Group I race | |
Location | Flemington Racecourse Melbourne, Australia |
---|---|
Inaugurated | 1863 |
Race type | Thoroughbred – Flat racing |
Sponsor | TAB (2024) |
Race information | |
Distance | 2,000 metres |
Surface | Turf |
Track | Left-handed |
Qualification | Horses three years old and older Maidens ineligible |
Weight | Weight for Age |
Purse | A$3,000,000 (2024) |
The Australian Cup is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, held under Weight for Age conditions, over a distance of 2000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. [1] Total prize money for the race is A$3,000,000.
The race was once Australia's premier long distance race, raced at a distance of 18 furlongs (3621m) - thus, longer than the Melbourne Cup. In 1943 the race was shortened to 17 furlongs 110 yards to allow the race to be started from the top of Flemington's famous Straight Six, to have bigger fields. [2]
The VRC in the early 1960s shortened the distance to 1+1⁄4 miles to attract classier middle distance gallopers. [2]
Stakes were increased from $1 million to $1.5 million in 2016.
In 2007 the race was run at Caulfield Racecourse due to refurbishment work at Flemington Racecourse. [2]
Makybe Diva won this race in 2005 in the Australian record time of 1:58:73, which beat Northerly's previous record. The most successful trainer has been Bart Cummings with thirteen wins [2] – 1968, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2008. [3]
The most successful jockey is Tom Hales who won the Australian Cup eight times [4] – Lurline (1875), Richmond (1876), Savanaka (1879), Navigator (1883), Morpeth (1884), Trident (1887), Carlyon (1888), Dreadnought (1890). [5]
† Dead heat
‡ Saladin and Flying Dutchman dead heated. After a re-run they dead heated again. On a second re-run Saladin was victorious. [48] [50]
The VRC Champions Stakes, registered as the LKS Mackinnon Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions over a distance of 2000 metres at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the Saturday after the Melbourne Cup. Total prize money is A$3,000,000.
The Victoria Racing Club Oaks, is a Victoria Racing Club (VRC) Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies, run under set weights conditions, over 2,500 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on the third day of the VRC Spring Carnival, the Thursday after the Melbourne Cup in early November. Total prize money for the race is A$1,000,000
The Champions Sprint, registered as the Victoria Racing Club Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group One Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over, under weight for age conditions, over a distance of 1200 metres held at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on the last day of the VRC Spring Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$3,000,000.
The Newmarket Handicap is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race over a distance of 1200 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Super Saturday in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. Prize money is A$1,500,000.
The VRC St Leger is a Listed Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, run at set weights with penalties, over a distance of 2800 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on ANZAC Day.
The VRC Champions Mile, registered as the Cantala Stakes, is a Group 1 Victoria Racing Club quality handicap Thoroughbred horse race run over 1,600 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on the fourth and last day during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Total prize money is A$3,000,000
The Coolmore Stud Stakes, registered as the Ascot Vale Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds, at set weights, run over 1200 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia, on Victoria Derby Day. Total prize money is A$2,000,000.
The Linlithgow Stakes, is a registered Victoria Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race raced as The TAB Stakes (2018), over a distance of 1200 metres held annually at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne during the VRC Spring Racing Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$500,000.
The Wakeful Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies, run under set weights with penalties conditions, over 2,000 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Victoria Derby Day. Total prize money for the race is A$300,000.
The A. V. Kewney Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-old fillies, run at set weights, over a distance of 1,600 metres at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. Total prizemoney is A$300,000.
The Blamey Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for three years old and older, with Set Weights with Penalties conditions over 1600 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. The total prize money is A$300,000.
The Turnbull Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race, for horses four years old and older, run under set weights with penalties conditions over a distance of 2,000 metres. The race is held at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in early October. Total prize money is A$1,000,000.
The Makybe Diva Stakes, previously called the Craiglee Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race at Weight for age conditions for three year olds and older, over a distance of 1,600 metres held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia in September. Total prize money is A$1,000,000.
The Maribyrnong Plate is a Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds, at set weights, over a distance of 1000 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on the Oaks day of the VRC Spring Carnival in November. Total prize money for the race is A$200,000.
The Sires' Produce Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race for two-year-olds, run at set weights, over a distance of 1400 metres, at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in March during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival. The total prize money is A$300,000.
The Peter Young Stakes, registered as the St George Stakes, is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions over a distance of 1800 metres at Caulfield racecourse, Melbourne, Australia in late February. Total prize money is A$300,000.
The Hotham Handicap, raced as the Lexus Archer Stakes, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred horse race for horses three years old and older, held under quality handicap conditions, over a distance of 2500 metres, held annually at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia on Victoria Derby Day. Total prize money for the race is A$300,000.
The Chatham Stakes is a registered Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race raced as the Paramount+ Chatham Stakes, over a distance of 1400 metres held annually at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Australia during the VRC Spring Racing Carnival. Total prize money for the race is A$200,000 and $1,500 trophy.
The Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap, is a Victoria Racing Club Group 3 Thoroughbred open handicap horse race, over a distance of 1400 metres held annually at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne during the VRC Autumn Racing Carnival in March. Total prize money for the race is A$160,000.
Third heat – Even betting. The pair ran locked together until close home, when the Dutchman failed, and Saladin won by half a neck.