2026 TAB Australian Cup Contenders

First run in 1863, the Australian Cup was won by the 1862 VRC Derby winner Barwon over the marathon distance of two and a quarter miles, approximately 3600 metres. A century later, in 1963, the race was briefly shifted to one and three-quarter miles (2800 metres), with Welkin Prince becoming only the second horse to win the Australian Cup twice, emulating Woodman, who claimed back-to-back victories in 1865 and 1866. The following year saw the race find its home at 2000 metres, where it has remained ever since.

The 1872 edition produced one of the Cup’s most remarkable moments. The race initially ended in a dead heat between Saladin and Flying Dutchman. A run-off between the pair astonishingly resulted in another dead heat, forcing a second run-off in which Saladin prevailed by half a neck in a time of 4 minutes and 15 seconds for the 3600 metres.

In 1979, the Australian Cup produced one of the great boilovers when three-year-old gelding Dulcify, the 1978 VRC Derby winner, saluted at odds of 80-1, defeating star gallopers Manikato and Family Of Man. Legendary trainer Colin Hayes would later describe Dulcify as the best horse he ever trained.

Dandy Andy caused an even bigger upset on rain-affected going in 1988, storming home from last to score for trainer Jim Cerchi at odds of 125-1. He defeated two champions and fellow Australian Cup winners, the heavily-backed Vo Rogue (8-11 or $1.70 favourite) and the previous year’s winner, Bonecrusher (5-2 or $3.50), the 1986 Cox Plate hero. Vo Rogue would bounce back to claim consecutive Australian Cups in 1989 and 1990, truly one the great horses of that era.

Just two years younger than the Melbourne Cup, the Australian Cup shares ties with its famous spring counterpart. Twelve horses appear on both honour rolls, with four completing the Australian Cup–Melbourne Cup double in the same year - Tim Whiffler (1867), The Parisian (1911), Saintly (1996), and Makybe Diva (2005).

Eleven Australian Cup winners have earned a place in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, a glittering roll call featuring Malua, Leilani, Dulcify, Vo Rogue, Better Loosen Up, Let’s Elope, Saintly, Octagonal, Northerly, Lonhro, and Makybe Diva. The latter famously smashed the course record in the 2005 Australian Cup, a mark that still stands today.

Who will add this historic race to their career win list? We take a look at some of the chances for this year’s Group 1 TAB Australian Cup. 

Birdman has gone from strength to strength this preparation, finally looking right at home in Australia since transferring from Jessica Harrington to Chris Waller in 2024. His campaign has been marked by consistency, including a powerful first‑up fourth in the Listed Elms Handicap (1400m), a trip well short of his preferred distance. He then produced a dominant victory in the Group 2 TAB Blamey Stakes (1600m) on Australian Guineas Day before backing up with another strong win in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m), sending the five‑year‑old to the top of markets for the Group 1 TAB Australian Cup (2000m). It always seemed just a matter of time before master trainer Chris Waller unlocked the gelding’s full potential, and he now has Birdman in career‑best form heading into the 165th running of the TAB Australian Cup.

All-Star Mile hero Tom Kitten returns to tackle the Flemington 2000 metres once again. He’s a Group 1 winner at the trip, capturing the 2023 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick as a three-year-old but hasn’t scored at that distance since, despite consistently strong performances. He finished just a length and a half behind Riff Rocket in the 2024 Rosehill Guineas, then chased home Via Sistina for third in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes the following season. In his latest 2000‑metre test, he battled bravely through a rain-sodden Flemington track in the TAB Champions Stakes, again finding Via Sistina too strong. His most recent effort in the All-Star Mile was exceptional, fighting all the way to the line to outgun Evaporate and Pride Of Jenni. With no Via Sistina to beat this time, there’s every reason to think Tom Kitten will be right in the finish of this year’s Australian Cup.

Grand old mare Pride Of Jenni was game in defeat in the Group 1 Sharp EIT All-Star Mile (1600m), finishing a close third behind Tom Kitten. She’s had five attempts over 2000 metres, with her lone success coming in unforgettable fashion, with her astonishing six-and-a-half-length win in the 2024 Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. Her only other placing at the trip came in the start prior, when she was collared late by Godolphin’s Cascadian in the 2024 TAB Australian Cup, the gelding becoming just the eighth horse to win the race twice. Last year’s Australian Cup was one to forget, with Pride Of Jenni finishing down the track behind Light Infantry Man. Either side of that run, she showed her trademark grit with wins in the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) and Listed Anniversary Vase (1600m), both at Caulfield. She’s since had a tune-up gallop at Caulfield, and if she brings her usual tenacity on Saturday, expect her to be in the fight for a long way up the Flemington straight.

Apulia looks to have recaptured his best form after missing the early part of 2025 with minor setbacks. Runner-up by the narrowest of margins to Riff Rocket in the 2024 VRC Derby (2500m), his spring and summer return was a testament to the patience of his connections and the meticulous handling of the Lindsay Park team. His first start of 2025 saw him land the VOBIS Gold Star (1496m) on Cox Plate Eve before a strong win in the Listed Channel 9 Chester Manifold Stakes (1600m) earned him a trip west. After a wide gate forced him to settle near last in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes (1800m), where he found the line well late, Apulia went on to win the Group 2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) before producing a dominant display as the odds-on favourite in the Group 2 Perth Cup (2400m). This campaign, he’s chased home the in-form Birdman in both starts, but third-up and stepping out to 2000 metres, he looks ready to give that elusive maiden Group 1 victory a real shake.

Sabaj continues to meet every expectation of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr training partnership. Since joining the stable midway through 2025, the progressive gelding has made a strong impression, highlighted by his Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m) win in the spring of 2025. This campaign, he was luckless first-up in the Listed Elms Handicap (1400m) before stepping up to elite company in the Group 1 Sharp EIT All-Star Mile (1600m). After securing a spot behind the pace set by Pride Of Jenni, a moderate tempo by her standards, Sabaj tracked eventual winner Tom Kitten but left himself too much to do late. He was powering through the line better than most, and the rise to 2000 metres shapes as ideal. Still lightly raced, he’s the fresh horse on the scene with plenty of upside to come.

Last year’s Group 1 TAB Australian Cup (2000m) winner returns to defend his title, once again lining up third-up as he did twelve months ago. This time, however, the gelding has taken a slightly different path, progressing through the Listed Carlyon Cup (1600m) and the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m), where he finished behind Birdman after a month between runs. Typically racing on the speed, a valuable asset under weight-for-age conditions, Light Infantry Man shapes as a major player again. He boasts an excellent Flemington record, with two wins and a placing from four starts at the track, and is sure to take further improvement into this. Expect him to be right on the pace and fighting out the finish once more.

Kiwi mare Leica Lucy has continued to measure up since joining the Chris Waller stable in March, but she is yet to break through for her first Australian win. She signed off her New Zealand career in style with victory in the 2025 Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) for former trainer New Plymouth-trainer Robbie Patterson, before crossing the Tasman to finish a close fourth in the Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) behind star filly Treasurethe Moment, beaten less than a length. The four-year-old has not been tried beyond a mile for Waller but has already shown her class at 1600 metres, placing in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap and finishing runner-up to tearaway miler Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes. She resumed in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and caught the eye late, charging home from last to finish just over a length from Godolphin galloper Pericles. The extra 200 metres of the Flemington mile looks ideal, and she can be expected to be finishing powerfully again.