1990); Ming Dynasty (1978 & 1980); Craftsman (1965 & 1966); Welkin ( 1962 & 1963); Woodman (1865 & 1866).

Fastest time (2000m): Makybe Diva (2005) 1:58:73

Interesting trivia: In 1969 Yootha and Cyron dead-heated for first. In 1912 Prizefighter and Saxonite dead-heated for first.

Past winners of the Australian Cup

In 2014 Fiorente and Green Moon became the first two Melbourne Cup winners to quinella a race since 1873. Trainer Bart Cummings won this race 13 times with the first win on 1968 and the last in 2008. Let’s Elope won in 1992, Durbridge in 1994 and Dane Ripper in 1998.

Jockey Darren Beadman has ridden three Australian Cup champions, Let’s Elope in 1992, Saintly in 1996 and Lonhro in 2004. When Makybe Diva won in 2005 she set the race record time of 1:58:73 which beat the previous record set by Northerly who won in 2003 and 2001. Other winners include Istidaad, 1999; Dane Ripper, 1998; Octagonal, 1997; Starstruck, 1995; Durbridge, 1994; Veandercross, 1993; Better Loosen Up, 1991 and Vo Rogue, 1990 and 1989.

Year Winner Second Third
2024 Cascadian Pride Of Jenni Atishu
2023 Cascadian Numerian Pounding
2022 Duais Think It Over Spanish Mission
2021 Homesman Best Of Days Chapada
2020 Fifty Stars Regal Power Vow And Declare
2019 Harlem Shillelagh Trap For Fools
2018 Harlem Gailo Chop Ventura Storm
2017 Humidor Jameka Exospheric
2016 Preferment Awesome Rock Rising Romance
2015 Spillway Extra Zero Happy Trails
2014 Fiorente Green Moon Foreteller
2013 Super Cool Fiveandahalfstar Tanby
2012 Manighar Southern Speed Americain
2011 Shocking Linton Playing God
2010 Zipping Sirmione Moatize
2009 Niconero Theseo Zagreb
2008 Sirmione Princess Coup Casino Prince
2007 Pompeii Ruler Marasco Tawqeet
2006 Roman Arch Candy Vale Our Smoking Joe
2005 Makybe Diva Winning Belle Lad Of The Manor
2004 Lonhro Delzao Elvstroem
2003 Northerly Natural Blitz Don Eduardo
2002 Old Comrade Northerly Rain Gauge
2001 Northerly Hit The Roof Kaapstad Way
2000 Intergaze Arena Streak
1999 Istidaad Intergaze Thackeray
1998 Dane Ripper Delinquent Marble Halls
1997 Octagonal Gold City Juggler
1996 Saintly Vialli Peep On The Sly
1995 Starstruck Jeune Station Hand
1994 Durbridge Station Hand Mahogany
1993 Veandercross Star Of The Realm Fraar
1992 Let’s Elope Shiva’s Revenge Prince Salieri
1991 Better Loosen Up Vo Rogue Prince Salieri
1990 Vo Rogue Better Loosen Up Super Impose
1989 Vo Rogue Super Impose Our Poetic Prince
1988 Dandy Andy Vo Rogue Bonecrusher
1987 Bonecrusher At Talaq Ima Red Man
1986 Playful Princess Under Oath Knight Of Avon
1985 Noble Peer Astrolin Ankara
1984 Admiral Lincoln Loyal And True Astrolin
1983 Spectrum Noble Comment Silver Bounty
1982 Kip Lawman Galleon
1981 Hyperno Turf Ruler My Brown Jug
1980 Ming Dynasty Double Century Minuetto
1979 Dulcify Manikato Family Of Man
1978 Ming Dynasty Crepellox Carl’s Gift
1977 Ngawyni Better Draw Calvin
1976 Lord Dudley Favoured Bay How Now
1975 Leilani Tudor Peak St. Martin
1974 Bush Win Grand Scale Gala Supreme
1973 Gladman Sharif Sir Goglio
1972 Jan’s Beau Sharif Stop The Show
1971 Gay Icarus Rajah Sahib Tails
1970 Crewman Cyron Nanna Tale
1969 Yootha
Cyron
 * dead-heat 1st Sunhaven
1968 Arctic Coast Yootha Nanna Tale
1967 Bore Head Jovial Knight Hambledon
1966 Craftsman Vignoble Beau Gard
1965 Craftsman Gay Filou Amusement Park
1964 Grand Print Zinga Lee Future
1963 Welkin Prince Aladdin’s Lamp Alpensea
1962 Welkin Prince Lucky Fred Overproof
1961 Dream King Chatoul Contador
1960 Illoura Prince Dahomey
Joss Sticks
 * dead-heat 2nd
1959 Gaybao Regal Wench Sir Akron
1958 Dream Son Andonni Humber Hawk
1957 Miss High Caste Beaupa Lourdale
1956 Pushover Oxley Acquilla
1955 Hellion Dunsinane Royal Sirius
1954 Sunish Royal Radiant Captain Hunter
1953 Arbroath Welkin Sun Royal Radiant
1952 Murray Glen Catchfree Precedent
1951 Bold Belle Land Tax Purdy
1950 Bold John Lady Vara Henley
1949 New Cashmere Saxonian Golden Gem
1948 Bannerette Few Words Sanctus
1947 Sydney James Field Balloon Ellipsis
