Ladbrokes Tip: The T.S. Carlyon Cup (MRC Foundation Cup) can serve as a potential lead-up into the Group 1 Australian Cup.
The latest edition of the T.S. Carlyon Cup ran on Saturday, February 7, 2026 as the MRC Foundation Cup and as part of Rubiton Stakes Day in Melbourne and was won in a brave first-up effort by the Ciaron Maher-trained seven-year-old Light Infantry Man ($4.20).
2026 MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) Results
The official MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) 2026 Results & Finishing Order will be known on Saturday, February 7, 2026 and published in full below.
- #1 Light Infantry Man
- #11 Immediacy
- #7 Holymanz
Ciaron Maher’s evergreen seven-year-old Light Infantry Man ($4.20) proved a class above diving right on the line to post a narrow first-up win in the 2026 MRC Foundation Cup results at Caulfield on Saturday, producing a strong staying performance to secure the Group 3 and lock in his spring credentials. Settling midfield with a smooth run throughout, the talented import built momentum approaching the turn before powering clear in the straight and showing plenty of fight to run down the leader for a tight but convincing victory ahead of the autumn majors.
2026 MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) Odds & Results
The official MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) 2026 betting odds will be available here each autumn as soon as released followed by the official MRC Foundation Cup results and finishing order after the event.
| 1. Light Infantry Man (10) J: Ethan Brown 60kg 9552xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 11. Immediacy (1) J: John Allen 57kg 6110xT: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | ||
| 7. Holymanz (3) J: Ben Allen 58kg x8315T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 6. Regal Zeus (4) J: Jamie Mott 58kg 01011T: John Mcardle | ||
| 4. Whisky On The Hill (11) J: Damian Lane 58.5kg 1351xT: Glen Thompson | ||
| 5. Rise At Dawn (2) J: Jamie Melham 58kg 32345T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 8. Air Assault (12) J: Lachlan Neindorf 58kg 1168xT: Andrew Gluyas | ||
| 12. Welcometotheshow (9) J: Luke Currie 57kg 31111T: Tyler Donaldson-Aitken | ||
| 3. Casino Seventeen (7) J: Thomas Stockdale 58.5kg 2510xT: Gavin Bedggood | ||
| 14. Litzdeel (8) J: Craig Williams 56.5kg 5421xT: Danny O'brien | ||
| 9. Attrition (5) J: Dean Yendall 57kg 246x8T: Mitchell Freedman | ||
| 13. Saganti (14) J: Beau Mertens 57kg x35x7T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 2. Willydoit (13) J: Michael Dee 60kg x879xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 10. Charterhouse (6) J: Harry Coffey 57kg 41007T: Gavin Bedggood |
MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) Tips
MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) tips include backing the better performed Group 1 types in the field, those with a good record over the 1600m distance and runners aged five and above with the four-year-olds having little recent luck in the event.
Another good MRC Foundation Cup / TS Carlyon Cup betting tips is to avoid any mares in the line-up with Miss Siska (2020) the first female galloper to beat home the boys in the race since 2005.
Yonce (2024) however also beat home the boys in the TS Carlyon Cup.
2026 MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) Tips
Our exclusive MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) 2026 tips will be available below the week of the race so stay tuned.
| 5. Rise At Dawn (2) J: Jamie Melham 58kg 32345T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
| 6. Regal Zeus (4) J: Jamie Mott 58kg 01011T: John Mcardle |
| 3. Casino Seventeen (7) J: Thomas Stockdale 58.5kg 2510xT: Gavin Bedggood |
The T.S. Carlyon Cup – currently known as the MRC Foundation Cup – is a Group 3 race run over a mile (1600m) at Caulfield Racecourse each February as part of Rubiton Stakes Day.
One of the first key meetings of the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival, Rubition Stakes Day features a host of Group races including the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m) for Oakleigh Plate types, the Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) for three-year-olds, the Blue Diamond Prelude races, and the TS Carlyon Cup for four-year-olds and over.
