Australian Cup

The $3 million Australian Cup is a weight-for-age Group 1 feature held at Flemington Racecourse in March each autumn.

2023 Australian Cup Results

  • 1st: #1 Cascadian
  • 2nd: #7 Numerian
  • 3rd: #11 Pounding




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.

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).

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 2023 Australian Cup ran on Saturday March 25, 2023 a fortnight later than usual offering an unprecedented $3 million in stakes and was won in style by Godolphin’s evergreen eight-year-old Cascadian ($4F). 

Australian Cup 2023
Date: Saturday March 25, 2023
Racecourse: Flemington Racecourse
Distance: 2000m
Race Type: Weight-For-Age
Status: Group 1
Prize Money: $3,000,000

2023 Australian Cup Results

  • 1st: #1 Cascadian ($4F)
  • 2nd: #7 Numerian
  • 3rd: #11 Pounding

James Cummings’ stable stalwart Cascadian was excellent again backing-up from his All-Star Mile second to take out the 2023 Australian Cup results at Flemington as the $4 favourite for the punters to become a three-time Group 1 winner thanks to a gun ride by in-form hoop Ben Melham.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 1 CASCADIAN (GB) James Cummings Ben Melham 10 59kg $4F
2 7 NUMERIAN (IRE) Annabel Neasham Jamie Mott 0.75L 1 59kg $11
3 11 POUNDING Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 1.5L 8 59kg $26
4 6 SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Beau Mertens 2L 5 59kg $18
5 10 HEZASHOCKA (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Damien Oliver 2.1L 3 59kg $26
6 18e CAMPIONESSA (NZ) Mark Walker Opie Bosson 2.2L 4 57kg $7.50
7 13 EL PATRONESS Danny O’Brien Patrick Moloney 3.95L 6 57kg $81
8 4 NONCONFORMIST Grahame Begg Jordan Childs 4.25L 12 59kg $5.50
9 12 LUNAR FLARE Grahame Begg Michael Dee 4.35L 13 57kg $31
10 14 STEINEM (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Harry Coffey 5.6L 11 57kg $11
11 5 EMISSARY (GB) Michael Moroney Blake Shinn 5.9L 16 59kg $10
12 16 VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) Liam Howley Daniel Moor 6.4L 2 54.5kg $20
13 15 BANK MAUR Richard Laming Jye McNeil 7.4L 7 54.5kg $19
14 19e BEAR STORY (IRE) Clinton McDonald Daniel Stackhouse 7.5L 14 59kg $26
15 17e YAPHET Cliff Brown Ben Allen 8.25L 15 59kg $91
16 2 REGAL POWER John Leek (Jnr) Craig Newitt 10L 9 59kg $81
9 RIGHT YOU ARE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ben Allen 0
8 MAROCCHINO Lou Luciani Troy Turner 0
3 MO’UNGA (NZ) Annabel Neasham Daniel Moor 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2023 Australian Cup Betting Odds

The current Australian Cup 2023 odds and market links will be provided below as soon as betting on the Group 1 feature is open at Ladbrokes.com.au.

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

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

2023 Australian Cup Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 AUSTRALIAN CUP FORM

2023 Australian Cup Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Australian Cup 2023 Tips on the now $3 million showdown this autumn.

  • To Win: #3 Mo’unga ($8 at time of publish) 

It’s always a risk backing a horse to win a Group 1 off a lengthy drought. They tend to get a bit of a perennial place-getter mindset and lose confidence. Still, Annabel Neasham’s in-form Savabeel five-year-old is going too good to ignore and really think he can bounce back to his best and secure another elite level win here at headquarters. He hasn’t won a race in nearly two years with his last turf triumph being a Winx Stakes win in August of 2021 over Verry Elleegant. That said, he has been one of the most consistent Group 1 horses ever since putting together a frustrating collection of Group 1 placings. He is yet to run out of the top three at the Flemington track, and his 2000m record includes his Group 1 Rosehill Guineas win as a three-year-old. He is fourth-up and fit on Saturday coming off back-to-back Group 1 thirds in Sydney. He is on the quick back-up after finishing well back behind tearaway winner Dubai Honour in last Saturday’s Ranvet Stakes, and that looks a pretty good form race. Happy to stick with him heading south even from the wide alley.

