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The 2026 Coongy Cup ran on Wednesday October 14, 2026 and was won by the Ciaron Maher-trained Kingman gelding Ziryab ($5) who was ridden to victory by apprentice Jabez Johnstone ahead of his 2026 Caulfield Cup ride on Saturday aboard Kings Valley.  

The Coongy Cup 2026 – run this year as the Coongy Handicap – is one of the key staying tests on the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival calendar, giving emerging middle-distance and staying gallopers a valuable opportunity to earn black-type success at Caulfield Racecourse. Run as a Group 3 handicap over 2000m in mid-October, the Coongy Cup regularly attracts a quality field of proven performers and progressive runners looking to add a prestigious spring feature to their record.

At Races.com.au, punters can find the latest Coongy Cup odds 2026, expert form analysis, field updates, and comprehensive Coongy Cup betting 2026 information in the lead-up to the race. With a history of producing exciting finishes and showcasing horses capable of stepping up to bigger spring targets, the Coongy Cup remains a popular wagering event for racing fans searching for value in one of Victoria’s premier race day programs.

2026 Coongy Cup Results

Stay tuned for the official 2026 Coongy Cup results and finishing order on Wednesday October 14, 2026 and to see what horse may have a Spring Cups’ bid in sight.

Winning Margin: 0.4 lengths

Winning Time: 2:03.05

The 2026 Coongy Handicap results at Caulfield saw Ziryab ($5) continue its outstanding spring form, with the Ciaron Maher-trained import producing a bold front-running display under apprentice Jabez Johnstone to claim the Group 3 feature on Wednesday. Sent straight to the lead, Ziryab controlled the tempo throughout before kicking strongly in the home straight and holding off the fast-finishing Darkbonee to secure back-to-back victories. The win provided Johnstone with another career highlight following his recent success in the Bart Cummings and served as the perfect confidence boost ahead of his maiden ride in the 150th Caulfield Cup on Saturday, where he partners fellow Maher runner Kings Valley.

2026 Coongy Cup Race Replay

The Coongy | Ziryab

Jabez! The gun apprentice strikes in the Group 3 ahead of his first ride in the 150th Caulfield Cup this Saturday for @cmaherracing!

? Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/HEhdpozFmy pic.twitter.com/J7icaoYd39

— Racing.com (@Racing) October 14, 2026

2026 Coongy Cup Odds & Finishing Order

See below for the latest Coongy Cup 2026 odds followed by the official finishing order after the event this spring.

2026 Coongy Cup Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Coongy Cup 2026 Tips on the final Caulfield Cup lead-up race this October.

Favourite: No. 6 Darkbonee

Each Way Danger: No. 8 Ziryab

Best Roughie: No. 10 Autumn Mystery

The Coongy Cup (formerly known as the David Jones Cup) is a 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 $240,000 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 $6.5 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 Moonee Valley Cup (2500m) or Group 3 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m).

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 – now the Champions 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 placegetter 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.

In 2023 Muramasa won the Coongy Cup – VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes double.

The Coongy Cup winner, Wootton Veni, franked the form with a next-up win in Sydney’s Rosehill Gold Cup.

Coongy Cup
Date:	Wednesday October 14, 2026
Track:	Caulfield Racecourse
Distance:	2000m
Race Type:	Open Handicap
Status:	Group 3
Prize Money:	$240,000

2026 Coongy Cup Betting

The latest Coongy Cup 2026 betting odds will be listed here at Races.com.au with fixed win Coongy Cup odds provided by Ladbrokes 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), Gunstock ($2.45 in 2022), Kingswood ($2.60 in 2024), and Wootton Verni ($3.80 in 2025) are the latest favourites in Coongy Cup betting to win.

2026 Coongy Cup Form

The Coongy Cup form guide is an essential resource for punters analysing one of the key staying contests run during the Melbourne Spring Carnival. Held over 2000m at Caulfield Racecourse, the Group 3 Coongy Cup attracts a competitive field of seasoned handicappers, emerging stayers, and in-form middle-distance gallopers. The form guide provides detailed information on each runner’s recent performances, weight allocation, barrier draw, jockey and trainer combinations, track and distance statistics, and current preparation, helping punters identify the horses best suited to the race conditions.

What Punters Should Look for in the Coongy Cup Form Guide:

• 2000m form – Proven performance at or around 2000m is one of the strongest indicators of Coongy Cup success.
• Handicap credentials – As a handicap race, horses capable of carrying weight effectively often hold a significant advantage.
• Recent spring form – Look for runners coming through quality lead-up races during the Melbourne Spring Carnival and arriving in strong form.
• Caulfield track record – Previous success at Caulfield can be a major asset, particularly given the circuit’s unique layout and turning nature.
• Barrier draw – A favourable barrier can help runners secure economical runs and conserve energy over the middle-distance trip.
• Track conditions – Assess whether horses perform best on firm, soft, or rain-affected ground, especially if weather impacts raceday conditions.
• Fitness and race preparation – Many Coongy Cup contenders are third-up or fourth-up in their campaign and nearing peak fitness.
• Trainer and jockey combinations – Experienced stables and leading riders often target the race with genuine spring carnival prospects.
• Weight trends – Comparing each runner’s allocated weight against recent performances can help identify those well treated by the handicapper.

FULL 2026 COONGY CUP FORM GUIDE

2026 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 2026 Field & Barriers are announced on the Monday of race week and will be published in full below once released.

The 2026 Coongy Cup final field features a quality line-up of spring stayers led in betting by Symon Wilde’s rails-drawn Darkbonee coming off a fourth in the Group 3 JRA Cup and the Ciaron Maher-trained last start Mornington winner in easier grade Ziryab.

2026 Coongy Cup Nominations

Nominations for the Coongy Cup in 2026 close the Thursday prior to the race and will be published below once announced.

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.

In 2026 the race name changed to the Coongy Handicap.

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 / Coongy Handicap Results

Year	Place	Horse	Time
2026 Coongy Handicap	1st	Ziryab	2 minutes 3.05 seconds
	2nd	Darkbonee
	3rd	Sunset Park
2025 Coongy Cup	1st	Wootton Verni	2 minutes 1.75 seconds
	2nd	Casino Seventeen
	3rd	Future History
2024 Coongy Cup	1st	Kingswood	2 minute 5.90 seconds
	2nd	Berkeley Square
	3rd	Star Vega
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

Coongy Cup FAQs