Coongy Cup

The Coongy Cup is a Group 3 staying race held at Caulfield Racecourse in October on the Wednesday leading-up to the $5 million Caulfield Cup.

2023 Coongy Cup Results

  • 1st: #11 Muramasa
  • 2nd: #1 Diamil
  • 3rd: #12 Gregolimo



The Coongy Cup (formerly known as the David Jones Cup) is a 2000m staying event held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne on the Wednesday prior to the iconic Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

An open handicap, the Group 3 Coongy Cup pays $200,000 in total prize money and now offers a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption to the winner should they be among the latest round of acceptors for the $5 million feature.

Previously held on Caulfield Cup Day, the Coongy Cup is now contested three days earlier on its own mid-week feature meeting giving connections of spring stayers an 11th hour shot at making the Caulfield Cup field.

Many of the horses who target the Coongy Cup will go on to run in events such as the Group 2 Lexus Hotham Handicap (2500m) or the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m).

The most notable Coongy Cup form in recent years was Shocking (2nd in 2009) who went on to do the Lexus Stakes – Melbourne Cup double during that spring’s Melbourne Cup Carnival.

More recently in 2018 Best Of Days ran a dead heat for first with Mask Of Time in the Coongy Cup before winning the Group 1 Cantala Stakes next start.

The Coongy Cup 2021 form was franked with the 10/1 winner Duais going on to win the Group 1 Australian Cup – Tancred Stakes double in the autumn of 2022.

In 2022 the Coongy Cup third place-getter Aurora’s Symphony franked the form the following autumn returning in 2023 to win the Group 3 Launceston Cup in Tasmania before a second in that year’s Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville.

The 2023 Neds Coongy Cup ran on Wednesday October 18, 2023 and was won in style by the Trent Busuttin & Natalie young-trained Muramasa ($7.50).  

Neds Coongy Cup
Date: Wednesday October 18, 2023
Track: Caulfield Racecourse
Distance: 2000m
Race Type: Open Handicap
Status: Group 3
Prize Money: $200,000

2023 Coongy Cup Results

  • 1st: #11 Muramasa ($7.50)
  • 2nd: #1 Diamil
  • 3rd: #12 Gregolimo

The Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young-trained Deep Impact four-year-old Muramasa ($7.50) was given a perfectly-timed ride by Daniel Moor who got the gap in the closing stages for the horse to hit the front late and draw away for a three-quarter victory in the 2023 Coongy Cup results.

It was a good Coongy result for stayers sweating on a start in Saturday’s Caulfield Cup field with the winner not nominated for the $5 million feature.

The Michael Moroney-trained import Gregolimo was the favourite in Coongy Cup betting and, after hitting the front early on the straight, got run down eventually crossing third meaning he will miss out on a back-up into the Caulfield Cup field.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 11 MURAMASA Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Daniel Moor 8 54kg $7.50
2 1 DIAMIL (IRE) John O’Shea Damian Lane 0.75L 2 59kg $8.50
3 12 GREGOLIMO (FR) Michael Moroney Ms Jamie Kah 0.85L 3 54kg $3.40F
4 4 STEINEM (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 3.35L 4 57kg $6.50
5 10 ARRAN BAY Phillip Stokes Zac Spain 4.6L 5 54kg (cd 54.5kg) $7.50
6 13 FOUJITA SAN Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jye McNeil 4.7L 10 54kg $11
7 3 HO HO KHAN (NZ) Mitchell Freedman Ms Tahlia Hope 6.95L 12 57kg $41
8 8 AFFAIRE A SUIVRE (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Harry Coffey 7.15L 1 55.5kg $41
9 2 KUKERACHA (NZ) Chris Waller Beau Mertens 7.35L 11 57.5kg $81
10 7 MAKRAM (IRE) Ben, Will & JD Hayes Craig Williams 8.1L 9 56kg $21
11 6 EARLSWOOD (GB) Maddie Raymond Blake Shinn 12.35L 7 56kg $21
12 9 THE SUMMIT (FR) Ben, Will & JD Hayes Michael Dee 19.35L 6 55kg $8.50
5 SIR LUCAN (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Jordan Childs 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Coongy Cup Betting Odds

The latest Coongy Cup 2023 betting odds will be listed below with fixed win Coongy Cup odds provided by Ladbrokes.com.au complete with links so you can back your Coongy Cup tips at the right price this Caulfield Cup Carnival.

Wolfe ($3.50 in 2019), Nonconformist ($3.30 in 2020) and Gunstock ($2.45 in 2022) are the latest favourites in Coongy Cup betting to win.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 COONGY CUP ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Coongy Cup Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 COONGY CUP FORM GUIDE

2023 Coongy Cup Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Coongy Cup 2023 Tips on the final Caulfield Cup lead-up race this October.

  • To Win: #13 Foujita San ($5.50 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Open edition of the Coongy and right down in the weights is this in-form Maurice four-year-old who presents rock-hard fit here with 54kg and Jye McNeil in the saddle. The Team Hawkes-trained gelding comes off an 1800m win at Sandown at the start of the month carrying 57kg to a commanding victory in easier grade. Up in class and distance now shooting for his first 2000m victory, but will be airborne with the weight. Came strongly late last start still last at the turn to make up all the ground suggesting the distance here is a non-issue. Group 2 placed and looking to be peaking at the right time for his mid-week test.