Contested at set weights plus penalties, the event offers $200,000 and has been run and won since 1977.
The better horses out of the race may target the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington the following month and Manighar (2012) is the last horse to complete the TS Carlyon Cup – Australian Cup double.
In 2025 the event ran as the JRA Plate and was won by the reigning Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa.
It was renamed in 2026 as the MRC Foundation Cup.
In 2026, the MRC Foundation Cup was won by the previous autumn’s Australian Cup champion Light Infantry Man.
MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) Race Info
- Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026
- Track: Caulfield Racecourse
- Distance: 1600m
- Conditions: Set Weights + Penalties – 4YOs & Upwards
- Status: Group 3
- Prize Money: $200,000
- First Run: 1977
MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) Betting
MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) betting markets are led by the better performed milers with previous Group wins on their CV and those with a good strike-rate at the track.
The older runners usually sit higher up the TS Carlyon Cup odds with Pounding (2023) the only four-year-old to win the race since Publishing (2008).
Favourites have a solid recent record in the race and Miss Siska ($2.20 in 2020) followed in 2021 by Best Of Days ($2.90) are the latest to salute for the punters.
There was a notable upset in 2025 with Duke De Sessa saluting fresh at $17!
MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) Field
The TS Carlyon Cup race field – known in 2026 as the MRC Foundation Cup field – attracts a line-up of the season’s better milers that may have their eye on bigger races over the coming weeks.
A good next-up option for the gallopers out of the TS Carlyon Cup field is the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m). Miss Siska (2020) and Avilius (2019) are the latest horses to complete the TS Carlyon Cup – Peter Young Stakes double.
Some of the better Carlyon Cup graduates may go on to contest the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at HQ on ‘Super Saturday’.
MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) nominations close on the Monday before the race runs on a Saturday followed by the final field and barriers on the Wednesday.
2026 MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) Field & Barrier Draw
The official MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) 2026 Final Field & Barriers are released the Wednesday of race week so stay tuned to see what potential Group 1-bound horses are in the mix for the mile clash this autumn.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Light Infantry Man
J: Ethan Brown
T: Ciaron Maher |
69552x | G | 10 | 60kg | |
|
2. Willydoit
J: Michael Dee
T: Ciaron Maher |
4x879x | G | 13 | 60kg | |
|
3. Casino Seventeen
J: Thomas Stockdale
T: Gavin Bedggood |
82510x | G | 7 | 58.5kg | |
|
4. Whisky On The Hill
J: Damian Lane
T: Glen Thompson |
91351x | G | 11 | 58.5kg | |
|
5. Rise At Dawn
J: Jamie Melham
T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes |
x32345 | G | 2 | 58kg | |
|
6. Regal Zeus
J: Jamie Mott
T: John Mcardle |
501011 | G | 4 | 58kg | |
|
7. Holymanz
J: Ben Allen
T: Ciaron Maher |
7x8315 | G | 3 | 58kg | |
|
8. Air Assault
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Andrew Gluyas |
81168x | G | 12 | 58kg | |
|
9. Attrition
J: Dean Yendall
T: Mitchell Freedman |
3246x8 | H | 5 | 57kg | |
|
10. Charterhouse
J: Harry Coffey
T: Gavin Bedggood |
841007 | G | 6 | 57kg | |
|
11. Immediacy
J: John Allen
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
x6110x | G | 1 | 57kg | |
|
12. Welcometotheshow
J: Luke Currie
T: Tyler Donaldson-Aitken |
231111 | H | 9 | 57kg | |
|
13. Saganti
J: Beau Mertens
T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr |
