Australian Cup

Ladbrokes Tip: The Peter Young Stakes has produced more Australian Cup winners than any other lead-up in recent history

The latest edition of the $2 million Australian Cup ran on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Flemington and saw the defending champion, Light Infantry Man ($21), go back-to-back narrowly denying his brave, front-running stablemate Pride Of Jenni in a photo thriller.  

2026 Australian Cup Results

The 2026 Australian Cup results and finishing order will be known on Saturday, March 28, 2026 and released below.

The Ciaron Maher-trained Light Infantry Man ($21) was huge late nudging out his front-running stablemate Pride Of Jenni to enjoy a narrow but convincing upset in the 2026 Australian Cup results going back-to-back with a successful title defence in the time-honoured classic. Ridden by Harry Coffey, Light Infantry Man relished the fast pace and step back up to 2000m third-up and fit ahead of a potential Sydney run in the $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 11.

2026 Australian Cup Odds

The Australian Cup 2026 odds will be available for punters below as soon as markets are available on the Group 1 weight-for-age feature followed by the official Australian Cup results after the event.

Australian Cup Tips

Australian Cup betting tips are dominated by the best runners coming out of the Peter Young Stakes that produced seven winners from 2014 – 2026 including Fiorente (2014) who did the double.

Light Infantry Man (4th in 2026) was the last Australian Cup winner to come via the Peter Young Stakes.

Looking for horses with previous weight-for-age winning form and laying the favourite are other top Australian Cup tips.

The spread of Australian Cup winners from across barriers 2 – 14 is very even but no winner has jumped from the inside alley in over 30 years making it a good tip to avoid the rails-drawn runner in the race.

2026 Australian Cup Tips

Our Ladbrokes’ insider Australian Cup 2026 betting tips will be detailed right here the week of the race so return to this page for the Australian Cup best bets.

The Australian Cup was one of two Group 1 races held at Flemington Racecourse on ‘Super Saturday’ in March during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival before being moved to its own feature race card later in the month ahead of the 2023 edition.

Formerly run alongside the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) for the sprinters at the meeting, the Australian Cup is now the sole Group 1 on Australian Cup Day a fortnight after the famous sprint.

A race for staying types it takes place over 2000m and is contested under weight-for-age conditions. After a notable prize money increase, the Australian Cup currently offers $2 million in prize money and is known as the Cox Plate of the autumn races.

The Australian Cup field usually attracts horses coming out of the previous month’s Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield Racecourse, the double most recently completed by Fiorente (2014).

The major autumn assignment for many of the Australian Cup graduates each autumn is the season’s richest race, the Group 1 $5 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) over the same distance the following month in Sydney. In 2022 Think It Over ran second in the Australian Cup before a win in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes later that prep.

The historic 6.5 length Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner of 2024, Pride Of Jenni, also came via the Australian Cup that autumn when second to Cascadian. 

In a stunning turn of events at the 2025 Australian Cup, favourite Pride Of Jenni lost ground on the home turn, ending up second last, as Light Infantry Man, also from the same stable, claimed an unexpected win.

Light Infantry Man returned to go back-to-back in the 2026 Australian Cup with his stablemate Pride Of Jenni holding for a brave second having led nearly all-the-way.

Australian Cup Race Info

• Date: Saturday, March 28, 2026
• Track: Flemington Racecourse
• Distance: 2000m
• Conditions: Weight-for-age
• Status: Group 1
• Prize Money: $2 million
• First Run: 1863

Australian Cup Betting

Australian Cup betting is open in futures markets months out from the race providing punters with plenty of chances to lock in generous early odds on their favourite weight-for-age runners of the season.

Once the Australian Cup field is released the odds firm and the favourites are revealed.

Favourites have a poor record in the race however with just three saluting in the past decade when eight-year-old Cascadian won at $4 in 2023 for the Godolphin stable, Fiorente got the job done in 2014, and Humidor saluted as the equal favourite in Australian Cup betting in 2017.

