Mornington Cup

Ladbrokes Tip: The spring’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) may be a long-range target for the best out of the Mornington Cup field

The latest edition of the Mornington Cup ran on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at Mornington Racecourse with the early Caulfield Cup 2026 ballot exemption going to the narrow Ciaron Maher-trained winner Kings Valley ($6.50) who dug deep late. 

2026 Mornington Cup Results

The official Mornington Cup Results 2026 and race finishing order will be published below when the race is run and won on Saturday, April 18, 2026.

Ciaron Maher’s progressive Territories five-year-old Kings Valley ($6.50) secured his early ticket into the spring’s Caulfield Cup field with a narrow win in the 2026 Mornington Cup results. In a searching mile-and-half performance, the recent Bairnsdale Cup winner over a mile dug deep coming from sixth at the top of the straight to move up and challenge the front-running Pounding inside the final 100m with the two going stride-for-stride before Kings Secret drew clear to win by 0.2 lengths with Suntora picking up another placing in third. Kings Valley is now at $34 in futures Caulfield Cup betting.

2026 Mornington Cup Odds

The Mornington Cup 2026 betting odds will be available below the week of the race giving you access to the best autumn racing odds ahead of the $300,000 Listed showdown followed by the official Mornington Cup finishing order after the event.

Mornington Cup Tips

Mornington Cup tips include looking for proven Group-class stayers with winning form over the 2400m distance and those with a good lead-up run in Melbourne. 

Victorian-trained horses and those down in the weights also make a good bet in Mornington Cup tipping, as is avoiding the mares who have a poor record in the race. 

Looking at what horse is drawn in barrier four could also prove profitable with that gate producing four Mornington Cup winners since 2002 most recently Mount Popa (2021). 

Since Capecover (59kg in 2010) the only Mornington Cup winners to carry more than 56.5kg to victory are Tally (59kg in 2017), Right You Are (58kg in 2023), and Bankers Choice (57kg in 2025). 

2026 Mornington Cup Tips

Our Ladbrokes’ insider Mornington Cup 2026 betting tips and race selections will be detailed below the week of the race so stay tuned for the gallopers to back and sack in the autumn staying showdown. 

The Mornington Cup is a lucrative $300,000 Listed event held on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsular at the tail end of the wider Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

Formerly held in March as a potential Sydney Cup lead-up the race was moved to late April ahead of the 2023 edition.

In 202 Mornington Cup Day runs on the same date as Sydney’s All Aged Stakes Day card.

Run and won over 2400m the handicap clash is open to all ages and has no other restrictions, the event attracting a quality line-up of stayers each season.

The Mornington Cup was previously run over 2000m but increased to a mile and a half in 2008 making it a potential lead-up to the longer distance staying races in Sydney that autumn and Brisbane in the winter.

Mornington Cup Race Info

• Date: Saturday, April 18, 2026
• Track: Mornington Racecourse
• Distance: 2400m
• Conditions: Quality Handicap
• Status: Listed
• Prize Money: $300,000

Mornington Cup Betting

Early Mornington Cup odds are out at bookmakers after nominations are taken the Monday of race week and firm after the final field is announced two days later.

Proven stayers from local Melbourne-based stables sit high-up the Mornington Cup betting markets, as do any past Group winners down in grade for the event. 

Any female gallopers in the mix are often installed at longer Mornington Cup odds as Voile D’or (2001) was the last mare to win. 

Mount Popa ($2.30 in 2021) was the last favourite in Mornington Cup betting to salute for the punters. 

There was a notable upset in 2024 with nine-year-old Esti Feny winning at Mornington Cup odds of $31. 

Mornington Cup Field

The Mornington Cup race field attracts a class line-up of in-form staying types out of a range of lead-up races in both Melbourne and Sydney over the autumn. 

The traditional lead-up into the Mornington Cup field is the Listed Mornington Cup Prelude (2000m). 

Mornington Cup nominations close the Monday before the race runs on the Saturday with the final field and barrier draw released on the Wednesday.

2026 Mornington Cup Field

The official Mornington Cup 2026 Field & Barriers will be released by Racing Victoria the Wednesday before the race and published in full below so stay tuned to see what stayers make the starting line-up. 

The 2026 Mornington Cup final field features a capacity line-up of stayers including last start Group 2 Adelaide Cup winner over the two miles American Wolf, Tony & Calvin McEvoy’s flying Group 3 Easter Cup champ Ambassadorial chasing his fourth win on the trot and Nick Ryan’s widely drawn but consistent mare Suntora with form around Treasurethe Moment.