2023 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 2023 Australian Cup field and barriers will be published below on Wednesday March 22, 2023 as soon as released by Racing Victoria.

The Australian Cup 2023 field features a star-studded line-up of autumn gallopers including last weekend’s All-Star Mile runner-up Cascadian for Godolphin and Nonconformist coming off a Group 2 Blamey Stakes second.

Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2023 Australian Cup field and betting markets.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 x341154x52 CASCADIAN (GB) James Cummings Ben Melham 11 59kg 113
2 x4411x46x7 REGAL POWER John Leek (Jnr) Craig Newitt 10 59kg 109
3 032852×533 MO’UNGA (NZ) Annabel Neasham Daniel Moor 15 59kg 112
4 22x87670x1 NONCONFORMIST Grahame Begg Jordan Childs 14 59kg 107
5 5x15812x53 EMISSARY (GB) Michael Moroney Blake Shinn 19 59kg 104
6 x921177x88 SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Beau Mertens 5 59kg 109
7 211x2250x4 NUMERIAN (IRE) Annabel Neasham Jamie Mott 1 59kg 109
8 2x61011x10 MAROCCHINO Lou Luciani Troy Turner 13 59kg 103
9 x343511111 RIGHT YOU ARE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ben Allen 8 59kg 104
10 32120423×0 HEZASHOCKA (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Damien Oliver 3 59kg 104
11 1258211126 POUNDING Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 9 59kg 104
12 56x46612x7 LUNAR FLARE Grahame Begg Michael Dee 16 57kg 105
13 28x3381x84 EL PATRONESS Danny O’Brien Patrick Moloney 6 57kg 105
14 96x05232x1 STEINEM (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Harry Coffey 12 57kg 105
15 7x218x2741 BANK MAUR Richard Laming Jye McNeil 7 54.5kg 95
16 91x132x88 VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) Liam Howley Blaike McDougall 2 54.5kg 82
17e x24142x565 YAPHET Cliff Brown 18 59kg 84
18e 4122211422 CAMPIONESSA (NZ) Mark Walker Opie Bosson 4 57kg 103
19e 332652x1x0 BEAR STORY (IRE) Clinton McDonald Daniel Stackhouse 17 59kg 100

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Australian Cup Nominations

The 2023 Australian Cup nominations close the Monday before race day.

The Australian Cup 2023 nominations close on Monday March 20, 2023.  

The 2023 Australian Cup nominations attracted 31 class gallopers led in all-in betting by Cascadian who was huge running second at a big price in the $5 million The All-Star Mile last weekend at The Valley behind Mr Brightside, third in Sydney’s Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) also held last Saturday M’ounga, and first-up Group 2 Blamey Stakes winner Nonconformist.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 123820×771 ARAPAHO (FR) G 6 Bjorn Baker 105
2 7x218x2741 BANK MAUR C 3 Richard Laming 95
3 332652x1x0 BEAR STORY (IRE) H 5 Clinton McDonald 100
4 4122211422 CAMPIONESSA (NZ) M 5 Mark Walker
5 7x11713x0 CAPTAIN ENVIOUS (NZ) G 4 Paul Preusker 84
6 x341154x52 CASCADIAN (GB) G 8 James Cummings 113
7 28x3381x84 EL PATRONESS M 4 Danny O’Brien 105
8 5x15812x53 EMISSARY (GB) G 6 Michael Moroney 104
9 x135x5302x FANCY MAN (IRE) H 5 Annabel Neasham 104
10 54x451214x GEAR UP (IRE) H 5 Annabel Neasham 105
11 32120423×0 HEZASHOCKA (NZ) G 5 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 104
12 x3418x8x06 HUETOR (FR) G 6 Peter & Paul Snowden 107
13 56x46612x7 LUNAR FLARE M 7 Grahame Begg 105
14 x112159x03 MANKAYAN (IRE) G 7 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 102
15 2x61011x10 MAROCCHINO G 6 Lou Luciani 103
16 18x4340x52 MONTEFILIA M 5 David Payne 113
17 032852×533 MO’UNGA (NZ) H 5 Annabel Neasham 112
18 22x87670x1 NONCONFORMIST G 6 Grahame Begg 107
19 211x2250x4 NUMERIAN (IRE) G 7 Annabel Neasham 109
20 1258211126 POUNDING G 4 Peter G Moody 104
21 x4411x46x7 REGAL POWER G 7 John Leek (Jnr) 109
22 x343511111 RIGHT YOU ARE G 6 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 104
23 x013534x71 SIRILEO MISS M 5 Symon Wilde 103
24 x921177x88 SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) G 6 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 109
25 96x05232x1 STEINEM (GB) M 5 Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 105
26 74x319x64x THIRD REALM (GB) H 5 Anthony & Sam Freedman 102
27 6220151×86 UNCLE BRYN (GB) G 5 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 104
28 91x132x88 VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) C 3 Liam Howley 82
29 x535601x22 VOW AND DECLARE G 7 Danny O’Brien 108
30 x24142x565 YAPHET G 4 Cliff Brown 84
31 8x4300x674 YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) G 5 Danny O’Brien 104

