Australian Cup 2027
The Australian Cup is a Group 1 weight-for-age race over 2000 metres at Flemington. It headlines TAB Australian Cup Day and brings the Flemington Autumn Carnival to a close.
The 2027 Australian Cup will be run on Saturday 27 March 2027 at Flemington for $2 million in prize money, with the date and purse confirmed by the Victoria Racing Club.
Australian Cup 2027
Preview, Trends & Analysis
- Track: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne
- Distance: 2000 metres
- Class: Group 1
- Conditions: Weight for Age
- Sponsor: TAB
- 2027 Date: Saturday 27 March 2027
- 2027 Purse: $2 million (last year $2 million)
- 2026 Winner: Light Infantry Man
- List ItemRace record: 1:58.73, Makybe Diva
The Rundown
The Australian Cup is one of Australia’s premier middle-distance contests. First run in 1863, it has built a rich history of showcasing elite gallopers and remains a key autumn target for leading stables. Its honour roll includes Phar Lap, Dulcify, Vo Rogue, Better Loosen Up, Octagonal, Northerly, Lonhro and Makybe Diva, whose 1:58.73 in 2005 still stands as the race record. Bart Cummings holds the training record with 13 wins. Run under WFA conditions at 2000 m, and permanently weight-for-age since 1987, the Cup regularly attracts Group 1 performers proven at the distance. The 2026 edition showed just how hard it is to win. Light Infantry Man, a $21 chance ridden by Harry Coffey for Ciaron Maher, ran down his stablemate Pride Of Jenni by 0.02 lengths on a Soft 7 track to go back-to-back, while the $2.50 favourite Tom Kitten finished seventh in a field of twelve.
When is the Next Australian Cup?
The 2027 Australian Cup will be run on Saturday 27 March 2027 at Flemington, the final Saturday of the Flemington Autumn Carnival. The Victoria Racing Club has confirmed the date and the $2 million prize money. The Cup is usually one of the last races on the card and jumps late in the afternoon, with the final field and barrier draw released on the Wednesday of race week. The same day features the Listed Lexus Roy Higgins over 2600m, which hands its winner a Golden Ticket into the Lexus Melbourne Cup.
Betting Guide
Popular bet types – Win, Place, Quinella, Exacta, Trifecta, First Four, Same Race Multi
Form tips
• WFA conditions at 2000 m reward genuine Group 1 horses.
• Flemington form and proven records at 1800–2000 m are strong indicators.
• A turn of foot off a solid tempo is often decisive
The Australian Cup Recent Winners
| Year | Winner | 2026 | Light Infantry Man |
| 2025 | Light Infantry Man |
| 2024 | Cascadian |
| 2023 | Cascadian |
| 2022 | Duais |
| 2021 | Homesman |
| 2020 | Fifty Star |
| 2019 | Harlem |
| 2018 | Harlem |
| 2017 | Humidor |
| 2016 | Preferment |
| 2015 | Spillway |
| 2014 | Fiorente |
| 2013 | Super Cool |
| 2012 | Manighar |
| 2011 | Shocking |
| 2010 | Zipping |
The Questions
Saturday 27 March 2027 at Flemington, confirmed by the Victoria Racing Club.
2000 metres under weight-for-age conditions.
Light Infantry Man, ridden by Harry Coffey for trainer Ciaron Maher, beat stablemate Pride Of Jenni by 0.02 lengths. He also won the 2025 race.
$2 million in 2027, the same as 2026. The race carried $2.5 million in 2025.
No. The Australian Cup is the Group 1 horse race at Flemington. The Australia Cup is Football Australia’s national knockout football competition.