Mornington R8 - Sportsbet Mornington Cup Hcp (L)

Final Race time: 

	Entrant	Last 6	Sex	Barrier	Weight
	1. Bankers Choice J: Jamie Mott T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes	030x38	G	12	60kg
	2. Brayden Star J: Linda Meech T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	489280	G	8	58kg
	3. Zarir J: Jye Mcneil T: Chris Waller	97x078	G	5	58kg
	4. American Wolf J: Jett Stanley T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	733371	G	13	57.5kg
	5. Immediacy J: Thomas Stockdale T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	0x2673	G	9	57.5kg
	6. Plymouth (17)  Scratched:
	7. Ambassadorial J: Harry Coffey T: Tony & Calvin Mcevoy	x32111	G	7	56.5kg
	8. Basilinna J: Billy Egan T: Emma-Lee & David Browne	1x7x78	M	2	56kg
	9. Jennilala J: Fred W Kersley T: Gavin Bedggood	046482	M	1	55kg
	10. Wymark J: Jake Noonan T: Gavin Bedggood	165311	G	11	55kg
	11. Pounding J: Luke Nolen T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	8x7727	G	4	54.5kg
	12. Sea What I See J: Beau Mertens T: Danny O'brien	24x232	M	10	54.5kg
	13. Suntora J: Daniel Stackhouse T: Nick Ryan	231133	M	14	54.5kg
	14. Saganti J: Zac Spain T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr	5x7030	G	3	54kg
	15. Kings Valley J: Lachlan Neindorf T: Ciaron Maher	35x919	G	6	54kg
	16. Stylish Secret (7)  Scratched:
	17. Autumn Mystery (16)  Scratched:
	18. Mr Waterville (15)  Scratched:

View Results

2026 Mornington Cup Nominations

The early Mornington Cup 2026 Nominations close the Monday of race week and will be listed in full below once released.

	Last 10	Horse	Sex	Age	Trainer	Hcp Rating
1	x557x32111	AMBASSADORIAL	G	5	Tony & Calvin McEvoy	96
2	x40x733371	AMERICAN WOLF (NZ)	G	4	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	98
3	85947×0050	ARDAKAN (GB)	G	7	Ciaron Maher	81
4	522118×070	AUTUMN MYSTERY	G	3	Rory Hunter	80
5	372x030x38	BANKERS CHOICE (NZ)	G	8	Ben, Will & JD Hayes	103
6	10221x7x78	BASILINNA (NZ)	M	5	Emma-Lee & David Browne	99
7	322223×262	BLUESTONE (NZ)	G	5	Michael Kent	73
8	4510489280	BRAYDEN STAR (GB)	G	7	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	99
9	25474032×9	FERAGO	G	9	Patrick F Ryan Jnr	75
10	x6110x2673	IMMEDIACY (NZ)	G	5	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	98
11	8240046482	JENNILALA	M	6	Gavin Bedggood	97
12	0x4235x919	KINGS VALLEY (IRE)	G	5	Ciaron Maher	87
13	846x90x307	MR WATERVILLE (IRE)	G	7	Clayton Douglas	79
14	06120×4420	PLYMOUTH	G	4	Ben, Will & JD Hayes	98
15	25858×7727	POUNDING	G	7	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	92
16	x5x35x7030	SAGANTI (FR)	G	5	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)	88
17	x91524x232	SEA WHAT I SEE (IRE)	M	6	Danny O’Brien	96
18	1×07531815	STYLISH SECRET (NZ)	G	4	Mick Nolan	85
19	4911231133	SUNTORA	M	4	Nick Ryan	96
20	3x0300x967	TEMPESTI (ITY)	G	7	Matt Cumani	91
21	0904165311	WYMARK (NZ)	G	5	Gavin Bedggood	93
22	5x1453x111	ZAKOUMA	G	5	Grahame Begg	78
23	5x2x97x078	ZARIR (IRE)	G	6	Chris Waller	99

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Mornington Cup Form Guide

The Mornington Cup form guide details must know facts for punters including the trainers, jockeys, barriers and lead-up form of all the runners in the race.

The form out of the Mornington Cup has gone on to hold in tougher grade staying races many times over the years including in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) run over the two miles at Randwick in April. 

In 2010 the Mornington Cup winner Capecover went on to win the Adelaide Cup – when the Mornington Cup was held earlier in February – and also placed fourth in that year’s Sydney Cup results. 

