next to go

Riccarton Race 1 (NZ)
Soft 7
Tab Southern Punters Challenge - 12 April Mdn 2m
Riccarton Race 2 (NZ)
Soft 7
Book A Suite For Autumn Racing Mdn 37m
Riccarton Race 3 (NZ)
Soft 7
Nzb Mega Maiden Series Mdn 1h 11m
Strathalbyn Race 1 (SA)
Good 4
Mahindra Adelaide City Mdn Plate 1h 27m
Riccarton Race 4 (NZ)
Soft 7
The Tea House At Riccarton Park 2Yo 1h 45m
Strathalbyn Race 2 (SA)
Good 4
Strathalbyn Race 2 (Bm60) 2h 2m
Riccarton Race 1 (NZ)
Soft 7
Tab Southern Punters Challenge - 12 April Mdn 2m

Bendigo Cup

The Bendigo Cup is a Group 3 staying event held at Bendigo Racecourse on the Wednesday before Victoria Derby Day.

2024 Bendigo Cup Results

  • 1st: #9 Sea King
  • 2nd: #2 Berkeley Square
  • 3rd: #12 Star Vega



The Bendigo Cup is a 2400m staying event held at Bendigo Racecourse in Victoria during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival and serves as a potential late Melbourne Cup lead-up race.

2024 Bendigo Cup Results

  • 1st: #9 Sea King ($5.50)
  • 2nd: #2 Berkeley Square
  • 3rd: #12 Star Vega

The Melbourne Cup is now calling for the Harry Eustace-trained UK raider Sea King ($5.50) who destroyed his Australian rivals by 3.75 lengths with a superior staying performance in the 2024 Bendigo Cup results to hopefully earn a spot in the 24-horse field on Tuesday.

Click here for the full story.

Bendigo Cup 2024 Odds & Results

Bendigo R7
Apiam Bendigo Cup (G3)
Final Race time:  1730265027
Runner DetailsWinPlace
1st
9. Sea King (3) J: Declan Bates 54.5kg
T: Harry Eustace
2nd
2. Berkeley Square (8) J: Jaylah Kennedy 58.5kg
T: Dan O'Sullivan
3rd
12. Star Vega (12) J: Billy Egan 54kg
T: A & S Freedman
4th
4. Herman Hesse (13) J: Ben Melham 57.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher
5th
5. Knight's Choice (1) J: Robbie Dolan 57kg
T: J G Symons & S Laxon
6th
14. I'm A Dirty Rascal (6) J: Beau Mertens 54kg
T: G Waterhouse & A Bott
7th
10. Immediacy (7) J: Luke Currie 54kg
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
8th
1. Vow And Declare (11) J: Craig Williams 59kg
T: Danny O'Brien
9th
3. Le Don De Vie (15) J: Mark Zahra 58.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher
10th
13. Whisky On The Hill (2) J: Ethan Brown 54kg
T: Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson
11th
11. Sunsets (9) J: Michael Dee 54kg
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
12th
15. Staunch (4) J: Teodore Nugent 54kg
T: Matt Laurie
13th
7. Horrifying (10) J: Blake Shinn 56.5kg
T: Lindsey Smith
14th
6. First Light (5) J: Damian Lane 56.5kg
T: Chris Waller
15th
8. Aurora's Symphony (14) J: Blaike McDougall 56kg
T: Symon Wilde
Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing.
Data retrieved: 18/02/2025 11:43:29 AM (Australia/Brisbane)

The now Group 3 event held towards the end of October or early November on the Wednesday before the Victoria Derby Day meeting at Flemington on the first Saturday in November kicks off the Melbourne Cup Carnival action, the Bendigo Cup is held under handicap conditions and is open to horses aged three years and older.

The Bendigo Cup is one of the richest country cups in Australia, with an impressive total of $500,000 prize money. It is also one of the most renowned country cups in Australia, drawing significant crowds and some top-quality horses, particularly in recent years.

The Bendigo Cup can act as an effective lead up race to the Melbourne Cup. Horses generally target the Bendigo Cup following good runs in other events such as the listed Cranbourne Cup or even non-black type events at nearby tracks, including major Melbourne racecourses.

Quite often, horses that get a good run in the Bendigo Cup will go on to other country cups at a similar grade, such as the Ballarat Cup. In recent times, as top-quality horses have contested this event more often, races like the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) at Flemington on Emirates Stakes Day become a nice next-up option. Francis Of Assisi (2016) was the last horse to win the Bendigo Cup – Queen Elizabeth Stakes double.

In more recent years the Bendigo Cup has started to attract and be dominated by international visitors in much the same way as the other spring cup features.