2023 Coongy Cup Field

The Coongy Cup field attracts stayers from a range of preparations, including some eyeing the Caulfield Cup ballot exemption on offer to the winner for that Saturday’s Group 1 classic. A number of Victorian horses run in the Coongy Cup field, and often you’ll see some foreign raiders getting some staying preparation in leading up to bigger events.

Horses may back-up out of the Coongy Cup field and chase glory in the iconic Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) over the two miles at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November, a race Shocking won after an earlier Coongy Cup second in 2009.

The official Coongy Cup 2023 Field & Barriers are announced on the Monday of race week and will be published in full below once released.

The 2023 Coongy Cup final field features a line-up of quality spring hopefuls led in betting by Michael Moroney’s French import Gregolimo racing second-up down under with 54kg after carting a hefty 61kg to a second fresh over the mile at Flemington.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 x93186x090 DIAMIL (IRE) John O’Shea Damian Lane 3 59kg 103
2 7x05314x70 KUKERACHA (NZ) Chris Waller Beau Mertens 12 57.5kg 100
3 81124×0098 HO HO KHAN (NZ) Mitchell Freedman Ms Tahlia Hope 13 57kg 99
4 5232x10x06 STEINEM (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 5 57kg 103
5 x1390x7040 SIR LUCAN (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Jordan Childs 1 56.5kg 98
6 x50x0065x7 EARLSWOOD (GB) Maddie Raymond Blake Shinn 8 56kg 97
7 423x99x968 MAKRAM (IRE) Ben, Will & JD Hayes Craig Williams 10 56kg 97
8 57x31115x0 AFFAIRE A SUIVRE (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Harry Coffey 2 55.5kg 100
9 2x008x8140 THE SUMMIT (FR) Ben, Will & JD Hayes Michael Dee 7 55kg 95
10 222×917682 ARRAN BAY Phillip Stokes Zac Spain 6 54kg 85
11 1725x900x1 MURAMASA Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Daniel Moor 9 54kg 81
12 x13x4321x2 GREGOLIMO (FR) Michael Moroney Ms Jamie Kah 4 54kg 80
13 00x70x5431 FOUJITA SAN Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jye McNeil 11 54kg 78

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Coongy Cup Nominations

Nominations for the Coongy Cup in 2023 close the Thursday prior to the race and will be published below once announced.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 57x31115x0 AFFAIRE A SUIVRE (NZ) M 4 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 100
2 702419×011 AIN’TNODEELDUN G 6 Anthony & Sam Freedman 92
3 0x7569x374 ARAVENE M 5 Tom Dabernig 72
4 222×917682 ARRAN BAY G 5 Phillip Stokes 85
5 x696597x98 BELLATRIX BLACK (NZ) M 5 Kris Lees 80
6 31115x2x31 CARINI (FR) G 5 Danny O’Brien 92
7 x93186x090 DIAMIL (IRE) G 6 John O’Shea 103
8 x50x0065x7 EARLSWOOD (GB) H 6 Maddie Raymond 97
9 x641127x89 FAME G 4 Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman 97
10 5x4430x762 FORGOT YOU (NZ) H 5 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 97
11 00x70x5431 FOUJITA SAN G 4 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 78
12 x13x4321x2 GREGOLIMO (FR) G 6 Michael Moroney 80
13 47x51330x7 HARMYSIAN (GB) G 7 Clayton Douglas 80
14 81124×0098 HO HO KHAN (NZ) H 9 Mitchell Freedman 99
15 402369×901 IRONCLAD (GB) G 8 Will Clarken & Niki O’Shea 99
16 7x05314x70 KUKERACHA (NZ) G 6 Chris Waller 100
17 4x5052x746 LET’SROLLTHEDICE H 4 Danny O’Brien 85
18 423x99x968 MAKRAM (IRE) G 7 Ben, Will & JD Hayes 97
19 1725x900x1 MURAMASA G 4 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 81
20 x1390x7040 SIR LUCAN (IRE) G 6 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 98
21 5232x10x06 STEINEM (GB) M 6 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 103
22 102330×854 SUIZURO G 4 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 91
23 2x008x8140 THE SUMMIT (FR) G 7 Ben, Will & JD Hayes 95
24 382770×013 WYCLIF (GB) G 7 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 83

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Coongy Cup History

Established in 1898, the Coongy Cup boasts well over a century of classy racing. Between its inauguration and 2007, the Coongy Cup was known as the David Jones Cup until a recent sponsorship change. It is still registered under that name.

Up until 1997, the Coongy Cup ran on the second day of the Caulfield Cup Carnival. It has almost always been held at Caulfield Racecourse. However, during the second World War it was held at Flemington Racecourse. In 1997 and 1998 it was briefly held at Sandown Racecourse on a Sunday.

