G1 AU$1,500,000 Turf, 2000M
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Prize Money
Distance
The Australian Cup has had many changes over the years designed to attract a better quality of winner. It was run as far as 3600m until the 1960s but then gradually decreased to the 2000m where it now stands and naturally that brings many more elite horses over that distance. To further that standard of race, it finally changed from a handicap race to WFA in 1987. From then on you immediately saw high standard winners and superb contests. Could we ever see some of those famous last furlongs like OCTAGONAL and LONHRO or the Melbourne Cup winners like LET’S ELOPE and MAKYBE DIVA?
CASCADIAN and jockey Ben Melham make it back-to-back wins in the Australian Cup with a thrilling display in the 2024 edition. The 9YO Godolphin warrior took up his usual position at the tail of the field, appreciating the (anticipated) hot early tempo set by the speedy PRIDE OF JENNI (Ciaron Maher). It would be those two who would pair off inside the final 100m, with CASCADIAN arriving just in time to score by a neck (0.25L), with the Chris Waller-trained ATISHU finishing 2L adrift in third. Champion stayer VOW AND DECLARE narrowly missed the frame in a photo finish for third, with the World Pool public elect MR BRIGHTSIDE finishing another 2L away in fifth (4.8L). In what was a true staying contest, getting home in 2:00.05, CASCADIAN’s historic win is the quickest since MAKYBE DIVA’s 2005 success. CASCADIAN also became the first horse to win consecutive editions of the race, since HARLEM in 2018 and 2019.Australian Cup Day (30 MAR 2024)
Australian Cup Results
