Ladbrokes Tip: The JRA Cup is a potential lead-up into the Melbourne Cup each spring
The JRA Cup is a Group 3 race currently contested on Cox Plate Day at The Valley on a Saturday late October during the annual Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

2022 JRA Cup winner Desert Icon. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Racing at the meeting is headlined by the Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) and the day features a host of other Group status events including the Group 2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) for Derby hopes, the Group 2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) moved from September in 2024, the Crystal Mile (1600m), and the Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (1600m).
The JRA Cup is a quality handicap race contested over 2040m – the same distance as the iconic Ladbrokes W.S. Cox Plate – and currently offers $200,000 in prize money.
First run in 1993, the event gained Group 3 status in 2010 and has been won by many quality horses over the years that went on to win bigger races during their careers.
Some of the better horses out of the JRA Cup race may now continue onto the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) on the first Tuesday of November after the JRA Cup moved from Moir Stakes Night in September to the Moonee Valley Gold Cup Night in October ahead of the 2023 edition.
In 2024 it moved from the Friday Night Racing program at The Valley to the Cox Plate Day line-up on the Saturday but remains a potential Melbourne Cup lead-up race.
The latest edition of the JRA Cup ran on Saturday October 26, 2024 at The Valley on Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day with Ciaron Maher training the first four over the line led by the dominant race favourite Future History ($3.20F) by 1.5 lengths.
2024 JRA Cup Results
The official JRA Cup 2024 race results and finishing order will be provided below once the race takes place on Saturday October 26, 2024.
2024 JRA Cup winner Future History. Photo: Ultimarate Racing Photos.
- 1st: #1 Future History
- 2nd: #7 Promises Kept
- 3rd: #8 Kettle Hill
Ciaron Maher’s last start Naturalism runner-up, Future History, was given a confident ride by Mark Zahra who dictated and controlled the race from barrier to box before drawing away over the closing stages to dominate the 2024 JRA Cup results on Cox Plate Day and salute by 1.5 lengths with Maher training the first four over the line!
2024 JRA Cup Odds
The season’s best JRA Cup 2024 betting odds and links to our markets will be provided right here the week of the race so stay tuned for the top Moonee Valley racing odds this spring.
Early market betting odds on the 2025 JRA Cup will be displayed below once available. Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live markets, please visit ladbrokes.com.au.
JRA Cup Race Facts
- Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
- Track: Moonee Valley Racecourse
- Distance: 2040m
- Conditions: Quality Handicap
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $200,000
- First Run: 1993
JRA Cup Betting
JRA Cup betting is led by in-form staying types with winning form over at least 2000m.
Horses coming off a lead-up Melbourne win or proven at the tight Moonee Valley circuit also sit high up the JRA Cup betting odds.
Ain’tnodeeldun ($2.80 in 2023) and Future History ($3.20 in 2024) are the latest favourites in JRA Cup betting to salute for the punters.
JRA Cup Field
The JRA Cup race field attracts a quality field of staying types heading towards tougher assignments over the spring carnival.
2022 JRA Cup winner Desert Icon was dominant posting a 3.5 length win in the event for trainer Chris Waller. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Previously, runners out of the JRA Cup field may have backed-up in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield looking to win their way into the Caulfield Cup field before the JRA Cup date changed to late October in 2023.
In 2024, Future History improved on a lead-up 2nd in the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) to dominate the JRA Cup results.
Now runners in the JRA Cup field are likely to target Flemington races over the Melbourne Cup Carnival including the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) or even the Melbourne Cup race itself over the two-miles.
The JRA Cup nominations close the Monday before the race runs on the Saturday, while the final field and barriers are out on the Wednesday.
2024 JRA Cup Field
The official JRA Cup 2024 Final Field & Barrier Draw will be available right here once acceptances are taken on the Wednesday of race week so stay tuned to see the list of horses set to face off at Moonee Valley in the potential Group 1 lead-up.
The 2024 JRA Cup field features a quality line-up of staying types led in betting by the rails-drawn Kingswood chasing a hat-trick and last seen winning the Coongy Cup.
2024 JRA Cup Nominations
The JRA Cup Nominations for 2024 close on the Monday leading-up to the race.
JRA Cup Tips
Good JRA Cup betting tips include looking for in-form staying types proven in tougher races and those with past form at Moonee Valley Racecourse.
Runners under double-figures in betting, those with form over the 2000m plus distance range, and any proven Group 1 performers down in grade also make a good JRA Cup tip.
Another key JRA Cup tip is to look for the in-form six-year-olds in the race as all four JRA Cup winners from 2019-2022 were six-year-olds.
2024 JRA Cup Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ insider JRA Cup tips and Moonee Valley Group 3 betting selections will be detailed below the week of the race so bookmark this page for the runners to get behind in the race this spring.
