Launceston Cup 2024

Ladbrokes Tip: The Group 3 Hobart Cup is the key lead-up into the Launceston Cup each summer!

The Ladbrokes Launceston Cup is a popular 2400m staying test run and won at Launceston Racecourse each Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival.

A handicap clash offering $300,000 in prize money as of 2023, the event runs on a Wednesday in late February and is accompanied on the card by the Group 3 Vamos Stakes (1400m) for fillies and mares.

The time-honoured Launceston Cup was first contested back in 1865 and has held Group 3 status since 1980.

The Group 3 Hobart Cup (2400m) run a fortnight prior is the key lead-up and the popular Tassie Cups double has been recently completed by Up Cups (2016) and Eastender (2019).

The latest edition of the Ladbrokes Launceston Cup ran on Wednesday February 28, 2024 during the Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival and was won by the heavily-backed Victorian raider Excelleration ($2.60F).

2024 Launceston Cup Results

The full Launceston Cup 2024 Results & Finishing Order will be known on Wednesday February 28, 2024 and published right here so stay tuned.

• 1st: #6 Excelleration
• 2nd: #2 Alhambra Lad
• 3rd: #4 Grand Pierro

A big move in the markets saw the Richard Cully-trained seven-year-old from Victoria Excelleration ($2.60F) start favourite in the Ladbrokes Launceston Cup 2024 and reward his backers with a big victory over the locals thanks to a notable weight relief.

2024 Launceston Cup Odds

The updated Launceston Cup 2024 betting odds will be available below as soon as released.

Launceston Cup Race Info

• Date: Wednesday February 28, 2024
• Track: Launceston Racecourse
• Distance: 2400m
• Conditions: Open Handicap
• Status: Group 3
• Prize Money: $300,000
• First Run: 1865

Launceston Cup Betting

Launceston Cup betting markets traditionally open after the field is announced on the Friday prior to the popular staying event running at Launceston Racecourse during the Tasmanian Summer Racing Carnival. 

Stayers with previous Group 3 or higher winning form, those that performed well the previous spring perhaps interstate in similar grade races and the proven Tasmanian runners out of the Hobart Cup field traditionally dominate Launceston Cup odds.

The better class and higher-weighted runners usually head the Launceston Cup markets too as just one horse – Larry’s Never Late (53.5kg in 2010) – has carried under 54kg to victory in the event since 2005.

Launceston Cup Field

The Launceston Cup race field attracts a quality line-up of local staying types each summer/autumn racing season, many of which may have had a lead-up run in Hobart’s Group 3 Hobart Cup (2400m) a fortnight earlier over the same distance. 

Many Launceston Cup hopefuls have contested previous editions of the race. 

Aurora’s Symphony (2022, 2023) is one example winning back-to-back editions of the Group 3 showdown in Tasmania.

Launceston Cup nominations are taken the Wednesday before race week with final acceptances out on the Friday. 

2024 Launceston Cup Field & Barrier Draw

The official Launceston Cup 2024 Field & Barriers are announced by Tas Racing the Friday prior to the race and published in full below so stay tuned for the full line-up of top summer stayers in the mix. 

Two-time defending champion Aurora’s Symphony chasing a Launceston Cup hat-trick headlines this year’s Ladbrokes Launceston Cup 2024 final field on the back of a big Hobart Cup triumph.

2024 Launceston Cup Nominations

The Launceston Cup 2024 nominations are taken on the Wednesday leading-up to the event and the list of early entries will be available below once announced.

Launceston Cup Tips

Launceston Cup tips include backing the proven Group winners in the field, looking for those with a good Launceston strike-rate and avoiding the mares who have only won the race twice – Glass Warrior (2021) and Epingle (2014) – since 2005. 

Another solid Launceston Cup betting tip is backing the runners drawn in barriers 11 and 12 which have produced four of the nine winners from 2014 – 2022. 

In 2023 Aurora’s Symphony successfully defended his Launceston Cup title winning from barrier one with 55.5kg. 

2024 Launceston Cup Tips

Our expert Launceston Cup 2024 tips will be available below the week of the race so stay tuned.

• To Win: #6 Excelleration ($3.90 at time of publish) – BET NOW

No doubting the favourite Aurora’s Symphony is the class horse in this year’s Ladbrokes Launceston Cup field, but looking at the weights going to learn towards the market mover Excelleration for a touch of value. This Richard Cully-trained seven-year-old comes off a commanding 4.25 length win in the Great Western Cup (1950m) carrying 59.5kg and now travels down to the Apple Isle up in class and distance but dropping right back to 54kg. Gets a gun run from barrier four. No doubt the 2400m is a slight query, but going too strong to ignore here. 

Launceston Cup Form Guide

The Launceston Cup form guide details all of the must know info like the jockeys, trainers and lead-up form of the stayers in the field along with the official Launceston Cup barrier draw. 

The Launceston Cup form has gone on to hold up in plenty of stronger grade over the years including in 2017 when the winner Big Duke went to Sydney and won the Group 3 NE Manion Cup (2400m), the Group 2 Chairman’s Handicap (2600m) and finish third in that year’s Group 1 Sydney Cup trifecta over the two miles. Big Duke also finished fourth to Rekindling in the 2017 Melbourne Cup that spring. 

In 2022 the Launceston Cup runner-up Ho Ho Khan franked the form with a next-up fourth to Duais at $61 odds in Flemington’s Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m). 

After winner a second Launceston Cup in 2023, Aurora’s Symphony went on to finish second in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) over the two miles at Morphettville. 

The 2023 Launceston Cup form was also franked by Spirit Ridge with the third place-getter running well in a host of other races that year including finishing second in the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) in Sydney in the spring. 

2024 Launceston Cup Form Guide

A link to our comprehensive Launceston Cup 2024 Form Guide will be provided below the week of the race.

Launceston Cup Results

The Launceston Cup race results have been dominated by quality local stayers.

Notable Launceston Cup winners include historic four-time champion Strop (1866, 1869, 1874, 1876), Vamos (1954, 1955), St. Andrews (2000, 2002, 2003), Geegees Blackflash (2013), Big Duke (2017), Eastender (2019), and the latest dual champion Aurora’s Symphony (2022, 2023).

Glass Warrior (2021) was the last mare to win the Launceston Cup.

Launceston Cup Winners

Past Launceston Cup winners and place-getters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.