A Principal race until 1978, it received Group 3 status immediately. The distance of the Coongy Cup has changed multiple times throughout the years. This is illustrated in the table below. Keep in mind that all values given prior to 1973 are approximates, as race distances were then measured in furlongs and miles rather than metres. The Coongy Cup changed dates in recent years having previously been held on Caulfield Cup Day, now taking place three days earlier and offering the winner a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption.

Coongy Cup Race Distance History

Period Distance
2004 onwards 2000m
2003 2020m
1999-2002 2000m
1997-98 2100m
1973-96 2000m
1968-72 2000m
1947-67 2400m
1942-46 Not Held
1941 2400m
1938-40 2000m
1931-37 Not Held
1898-1930 2200m

There have only been three dead heats in the race history. In 1940, Lanarus and Morvren crossed the line together, and in 1954 the same happened with Sunish and Te Totara. More recently, Best Of Days and Mask Of Time were declared dead heat winners in 2018. In 2009, Baughurst became the first horse to win the race two years in succession (2008, 2009).

Notable Coongy Cup winners include Hymettus (1898), Vanity Fair (1902), Britisher (1948), La Mer (1978), Rose Of Kingston (1982), Maybe Better (2006), Foreteller (2011) and Duais (2021).

Coongy Cup results and winning times since 2000 are listed below.

Coongy Cup Results

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Coongy Cup
1st Muramasa 2 minutes 1.21 seconds
2nd Diamil
3rd Gregolimo
2022
Coongy Cup
1st Gunstock 2 minutes 6.65 seconds
2nd Yonkers
3rd Aurora’s Symphony
2021
Coongy Cup
1st Duais 2 minutes 3.28 seconds
2nd Wentwood
3rd Floating Artist
2020
Coongy Cup
1st Nonconformist 2 minutes 3.75 seconds
2nd Harlem
3rd Kiwia
2019
Coongy Cup
1st Wolfe 2 minutes 2.73 seconds
2nd Top Of The Range
3rd Kiwia
2018
Coongy Cup
1st Best Of Days / Mask Of Time* 2 minutes 7.07 seconds
3rd Life Less Ordinary
2017
Coongy Cup
1st Kiwia 2 minutes 2.99 seconds
2nd Samovare
3rd Maurus
2016
Coongy Cup
1st Vanbrugh 2 minutes 2.1 seconds
2nd Tom Melbourne
3rd It’s Somewhat
2015
David Jones Cup
1st Stratum Star 2 minutes 2.13 seconds
2nd Awesome Rock
3rd Leebaz
2014
David Jones Cup
1st Contributer 2 minutes 5.3 seconds
2nd Noble Protector
3rd Signoff
2013
David Jones Cup
1st Spurtonic 2 minutes 3.1 seconds
2nd Bass Strait
3rd Garud
2012
David Jones Cup
1st Lightinthenite 2 minutes 4.3 seconds
2nd Bagman
3rd Extra Zero
2011
David Jones Cup
1st Foreteller 2 minutes 3.0 seconds
2nd Extra Zero
3rd Midnight Martini
2010
David Jones Cup
1st Ginga Dude 2 minutes 6.7 seconds
2nd Purple
3rd Zoomin
2009
David Jones Cup
1st Baughurst 2 minutes 2.1 seconds
2nd Shocking
3rd Pacino
2008
David Jones Cup
1st Baughurst 2 minutes 2.1 seconds
2nd Pacino
3rd Annenkov
2007
David Jones Cup
1st Fire In The Night 2 minutes 2.4 seconds
2nd Molotov
3rd Pacino
2006
David Jones Cup
1st Maybe Better 2 minutes 1.2 seconds
2nd King Of Ashford
3rd Temple Hills
2005
David Jones Cup
1st Activation 2 minutes 0.6 seconds
2nd Studebaker
3rd Uprize
2004
David Jones Cup
1st Reclaim 2 minutes 5.7 seconds
2nd Pretorius
3rd Star Of Grechen
2003
David Jones Cup
1st Frightening 2 minutes 3.5 seconds
2nd Crawl
3rd Adolescence
2002
David Jones Cup
1st Mr Lofty 2 minutes 2.0 seconds
2nd Little Miss Quick
3rd Society Beau
2001
David Jones Cup
1st Citras Prince 2 minutes 4.1 seconds
2nd Indian Ridge
3rd Tempest Morn
2000
David Jones Cup
1st Typhoon 2 minutes 0.9 seconds
2nd Avilde
3rd Slavonic

*Dead Heat

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Z...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pr...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

Pride Of Jenni was enormous running her rivals ragged with a blistering...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results:...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Dublin Down is into Saturday week’s 2024 Golden Slipper field after a gutsy...

Magic Night Winner Drifting Fi...

Magic Night Winner Drifting Firms in Golden Slipper 2024 Betting

Drifting did plenty right to win the 2024 Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill on...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results:...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

Celestial Legend put the writing on the wall for a huge year ahead with the...

Race Results

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Zougotcha Dives Late to Salute

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Race Previews

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Magic Night Winner Drifting Firms in Golden Slipper 2024 Betting

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

Fields & Form

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

2024 Randwick Guineas Field & Odds Update: Militarize Set to Strike Second-Up