TAB Australian Cup (2000m)

$3,000,000 - Group 1 - Weight-For-Age

Mr Brightside (NZ)

Trainer: Ben, Will, & JD Hayes

6YO Bay or Brown Gelding 

Sire: Bullbars 

Dam: Lilahjay (NZ) (Tavistock (NZ)) 

Career: 32:16-6-2 

Prizemoney: $12,977,752

Jockey: Craig Williams

Barrier: 1

Flemington highlights: 3rd 2022 G1 Champions Mile, 1st 2023 G1 Makybe Diva Stakes, 2nd 2023 G1 Champions Mile 

There’s no question he’s one of the shining lights in Australian racing. Over the past 13 months he’s had 12 starts for eight wins and four seconds. At his last start he was beaten by Pride Of Jenni in the All-Star Mile where he gave her a big start. His last run at this distance he was narrowly beaten in the Cox Plate by Hong Kong champion Romantic Warrior at The Valley. He’ll give his all as he always does. 

Pride Of Jenni

6YO Bay Mare

Trainer: Ciaron Maher

Sire: Pride Of Dubai 

Dam: Sancerre (NZ) (O’Reilly (NZ)) 

Career: 27:6-6-3 

Prizemoney: $5,049,740 

Jockey: Declan Bates

Barrier: 7

Flemington highlights: 1st 2023 G1 Empire Rose Stakes, 1st 2023 G1 Champions Mile, 2nd 2021 G2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes, 2nd 2020 L Desirable Stakes 

She’s always shown talent but it would have taken a quantum leap to predict her extraordinary progress at her last four starts where she has established herself as one of Australia’s best horses with two Group 1 wins over the four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, plus an All-Star Mile and a narrow defeat in the Group 2. She’s been coined the new Vo Rogue as she loves to get out the front and defy her rivals to run her down. Vo Rogue won the Australian Cup twice in 1989 and 1990 and there’s no reason this excitement machine can as well. Only query is that she is having her first start over 2000 metres. 

Cascadian (GB)

8YO Chestnut Gelding 

Trainer: James Cummings

Sire: New Approach (IRE) 

Dam: Fall Of Lora (IRE) (Street Cry (IRE)) 

Career: 52:11-6-9 

Prizemoney: $8,836,275 

Jockey: Ben Melham

Barrier: 8

Flemington highlights: 3rd 2019 G1 Cantala Stakes, 2nd 2020 G1 Cantala Stakes, 3rd 2021 G1 Cantala Stakes, 2nd 2021 G1 Mackinnon Stakes, 1st 2023 G1 Australian Cup 

Amazing veteran who will be contesting the Australian Cup for a third consecutive year having finished fifth behind Zaaki in 2022 and winning the race in 2023. He’ll be out to become the first horse since Harlem’s longshot back-to-back wins in 2016 and 2017 to win two Australian Cups in succession. There’s little doubt that this is a much harder assignment than last year but as he showed with his fast finishing third to Pride Of Jenni in the All-Star Mile he’s still got a lot to offer, especially over 2000 metres at Flemington. 

Legarto (NZ)

4YO Bay Mare 

Trainer: Ken & Bev Kelso

Sire: Proisir 

Dam: Geordie Girl (NZ) (Towkay) 

Career: 14:9-2-1 

Prizemoney: $1,742,536 

Jockey: Michael Dee

Barrier: 2

Flemington highlights: 1st 2023 G1 Australian Guineas 

The champion Kiwi mare returns to the scene of her greatest triumph in the 2023 Group 1 Australian Guineas where she produced a whirlwind finish to record a narrow victory. Her trainers Ken and Bev Kelso have set her for this race and she’s been racing well with two wins and two seconds at the New Zealand summer carnival. She will be looking to become the first Australian Guineas winner to win the Australian Cup. 

Vow And Declare

8YO Chestnut Gelding

Trainer: Danny O'Brien 

Sire: Declaration Of War (USA) 

Dam: Geblitzt (Testa Rossa) 

Career: 40:5-8-4 

Prizemoney: $7,336,670 

Jockey: Billy Egan

Barrier: 9

Flemington highlights: 1st 2019 G1 Melbourne Cup, 3rd 2020 G1 Australian Cup 

2019 Melbourne Cup winner who has become a fan favourite due to the longevity of his career and being able to still race at a high level. He finished third in 2020 behind Fifty Stars and his rivals in that race have been long retired. He was beaten in a bob of the head first-up at Caulfield by Campionessa in the Peter Young Stakes. Last campaign he finished second to Alligator Blood in the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes with an Australian Cup winner Duais third.  

Young Werther (NZ)

6YO Bay Gelding

Trainer:  Danny O'Brien 

Sire: Tavistock (NZ) 

Dam: Romantic Time (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) 

Career: 29:4-5-6 

Prizemoney: $1,895,050 

Jockey: Damian Lane

Barrier: 3

Flemington highlights: 3rd 2020 G1 VRC Derby, 2nd 2021 G1 Turnbull Stakes, 3rd 2022 G1 Turnbull Stakes, 3rd 2023 G1 Champions Stakes 

Another from the Danny O’Brien stable who has a penchant for Flemington where he has run placings in four Group 1 races including three over this track and distance. Last spring he finished third in the Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes behind Atishu and Duais over 2000 metres at Flemington. He’s racing well and underlined his preference for Flemington with a last start win in the TAB Australian Cup Prelude (1800m). 

Dom To Shoot

6YO Bay Gelding

Trainer: Sean & Jake Casey

Sire: Shooting To Win

Dam: Princess Rouge (NZ) (Pins)

Career: 43:8-8-8

Prizemoney: $2,086,615

Jockey: Mark Zahra

Barrier: 6

Flemington highlights: 5^th 2021 G3 CS Hayes Stakes

Tough West Australian campaigner who has campaigned in Melbourne over summer and he has produced two sound runs with a fourth in the Futurity Stakes and then a sixth in the All-Star Mile. Back at home last summer at his third run back from a break he defeated Zaaki in the Group 1 Northerly Stakes.

Esti Feny (HUN)

9YO Bay Gelding

Trainer: Matthew Smith

Sire: Pigeon Catcher (IRE)

Dam: Ejtihaad (IRE) (Nayef (USA))

Career: 32:7-4-3

Prizemoney: $391,369

Jockey: Jamie Mott

Barrier: 4

Flemington highlights: 3^rd 2024 Australian Cup Prelude

Much travelled former European galloper who was bred in Hungary. He’s now a nine-year-old but showed he’s still got something to offer with a third in the Australian Cup Prelude behind Young Werther. His best Australian win was in last year’s Gosford Cup.