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The TS Carlyon Cup - known in 2026 as the MRC Foundation Cup runs in February during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival on Rubiton Stakes Day.
TS Carlyon Cup (MRC Foundation Cup) News
The TS Carlyon Cup – currently run as the MRC Foundation Cup – is a Group 3 status race for milers run at Caulfield Racecourse on Rubiton Stakes Day in February.
2026 MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) Results
Stay tuned for the official 2026 MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) results and finishing order on Saturday February 7, 2026 and to see what horses may have a Tancred Stakes bid in sight over the autumn.
- 1st: No. 1 Light Infantry Man ($4.20)
- 2nd: No. 11 Immediacy
- 3rd: No. 7 Holymanz
Winning Margin: 0.2 lengths
Winning Time: 1:35.58
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.
| 1. Light Infantry Man (10) J: Ethan Brown60kg 9552xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 11. Immediacy (1) J: John Allen57kg 6110xT: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | ||
| 7. Holymanz (3) J: Ben Allen58kg x8315T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 6. Regal Zeus (4) J: Jamie Mott58kg 01011T: John Mcardle | ||
| 4. Whisky On The Hill (11) J: Damian Lane58.5kg 1351xT: Glen Thompson | ||
| 5. Rise At Dawn (2) J: Jamie Melham58kg 32345T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 8. Air Assault (12) J: Lachlan Neindorf58kg 1168xT: Andrew Gluyas | ||
| 12. Welcometotheshow (9) J: Luke Currie57kg 31111T: Tyler Donaldson-Aitken | ||
| 3. Casino Seventeen (7) J: Thomas Stockdale58.5kg 2510xT: Gavin Bedggood | ||
| 14. Litzdeel (8) J: Craig Williams56.5kg 5421xT: Danny O'brien | ||
| 9. Attrition (5) J: Dean Yendall57kg 246x8T: Mitchell Freedman | ||
| 13. Saganti (14) J: Beau Mertens57kg x35x7T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 2. Willydoit (13) J: Michael Dee60kg x879xT: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 10. Charterhouse (6) J: Harry Coffey57kg 41007T: Gavin Bedggood |
The meeting is one of the first key lead-up cards to the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival and is headlined by the Group 2 Rubiton Stakes (1100m), Group 2 Autumn Stakes (1400m) and the Blue Diamond Prelude races.
Contested over 1600m the MRC Foundation Cup (Carlyon Cup) is an open set weights plus penalties event offering $200,000 in total prize money. Horses may come into the field via an earlier summer – autumn lead-up or contest the event first-up.
Possible later targets for MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) graduates include the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) back at the track a fortnight later before the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in early March.
Miss Siska (2020) and Avilius (2019) are the latest runners to complete the TS Carlyon Cup – Peter Young Stakes double. Aviilus also franked the form later in the autumn taking out Sydney’s Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) – Tancred Stakes (2400m) double at Rosehill. The last Carlyon Cup – Australian Cup double winner meanwhile was Manighar (2012).
The 2022 Carlyon Cup form was franked with the runner-up Callsign Mav returning in the spring to win the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m). Spanish Mission meanwhile ran third in both the 2022 Carlyon Cup and Group 1 Australian Cup results that autumn.
In 2023 the Carlyon Cup winner Pounding went on to finish third in the Australian Cup.
The 2025 Carlyon Cup ran as the JRA Plate and was won by the previous spring’s Caulfield Cup champion Duke De Sessa. He went on to frank the form with a second in that year’s Tancred Stakes results.
In 2026 the MRC Foundation Cup was won by the previous autumn’s Australian Cup champ Light Infantry Man.
The TS Carlyon Cup 2026 ran on Saturday February 7, 2026 as the MRC Foundation Cup at Caulfield Racecourse on Rubiton Stakes Day and was won first-up by the Ciaron Maher-trained Australian Cup champ from last autumn, Light Infantry Man ($4.20).Â
| 2026 TS Carlyon Cup (MRC Foundation Cup) | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday February 7, 2026 |
| Track: | Caulfield Racecourse |
| Distance: | 1600m |
| Race Type: | Set Weights + Penalties / Open |
| Status: | Group 3 |
| Prize Money: | $200,000 |
2026 MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) Betting
The week of the event, the MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) 2026 betting odds and market links will be available here at Races.com.au courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
Miss Siska ($2.20 in 2020) followed in 2021 by Best Of Days ($2.90) are the last favourites in TS Carlyon Cup betting to salute for the punters.
There was a notable upset in 2025 with Duke De Sessa saluting fresh at $17!