1946 Knockarlow Silurian Oatcake
1945 Spectre Similar Philander
1944 Similar Liberal Knight Saul
1943 Taramoa Pandini Frill King
1942 Wise Counsel Togo Mercury Bay
1941 Saul Apostrophe Tidal Wave
Velocity
1940 Indignity Morvren Companion
1939 Pageant Dark David Ortelle’s Star
1938 Marauder Old Rowley Pooley Bridge
1937 Mutable Pooley Bridge Demotic
1936 Amalia Highardo Hot Shot
1935 Sylvandale La Trobe Flail
1934 Heroic Prince Peter Jackson Gippsland
1933 Topical Flail Eastern Chief
1932 Madstar Mira Donna Blatherskite
1931 Carry On White Nose St. Mary
1930 Nadean Kidaides Leadlight
1929 Some Quality Kidaides Octember
1928 Sea Money Frilford Kingun
1927 Spearfelt Naos Pantheon
1926 Pilliewinkie Lemina Valbee
1925 Answer Accarak Suomi
1924 Accarak Jackstaff El Dorado
1923 Prince Cox Sir Andrew Stalwart
1922 Harvest King Sister Olive Purser
1921 The Rover Democracy Clever Jim
1920 Macadam Tenterfield Eastcourt
1919 New Tipperary Earlborn Menin
1918 Defence Star Comedian Prince Bardolph
1917 Harriet Graham Court Jester Rushford
1916 Cherubini Wishing Cap Hush Money
1915 Lempriere Wishing Cap Bon Ton
1914 Wallalo Uki Calamus
1913 Almissa Cadonia Piastre
1912 Saxonite
Prizefighter
 * dead-heat 1st Flavian
1911 The Parisian Apple Pie Diabolo
1910 Orline Pendil Diabolo
1909 Pendil Delenda Signor
1908 Peru Tulkeroo Enchanted States
1907 Realm Booran Mira
1906 Tartan Ossian Scot Free
1905 Lord Ullin’s Daughter Dividend Koopan
1904 Marmont Scottish King Seaport
1903 Great Scot Adjuster Acrasia
1902 Blue Metal Haymaker Limber
1901 Dreamland Flintlock San Fran
1900 La Carabine Tabilk Wait-A-Bit
1899 Bobadil Lee Metford Le Var
1898 Ayrshire Batallion Aurum
1897 Coil Preston Wait-A-Bit
1896 Idolator Wallace Hova
1895 Havoc Donation The Harvester
1894 Broken Hill Portsea Light Artillery
1893 Portsea Sternchaser Culloden
1892 Highborn Strathmore Forty Winks
1891 Vengeance Highborn Megaphone
1890 Dreadnought Melos Sir William
1889 Lochiel Carbine Cyclops
Recall
1888 Carlyon Arsenal Dick Swiveller
1887 Trident Nelson All Gold
1886 Malua Cerise And Blue First Prince
1885 Ringwood Sheet Anchor Stormaway
1884 Morpeth Sweet William Le Grand
1883 Navigator Willeroo Guesswork
1882 Pollio Wellington Sweet William
1881 Firstwater Sweetmeat Progress
1880 Columbus Petrea Zambesi
1879 Savanaka Bosworth Swiveller
1878 First King Swiveller Pardon
1877 Sybil Calamia Vibration
1876 Richmond Imperial
Feu d’Artifice
 * dead-heat 2nd
1875 Lurline Wollomai Benjiroo
1874 Protos Mentor After Dark
1873 Warrior Nimblefoot Blue Peter
1872 Saladin Flying Dutchman Mermaid
1871 Nimblefoot Mermaid Foam
1870 Norma Flying Dutchman Duke Of Montrose
1869 Gasworks Woodman Norma
1868 Shenandoah Snip Bachelor
1867 Tim Whiffler Woodman Shenandoah
1866 Woodman Midshipman Sir Tatton
1865 Woodman Musidora Lancer
1864 Nathalie Musidora Malabar
1863 Barwon Flatcatcher Regina

From the archives:

Australian Cup Preview & Tips 2018

Track: Good    Weather: Fine

There will be 12 starters for the $1.5 million 2018 Australian Cup and six of them had their last start in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes. The favourite is Gailo Chop who won the Peter Young by 1.25 lengths. Second favourite is 2016 Melbourne Cup winner Almandin who resumed for a close 2nd in the Mornington Cup Prelude. Third favourite is The Taj Mahal who hasn’t started since his 3.5 length win in the Group 2 Zipping Classic last November.

Hartnell was 3rd in the Peter Young after an impressive first-up win in the Orr Stakes, while Single Gaze was 2nd in both of those races. Homesman held on to win the Mornington Cup Prelude first-up. Devise is a talented New Zealand mare who won the Group 1 Haunui Farm over 1600m last start. The other runners are currently at 20 to 1 or longer, including Japanese horse Ambitious who is having his first Australian start here.

The following are the top 4 selections from our tipster panel for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
1 Hartnell
4 Gailo Chop
11 Single Gaze
2 Almandin