Cascadian returned in 2024 and successfully defended his title at Australian Cup odds of $7.50

One of the most notable recent upsets was the second win by Harlem who successfully defended his title in 2019 as a $31 roughie in Australian Cup betting after his blowout win at $61 in 2018.

In 2021 Homesman (1st) and Best Of Days (2nd) ran the quinella both as 25/1 shots, while 40/1 outsider Chapada ran third.

In 2026, the defending champion Light Infantry Man won the race for the second year in a row at a big Australian Cup starting price of $21!

Top of the Australian Cup odds are horses coming out of the Peter Young Stakes, those with previous experience at the famous Flemington track and seasoned performers that have proven weight-for-age form.

Australian Cup Field

The Australian Cup race field features a capacity of 16 starters and attracts the season’s best middle-distance weight-for-age runners. The bulk of the Australian Cup horses have their final lead-up in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes over 200m shorter the month before at Caulfield.

Earlier, Australian Cup hopefuls may contest the Group 3 TS Carlyon Cup (1600m) on CF Orr Stakes Day and Manighar (2012) was the last to do the double.

While the age of horses in the Australian Cup varies, older gallopers with more weight-for-age experience boast the most success in the race.

In 2023 Cascadian won the Australian Cup on the back of a lead-up second in The All-Star Mile (1600m) held that year at Moonee Valley.

Cascadian won the 2024 Australian Cup going back-to-back after a lead-up third in the All-Star Mile results that autumn at Caulfield. The 2024 All-Star Mile winner Pride Of Jenni ran second in the Australian Cup quinella.

In 2025, Light Infantry Man (3rd) also won the Australian Cup off a lead-up All-Star Mile run.

In 2026, Light Infantry Man returned to successfully defend his Australian Cup title off a lead-up fourth in the Peter Young Stakes.

The Australian Cup nominations close the Monday of race week and the release of the final field of acceptances takes place on the Wednesday before the race.

2026 Australian Cup Field

The official 2026 Australian Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw will be published in full below once released on March 25, 2026.

The Australian Cup 2026 final field is now out featuring a dozen of the season’s top WFA horses including dual All-Star Mile champ Tom Kitten and the Chris Waller-trained Birdman chasing a hat-trick off back-to-back Group 2 wins in Melbourne this prep.

Flemington R8 - TAB Australian Cup (G1)

Final Race time: 

	Entrant	Last 6	Sex	Barrier	Weight
	1. Tom Kitten J: Craig Williams T: Anthony & Sam Freedman	453x11	G	12	59kg
	2. Light Infantry Man J: Harry Coffey T: Ciaron Maher	552x14	G	9	59kg
	3. Apulia J: William Pike T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes	101152	H	2	59kg
	4. Just Fine J: Jordan Childs T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	929x93	G	11	59kg
	5. Birdman J: Ben Melham T: Chris Waller	68x411	G	5	59kg
	6. Sabaj J: Beau Mertens T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr	110x24	G	6	59kg
	7. Mark Twain J: Lachlan Neindorf T: Phillip Stokes	0009x3	G	4	59kg
	8. Pride Of Jenni J: Declan Bates T: Ciaron Maher	1718x3	M	10	57kg
	9. Damask Rose J: Jamie Melham T: Mark Walker	0x2327	M	1	57kg
	10. Leica Lucy J: Damian Lane T: Chris Waller	432x56	M	3	57kg
	11. Basilinna J: Jye Mcneil T: Emma-Lee & David Browne	21x7x7	M	8	57kg
	12. Philia J: Daniel Stackhouse T: David Vandyke	18x644	M	7	57kg

View Results

2026 Australian Cup Nominations

The Australian Cup 2026 Nominations are first taken by Racing Victoria the Monday of race week and attract many of the previous spring’s most talented horses out of races including the Melbourne Cup and VRC Champions Stakes.