More recently the 2018 winner Kings Will Dream went on to have a very strong spring campaign in Melbourne running placings in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (3rd), Makybe Diva Stakes (2nd) and Turnbull Stakes (3rd). 

2026 Mornington Cup Form Guide

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

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 MORNINGTON CUP FORM GUIDE

Past Mornington Cup Results

Notable horses to head the Mornington Cup race results in recent years include three-time champion Gunnamatta (2002-04), that year’s Adelaide Cup winner Capecover (2010), Guyno (2011), Tally (2017), Kings Will Dream (2018), and Aktau (2020). 

Recent Mornington Cup Winners

Past Mornington Cup winners dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table along with the Mornington Cup winning trainers, jockeys, weights carried to victory, and times. 

Year	Winner	Trainer/s	Jockey	Weight	Time
2026	KINGS VALLEY (IRE)	Ciaron Maher	Lachlan Neindorf	54kg	2:30.59
2025	BANKERS CHOICE (NZ)	Glen Thompson	Daniel Stackhouse	57kg	2:29.40
2024	ESTI FENY (HUN)	Matthew Smith	Daniel Stackhouse	55kg	2:32.58
2023	RIGHT YOU ARE	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	Ben Allen	58kg	2:29.95
2022	CRYSTAL PEGASUS(GB)	Chris Waller	Craig Williams	56kg	2:30.64
2021	MOUNT POPA(IRE)	Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes	William Pike	56.5kg	2:33.97
2020	AKTAU(GB)	Michael Moroney	Jye McNeil	54kg	2:27.15
2019	SELF SENSE	David Brideoake	Luke Nolen	55.5kg	2:32.42
2018	KINGS WILL DREAM(IRE)	Darren Weir	Dean Yendall	54kg	2:28.67
2017	TALLY	John O’Shea	Andrew Mallyon	59kg	2:27.02
2016	BERISHA	Robert Smerdon	Daniel Moor	55kg	2:25.42
2015	BANCA MO	Scott Brunton	Dean Holland	56kg	2:31.68
2014	INSTRUMENTALIST(IRE)	Chris Waller	Craig Newitt	54kg	2:32.58
2013	TUSCAN FIRE	Dan O’Sullivan	Glen Boss	56.5kg	2:31.72
2012	NORSQUI	Walter McShane	Chris Symons	54kg	2:29.88
2011	GUYNO(NZ)	Lou Luciani	Jason Whiting	56.5kg	2:30.60
2010	CAPECOVER(NZ)	Patrick Payne	Steven Arnold	59kg	2:29.73
2009	BANANA MAN	Michael Kent	Brad Rawiller	58.5kg	2:32.59
2008	ATTRITION	Pat Carey	Mark Pegus	53kg	2:10.44
2007	HOFMEISTER(NZ)	Robert Smerdon	Nash Rawiller	55.5kg	2:04.79
2006	ULYSSES	David Hayes	Craig Williams	56kg	2:03.58
2005	KOUNTHEKASH(NZ)	Lee Freedman	Nick Ryan	54kg	2:03.07
2004	GUNNAMATTA	Tony Noonan	Damien Oliver	56.5kg	2:04.76
2003	GUNNAMATTA	Tony Noonan	Nash Rawiller	57kg	2:03.33
2002	GUNNAMATTA	Tony Noonan	Kerrin McEvoy	51.5kg	2:04.12
2001	VOILE D’OR	Bart Cummings	Damien Oliver	58kg	2:05.52
2000	LITMUS	Barry Barnes	Dale Short	53kg	2:04.23

FAQ

Who won the 2026 Mornington Cup?

The 2026 Mornington Cup was won by five-year-old Territories gelding Kings Valley at $6.50 for trainer Ciaron Maher with jockey Lachlan Neindorf aboard on 54kg from barrier 6 to win by 0.2 lengths on a Good (4) track in a time of 2:30.59.

Who won the 2025 Mornington Cup?

The 2025 Mornington Cup was won by seven-year-old Mongolian Khan gelding Bankers Choice at $10 for trainer Glen Thompson with jockey Daniel Stackhouse aboard on 57kg from barrier 3 to win by 0.06 lengths in a time of 2:29.40.

When is the Mornington Cup 2026?

Saturday, April 18, 2026

What is the prize money for the Mornington Cup 2026?

$300,000

Where is the Mornington Cup 2026?

Mornington Racecourse, 320 Racecourse Rd, Mornington VIC 3931.

How do I bet on the 2026 Mornington 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 Mornington Cup?

The best way to pick which horse will win the Mornington 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.