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
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1 Hartnell | ||
4 Gailo Chop | ||
11 Single Gaze | ||
2 Almandin |