The 2026 Australian Cup nominations close on Monday the 23rd of March 2026 and will be announced in full below. 

The 2026 Australian Cup nominations attracted 16 gallopers led in all-in betting by Chris Waller’s last start Peter Young Stakes champ Birdman chasing a hat-trick and dual All-Star Mile hero Tom Kitten.

	Last 10	Horse	Sex	Age	Trainer	Hcp Rating
1	23×1101152	APULIA	H	5	Ben, Will & JD Hayes	109
2	310052×921	ARCORA	C	3	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	100
3	x10221x7x7	BASILINNA (NZ)	M	5	Emma-Lee & David Browne	99
4	251768×411	BIRDMAN (IRE)	G	5	Chris Waller	109
5	x5760x2327	DAMASK ROSE (NZ)	M	4	Mark Walker	102
6	13x258x0x4	DESERT HERO (GB)	G	6	Ciaron Maher	105
7	14×2321125	FIORENOT	G	5	Tom Dabernig	78
8	7x6110x267	IMMEDIACY (NZ)	G	5	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	98
9	100x929x93	JUST FINE (IRE)	G	8	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	105
10	114x432x56	LEICA LUCY (NZ)	M	4	Chris Waller	107
11	x069552x14	LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (FR)	G	7	Ciaron Maher	112
12	1x860009x3	MARK TWAIN (NZ)	G	6	Phillip Stokes	96
13	x11118x644	PHILIA	M	4	David Vandyke	92
14	910x1718x3	PRIDE OF JENNI	M	8	Ciaron Maher	118
15	22x6110x24	SABAJ	G	4	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	104
16	73x5453x11	TOM KITTEN	G	5	Anthony & Sam Freedman	116

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Australian Cup Form Guide

The Australian Cup form guide reveals all the crucial information on the runners so you know who to back and who to sack in your Australian Cup tipping each season.

While barriers haven’t proven helpful Australian Cup form guides in recent years, looking for gallopers that come out of the Peter Young Stakes is a key indicator. That race has produced more Australian Cup winners than any other race and is a lead-up run every smart punter should look for in the form on the weight-for-age classic.

Also avoiding the favourites in betting and steering clear of horses listed as three-years-old in the Australian Cup form guide are other good indicators as the favourites have a poor record in the past decade, and the only three-year-old to win since Saintly (1996) was Super Cool (2013).

Mares rarely end up on top in the Australian Cup results either as the only female gallopers to take out the event since Dane Ripper (1998) were the mighty Makybe Diva (2005) and Duais (2022).

Winning mare Duais franked the Australian Cup 2022 form winning the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) next-up in Sydney. The second-placed Think It Over further franked the form winning that year’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) during ‘The Championships’ at Randwick.

Australian Cup Form Facts

• Fiorente (2014), Humidor (2017) and Cascadian (2023) are the only Australian Cup betting favourites to salute since Lonhro (2004).
• Wide barriers have produced a number of recent Australian Cup winners in the past decade including Niconero (10 of 12 in 2009), Zipping (12 of 14 in 2010), Shocking (12 of 15 in 2011), Fifty Stars (13 of 14 in 2020), Homesman (14 of 17 in 2021), and Cascadian (10 of 16 in 2023).
• The only three-year-old to head the Australian Cup results since 1996 (Saintly) is Super Cool (2013).
• Makybe Diva (2005) and Duais (2022) are the only mares to win the Australian Cup since Dane Ripper (1998).

2026 Australian Cup Form Guide

A link to our comprehensive Australian Cup 2026 Form Guide will be provided below the week of the race.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 AUSTRALIAN CUP FORM GUIDE

Past Australian Cup Results

Australian Cup race results rarely favour the shortest priced in betting with upsets from double figure roughies common place in the race.

The longest priced Australian Cup winners in recent years were Roman Arch who saluted at 50/1 back in 2006 for trainer Robbie Laing and the Lindsay Park-trained Harlem ($61 in 2018 and $31 in 2019).

