---

---

The 2026 JRA Cup ran on Sunday September 27, 2026 as part of Caulfield’s Manikato Stakes Day for potential Spring Cup hopefuls and saw the Ciaron Maher-trained topweight Royal Supremacy ($4.80EF) post a commanding victory.  

The JRA Cup 2026 is one of the key Group 3 staying tests of the early Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, and with Moonee Valley closed for redevelopment in 2026, the race shifts to Caulfield Racecourse on Sunday for a fresh look at the emerging and established middle-distance and staying types. Run over 2000m, the JRA Cup regularly attracts horses on the rise toward major spring features, including those targeting the Herbert Power Stakes, Coongy Handicap, or even Caulfield Cup pathways. Punters get an important read on fitness, tempo adaptability, and genuine 2000m strength, making the JRA Cup a valuable form race for identifying runners ready to peak and those building toward bigger Group 1 assignments later in the carnival. For fans and punters alike, this year’s Caulfield edition delivers a high-quality contest, strong betting angles, and a crucial early guide to the staying ranks.

2026 JRA Cup Results

Stay tuned to view the official 2026 JRA Cup results and finishing order on Sunday September 27, 2026 and see what runners have the Spring Cups in sight. 

Winning Margin: 0.75 lengths

Winning Time: 2:04.36

The 2026 JRA Cup results saw former The Metropolitan winner Royal Supremacy ($4.80EF) stake his claim for this year’s major spring staying features with an impressive victory in the Group 3 feature over 2000m at Caulfield. The Ciaron Maher-trained Irish import, carrying the 60kg topweight, was expertly ridden by Mark Zahra and proved too strong for Future History ($11), scoring by three-quarters of a length, with See That Storm ($4.80EF) a further three lengths away in third. The performance reinforced Royal Supremacy’s credentials as a genuine 2026 Caulfield Cup contender and prompted a significant betting move, with Ladbrokes slashing his futures quote from $26 into $9 for the 2400m Group 1 feature on October 17. The win further strengthens Maher’s formidable hand in the race, with the powerhouse trainer now holding the top three positions in all-in Caulfield Cup betting through Naturalism Stakes winner Zahrann ($5 favourite), Saint George ($8 second favourite), and Royal Supremacy ($9). Connections are expected to head straight to the Caulfield Cup, with Zahra suggesting the five-year-old will only improve stepping back up in distance after another polished display at headquarters.

Click here for the full story.

2026 JRA Cup Race Replay

JRA Cup | Royal Supremacy

Royal Supremacy pounds them into the turf! The Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap winner returns to form, carrying the top weight & all ?

? Ch. 78/68, Foxtel 529, Kayo or via our app
REPLAYS: https://t.co/HEhdpozFmy pic.twitter.com/6EnKfQxTzZ

— Racing.com (@Racing) September 27, 2026

2026 JRA Cup Odds & Finishing Order

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

2026 JRA Cup Tips

Stay tuned for our insider JRA Cup 2026 tips on the Spring Cups lead-up.

Favourite: No. 11 Darkbonee

Each Way Danger: No. 2 Future History

Best Roughie: No. 5 Torranzino

The JRA Cup is a Group 3 staying event traditionally held at Moonee Valley racecourse during the annual Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.  In 2026, the race moves from The Valley (under redevelopment) to Caulfield and Ladbrokes Manikato Stakes Day will be held on the Sunday after Saturday’s Golden Rose Stakes card in Sydney.

Formerly held at the end of October before moving to an earlier timeslot in 2026, the JRA Cup attracts stayers and milers looking to step up in distance. Run over 2000m, it is now held on the same card as the Group 1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) sprint feature.

As an open quality event, the JRA Cup attracts some standout performers and offers $200,000 in total prize money.

Those horses which contest the JRA Cup often come via an eclectic mixture of preparations. One of the more common lead-up races to the JRA Cup is the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) held at Caulfield.

Future History (2nd in 2024) was the last JRA Cup winner to come via a Naturalism Stakes lead-up.

The 2025 JRA Cup form was franked with the third placegetter Middle Earth running a next-up third in the Melbourne Cup trifecta.

JRA Cup
Date:	Sunday September 27, 2026
Racecourse:	Moonee Valley Racecourse (Caulfield Racecourse in 2026)
Distance:	2000m
Conditions:	Open Quality
Status:	Group 3
Prizemoney:	$200,000

2026 JRA Cup Betting

The latest Ladbrokes JRA Cup 2026 betting odds will be provided by Ladbrokes and listed at Races.com.au the week of the race to lock in your JRA Cup tips.

Ain’tnodeeldun ($2.80 in 2023), Future History ($3.20 in 2024) and Royal Supremacy ($4.80EF in 2026) are the latest favourites in JRA Cup betting to win.

There was a notable upset in 2025 with Star Of India winning at JRA Cup odds of $11.

2026 JRA Cup Form

The JRA Cup form guide is the key resource punters use to assess every runner lining up in the 2000m Group 3 staying test, which in 2026 moves from its usual Cox Plate Day position to Caulfield Racecourse on a Sunday in late September while Moonee Valley undergoes redevelopment. The guide breaks down each horse’s recent form, staying credentials, track suitability, fitness progression, and likely spring targets. As an early spring stepping-stone toward major middle-distance and staying features, the JRA Cup form guide helps punters identify which horses are ready to peak and which are building toward bigger assignments.