2026 MRC Foundation Cup (Carlyon Cup) Form Guide
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2026 MRC FOUNDATION CUP FORM GUIDE
2026 MRC Foundation Cup (Carlyon Cup) Tips
Stay tuned for our insider MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) 2026 Tips on the Rubiton Stakes Day support act this season.
To Win: No. Regal Zeus
Taking on the favourite here and have put the airborne REGAL ZEUS (4) on top. Chasing a hat-trick, John McArdle’s talented Zoustar five-year-old has been very good this summer enjoying back-to-back Black-Type wins making him deserving of a shot at something like this. At his latest he narrowly saluted in the Listed Barton Stakes here for his third Caulfield win from eight starts at the track, so he ticks the circuit box. He was hard ridden up front in that going all-the-way in tradesman like performance and he won’t have to fight as hard here. Prior to that he was strong over the mile at Sandown Lakeside, and I think he’ll enjoy getting back up to 1600m rock-hard fit and ready to fire again. He’s got good form at the distance overall (14:5-4-0), drops a half-kilo from that which he carried last time out and Jamie Mott sticks with from a favourable gate four draw. He meets a few rivals resuming who may be short of full fitness, and that gives him a key edge. Expect Mott to roll into it from the 600m, apply the pressure early, and make himself very hard to run down.
|
6. Regal Zeus (4)
J: Jamie Mott58kg
01011T: John Mcardle
|
2026 MRC Foundation Cup (Carlyon Cup) Field
The Carlyon Cup field – known in 2026 as the MRC Foundation Cup field – attracts a good type of middle-distance galloper each autumn and is released by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday before race day.
The official 2026 MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) field and barriers will be announced on the Wednesday of race week and published in full below.
The MRC Foundation Cup 2026 final field features a strong line-up of older milers including Ciaron Maher’s resuming Australian Cup champ from last autumn Light Infantry Man and NZ Derby champ Willydoit now also with Maher down under.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10x069552x | LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (FR) | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 10 | 60kg | Â | Â | 111 |
| 2 | 11014x879x | WILLYDOIT (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Michael Dee | 13 | 60kg | Â | Â | 104 |
| 3 | 276582510x | CASINO SEVENTEEN | Gavin Bedggood | Thomas Stockdale | 7 | 58.5kg | Â | Â | 104 |
| 4 | 3x8591351x | WHISKY ON THE HILL (GB) | Glen Thompson | Damian Lane | 11 | 58.5kg | Â | Â | 100 |
| 5 | 4x50x32345 | RISE AT DAWN (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Ms Jamie Melham | 2 | 58kg | Â | Â | 104 |
| 6 | 428×501011 | REGAL ZEUS | John McArdle | Jamie Mott | 4 | 58kg | Â | Â | 107 |
| 7 | 08237×8315 | HOLYMANZ (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Ben Allen | 3 | 58kg | Â | Â | 101 |
| 8 | 464x81168x | AIR ASSAULT | Andrew Gluyas | Lachlan Neindorf | 12 | 58kg | Â | Â | 100 |
| 9 | 8x933246x8 | ATTRITION | Mitchell Freedman | Dean Yendall | 5 | 57kg | Â | Â | 110 |
| 10 | 583841007x | CHARTERHOUSE (GB) | Gavin Bedggood | Harry Coffey | 6 | 57kg | Â | Â | 94 |
| 11 | 6707x6110x | IMMEDIACY (NZ) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | John Allen | 1 | 57kg | Â | Â | 99 |
| 12 | 1134231111 | WELCOMETOTHESHOW | Tyler Donaldson-Aitken | Luke Currie | 9 | 57kg | Â | Â | 88 |
| 13 | 326x5x35x7 | SAGANTI (FR) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | Beau Mertens | 14 | 57kg | Â | Â | 89 |
| 14 | 6321x5421x | LITZDEEL | Danny O’Brien | Craig Williams | 8 | 56.5kg | Â | Â | 92 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2026 MRC Foundation Cup (Carlyon Cup) Nominations
The MRC Foundation Cup (TS Carlyon Cup) 2026 nominations close on the Monday of race week and will be released below as soon as available.
| Â | 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.
Carlyon Cup / MRC Foundation Cup History
The T.S. Carlyon Cup was first run in 1977 when Ngawyni took out the race. A host of top turf stars have since added their names to the TS Carlyon Cup winners list including Hyperno (1978), Super Impose (1989), Veandercross (1993), Northerly (2001), Apache Cat (2007), Smokin’ Joey (2015), Gailo Chop (2018), Avilius (2019), and the previous year’s Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa (2025).
