The $2.5 million Australian Cup is a weight-for-age Group 1 feature held at Flemington Racecourse in March each autumn.
2025 Australian Cup Results
- 1st: #1 Light Infantry Man
- 2nd: #9 Deny Knowledge
- 3rd: #8 Zardozi
Australian Cup News
- Pride Of Jenni Heads 2025 Australian Cup Field & Odds
- Pride Of Jenni Wins Peter Young; 2025 Queen Elizabeth Stakes Ultimate Target
- 2025 Peter Young Stakes Field & Betting Update: Zardozi Favourite
- Tom Kitten Beats Mr Brightside in 2025 All-Star Mile Results
- 2025 CF Orr Stakes Results: Another Wil Beats Mr Brightside
The Australian Cup is a Group 1 weight-for-age race held each March during the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival.
2025 Australian Cup Results
- 1st: #1 Light Infantry Man ($9)
- 2nd: #9 Deny Knowledge
- 3rd: #8 Zardozi
The Ciaron Maher trained Light Infantry Man ($9) relished a ferocious pace set by his better fancied stablemate Pride Of Jenni, who faded right out late, to outstay his rivals and dominate the 2025 Australian Cup results with a two-length victory at Flemington third-up to become a dual Group 1 champion.
Click here for the full story.
Australian Cup 2025 Odds & Results
Tab Australian Cup (G1)
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
1. Light Infantry Man (4) J: Ethan Brown 59kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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|
2nd
9. Deny Knowledge (3) J: Craig Williams 57kg
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
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|
3rd
8. Zardozi (9) J: Jamie Melham 57kg
T: James Cummings |
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|
4th
7. Atishu (7) J: Blake Shinn 57kg
T: Chris Waller |
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|
5th
4. Middle Earth (8) J: Mark Zahra 59kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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|
6th
10. Feroce (5) J: Billy Egan 54.5kg
T: Dominic Sutton |
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|
7th
3. Young Werther (10) J: Daniel Stackhouse 59kg
T: Danny O'Brien |
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|
8th
2. Attrition (6) J: John Allen 59kg
T: Mitchell Freedman |
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|
9th
6. Pride Of Jenni (1) J: Craig Newitt 57kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
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|
10th
5. Shaiyhar (2) J: Daniel Moor 59kg
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
Data retrieved: 16/05/2025 01:04:33 AM (Australia/Brisbane)
The event was previously held on Flemington’s Super Saturday alongside the Newmarket Handicap (1200m) for the sprinters in mid-March.
Ahead of the 2023 edition the Australian Cup was moved to its own feature race meeting later in the month with prize money boosted to $3 million.
In 2025 the Australian Cup runs at the end of March at Flemington offering a reduced $2.5 million in stakes.
The race is a 2000m event ideal for strong staying horses. The most successful recent lead-up race to the Australian Cup is the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m), a double last completed by Fiorente (2014).
The 2022 Australian Cup form was franked with the winning mare Duais winning Sydney’s Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) next-up. The runner-up Think It Over further franked the form with a win in that year’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) during ‘The Championships’ at Randwick.
The All-Star Mile (1600m) held at various Melbourne tracks is the key lead-up to the Australian Cup.
Cascadian (2nd at The Valley in 2023 and 3rd at Caulfield in 2024) followed by Light Infantry Man (3rd in 2025) are the latest All-Star Mile graduates to win the Australian Cup.
Cascadian (2023-24) became the first dual Australian Cup champion since Harlem (2018-19).
The 2024 Australian Cup form was franked with the runner-up, Pride Of Jenni, going on to win the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney by an emphatic 6.5 lengths at her next start.
Pride Of Jenni returned as favourite in the 2025 Australian Cup but faded on the home turn finishing second last some 15 lengths beaten as stablemate Light Infantry Man scored an upset.
