The 2000m G1 Australian Cup will be held at the biggest track in Australia being Flemington, with AUD$3 million total prize money this year. It has been the race on the calendar each year that sees many a champion race in it. Down the years it has seen some all-time contests and this year has been given more credence as the finale to the Victorian Autumn and run after the All-Star Mile.
Some other important races are run like the 1100m Listed Sunlight Classic for the 3YOs.
There is a three-week gap for YOUNG WERTHER heading to the Australian Cup.
The All-Star Mile: Final Call for Australian Cup
With the racing fixtures changes, The Australian Cup runs two weeks after the All-Star Mile on 16 March for the first time. The move could well aid in achieving an even stronger field than recent years since some of the runners of the All-Star Mile may go straightly to the Australian Cup. Other popular lead ups to the race include the Peter Young Stakes, the Australian Cup Prelude, the Blamey Stakes and the Chipping Norton Stakes. Despite the concentration over 1600m for the Peter Young Stakes winner CAMPIONESSA, YOUNG WERTHER, who just dominated from the front in the Australian Cup Prelude, can be one of the potentials to shine in Flemington.
In addition, HOMESMAN, HARLEM and SPILLWAY won the G1 for four times with long odds in the past decade. Therefore, it is not rare if there can be some upsets for those well fancies in this WFA race.
Running behind CAMPIONESSA in the Peter Young Stakes, VOW AND DECLARE is heading to the Australian Cup in good form.
Fight back for previous Melbourne Cup winners
Melbourne Cup winners often get targeted by their trainers to run in Australian Cup as they feel their horses have affection for the big open spaces of Flemington. There is a good chance we could see VOW AND DECLARE running this year. His performance in the 2023 Melbourne Cup did bring the racing fans some disappointments, however, he is still an interesting contender in the coming Australian Cup since he ran well in the Peter Young Stakes in Caulfield last month.
Running behind CAMPIONESSA in the Peter Young Stakes, VOW AND DECLARE is heading to the Australian Cup in good form.
CASCADIAN won the Australian Cup last year for James Cummings.
Hot Trainers – The Cummings & The Hayes
The Cummings name is forever linked to Flemington because of the Melbourne Cup but the Australian Cup is as much an incredible feat. Bart won the race an unbelievable 13 times, his son Anthony went close with FIVEANDAHALFSTAR and then his sons firstly Edward (DUAIS) and James (CASCADIAN) added to the history. While we mentioned the Cummings’ record here, the Hayes clan has been strongly represented here too. David won the race multiple times with the champ BETTER LOOSEN UP and NICONERO plus four more with the various partnerships of Lindsay Park. On current form you would be tough to bet against the new blood of Ben, Will & JD Hayes having more success.