The race was contested over 2000m until 1997 and has been run over 1400m, 1600m and 1800m since. It has been kept at a mile (1600m) since 2001. Starting out as a Principal race the Carlyon Cup gained Group 2 status from 1980 – 2002 before being downgraded to a Group 3 race in 2003.
In 2024 it ran as the JRA Plate.
In 2026 the event was renamed and run as the MRC Foundation Cup and won by Group 1 winner Light Infantry Man.
Recent Carlyon Cup / MRC Foundation Cup Winners
See below for the full Carlyon Cup / MRC Foundation Cup winners and results going back to 2000.
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Carlyon Cup (MRC Foundation Cup) | 1st | Light Infantry Man | 1 minute 35.58 seconds |
| 2nd | Immediacy | ||
| 3rd | Holymanz | ||
| 2025 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Duke De Sessa | 1 minute 37.58 seconds |
| 2nd | Marble Arch | ||
| 3rd | Chorlton Lane | ||
| 2024 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Yonce | 1 minute 37.50 seconds |
| 2nd | Foxy Cleopatra | ||
| 3rd | Young Werther | ||
| 2023 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Pounding | 1 minute 35.12 seconds |
| 2nd | So Si Bon | ||
| 3rd | Sunshine Rising | ||
| 2022 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Earlswood | 1 minute 36.09 seconds |
| 2nd | Callsign Mav | ||
| 3rd | Spanish Mission | ||
| 2021 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Best Of Days | 1 minute 37.65 seconds |
| 2nd | Miss Siska | ||
| 3rd | Nonconformist | ||
| 2020 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Miss Siska | 1 minute 36.44 seconds |
| 2nd | Odeon | ||
| 3rd | Guizot | ||
| 2019 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Avilius | 1 minute 37.08 seconds |
| 2nd | Sikandarabad | ||
| 3rd | Night’s Watch | ||
| 2018 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Gailo Chop | 1 minute 38.22 seconds |
| 2nd | Harlem | ||
| 3rd | Lord Fandango | ||
| 2017 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Burning Front | 1 minute 35.98 seconds |
| 2nd | Humidor | ||
| 3rd | Tally | ||
| 2016 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Burning Front | 1 minute 36.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Red Excitement | ||
| 3rd | Dances On Stars | ||
| 2015 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Smokin’ Joey | 1 minute 35.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Jacquinot Bay | ||
| 3rd | Backstedt | ||
| 2014 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Chase The Rainbow | 1 minute 37.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Star Rolling | ||
| 3rd | Pakal | ||
| 2013 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Budriguez | 1 minute 36.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Invest | ||
| 3rd | Lord Of Brazil | ||
| 2012 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Manighar | 1 minute 37.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Shadowfax | ||
| 3rd | Veewap | ||
| 2011 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Lord Pyrus | 1 minute 37.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Voile Rogue | ||
| 3rd | Its Prince | ||
| 2010 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Rightfully Yours | 1 minute 23.0 seconds |
| 2nd | Road To Rock | ||
| 3rd | Delayedreaction | ||
| 2009 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Time Matters | 1 minute 23.0 seconds |
| 2nd | Marching | ||
| 3rd | Playright | ||
| 2008 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Publishing | 1 minute 23.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Stillme | ||
| 3rd | The Fuzz | ||
| 2007 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Apache Cat | 1 minute 22.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Bon Hoffa | ||
| 3rd | Lucky Unicorn | ||
| 2006 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Live In Vain | 1 minute 22.3 seconds |
| 2nd | Beautiful Gem | ||
| 3rd | Niconero | ||
| 2005 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Niagara Falls | 1 minute 36.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Lad Of The Manor | ||
| 3rd | Roman Arch | ||
| 2004 Carlyon Cup | 1st | La Sirenuse | 1 minute 36.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Regal Roller | ||
| 3rd | Makybe Diva | ||
| 2003 Carlyon Cup | 1st | No Deposit | 1 minute 35.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Walk On Air | ||
| 3rd | Old Man | ||
| 2002 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Piper Star | 1 minute 38.0 seconds |
| 2nd | The Secondmortgage | ||
| 3rd | It’s Platonic | ||
| 2001 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Northerly | 1 minute 35.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Oval Office | ||
| 3rd | Knockroe | ||
| 2000 Carlyon Cup | 1st | Skoozi Please | 1 minute 39.0 seconds |
| 2nd | Old Man | ||
| 3rd | Streak | ||
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