Horse Racing Tips for the Australian Cup 2025

The Australian Cup has long been a signature race on the Victorian calendar, attracting some of the best Group 1 middle-distance talent in the country.

While this year’s edition might lack the elite stars of seasons past, it more than makes up for it with depth, unpredictability and a genuinely competitive field full of winning chances.

At the centre of the storyline is Pride Of Jenni, Ciaron Maher’s warrior mare who recently un-retired and returned with a jaw-dropping all-the-way demolition at Caulfield.

She's the public favourite, but can she repeat the dose second-up and avenge last year’s defeat in this race?

I tipped her to get run down last year, she did and I’m sticking with that call again in 2024.

Horse Racing Tips for Australian Cup 2024

Track Conditions

The track is currently rated a Good 4 and with fine weather forecast, should stay in the Good range throughout the day.

With the rail in the True position, all runners will get their chance depending on tempo and execution.

Speed Map and Race Shape

Pride Of Jenni (1) will, as always, look to take control of the race from the front, but this time she won’t get it all her own way.

Fellow front-running mare Deny Knowledge (3) is confirmed to press forward aggressively, and that should ensure a strong, genuine tempo throughout.

Behind them, we’ll see Feroce (5) and Zardozi (9) leading the rest of the pack, sitting several lengths off the leaders, while class runners Atishu (7) and Middle Earth (8) will drift back and look to charge late.

Riders like Blake Shinn and Mark Zahra will be very conscious not to give the leaders too much rope, but the race is shaping for a backmarker to flash late.

Selections and Analysis

1st – #4 Middle Earth $4.40

I was with him on debut in Australia, and he didn’t let us down.

The lightly raced import showed a brilliant turn of foot to come from near-last and win over this track and trip, holding off last year’s Caulfield Cup winner Duke De Sessa in the process.

This is his first attempt at Group 1 level in Australia, but he brings serious class and finds a race shape that looks ideal.

With a hot tempo and a long Flemington straight, I expect Middle Earth to surge over the top late and stamp himself as a genuine spring player.

If he dominates here then the Caulfield Cup, or even Cox Plate are on the table.

2nd – #1 Light Infantry Man $10.00

If you want to play one at odds, this is your horse.

Also from the Maher yard, Light Infantry Man has been building beautifully this prep.

He hit the line strongly first-up in the Futurity Stakes, then ran an eye-catching third in the All-Star Mile, again charging late.

Up to 2000m suits perfectly now third-up, and from a midfield run, he’ll be launching late alongside Middle Earth. A great top-three player and one for the exotics.

3rd – #6 Pride Of Jenni $2.90

She’s the enigma of Australian racing, capable of running her rivals ragged when she finds her rhythm.

Her comeback win at Caulfield was breathtaking, but this assignment is far tougher.

Yes, she dominated the Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2000m last autumn, but that remains an outlier on her resume at this trip.

Now with Deny Knowledge pressuring her early and a quality field stalking behind, I fear she’ll be vulnerable again in the final 150m — just as she was in this race last year.

She’ll give a bold sight but gets run down late.

4th – #10 Feroce $13.00

The 3YO wildcard in the field. Tough as nails in the Australian Guineas, he handled pressure and a strong field with composure, powering through the line late.

Now out to 2000m, he gets a lovely run on the map and has every right to measure up in open-age Group 1 company.

Whether he's quite seasoned enough to knock off the top picks is questionable, but don’t be surprised if he’s right there in the finish.

Cody's Top 4 for the 2024 Australian Cup

1. Middle Earth

2. Light Infantry Man

3. Pride Of Jenni

4. Feroce

For thousands more tips including free selections for today's racing, head to Australia's best racing tips market at thegreattipoff.com.