The Adelaide Cup is the pinnacle of racing in South Australia, attracting racing enthusiasts from around the country. The 3,200-metre race, which is the highlight of the two-week-long Adelaide Cup Carnival is run at the Allan Scott Park Morphettville Racecourse in Adelaide.

  • Race Type: Group 2
  • Distance: 3,200 metres
  • Track: Allan Scott Park Morphettville, Adelaide, South Australia
  • Date: Monday 12 March 2018

The other big race during the Adelaide Cup Carnival is the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic. The Magic Millions Yearling Sales, held over four days, joined the Carnival in 2006. Future champions of the national and international racing scene are sold at the sale.

Adelaide Cup Final Field & Odds 2018

See below for early markets for this years Adelaide Cup.

Adelaide Cup Preview & Tips 2018

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There are 18 runners for the $400,000 2018 Ubet Adelaide Cup. The betting is fairly open and the early favourite is Fanatic who won the 2017 Sandown Cup over this distance and who was 2nd in the Roy Higgins over 2600m at Flemington last week. Second favourite is Ormito who has ran 3rd at his last 3 starts. There are two horses on the third line of betting. Master Of Arts who was 2nd in the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes last week and was 3rd in this race last year after winning the 2017 Lord Reims Stakes, and Exalted Lightning who was 4th in last weeks Lord Reims.

Double Bluff was 2nd in this race last year and has had 2 wins in February before 5th in the Roy Higgins. Pretty Punk won the Hobart Cup over 2400m before 3rd in the Launceston Cup. O’Lonera was a close 2nd over 2500m last start. Diamond Grace goes well at 2400-2500m but is untested at this distance. Benzini was held up and bumped the fence several times when 3rd in the Lord Reims Stakes. Raindrops On Roses finished off strong when winning over 2500m at Moonee Valley last start. All other runners are currently at 20 to 1 or longer, including Jim’s Journey and Tunes who both ran in this race last year.

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

Jo’s Tips
4 Fanatic
2 Master Of Arts
1 Benzini
10 Al Haram

Previous winners of the Adelaide Cup:

Lord Reims retains a special place in Adelaide Cup history. He is the only horse to win the race three times. The Cliff Fenwick trained gelding won the cup three times in a row – in 1987, 1988 and 1989. Lord Reims had a different rider in each win, with Maree Lyndon making history in becoming the first and so far the only female jockey to win the race.

The most successful trainer is James Scobie, who had six wins between 1898 and 1930.

Year Winner Second Third
2018 Fanatic Ormito Poppiholla
2017 Annus Mirabilis Double Bluff Master Of Arts
2016 Purple Smile Tunes Real Love
2015 Tanby Taiyoo Renew
2014 Outback Joe Black Tycoon Base
2013 Norsqui Waratone Dame Claire
2012 Rialya Drunken Sailor Norsqui
2011 Muir Saddler’s Story Macedonian
2010 Capecover Kerdem Itstheone
2009 Zavite Kerdem Banana Man
2008 Lacey Underall Cefalu Tails Of Triomphe
2007 Gallic Lacey Underall Exalted Time
2006 Exalted Time Tubular Bells Ista Kareem
2005 Demerger Envoy Intriguing
2004 Pantani Danestorm Bel Air
2003 Pilage N Plunder Nautilism Odysseus
2002 The A Train Homewrecker Silver Baron
2001 Apache King Native Jazz Bel Air
2000 Bohemiath Karasi Oxford Dollar

The first Adelaide Cup was held in 1864 when Falcon was the winner. No races were held in 1870 and 1871 and then again during World War II, 1942 and 1943. The race was first run over 2600 meters but was stretched to 3200 meters in 1945 and has remained that distance.