5x35x7 | G | 14 | 57kg | |
|
14. Litzdeel
J: Craig Williams
T: Danny O'brien |
x5421x | M | 8 | 56.5kg |
2026 MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) Nominations
Racing Victoria takes the early MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) 2026 Nominations on the Monday of race week, the full list of entries to be published below once announced.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 464x81168x | AIR ASSAULT | G | 5 | Andrew Gluyas | 100 |
| 2 | 8x933246x8 | ATTRITION | H | 6 | Mitchell Freedman | 110 |
| 3 | 276582510x | CASINO SEVENTEEN | G | 8 | Gavin Bedggood | 104 |
| 4 | 583841007x | CHARTERHOUSE (GB) | G | 8 | Gavin Bedggood | 94 |
| 5 | 32334x997x | GO DADDY (IRE) | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 88 |
| 6 | 08237×8315 | HOLYMANZ (NZ) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 101 |
| 7 | 6707x6110x | IMMEDIACY (NZ) | G | 5 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 99 |
| 8 | 607×824004 | JENNILALA | M | 6 | Gavin Bedggood | 98 |
| 9 | 10x069552x | LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (FR) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher | 111 |
| 10 | 6321x5421x | LITZDEEL | M | 4 | Danny O’Brien | 92 |
| 11 | 463x06120x | PLYMOUTH | G | 4 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 96 |
| 12 | 428×501011 | REGAL ZEUS | G | 5 | John McArdle | 107 |
| 13 | 4x50x32345 | RISE AT DAWN (NZ) | G | 5 | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 104 |
| 14 | 326x5x35x7 | SAGANTI (FR) | G | 5 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 89 |
| 15 | 813×725723 | VERDAD | G | 5 | Robbie Griffiths | 90 |
| 16 | 1134231111 | WELCOMETOTHESHOW | H | 4 | Tyler Donaldson-Aitken | 88 |
| 17 | 3x8591351x | WHISKY ON THE HILL (GB) | G | 6 | Glen Thompson | 100 |
| 18 | 11014x879x | WILLYDOIT (NZ) | G | 4 | Ciaron Maher | 104 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) Form Guide
The MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) form guide details all the information punters need to know before placing a bet on the staying showdown including the lead-up form and barrier draw of all the runners in the field.
The TS Carlyon Cup form has stacked up in plenty of tougher Group 1 races in both Melbourne and Sydney over the autumn and spring in recent years including in 2019 when the winner Avilius went on to complete the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes – Tancred Stakes double over 2000m and 2400m respectively at Rosehill Gardens.
The Carlyon Cup 2022 form was franked with the second placed Callsign Mav going on to win the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) that spring. Spanish Mission meanwhile finished third in both the Carlyon Cup and Group 1 Australian Cup that autumn.
The 2023 Carlyon Cup winner Pounding franked the form with a third later that prep in the Australian Cup trifecta, while the upset 2025 champion Duke De Sessa went on to place second in the Tancred Stakes.
2026 MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) 2026 Form Guide will be available below the week of the race.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2026 MRC FOUNDATIN CUP FORM GUIDE
Past TS Carlyon Cup / MRC Foundation Cup Results
The TS Carlyon Cup / MRC Foundation Cup race results have been dominated by older geldings at single figures in betting.
Notable recent TS Carlyon Cup winners throughout history include Hyperno (1978), Super Impose (1989), Veandercross (1993), Northerly (2001), Apache Cat (2007), Smokin’ Joey (2015), Avilius (2019), the previous year’s Caulfield Cup champion Duke De Sessa (2025), and Light Infantry Man (2026).
Yonce (2024) was the last TS Carlyon Cup winning mare.
Trainer Ciaron Maher prepared three straight winners of the event from 2024-26 with Yonce (2024), Duke De Sessa (2025) and Light Infantry Man (2026).
