The 2019 Australian Cup is one of two Group 1 races that will be held at Flemington on Saturday and we are set for a simply outstanding race.
Avilius is currently a dominant favourite in Australian Cup betting, but he won’t have his own way against a stacked field that includes two Melbourne Cup winners and a host of horses that have had success at the highest level.
We have analysed every horse in the field and our complete 2019 Australian Cup tips can be found below.
Almandin
Almandin is set to return to the races for the first time since he finished eighth in the Sydney Cup last year. He finished an unlucky fourth in this contest last year, but this year’s field is definitely much stronger and he went into that contest with a run under his belt. I think that he will take good improvement from this run and he will be better suited in the Tancred Stakes.
Rekindling
Rekindling has not been seen at the races since he recorded a memorable win in the 2017 edition of the Melbourne Cup. That was obviously a long time ago and it is tough to know what to expect from him in this contest, but there is no doubt that he does have talent and it would not surprise if he did measure up at 2000 metres.
Ace High
Ace High has been ticking along nicely this campaign and he found the line strongly to finish third behind Avilius in the Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield last start. He would need to improve on that performance to turn-the-tables on Ace High and I can’t see him doing that at this stage of his career, but he is a horse that can finish in the placings.
Trap For Fools
Trap For Fools returns to Flemington for the first time since his memorable win in the Mackinnon Stakes during the Spring Racing Carnival. He returned to that sort of form with his second place finish behind Avilius in the Peter Young Stakes, but he was still no match for his rivals.
Ventura Storm
Ventura Storm was not disgraced in the Peter Young Stakes and he should take good improvement from that run. In saying that, he will probably still need another run before he is at peak fitness and he is another horse that will likely be better suited in the Tancred Stakes.
Harlem
Harlem is back for another crack at the Australian Cup after winning the race at huge odds 12 months ago. It is tough too see him going back-to-back. He was handily beaten in the Peter Young Stakes and his Australian Cup win does look like something of a spike performance at this stage.
Avilius
There is no doubt that Avilius is the horse to beat in the Australian Cup and he goes into this contest as a deserving favourite. He was very impressive when he returned to the races with a win in the Carlyon Cup and he went to another level again to score a very soft win in the Peter Young Stakes. The imported galloper still has the scope to improve on that performance and, over 2000 metres, he can go to a level that no other horse in this field can match. He has drawn barrier one, but that wasn’t an issue in the Peter Young Stakes and with even luck he will be extremely tough to beat.
The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal was a touch disappointing first-up in the Peter Young Stakes. There is no doubt that he will be better for the run and he is capable of a high-rating effort on his day. He can run a better race than his current odds of $21 suggests.
Muntahaa
Muntahaa made his Australian racing debut with a credible ninth place finish in the Melbourne Cup and he is a horse that has produced some high-rating performances in Europe in the past. He will be better over further and he is one horse that I will be keeping my eye on from a Sydney Cup perspective.
Yogi
Yogi returned to the races with an excellent win over 1800 metres at Caulfield, but this is a completely different level. He has never shown anything to suggest that he is capable of winning at this level.
So Si Bon
So Is Bon is racing well and he was only narrowly denied in the Blamey Stakes last weekend. In saying that, it is very tough to see him winning a race of this quality.
Night’s Watch
Night’s Watch is a horse that is heading in the right direction and he should now be at peak fitness after tough runs in the Carlyon Cup and the Peter Young Stakes. He maps to get a lovely run in transit and looks about the right price at $11.
Sikandarabad
Sikandarabad returned to winning form in the Ladbrokes Mornington Cup Prelude and he is a tough stayer, but I don’t think he is capable of winning at this level.
Sound
Sound didn’t really fire in the Melbourne Spring Carnival and he was handily beaten in the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup. It is tough to back him in a race of this quality off those runs.
Shillelagh
Shillelagh raced a touch flat in both the Ladbrokes C.F. Orr Stakes and the Peter Young Stakes. You couldn’t back her in this race off those runs.