The 2021 Bendigo Cup form was franked with the runner-up Smokin’ Romans returning the following spring to win the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) and the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) before starting the short-priced favourite in the 2022 Caulfield Cup.

The Bendigo Cup 2021 winner Wentwood meanwhile went on to run third in both the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) and Group 2 Sandown Classic (2400m) during the spring.

Winning mare High Emocean franked the Bendigo Cup 2022 form going on to run third to her stablemate Gold Trip in that year’s Melbourne Cup results.

The 2023 Bendigo Cup winner Interpretation ran a next-up sixth in that year’s Melbourne Cup beaten five lengths by the winner Without A Fight.

The Bendigo Cup 2024 ran Wednesday October 30, 2024 as a potential lead-up into the Melbourne Cup field and was won in emphatic fashion by the Harry Eustace-trained UK stayer Sea King ($5.50).

2024 Bendigo Cup
Date: Wednesday October 30, 2024
Track: Bendigo Racecourse
Distance: 2400m
Race Type: 3YO&UP Handicap
Status: Group 3
Prize Money: $500,000

2024 Bendigo Cup Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 9 SEA KING (GB) Harry Eustace Declan Bates 3 54.5kg $5.50
2 2 BERKELEY SQUARE Dan O’Sullivan Ms Jaylah Kennedy (a) 3.75L 8 58.5kg $6
3 12 STAR VEGA (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman Billy Egan 3.95L 12 54kg $11
4 4 HERMAN HESSE (GB) Ciaron Maher Ben Melham 4.7L 13 57.5kg $16
5 5 KNIGHT’S CHOICE John Symons & Sheila Laxon Robbie Dolan 5.16L 1 57kg $26
6 14 I’M A DIRTY RASCAL (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Beau Mertens 5.66L 6 54kg $31
7 10 IMMEDIACY (NZ) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Luke Currie 5.81L 7 54kg $14
8 1 VOW AND DECLARE Danny O’Brien Craig Williams 6.16L 11 59kg $9.50
9 3 LE DON DE VIE (GB) Ciaron Maher Mark Zahra 6.91L 15 58.5kg $21
10 13 WHISKY ON THE HILL (GB) Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson Ethan Brown 7.41L 2 54kg $4.40F
11 11 SUNSETS Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Michael Dee 7.47L 9 54kg $21
12 15 STAUNCH Matt Laurie Teo Nugent 8.97L 4 54kg $61
13 7 HORRIFYING (NZ) Lindsey Smith Blake Shinn 9.72L 10 56.5kg $18
14 6 FIRST LIGHT (GB) Chris Waller Damian Lane 10.72L 5 56.5kg $13
15 8 AURORA’S SYMPHONY Symon Wilde Blaike McDougall 40.72L 14 56kg $101

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 Bendigo Cup Betting Odds

The latest Bendigo Cup 2024 betting markets and fixed win pricing will be available at Ladbrokes.com.au and provided here at Races.com.au for you to back your Bendigo Cup tips at the best prices.

High Emocean ($2.30 in 2022) followed by the fellow Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Interpretation ($2.70 in 2023) are the latest favourites in Bendigo Cup betting to salute for the punters.

2024 Bendigo Cup Form Guide

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2024 BENDIGO CUP FORM GUIDE

2024 Bendigo Cup Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Bendigo Cup 2024 Tips on the popular mid-week spring showdown this season.

  • To Win: #13 Whisky On The Hill ($7 at time of publish) – BET NOW 

Open edition of the Bendigo Cup with lots of form lines, including those overseas, to consider but going for the in-form runner with Whisky On The Hill up in grade chasing a hat-trick. Ethan Brown has the ride from a favourable gate two draw on the Ribchester gelding who has had 14 starts for five wins. He comes off back-to-back 2400m wins at Caulfield carrying 55.5kg and 56.5kg respectively, so, while this is a tougher race he will appreciate the drop back to 54kg. Is he good enough against these? Gets the chance to find out.

2024 Bendigo Cup Field

The Bendigo Cup field has a capacity of 16 stayers, but rarely runs with this many starters. Spring gallopers may come into the Bendigo Cup field via a number of different lead-up races including the Group 3 Coongy Cup (2000m) on Caulfield Cup Day or the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) a week earlier.

The 2024 Bendigo Cup field is released on the Monday of race week and will be published in full below.