To Win: #4 Kingswood ($2.20 at time of publish) – SCRATCHED
Favourite at time of publish and happy to stick with the airborne Gavin Bedggood-trained Kingswood chasing a hat-trick. The in-form Roaring Lion import has been excellent since arriving down under with his Cranbourne horseman Bedggood enjoying the ride! The gun grey won at Sandown with 58.5kg by a big margin two back before stepping up in grade to salute in the Group 3 Coongy Cup (2000m) at Caulfield defeating Berkshire Breeze by 1.75 lengths without a worry. Back up in weight but striking while the iron’s hot, gets the rails run from barrier one with John Allen continuing associations and has a great record at the distance (4:2-1-1).
JRA Cup Form Guide
The JRA Cup form guide features all the essential race information including the jockeys, trainers, barriers and lead-up runs of the horses in the field.
The JRA Cup form has gone on to stack-up in better spring races many times over the years including the 2018 winner The Taj Mahal who ran fifth in that year’s Caulfield Cup results before a subsequent win in the Group 2 Zipping Classic at Sandown, a race he also won in 2017.
In 2017 the ATC Derby winner Jon Snow took out the JRA Cup before a next-up third in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m).
2024 JRA Cup Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive JRA Cup 2024 Form Guide will be provided for punters below the week of the race.
JRA Cup Results
The JRA Cup race results have been dominated in recent years by in-form stayers at single-figures in betting.
Notable JRA Cup winners throughout history include El Segundo (2005), Maldivian (2007), Alcopop (2009), Precedence (2010), and Jon Snow (2017).
Both El Segundo and Maldivian won the Cox Plate throughout their careers in 2007 and 2008 respectively, but not in the same year as their JRA Cup victories.
Real Love (2016) was the last JRA Cup winning mare.
Secret Blaze holds the current 2040m JRA Cup race record winning in 2021 in a time of 2 minutes 04.31 seconds.
Past JRA Cup Winners
Recent JRA Cup winners dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
Year |
Winner |
Trainer/s |
Jockey |
Weight |
Time |
2024 |
Future History |
Ciaron Maher |
Mark Zahra |
58 kgs |
2:06.68 |
2023 |
Ain’tnodeeldun |
Anthony & Sam Freedman |
Billy Egan |
56.5 kgs |
2:05.22 |
2022 |
Desert Icon |
Chris Waller |
Brett Prebble |
54 kgs |
2:09.17 |
2021 |
Secret Blaze |
Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
Craig Williams |
54 kgs |
2:04.31 |
2020 |
Al Galayel |
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace |
Ben Melham |
56 kgs |
2:07.94 |
2019 |
Captain Cook |
Chris Waller |
Linda Meech |
54 kgs |
2:06.45 |
2018 |
The Taj Mahal |
Liam Howley |
Ben Melham |
58.5 kgs |
2:05.37 |
2017 |
Jon Snow |
Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman |
Stephen Baster |
59 kgs |
2:07.12 |
2016 |
Real Love |
Darren Weir |
Brad Rawiller |
58 kgs |
2:05.76 |
2015 |
Escado |
Matt Laurie |
Ben Melham |
56.5 kgs |
2:05.88 |
2014 |
The Cleaner |
Mick Burles |
Steven Arnold |
59 kgs |
2:05.99 |
2013 |
Mourinho |
Peter Gelagotis |
Craig Newitt |
54 kgs |
2:06.14 |
2012 |
Bianmick |
Michael Brady |
Darren Gauci |
54 kgs |
2:06.66 |
2011 |
Dream Pedlar |
Troy Blacker |
Craig Newitt |
54.5 kgs |
2:08.71 |
2010 |
Precedence |
Bart Cummings |
Blake Shinn |
55 kgs |
2:05.31 |
2009 |
Alcopop |
Jake Stephens |
Dom Tourneur |
53 kgs |
2:08.41 |
2008 |
Cefalu |
Lee Freedman |
Luke Nolen |
54.5 kgs |
2:05.99 |
2007 |
Maldivian |
Mark Kavanagh |
Michael Rodd |
56 kgs |
2:05.85 |
2006 |
Pavlova |
Cliff Brown |
Ben Melham |
53 kgs |
2:07.00 |
2005 |
El Segundo |
Colin Little |
Darren Gauci |
52.5 kgs |
2:07.54 |
2004 |
Beswinging |
Louise Bonella |
Dale Smith |
52.5 kgs |
2:12.82 |
2003 |
General Booth |
Tony Vasil |
Damien Oliver |
55 kgs |
2:06.74 |
2002 |
Cheverny |
Guy Walter |
Glen Boss |
52.5 kgs |
2:07.51 |
2001 |
Rain Gauge |
George Hanlon |
Greg Childs |
53.5 kgs |
2:06.29 |
2000 |
Prince Benbara |
Tony Rosolini |
Brett Prebble |
51.5 kgs |
2:07.38 |
FAQ
Who won the 2024 JRA Cup?
The 2024 JRA Cup was won by the Ciaron Maher-trained Future History who saluted as the $3.250 favourite and was ridden by Mark Zahra.
When is the JRA Cup 2024?
Saturday October 26, 2024
What is the prize money for the JRA Cup 2024?
$200,000
Where is the JRA Cup 2024?
Moonee Valley Racecourse, Feehan Ave, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039.