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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.

Recent Australian Cup Winners

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Australian Cup
1st Cascadian 2 minutes 01.43 seconds
2nd Numerian
3rd Pounding
2022
Australian Cup
1st Duais 2 minutes 00.82 seconds
2nd Think It Over
3rd Spanish Mission
2021
Australian Cup
1st Homesman 2 minutes 01.47 seconds
2nd Best Of Days
3rd Chapada
2020
Australian Cup
1st Fifty Stars 2 minutes 02.18 seconds
2nd Regal Power
3rd Vow And Declare
2019
Australian Cup
1st Harlem 2 minutes 01.50 seconds
2nd Shillelagh
3rd Trap For Fools
2018
Australian Cup
1st Harlem 2 minutes 0.46 seconds
2nd Gailo Chop
3rd Ventura Storm
2017
Australian Cup
1st Humidor 2 minutes 1.07 seconds
2nd Jameka
3rd Exospheric
2016
Australian Cup
1st Preferment 2 minutes 3.9 seconds
2nd Awesome Rock
3rd Rising Romance
2015
Australian Cup
1st Spillway 2 minutes 00.09 seconds
2nd Extra Zero
3rd Happy Trails
2014
Australian Cup
1st Fiorente 2 minutes 03.64 seconds
2nd Green Moon
3rd Foreteller
2013
Australian Cup
1st Super Cool 2 minutes 0.93 seconds
2nd Fiveandahalfstar
3rd Tanby
2012
Australian Cup
1st Manighar 2 minutes 01.2 seconds
2nd Southern Speed
3rd Americain
2011
Australian Cup
1st Shocking 2 minutes 0.9 seconds
2nd Linton
3rd Playing God
2010
Australian Cup
1st Zipping 2 minutes 3.69 seconds
2nd Sirmione
3rd Moatize
2009
Australian Cup
1st Niconero 2 minutes 3.1 seconds
2nd Theseo
3rd Zagreb
2008
Australian Cup
1st Sirmione 2 minutes 0.8 seconds
2nd Princess Coup
3rd Casino Prince
2007
Australian Cup
1st Pompeii Ruler 2 minutes 1.5 seconds
2nd Marasco
3rd Tawqeet
2006
Australian Cup
1st Roman Arch 2 minutes 2.8 seconds
2nd Candy Vale
3rd Our Smoking Joe
2005
Australian Cup
1st Makybe Diva 1 minute 58.7 seconds
2nd Winning Belle
3rd Lad Of The Manor
2004
Australian Cup
1st Lonhro 2 minutes 1.6 seconds
2nd Delzao
3rd Elvstroem
2003
Australian Cup
1st Northerly 2 minutes 1.4 seconds
2nd Natural Blitz
3rd Don Eduardo
2002
Australian Cup
1st Old Comrade 1 minute 59.8 seconds
2nd Northerly
3rd Rain Gauge
2001
Australian Cup
1st Northerly 1 minute 59.4 seconds
2nd Hit The Roof
3rd Kaapstad Way
2000
Australian Cup
1st Intergaze 2 minutes 0.9 seconds
2nd Arena
3rd Streak

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