TS Carlyon Cup / MRC Foundation Cup Winners
Past TS Carlyon Cup / MRC Foundation Cup winners and placegetters going back to 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Light Infantry Man | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 60 kgs | 1:35.58 |
| 2025 | Duke De Sessa | Ciaron Maher | Harry Coffey | 60 kgs | 1:37.58 |
| 2024 | Yonce | Ciaron Maher | John Allen | 55 kgs (carried 55.5kgs) | 1:37.50 |
| 2023 | Pounding | Peter Moody | Ms Jamie Kah | 57 kgs | 1:35.12 |
| 2022 | Earlswood | Maddie Raymond | Damian Lane | 58.5 kgs | 1:36.09 |
| 2021 | Best Of Days | James Cummings | Damien Oliver | 57 kgs | 1:37.65 |
| 2020 | Miss Siska | Grahame Begg | Damian Lane | 55 kgs | 1:36.44 |
| 2019 | Avilius | James Cummings | Kerrin McEvoy | 57.5 kgs | 1:37.08 |
| 2018 | Gailo Chop | Darren Weir | Mark Zahra | 58.5 kgs | 1:38.22 |
| 2017 | Burning Front | Darren Weir | Brad Rawiller | 57 kgs | 1:35.98 |
| 2016 | Burning Front | Darren Weir | Brad Rawiller | 56 kgs | 1:36.91 |
| 2015 | Smokin’ Joey | Wez Hunter | Chris Parnham | 58.5 kgs | 1:35.69 |
| 2014 | Chase The Rainbow | Rick Hore-Lacy | Craig Williams | 56 kgs | 1:37.78 |
| 2013 | Budriguez | David Jolly | Craig Williams | 56 kgs | 1:36.18 |
| 2012 | Manighar | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 56 kgs | 1:37.17 |
| 2011 | Lord Pyrus | Judy Mawer | Craig Williams | 55.5 kgs | 1:37.28 |
| 2010 | Rightfully Yours | Mick Price | Craig Newitt | 56 kgs | 1:23.00 |
| 2009 | Time Matters | Darren Weir | Steven Arnold | 55.5 kgs | 1:23.00 |
| 2008 | Publishing | John Sadler | Steven Arnold | 57 kgs | 1:23.71 |
| 2007 | Apache Cat | Greg Eurell | Glen Boss | 58 kgs | 1:22.25 |
| 2006 | Live In Vain | Peter Moody | Luke Nolen | 54.5 kgs | 1:22.36 |
| 2005 | Niagara Falls | Peter Moody | Steven King | 52.5 kgs | 1:36.75 |
| 2004 | La Sirenuse | Tony McEvoy | Brady Cross | 51 kgs | 1:36.24 |
| 2003 | No Deposit | Robert Smerdon | Nash Rawiller | 55.5 kgs | 1:35.63 |
| 2002 | Piper Star | Roger James | Scott Seamer | 53.5 kgs | 1:38.07 |
| 2001 | Northerly | Fred Kersley | Greg Childs | 58 kgs | 1:35.10 |
| 2000 | Skoozi Please | Graeme Rogerson | Jim Cassidy | 56 kgs | 1:39.06 |
FAQ
Who won the 2026 MRC Foundation Cup (T.S. Carlyon Cup)?
The 2026 MRC Foundation Cup was won first-up by seven-year-old Fast Company gelding Light Infantry Man at $4.20 for trainer Ciaron Maher with jockey Ethan Brown aboard on 60kg from barrier 10 to win by 0.2 lengths on a Good (4) track in a time of 1:35.58.
When is the MRC Foundation Cup (T.S. Carlyon Cup) 2026?
Saturday, February 7, 2026What is the prize money for the MRC Foundation Cup (T.S. Carlyon Cup) 2026?
$300,000
Where is the MRC Foundation Cup (T.S. Carlyon Cup) 2026?
Caulfield Racecourse, Gate 22, Station St, Caulfield East VIC 3145.
How do I bet on the 2026 MRC Foundation Cup (T.S. Carlyon 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 MRC Foundation Cup (T.S. Carlyon Cup)?
The best way to pick which horse will win the MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon 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.