New South Wales’ major staying prize goes on the line at Royal Randwick on The Championship Day 2, when a quality field assembles for the 2024 Sydney Cup.
The Sydney Cup has been won by many stars of the Australasian and indeed, global turf throughout its storied history, and seventeen gallopers will seek to join the list on Saturday afternoon.
Check out our comprehensive runner-by-runner guide to the 2024 Sydney Cup field below.
2024 Sydney Cup Betting Strategy
- 2 Units Ashrun (Win)
- 1 Unit Mahrajan (Each Way)
- 1 Unit Boxed Trifecta (2,3,8,12,15)
1 – Military Mission (17)
Military Mission is yet to win in three runs back from a break and will need plenty to go right from the outside barrier.
He finished tenth, beaten more than eight lengths in last year’s Melbourne Cup – his only start at two miles, and it’s hard to trust him in current form.
2 – Mahrajaan (16)
Kiwi raider Mahrajaan excels over two miles and might prove to be the value in Sydney Cup betting ($23 at publish).
The Kitten’s Joy gelding has won both starts that he has had over the trip, including the Group 3 New Zealand Cup back in November and the Group 2 Auckland Cup last month.
The form out of the latter has been franked, while the booking of Tom Marquand further boosts his claims this week.
3 – Ashrun (12)
Ashrun is hard fit and primed for another big effort in the Sydney Cup.
Having spent three years in the wilderness following the 2020 Spring Carnival, Ashrun returned to action last year, in a prep that was highlighted by him finishing fourth in the Melbourne Cup.
He has improved again this time in, recording a dominant win in the Pakenham Cup most notably, while he kept his best work for late in the Tancred Stakes last time out.
He rates as a key winning chance under the urgings of Craig Williams.
4 – Loft (7)
Loft has failed to make an impact in four runs back from a break.
The booking of Blake Shinn this week is a positive, but the $51 about him in Sydney Cup betting is justified.
5 – Stockman (8)
Stockman is a Group 1 placegetter and multiple black type winner, but his performances this time in have suggested that his best might be behind him.
Happy to risk him in something of this quality.
6 – Selino (9)
Selino has made three appearances at the races this time, finishing down the order on every occasion.
He was last seen running eighth, beaten more than seven lengths at Flemington in the Roy Higgins Quality, and he’d need to improve noticeably to trouble some of these.
7 – Kalapour (6)
Kalapour was a shock winner of the Tancred Stakes last time out, and the Sydney Cup is the next logical target for him.
The War Command gelding has always been a quality stayer, but he has continued to improve noticeably with each of three runs back this time, and he was a fitting winner over a mile and a half at Rosehill Gardens last time out.
He failed to fire when twentieth in the Melbourne Cup last year, his only attempt at two miles so far, and I am of the opinion that he’ll need a few of these genuine stayers to misfire, if he is to win again.
8 – Serpentine (4)
Serpentine has returned to the races seemingly in career-best form, and he is an intriguing inclusion in the 2024 Sydney Cup field.
Having beaten home the likes of Kalapour up in Brisbane in the early winter of last year, the Galileo gelding turned in some fine performances during the proceeding Spring Carnival, before returning to action this time to win the Randwick City Stakes.
He franked that performance with another tough one in the Neville Sellwood Stakes last time out, and strips fitter for it.
Tim Clark, arguably the best on-pace jockey in Australia retains the ride, and the pair will go straight to the lead again this week from barrier 4.
9 – Amade (5)
Amade takes his place in the Sydney Cup field following one of the better staying performances of the season.
Having filled the minors in a couple of Listed staying contested in Melbourne earlier this year, the Casamento gelding’s saddle slipped just after jumping in the Adelaide Cup last month, but continued to battle on well and ultimately finished an incredible fourth.
We know he’ll get the trip, and assuming he doesn’t suffer poor luck again, he looks a genuine Sydney Cup trifecta chance.
10 – Athabascan (11)
Athabascan ran on well to finish fourth in the Tancred Stakes last time out.
Each of his three runs back from a break have been a noticeably improvement on the one that preceded it, and there is no doubt that he will relish getting further out in trip again this week.
With a clear crack at them late, he’s another that looks capable of fighting into the finish.
11 – Manzoice (1)
2022 Victoria Derby winner Manzoice has improved with each run back from a break, culminating in a nice second behind Post Impressionist in the NE Manion Cup last time out.
I am intrigued to see this son of Almanzor out to two miles for the first time, but I am happy to take him on in the Sydney Cup 2024.
12 – Circle Of Fire (15)
Circle Of Fire was an impressive winner on last week’s Group 2 Chairman’s Quality, and he has subsequently opened favourite in Sydney Cup betting.
Another son of Almanzor, Circle Of Fire has made three appearances at the races since arriving in Australia, and his last-start performance suggested he’s found peak order.
A repeat of that and he is every chance of winning again.
13 – Glentaneous (2)
Glentaneous has turned in some fine staying performances this time in, finding form around some of the Sydney Cup’s leading contenders.
He’s yet to be tested over two miles, but he gets the services of Jamie Kah this week and will carry just 51.5kgs.
14 – Major Beel (3)
2023 Australian Derby winner Major Beel steps out third-up and has already attracted some interest in 2024 Sydney Cup betting ($31 into $21).
The Savabeel gelding hasn’t managed to win another race since Day 1 of The Championship last year, but he does look to have returned to action in credible form this time, and worked home well to finish fourth, beaten a length and a half in the Roy Higgins Quality last time out.
I thought that it was the run of a horse looking for further, and he obviously gets that in the Sydney Cup.
15 – Mostly Cloudy (14)
Another interesting runner in the 2024 Sydney Cup field is Mostly Cloudy; a previous winner over two miles.
The Harzand gelding has been a consistent performer for the Busuttin & Young yard since arriving in Australia, and he has filled the minors in a couple of decent races this time in.
With a light weight in tow, he looks a genuine each-way chance in Sydney Cup betting.
16 – Torrens (13)
Torrens has failed to fire in weaker races than this one since returning to action and is the rank outsider in 2024 Sydney Cup betting.
17 – So Dazzling (10)
So Dazzling turned in an improved performance to finish fourth in last weekend’s Chairman’s Stakes, but will still well beaten by the likes of Circle Of Fire.
He looks unlikely to trouble some of these gallopers.