The 2025 Australian Cup ran on Saturday March 29, 2025 at Flemington Racecourse and saw the Ciaron Maher import Light Infantry Man ($9) storm home off a bold performance to salute by two lengths third-up in impressive fashion.
| Australian Cup 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Date: | Saturday March 29, 2025 |
| Racecourse: | Flemington Racecourse |
| Distance: | 2000m |
| Race Type: | Weight-For-Age |
| Status: | Group 1 |
| Prize Money: | $2,500,000 |
2025 Australian Cup Finishing Order
| Finish | No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Margin | Bar. | Weight | Penalty | Starting Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (FR) | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 4 | 59kg | $9 | |||
| 2 | 9 | DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Craig Williams | 2L | 3 | 57kg | $11 | ||
| 3 | 8 | ZARDOZI | James Cummings | Ms Jamie Melham | 2.46L | 9 | 57kg | $4.60 | ||
| 4 | 7 | ATISHU (NZ) | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 2.96L | 7 | 57kg | $5.50 | ||
| 5 | 4 | MIDDLE EARTH (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Mark Zahra | 7.21L | 8 | 59kg | $6 | ||
| 6 | 10 | FEROCE (NZ) | Dominic Sutton | Billy Egan | 9.71L | 5 | 54.5kg | $13 | ||
| 7 | 3 | YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | Daniel Stackhouse | 13.21L | 10 | 59kg | $81 | ||
| 8 | 2 | ATTRITION | Mitchell Freedman | John Allen | 14.21L | 6 | 59kg | $21 | ||
| 9 | 6 | PRIDE OF JENNI | Ciaron Maher | Craig Newitt | 15.71L | 1 | 57kg | $3.80F | ||
| 10 | 5 | SHAIYHAR (IRE) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Daniel Moor | 17.71L | 2 | 59kg | $81 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 Australian Cup Betting
The current Australian Cup 2025 betting odds will be open at Ladbrokes.com.au and market links will also be provided here at Races.com.au as soon as betting on the Group 1 feature is open.
The latest favourites in Australian Cup betting to win were Humidor ($4.20 in 2017) and Cascadian ($4 in 2023).
2025 Australian Cup Form
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2025 AUSTRALIAN CUP FORM
2025 Australian Cup Tips
Stay tuned for our insider Australian Cup 2025 Tips on the $2.5 million showdown this autumn.
- To Win: #6 Pride Of Jenni ($2.80 at time of publish) – BET NOW
At the end of last spring I didn’t think we’d be tipping Pride Of Jenni as favourite to salute for the punters in this year’s Australian Cup but racing is a funny game. She came through the bleeding incident and brief retirement like the superstar she is blitzing her competition fresh in an incredible comeback last time out. Ciaron Maher’s darling was a 2.75 length winner in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield a fortnight ago and is rearing to go again now fitter for the run. Proven at the 2000m, is a multiple Group 1 winner at Flemington and is ready to go one better than her close second to dual champ Cascadian in last year’s Australian Cup quinella of an All-Star Mile win. Second-up form is strong (8:2-4-1), inside alley, and her Peter Young winning hoop Craig Newitt stays on. Can go again.
2025 Australian Cup Field
The Australian Cup field attracts a line-up of the season’s best weight-for-age stayers, many of which ran in the previous season’s spring features like the Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup and is released the Wednesday before Australian Cup Day.
The 2025 Australian Cup field and barriers will be published below on Wednesday March 26, 2025, as soon as released by Racing Victoria.
The Australian Cup 2025 final field features 10 gallopers with comeback queen Pride Of Jenni heading the odds off her impressive return and she gets the rails run from barrier one.
