Australian Cup

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. Total prize money for the race is A$3,000,000.

History
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.

The VRC in the early 1960s shortened the distance to $1 1/4$ miles to attract classier middle distance gallopers.

Stakes were increased from $1 million to $1.5 million in 2016.

Distance

 * 1863–1942 -  $2 1/4$ miles (~3627m)
 * 1943–1962 –  2 miles $1 1/2$ furlongs (~3528m)
 * 1963 - $1 3/4$ miles (~2821m)
 * 1964–1972 -  $1 1/4$ miles (~2015m)
 * 1973 onwards - 2000 metres

Conditions

 * 1863–1978 - Handicap
 * 1979–1982 - Weight for Age
 * 1983–1986 - Handicap
 * 1987 onwards - Weight for Age

Grade

 * 1863–1979 - Principal Race
 * 1979 onwards - Group 1

Venue
In 2007 the race was run at Caulfield Racecourse due to refurbishment work at Flemington Racecourse.

Records
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 – 1968, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1992, 1996, 1998, 2008.

The most successful jockey is Tom Hales who won the Australian Cup eight times – Lurline (1875), Richmond (1876), Savanaka (1879), Navigator (1883), Morpeth (1884), Trident (1887), Carlyon (1888), Dreadnought (1890).

Winners

 * 2024 - Cascadian
 * 2023 - Cascadian
 * 2022 - Duais
 * 2021 - Homesman
 * 2020 - Fifty Stars
 * 2019 - Harlem
 * 2018 - Harlem
 * 2017 - Humidor
 * 2016 - Preferment
 * 2015 - Spillway
 * 2014 - Fiorente
 * 2013 - Super Cool
 * 2012 - Manighar
 * 2011 - Shocking
 * 2010 - Zipping
 * 2009 - Niconero
 * 2008 - Sirmione
 * 2007 - Pompeii Ruler
 * 2006 - Roman Arch
 * 2005 - Makybe Diva
 * 2004 - Lonhro
 * 2003 - Northerly
 * 2002 - Old Comrade
 * 2001 - Northerly
 * 2000 - Intergaze
 * 1999 - Istidaad
 * 1998 - Dane Ripper
 * 1997 - Octagonal
 * 1996 - Saintly
 * 1995 - Starstruck
 * 1994 - Durbridge
 * 1993 - Veandercross
 * 1992 - Let's Elope
 * 1991 - Better Loosen Up
 * 1990 - Vo Rogue
 * 1989 - Vo Rogue
 * 1988 - Dandy Andy
 * 1987 - Bonecrusher
 * 1986 - Playful Princess
 * 1985 - Noble Peer
 * 1984 - Admiral Lincoln
 * 1983 - Spectrum
 * 1982 - Kip
 * 1981 - Hyperno
 * 1980 - Ming Dynasty
 * 1979 - Dulcify
 * 1978 - Ming Dynasty
 * 1977 - Ngawyni
 * 1976 - Lord Dudley
 * 1975 - Leilani
 * 1974 - Bush Win
 * 1973 - Gladman
 * 1972 - Jan's Beau
 * 1971 - Gay Icarus
 * 1970 - Crewman
 * 1969 - †Yootha / Cyron
 * 1968 - Arctic Coast
 * 1967 - Bore Head
 * 1966 - Craftsman
 * 1965 - Craftsman
 * 1964 - Grand Print
 * 1963 - Welkin Prince
 * 1962 - Welkin Prince
 * 1961 - Dream King
 * 1960 - Illoura
 * 1959 - Gaybao
 * 1958 - Dream Son
 * 1957 - Miss High Caste
 * 1956 - Pushover
 * 1955 - Hellion
 * 1954 - Sunish
 * 1953 - Arbroath
 * 1952 - Murray Glen
 * 1951 - Bold Belle
 * 1950 - Bold John
 * 1949 - New Cashmere
 * 1948 - Bannerette
 * 1947 - Sydney James
 * 1946 - Knockarlow
 * 1945 - Spectre
 * 1944 - Similar
 * 1943 - Taramoa
 * 1942 - Wise Counsel
 * 1941 - Saul
 * 1940 - Indignity
 * 1939 - Pageant
 * 1938 - Marauder
 * 1937 - Mutable
 * 1936 - Amalia
 * 1935 - Sylvandale
 * 1934 - Heroic Prince
 * 1933 - Topical
 * 1932 - Madstar
 * 1931 - Carry On
 * 1930 - Nadean
 * 1929 - Some Quality
 * 1928 - Sea Money
 * 1927 - Spearfelt
 * 1926 - Pilliewinkie
 * 1925 - Answer
 * 1924 - Accarak
 * 1923 - Prince Cox
 * 1922 - Harvest King
 * 1921 - The Rover
 * 1920 - Macadam
 * 1919 - New Tipperary
 * 1918 - Defence
 * 1917 - Harriet Graham
 * 1916 - Cherubini
 * 1915 - Lempriere
 * 1914 - Wallalo
 * 1913 - Almissa
 * 1912 - †Saxonite / Prizefighter
 * 1911 - The Parisian
 * 1910 - Orline
 * 1909 - Pendil
 * 1908 - Peru
 * 1907 - Realm
 * 1906 - Tartan
 * 1905 - Lord Ullin's Daughter
 * 1904 - Marmont
 * 1903 - Great Scot
 * 1902 - Blue Metal
 * 1901 - Dreamland
 * 1900 - La Carabine
 * 1899 - Bobadil
 * 1898 - Ayrshire
 * 1897 - Coil
 * 1896 - Idolator
 * 1895 - Havoc
 * 1894 - Broken Hill
 * 1893 - Portsea
 * 1892 - Highborn
 * 1891 - Vengeance
 * 1890 - Dreadnought
 * 1889 - Lochiel
 * 1888 - Carlyon
 * 1887 - Trident
 * 1886 - Malua
 * 1885 - Ringwood
 * 1884 - Morpeth
 * 1883 - Navigator
 * 1882 - Pollio
 * 1881 - Firstwater
 * 1880 - Columbus
 * 1879 - Savanaka
 * 1878 - First King
 * 1877 - Sybil
 * 1876 - Richmond
 * 1875 - Lurline
 * 1874 - Protos
 * 1873 - Warrior
 * 1872 - ‡Saladin
 * 1871 - Nimblefoot
 * 1870 - Norma
 * 1869 - Gasworks
 * 1868 - Shenandoah
 * 1867 - Tim Whiffler
 * 1866 - Woodman
 * 1865 - Woodman
 * 1864 - Nathalie
 * 1863 - Barwon

† Dead heat

‡ Saladin and Flying Dutchman dead heated. After a re-run they dead heated again. On a second re-run Saladin was victorious.