Notable Australian Cup winners in recent years include the latest two-time champions Light Infantry Man (2025-26) and Cascadian (2023-24); along with Duais (2022), Fiorente (2014), Shocking (2011), Zipping (2010), Makybe Diva (2005), Lonhro (2004), and Northerly (2003).

Duais (2022) was the last Australian Cup winning mare.

Super Cool (2013) was the last three-year-old Australian Cup winner.

Makybe Diva holds the current 2000m Australian Cup race record winning in 2005 in a time of 1 minute 58:73 seconds.

Light Infantry Man (2025-26) is the latest back-to-back Australian Cup winner.

Recent Australian Cup Winners

Past Australian Cup winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.

Year	Winner	Runner-Up	Third	Time
2026	Light Infantry Man	Pride Of Jenni	Apulia	2:03.45
2025	Light Infantry Man	Deny Knowledge	Zardozi	2:00.41
2024	Cascadian	Pride Of Jenni	Atishu	2:00.05
2023	Cascadian	Numerian	Pounding	2:01.4
2022	Duais	Think It Over	Spanish Mission	2:00.8
2021	Homesman	Best Of Days	Chapada	2:01.4
2020	Fifty Stars	Regal Power	Vow And Declare	2:02.1
2019	Harlem	Shillelagh	Trap for Fools	2:01.5
2018	Harlem	Gailo Chop	Ventura Storm	2:00.4
2017	Humidor	Jameka	Exospheric	2:01.0
2016	Preferment	Awesome Rock	Rising Romance	2:03.9
2015	Spillway	Extra Zero	Happy Trails	2:00.0
2014	Fiorente	Green Moon	Foreteller	2:03.6
2013	Super Cool	Fiveandahalfstar	Tanby	2:00.9
2012	Manighar	Southern Speed	Americain	2:01.2
2011	Shocking	Linton	Playing God	2:00.9
2010	Zipping	Sirmione	Moatize	2:03.6
2009	Niconero	Theseo	Zagreb	2:03.1
2008	Sirmione	Princess Coup	Casino Prince	2:00.8
2007	Pompeii Ruler	Marasco	Tawqeet	2:01.5
2006	Roman Arch	Candy Vale	Our Smoking Joe	2:02.8
2005	Makybe Diva	Winning Belle	Lad Of The Manor	1:58.7
2004	Lonhro	Delzao	Elvstroem	2:01.6
2003	Northerly	Natural Blitz	Don Eduardo	2:01.4
2002	Old Comrade	Northerly	Rain Gauge	1:59.8
2001	Northerly	Hit The Roof	Kaapstad Way	1:59.4
2000	Intergaze	Arena	Streak	2:00.9

FAQ

Who won the 2026 Australian Cup?

The 2026 Australian Cup was won by seven-year-old Fast Company gelding and the defending champion Light Infantry Man who successfully defended his title at a big $21 starting price for trainer Ciaron Maher with jockey Harry Coffey aboard on 59kg from barrier 9 to win by 0.02 lengths on a Soft (7) track in a time of 2:03.45.

Who won the 2025 Australian Cup?

The 2025 Australian Cup was won by six-year-old Fast Company gelding Light Infantry Man at $9 for trainer Ciaron Maher with jockey Ethan Brown aboard on 59kg from barrier 4 to win by 2 lengths in a time of 2:00.41.

When is the Australian Cup 2026?

Saturday, March 28, 2026

What is the prize money for the Australian Cup 2026?

$2,000,000

Where is the Australian Cup 2026?

Flemington Racecourse, 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington VIC 3031.

How do I bet on the 2026 Australian Cup?

Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android apps with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at ladbrokes.com.au. The process is quick and easy!
Once you've created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods. Next up, head to the racing page and find the race and runner that's right for you.

Which horse will win the 2026 Australian Cup?

The best way to pick which horse will win the Australian Cup is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out ladbrokes.com.au in the lead up to the race for full form information.