Click here to read more on the key runners in the 2025 Australian Cup field and betting markets.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | H Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x697101x63 | LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (FR) | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 4 | 59kg | 112 | ||
| 2 | x274140x82 | ATTRITION | Mitchell Freedman | John Allen | 6 | 59kg | 111 | ||
| 3 | 62x15078x7 | YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) | Danny O’Brien | Daniel Stackhouse | 10 | 59kg | 101 | ||
| 4 | 1171x138x1 | MIDDLE EARTH (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Mark Zahra | 8 | 59kg | 111 | ||
| 5 | x383061333 | SHAIYHAR (IRE) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Daniel Moor | 2 | 59kg | 94 | ||
| 6 | 1x521280x1 | PRIDE OF JENNI | Ciaron Maher | Craig Newitt | 1 | 57kg | 121 | ||
| 7 | x966312x75 | ATISHU (NZ) | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 7 | 57kg | 115 | ||
| 8 | 652454×832 | ZARDOZI | James Cummings | Ms Jamie Melham | 9 | 57kg | 108 | ||
| 9 | 021x5157x1 | DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Craig Williams | 3 | 57kg | 113 | ||
| 10 | 14x7423x31 | FEROCE (NZ) | Dominic Sutton | Billy Egan | 5 | 54.5kg | 108 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
2025 Australian Cup Nominations
The 2025 Australian Cup nominations close the Monday before race day.
The Australian Cup 2025 nominations close on Monday March 24, 2025.
The 2025 Australian Cup nominations feature a class list of weight-for-age stars led in all-in betting by Ciaron Maher’s briefly retired star mare Pride Of Jenni coming off a resuming win in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes by nearly three lengths.
Nominations extended until 10:00am (AEDT) – 25/03/2025
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | H Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | x966312x75 | ATISHU (NZ) | M | 7 | Chris Waller | 115 |
| 2 | x274140x82 | ATTRITION | H | 5 | Mitchell Freedman | 111 |
| 3 | 021x5157x1 | DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) | M | 7 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 113 |
| 4 | 14x7423x31 | FEROCE (NZ) | G | 3 | Dominic Sutton | 108 |
| 5 | x697101x63 | LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (FR) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 112 |
| 6 | 1171x138x1 | MIDDLE EARTH (GB) | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 111 |
| 7 | x154248774 | POISON CHALICE (NZ) | G | 5 | Paul Preusker | 95 |
| 8 | 1x18x460x8 | POST IMPRESSIONIST (IRE) | G | 6 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 101 |
| 9 | 1x521280x1 | PRIDE OF JENNI | M | 7 | Ciaron Maher | 121 |
| 10 | x383061333 | SHAIYHAR (IRE) | G | 6 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 94 |
| 11 | 1623165842 | TORRANZINO (NZ) | G | 5 | Paul Preusker | 90 |
| 12 | 9080x761x9 | VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) | G | 5 | Liam Howley | 99 |
| 13 | 62x15078x7 | YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) | G | 7 | Danny O’Brien | 101 |
| 14 | 652454×832 | ZARDOZI | M | 4 | James Cummings | 108 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Australian Cup History
First won by Barwon in 1861, the Australian Cup was originally a 3600m test of endurance until 1943 when the distance was decreased to 3500m. Twenty years later the distance was further decreased to 3200m, however the following year in 1964 the race became a 2000m event.
The fastest finishing time for the Australian Cup is held by the legendary Makybe Diva. In 2005, the mare finished the race in 1 minute 58.7 seconds. In 2007 the Australian Cup changed locations by being temporarily raced at Caulfield Racecourse.
In 2020 the Lindsay Park training operation celebrated their 10th Australian Cup success with Fifty Stars.
Ahead of the 2023 race the Australian Cup date was moved to late March and prize money increased from $1.5 million to $3 million before a reduction to $2.5 million ahead of the 2025 edition.
Cascadian went back-to-back in the Australian Cup results in 2023 and 2024.