What punters should look for in the JRA Cup form guide:

• 2000m staying strength — Horses proven at the trip or showing strong late sectionals at 1800–2000m are typically well suited to this race.
• Caulfield track suitability — Caulfield rewards balance, tactical speed, and the ability to quicken off the bend. Horses that handle the tighter turns often gain an edge.
• Spring fitness profile — Many JRA Cup winners peak third-up or fourth-up. Punters should assess whether each runner is still building or ready to strike.
• Speed map positioning — On pacers and horses settling in the first half of the field are often advantaged at Caulfield over 2000m. Backmarkers need a genuine tempo.
• Lead-up race form — Key form lines often come through races like the Makybe Diva Stakes or other early spring 1600–2000m events.
• Stable & jockey factors — Top staying stables frequently use the JRA Cup as a progression race. Rider changes can influence tempo and tactical intent.

FULL 2026 JRA CUP FORM GUIDE

2026 JRA Cup Field

The JRA Cup Field attracts a strong line-up of staying types each spring and is a possible target for gallopers stepping down in class of a run in something like the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington earlier in the spring.

The JRA Cup 2026 Final Field & Barrier Draw will be released by Racing Victoria on the Wednesday leading-up to race and will be published in full below.

The 2026 JRA Cup field features a capacity line-up of stayers including the rails-drawn veteran nine-year-old Future History and last spring’s Geelong Cup winner Torranzino racing for the first time since his brave Melbourne Cup fifth.

2026 JRA Cup Nominations

The official JRA Cup 2026 nominations close on the Monday of race week.

JRA Cup History

Inaugurated in 1996, the JRA Cup has a relatively short history in comparison to major races across Australia. However, it’s above-grade prize money, usually more-than-impressive field and interim distance have combined to ensure the JRA Cup has experienced rapid growth in prestige and popularity since its inception.

In its short history, the JRA Cup has already seen some impressive horses pass the post. 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking ran third in the JRA Cup in the same year. Master O’Reilly ran third in the JRA Cup before his stunning 2007 Caulfield Cup victory. Prior to the 2010 edition, the JRA Cup ran as a Listed race.

In 2023 the event was moved from Moir Stakes Night in September to run a month later on Moonee Valley Gold Cup Night over the Cox Plate Carnival. In 2024 the event was moved from Moonee Valley Gold Cup Night to run the next day on Cox Plate Day. In 2026, the JRA Cup was brought forward to take place at Caulfield on Manikato Stakes Day in late September.

Notable JRA Cup winners include Maldivian (2007), Alcopop (2009), Mourinho (2013), and Jon Snow (2017).

JRA Cup results reaching back to 2006 are listed below.

JRA Cup Results

Year	Place	Horse	Time
2026 JRA Cup	1st	Royal Supremacy	2 minutes 04.36 seconds
	2nd	Future History
	3rd	See That Storm
2025 JRA Cup	1st	Star Of India	2 minutes 04.85 seconds
	2nd	Alenquer
	3rd	Middle Earth
2024 JRA Cup	1st	Future History	2 minutes 06.68 seconds
	2nd	Promises Kept
	3rd	Kettle Hill
2023 JRA Cup	1st	Ain’tnodeeldun	2 minutes 05.22 seconds
	2nd	Red Sun Sensation
	3rd	Forgot You
2022 JRA Cup	1st	Desert Icon	2 minutes 09.17 seconds
	2nd	Nerve Not Verve
	3rd	Persan
2021 JRA Cup	1st	Secret Blaze	2 minutes 04.31 seconds
	2nd	Homesman
	3rd	Rostropovich
2020 JRA Cup	1st	Al Galayel	2 minutes 7.94 seconds
	2nd	Plein Ciel
	3rd	Levendi
2019 JRA Cup	1st	Captain Cook	2 minutes 6.45 seconds
	2nd	Sully
	3rd	Mosh Music
2018 JRA Cup	1st	The Taj Mahal	2 minutes 5.37 seconds
	2nd	Gallic Chieftain
	3rd	Sir Isaac Newton
2017 JRA Cup	1st	Jon Snow	2 minutes 7.12 seconds
	2nd	Ecuador
	3rd	Boom Time
2016 JRA Cup	1st	Real Love	2 minutes 5.76 seconds
	2nd	Maurus
	3rd	Tarquin
2015 JRA Cup	1st	Escado	2 minutes 5.88 seconds
	2nd	Magnapal
	3rd	Velox
2014 JRA Cup	1st	The Cleaner	2 minutes 5.99 seconds
	2nd	Sangster
	3rd	Mourinho
2013 JRA Cup	1st	Mourinho	2 minutes 6.1 seconds
	2nd	Gris Caro
	3rd	The Great Snowman
2012 JRA Cup	1st	Bianmick	2 minutes 6.7 seconds
	2nd	Dance With Her
	3rd	Ironstein
2011 JRA Cup	1st	Dream Pedlar	2 minutes 8.7 seconds
	2nd	Carnero
	3rd	Domesky
2010 JRA Cup	1st	Precedence	2 minutes 5.3 seconds
	2nd	Rainbow Styling
	3rd	Linton
2009 JRA Cup	1st	Alcopop	2 minutes 8.4 seconds
	2nd	Field Hunter
	3rd	Shocking
2008 JRA Cup	1st	Cefalu	2 minutes 5.9 seconds
	2nd	Majestical
	3rd	Devil Moon
2007 JRA Cup	1st	Maldivian	2 minutes 5.8 seconds
	2nd	Pacino
	3rd	Master O’Reilly
2006 JRA Cup	1st	Pavlova	2 minutes 7.0 seconds
	2nd	Spinney
	3rd	Delvecchio

JRA Cup FAQs