2026 Australian Cup Results

Stay tuned for the official 2026 Australian Cup results and finishing order at Flemington on Saturday March 28, 2026.

• 1st: No. 2 Light Infantry Man ($21)
• 2nd: No. 8 Pride Of Jenni
• 3rd: No. 3 Apulia

Winning Margin: 0.02 lengths

Winning Time: 2:03.45

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.

Click here for the full story.

Australian Cup Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Australian Cup 2026 Tips on the $2 million showdown this autumn.

To Win: No. 1 Tom Kitten

TOM KITTEN (12) looks perfectly placed to add another major to his resume and claim the Group 1 this weekend in Melbourne. The Godolphin star — already etched into history as the only dual All-Star Mile winner — has returned this prep in the best form of his career. He regained his spark first-up in the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan, then produced a powerhouse performance to defend his All-Star crown in style having sat on speed before holding all his rivals at bay late in a strong effort. The step back up to 2000m is no concern whatsoever; he’s a proven performer at the trip and profiles like a horse ready to peak again third-up. His last 2000m assignment saw him finish third behind the mighty Via Sistina here in the Champions Stakes last spring on a Heavy track. Barrier 12 means he’ll likely settle midfield, but that’s been his trademark — conserve early, explode late — and Flemington’s long straight only enhances his strengths. With confidence sky-high, fitness building, and a class edge over many of his rivals, Tom Kitten shapes as the one to beat especially with big race specialist Craig Williams aboard. If he sees clear air at the right time, he can absolutely storm over the top and keep his unbeaten campaign rolling.

Australian Cup News

2026 Australian Cup Results: Light Infantry Man Goes Back-to-Back

• Birdman Heads 2026 Australian Cup Field & Betting
• 2026 Peter Young Stakes Field & Betting Update: Buckaroo Favourite in Australian Cup Lead-Up
• 2026 All-Star Mile Results: Tom Kitten Makes History, Goes Back-to-Back
• 2026 Australian Guineas Results: Observer Too Good, Wins Again
• 2026 Blamey Stakes Results: Birdman Flies into Australian Cup Contention

The Australian Cup is a Group 1 weight-for-age race held each March during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.

The event was previously held on Flemington’s Super Saturday alongside the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) for the sprinters in mid-March.

Ahead of the 2023 edition the Australian Cup was moved to its own feature race meeting later in the month with prize money boosted to $3 million.

In 2025 the Australian Cup runs at the end of March at Flemington offering a reduced $2.5 million in stakes.

In 2026 the Australian Cup will offered $2 million in total prize money.

The race is a 2000m event ideal for strong staying horses. The most successful recent lead-up race to the Australian Cup is the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m), a double last completed by Fiorente (2014).

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

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

The All-Star Mile (1600m) held at various Melbourne tracks is the key lead-up to the Australian Cup.

Cascadian (2nd at The Valley in 2023 and 3rd at Caulfield in 2024) followed by Light Infantry Man (3rd in 2025) are the latest All-Star Mile graduates to win the Australian Cup.

Cascadian (2023-24) became the first dual Australian Cup champion since Harlem (2018-19).

His back-to-back victories were repeated the next two years by the latest two-time Australian Cup winner Light Infantry Man (2024-25).

The 2024 Australian Cup form was franked with the runner-up, Pride Of Jenni, going on to win the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney by an emphatic 6.5 lengths at her next start.

Pride Of Jenni returned as favourite in the 2025 Australian Cup but faded on the home turn finishing second last some 15 lengths beaten as stablemate Light Infantry Man scored an upset.

Pride Of Jenni nearly scored victory in the 2026 Australian Cup results leading until the final stride when just nudged out right on the line by the defending champion and her stablemate, upset 20/1 winner Light Infantry Man.

2026 Australian Cup Betting

The current Australian Cup 2026 betting odds will be open at Ladbrokes.com.au and market links will also be provided here at Races.com.au as soon as betting on the Group 1 feature is open.

The latest favourites in Australian Cup betting to win were Humidor ($4.20 in 2017) and Cascadian ($4 in 2023).

There was a notable upset in 2026 by two-time champion Light Infantry Man ($21).

Australian Cup Field

2026 Australian Cup Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 AUSTRALIAN CUP FORM

2026 Australian Cup Nominations

The 2026 Australian Cup nominations close the Monday before race day.

The Australian Cup 2026 nominations close on Monday March 23, 2026.  

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.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2026 Australian Cup Field

The Australian Cup field attracts a line-up of the season’s best weight-for-age stayers, many of which ran in the previous season’s spring features like the Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup and is released the Wednesday before Australian Cup Day.

The 2026 Australian Cup field and barriers will be published below on Wednesday March 25, 2026, as soon as released by Racing Victoria.

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.

Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2026 Australian Cup field and betting markets.

Australian Cup Barrier & Speedmap

1

Damask Rose Off Midfield

2

Apulia Off Midfield

3

Leica Lucy Backmarker

4

Mark Twain Backmarker

5

Birdman Off Midfield

6

Sabaj Off Midfield

7

Philia Leader

8

Basilinna Backmarker

9

Light Infantry Man Off Pace

10

Pride Of Jenni Leader

11

Just Fine Leader

12

Tom Kitten Midfield

Australian Cup History

First won by Barwon in 1861, the Australian Cup was originally a 3600m test of endurance until 1943 when the distance was decreased to 3500m. Twenty years later the distance was further decreased to 3200m, however the following year in 1964 the race became a 2000m event.

The fastest finishing time for the Australian Cup is held by the legendary Makybe Diva. In 2005, the mare finished the race in 1 minute 58.7 seconds. In 2007 the Australian Cup changed locations by being temporarily raced at Caulfield Racecourse.

In 2020 the Lindsay Park training operation celebrated their 10th Australian Cup success with Fifty Stars.

Ahead of the 2023 race the Australian Cup date was moved to late March and prize money increased from $1.5 million to $3 million before a reduction to $2.5 million ahead of the 2025 edition.

Prize money for the Australian Cup was further reduced ahead of the 2026 edition to $2 million.

Cascadian went back-to-back in the Australian Cup results in 2023 and 2024.

Light Infantry Man (2025 & 2026) is the last two-time Australian Cup champion. 

Australian Cup Previous Race Winners