The Bendigo Cup 2024 final field features a quality line-up of stayers including 2019 Melbourne Cup champion Vow And Declare, Herbert Power winner Herman Hesse, and the Harry Eustace-trained UK raider Sea King looking to move up the Melbourne Cup order of entry.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 24041×5778 VOW AND DECLARE Danny O’Brien Craig Williams 11 59kg 103
2 62512×8112 BERKELEY SQUARE Dan O’Sullivan Ms Jaylah Kennedy (a) 8 58.5kg 102
3 0172x00x89 LE DON DE VIE (GB) Ciaron Maher Mark Zahra 15 58.5kg 102
4 2170×07117 HERMAN HESSE (GB) Ciaron Maher Ben Melham 13 57.5kg 100
5 x24234x900 KNIGHT’S CHOICE John Symons & Sheila Laxon Robbie Dolan 1 57kg 99
6 5117×04417 FIRST LIGHT (GB) Chris Waller Damian Lane 5 56.5kg 98
7 988x0x1158 HORRIFYING (NZ) Lindsey Smith Blake Shinn 10 56.5kg 98
8 x70116x000 AURORA’S SYMPHONY Symon Wilde Blaike McDougall 14 56kg 97
9 104x10136x SEA KING (GB) Harry Eustace Declan Bates 3 54.5kg 94
10 11155×670 IMMEDIACY (NZ) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Luke Currie 7 54kg 90
11 x05580x432 SUNSETS Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Michael Dee 9 54kg 85
12 3×87621423 STAR VEGA (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman Billy Egan 12 54kg 84
13 1x068x6311 WHISKY ON THE HILL (GB) Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson Ethan Brown 2 54kg 81
14 9x5427x449 I’M A DIRTY RASCAL (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Beau Mertens 6 54kg 80
15 8338×13134 STAUNCH Matt Laurie Teo Nugent 4 54kg 71

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 Bendigo Cup Nominations

Early nominations for the Bendigo Cup in 2024 close the Thursday prior to the race and will be listed below.

The 2024 Bendigo Cup nominations attracted 30 spring stayers including Coongy Cup runner-up Berkeley Square, last year’s second placegetter Brayden Star, Lexus Archer Stakes winner Point King, and Naturalism Stakes winning mare Positivity.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Hcp Rating
1 x70116x000 AURORA’S SYMPHONY G 8 Symon Wilde 97
2 62512×8112 BERKELEY SQUARE G 5 Dan O’Sullivan 102
3 8x766x0734 BRAYDEN STAR (GB) G 6 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 94
4 5058×00185 CONVENER (FR) G 6 Ciaron Maher 79
5 x6356x0544 DILLIAN (IRE) G 6 Ciaron Maher 70
6 x58610x536 FANCY MAN (IRE) G 7 Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald 99
7 5117×04417 FIRST LIGHT (GB) G 7 Chris Waller 98
8 1342717×05 GOLD WOLF (NZ) G 4 David & Coral Feek 81
9 3x44111x18 HAARACAINE (IRE) H 5 Nick Ryan 76
10 2170×07117 HERMAN HESSE (GB) G 8 Ciaron Maher
11 988x0x1158 HORRIFYING (NZ) G 7 Lindsey Smith 98
12 9x5427x449 I’M A DIRTY RASCAL (IRE) G 7 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 80
13 11155×670 IMMEDIACY (NZ) G 4 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 90
14 x24234x900 KNIGHT’S CHOICE G 5 John Symons & Sheila Laxon 99
15 0172x00x89 LE DON DE VIE (GB) G 9 Ciaron Maher 102
16 92441×3450 MISSION OF LOVE M 5 John Symons & Sheila Laxon 94
17 x23622x440 MOSTLY CLOUDY (IRE) G 6 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 98
18 513x00x802 OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) H 7 Ciaron Maher 99
19 x5966x0948 PESTO (GB) G 9 Gavin Bedggood 74
20 28x4x8x112 POINT KING (IRE) G 6 Anthony & Sam Freedman 102
21 781291×217 POSITIVITY (NZ) M 4 Andrew Forsman 102
22 104x10136x SEA KING (GB) G 6 Harry Eustace 94
23 3×87621423 STAR VEGA (IRE) G 5 Anthony & Sam Freedman
24 46×4708212 STATION ONE G 6 Liam Howley 80
25 8338×13134 STAUNCH G 6 Matt Laurie 71
26 x05580x432 SUNSETS G 4 Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 85
27 24041×5778 VOW AND DECLARE G 9 Danny O’Brien 103
28 115x8x943 WALTHAM (GB) G 5 Matthew Smith
29 1415×70656 WERTHEIMER (NZ) G 7 Matthew Enright 78
30 1x068x6311 WHISKY ON THE HILL (GB) G 5 Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson 81

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

Bendigo Cup History

The Bendigo Cup was inaugurated in 1868 and was then known as the Sandhurst Cup. Old England was the first winner.

