Australian Cup 2024 Barrier Draw & Final Field
- The barrier draw has been completed for the Australian Cup
- The 2024 edition will be contested on March 30
- This Group 1 headlines Saturday's Flemington card
- Final field is included below

Pride Of Jenni & Mr Brightside are set to clash again in the Australian Cup. (Getty)
The Australian Cup is the feature race on the final day of the 2024 Melbourne Autumn Carnival, with this 2000m WFA feature worth $3 milliion in total.
While he's yet to win in three attempts past a mile, Mr Brightside (barrier 1) was narrowly defeated in the 2023 Cox Plate via his last try in this distance range.
With back-to-back Group 1 wins in the Cf Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes, the six-year-old kicked off 2024 in style and while he was no match for Pride Of Jenni last start in the All-Star Mile, a wide gate did prove costly via that March 27 attempt.
Exciting front-runner Pride Of Jenni (barrier 7) has got the better of Mr Brightside in two of their last three clashes, which includes an outstanding last start display in the All-Star Mile.
2000m does look a query for the Ciaron Maher-trained mare, however, given she's failed via her only other try over this distance, although that defeat was on a heavy track.
Three-time Group 1 winner Cascadian (barrier 8) is aiming to defend his Australian Cup crown and the Godolphin veteran is ticking over well, arriving here off a third in the All-Star Mile.
The nine-year-old completed just one spring run last year following an autumn campaign that culminated with a third in the All Aged Stakes.
Atishu (barrier 5) bolted in over this track/trip in spring when taking out the Champions Stakes and the Chris Waller-trained mare should have her fair share of admirers going off that Group 1 victory.
The daughter of Savabeel did bounce back with a second-up win last start and she does have a decent overall record at Flemington.
New Zealand visitor Legarto (barrier 2) took out the 2023 Australian Guineas via her only other other attempt at Flemington and while she arrives here off a loss as a $1.20 favourite, the four-year-old ticked the 2000m box the start prior at Group 1 level.
Danny O'Brien has dual representation via Vow And Declare (barrier 9) and Young Werther (barrier 3), with the latter arriving off an impressive 2.5-length last start win in the Australian Cup Prelude, a race which produced Fawkner Park (Albury Cup winner).
Nine runners make up the final field for the 2024 Australian Cup.
Australian Cup 2024 Barriers & Final Field
No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Odds |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Mr Brightside (NZ) | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | Craig Williams | 1 | 59kg | $2.40 |
2 | Cascadian (GB) | James Cummings | Ben Melham | 8 | 59kg | $8.50 |
3 | Vow And Declare | Danny O'Brien | Billy Egan | 9 | 59kg | $26 |
4 | Dom To Shoot | Sean & Jake Casey | Mark Zahra | 6 | 59kg | $61 |
5 | Young Werther (NZ) | Danny O'Brien | Damian Lane | 3 | 59kg | $26 |
6 | Esti Feny (HUN) | Matthew Smith | Jamie Mott | 4 | 59kg | $101 |
7 | Pride Of Jenni | Ciaron Maher | Declan Bates | 7 | 57kg | $3 |
8 | Atishu (NZ) | Chris Waller | Blake Shinn | 5 | 57kg | $6 |
9 | Legarto (NZ) | Ken & Bev Kelso | Michael Dee | 2 | 57kg | $13 |
Odds courtesy of EliteBet & correct on 27/03/2024.
Australian Cup Winners
The Australian Cup is the most prestigious middle distance race run over the Melbourne Autumn Carnival.
Now worth $3 million, this 2000m weight for age event will effectively round out the Melbourne Autumn Carnival in 2023, with this race being moved to the end of March and allowing the All-Star Mile to be run one week earlier.
The legendary Bart Cummings leads the training record for the Australian Cup with 13 wins overall, while Tom Hales is the most successful jockey, riding eight Australian Cup winners from 1875 to 1890.
In what's arguably become a stronger affair in the last 50 years, champions such as Leilani, Dulcify, Vo Rogue, Better Loosen Up. Northerly and Makybe Diva all feature on the winners list.
Homesman (2021), Duais (2022) and Cascadian (2023) have won the last three editions of the Australian Cup.
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