Recent Australian Cup Winners
| Year | Place | Horse | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Australian Cup |
1st | Light Infantry Man | 2 minutes 00.41 seconds |
| 2nd | Deny Knowledge | ||
| 3rd | Zardozi | ||
| 2024 Australian Cup |
1st | Cascadian | 2 minutes 00.05 seconds |
| 2nd | Pride Of Jenni | ||
| 3rd | Atishu | ||
| 2023 Australian Cup |
1st | Cascadian | 2 minutes 01.43 seconds |
| 2nd | Numerian | ||
| 3rd | Pounding | ||
| 2022 Australian Cup |
1st | Duais | 2 minutes 00.82 seconds |
| 2nd | Think It Over | ||
| 3rd | Spanish Mission | ||
| 2021 Australian Cup |
1st | Homesman | 2 minutes 01.47 seconds |
| 2nd | Best Of Days | ||
| 3rd | Chapada | ||
| 2020 Australian Cup |
1st | Fifty Stars | 2 minutes 02.18 seconds |
| 2nd | Regal Power | ||
| 3rd | Vow And Declare | ||
| 2019 Australian Cup |
1st | Harlem | 2 minutes 01.50 seconds |
| 2nd | Shillelagh | ||
| 3rd | Trap For Fools | ||
| 2018 Australian Cup |
1st | Harlem | 2 minutes 0.46 seconds |
| 2nd | Gailo Chop | ||
| 3rd | Ventura Storm | ||
| 2017 Australian Cup |
1st | Humidor | 2 minutes 1.07 seconds |
| 2nd | Jameka | ||
| 3rd | Exospheric | ||
| 2016 Australian Cup |
1st | Preferment | 2 minutes 3.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Awesome Rock | ||
| 3rd | Rising Romance | ||
| 2015 Australian Cup |
1st | Spillway | 2 minutes 00.09 seconds |
| 2nd | Extra Zero | ||
| 3rd | Happy Trails | ||
| 2014 Australian Cup |
1st | Fiorente | 2 minutes 03.64 seconds |
| 2nd | Green Moon | ||
| 3rd | Foreteller | ||
| 2013 Australian Cup |
1st | Super Cool | 2 minutes 0.93 seconds |
| 2nd | Fiveandahalfstar | ||
| 3rd | Tanby | ||
| 2012 Australian Cup |
1st | Manighar | 2 minutes 01.2 seconds |
| 2nd | Southern Speed | ||
| 3rd | Americain | ||
| 2011 Australian Cup |
1st | Shocking | 2 minutes 0.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Linton | ||
| 3rd | Playing God | ||
| 2010 Australian Cup |
1st | Zipping | 2 minutes 3.69 seconds |
| 2nd | Sirmione | ||
| 3rd | Moatize | ||
| 2009 Australian Cup |
1st | Niconero | 2 minutes 3.1 seconds |
| 2nd | Theseo | ||
| 3rd | Zagreb | ||
| 2008 Australian Cup |
1st | Sirmione | 2 minutes 0.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Princess Coup | ||
| 3rd | Casino Prince | ||
| 2007 Australian Cup |
1st | Pompeii Ruler | 2 minutes 1.5 seconds |
| 2nd | Marasco | ||
| 3rd | Tawqeet | ||
| 2006 Australian Cup |
1st | Roman Arch | 2 minutes 2.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Candy Vale | ||
| 3rd | Our Smoking Joe | ||
| 2005 Australian Cup |
1st | Makybe Diva | 1 minute 58.7 seconds |
| 2nd | Winning Belle | ||
| 3rd | Lad Of The Manor | ||
| 2004 Australian Cup |
1st | Lonhro | 2 minutes 1.6 seconds |
| 2nd | Delzao | ||
| 3rd | Elvstroem | ||
| 2003 Australian Cup |
1st | Northerly | 2 minutes 1.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Natural Blitz | ||
| 3rd | Don Eduardo | ||
| 2002 Australian Cup |
1st | Old Comrade | 1 minute 59.8 seconds |
| 2nd | Northerly | ||
| 3rd | Rain Gauge | ||
| 2001 Australian Cup |
1st | Northerly | 1 minute 59.4 seconds |
| 2nd | Hit The Roof | ||
| 3rd | Kaapstad Way | ||
| 2000 Australian Cup |
1st | Intergaze | 2 minutes 0.9 seconds |
| 2nd | Arena | ||
| 3rd | Streak | ||
next to go