The new Bendigo track was established relatively recently in 1998. The grandstand was built in 1902, making it one of the oldest in the region.

The Bendigo Cup was previously held in November. In 2009 the race date was shifted to October to encourage classier horses to contest it on the way to bigger events. Following the 2010 edition the decision was made to increase the race distance again to 2400m (as it was in 2008 and prior) to further improve the race’s suitability as a lead up event.

Notable recent Bendigo Cup winners include Gallic (2004, 06), Puissance De Lune (2012), Sertorius (2013), The Offer (2015) and Francis Of Assisi (2016) who went on to win the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) during the Melbourne Cup Carnival next start after being balloted out of the Melbourne Cup field. The 2017 Bendigo Cup winner Qewy handed English trainer Charlie Appleby back-to-back wins in the race setting a new race record with his 2:27.50 second victory.

Trainers Ciaron Maher & David Eustace prepared back-to-back Bendigo Cup winners with High Emocean (2022) and Interpretation (2023).

David Eustace’s brother, the UK-based Harry Eustace, won the 2024 Bendigo Cup with his international raider Sea King saluting by 3.75 lengths.

Bendigo Cup Results

Year Place Horse Time
2024
Bendigo Cup
1st Sea King 2 minutes 27.82 seconds
2nd Berkeley Square
3rd Star Vega
2023
Bendigo Cup
1st Interpretation 2 minutes 28.52 seconds
2nd Brayden Star
3rd Taramansour
2022
Bendigo Cup
1st High Emocean 2 minutes 34.43 seconds
2nd Port Philip
3rd Verimli
2021
Bendigo Cup
1st Wentwood 2 minutes 27.90 seconds
2nd Smokin’ Romans
3rd Taramansour
2020
Bendigo Cup
1st Princess Jenni 2 minutes 29.32 seconds
2nd Pondus
3rd Haky
2019
Bendigo Cup
1st Top Of The Range 2 minutes 27.41 seconds
2nd Brimham Rocks
3rd Hang Man
2018
Bendigo Cup
1st Red Alto 2 minutes 28.51 seconds
2nd Dal Harraild
3rd Sir Charles Road
2017
Bendigo Cup
1st Qewy 2 minutes 27.5 seconds (track record)
2nd Kiwia
3rd Foundry
2016
Bendigo Cup
1st Francis of Assisi 2 minute 28.3 seconds
2nd Second Bullet
3rd Our Century
2015
Bendigo Cup
1st The Offer 2 minutes 28.5 seconds
2nd Divan
3rd Kirramosa
2014
Bendigo Cup
1st Bring Something 2 minutes 29.4 seconds
2nd Massiyn
3rd Order Of The Sun
2013
Bendigo Cup
1st Sertorius 2 minutes 30.8 seconds
2nd Massiyn
3rd Kesampour
2012
Bendigo Cup
1st Puissance De Lune 2 minutes 27.9 seconds
2nd Practiced
3rd Fiumicino
2011
Bendigo Cup
1st Tanby 2 minutes 28.7 seconds
2nd At First Sight
3rd Western Symbol
2010
Bendigo Cup
1st Dream Pedlar 2 minutes 18.2 seconds
2nd My Bentley
3rd Zauberin
2009
Bendigo Cup
1st Zupacool 2 minutes 15.0 seconds
2nd Crossthestart
3rd Daka’s Gem
2008
Bendigo Cup
1st Banana Man 2 minutes 28.8 seconds
2nd Imvula
3rd Butwaittheresmore
2007
Bendigo Cup
1st Captious 2 minutes 31.9 seconds
2nd Hoodlum
3rd On A Jeune
2006
Bendigo Cup
1st Gallic 2 minutes 31.9 seconds
2nd Brindabella
3rd Home Sweet
2005
Bendigo Cup
1st True Courser 2 minutes 30.3 seconds
2nd Belzain
3rd Garidar
2004
Bendigo Cup
1st Gallic 2 minutes 32.5 seconds
2nd Jakodae
3rd Diamond Jake
2003
Bendigo Cup
1st Western Waters 2 minutes 28.3 seconds
2nd Chairmans Choice
3rd Mr Prudent
2002
Bendigo Cup
1st Forlorna 2 minutes 31.3 seconds
2nd Fearless Sophie
3rd Time Off
2001
Bendigo Cup
1st Saboteur 2 minutes 28.3 seconds
2nd Betta Watch It
3rd Never Dull
2000
Bendigo Cup
1st Yammer 2 minutes 34.4 seconds
2nd Western Outlaw
3rd Jamestown

Spring Racing

Horse Racing Today

What are you prepared to lose today? Set a deposit limit.

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au