The time-honoured Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) headlines the action at Flemington on Saturday afternoon, with the weight-for-age feature attracting a quality field of 10.
The Ciaron Maher barn seemingly has a stranglehold on the event, according to horse racing bookmakers, with Pride Of Jennni holding the call at $2.70 after drawing barrier one.
The Pride Of Dubai mare is in search of back-to-back wins after dominating the Group 2 Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on March 15 and is one of seven Group 1 winners set to line-up in the $2.5 million classic.
Stable companion Middle Earth is on the second line of betting at after a blistering Australian debut in the Australian Cup Prelude (2000m) at the same course and distance on March 8.
Zardozi ($6.50) couldn’t reel in the margin of Pride Of Jenni on the Peter Young Classic and will be attempting to turn the tables despite drawing out in gate nine.
Jamie Melham retains the ride and should be aided by a genuine tempo this time around, with Deny Knowledge ($15) likely to inject an element of speed into the race.
The Chris Waller-trained Atishu ($8) looks set to peak third-up into the campaign after producing a strong closing figure behind Tom Kitten in the Group 1 All Star Mile (1600m) on March 8.
You can get double-figure odds for every other runner, with the likes of Light Infantry Man and Attrition representing good each-way value with .
The 2025 Australian Cup is the second leg of the Flemington quaddie and is scheduled to get underway at 4:15pm AEDT.
2025 Australian Cup Final Field
1. Light Infantry Man (4)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Ethan Brown
- W: 59kg
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Fast Company (IRE)
- Dam: Lights On Me (GB)
+180
2. Attrition (6)
- T: Mitchell Freedman
- J: John Allen
- W: 59kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Churchill (IRE)
- Dam: Queen’s Kiss
+210
3. Young Werther (10)
- T: Danny O’Brien
- J: Daniel Stackhouse
- W: 59kg
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Tavistock (NZ)
- Dam: Romantic Time (NZ)
+600
4. Middle Earth (8)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Mark Zahra
- W: 59kg
- Age: 5YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Roaring Lion (USA)
- Dam: Roheryn (IRE)
-117.65
5. Shaiyhar (2)
- T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
- J: Daniel Moor
- W: 59kg
- Age: 6YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Camelot (GB)
- Dam: Sharliyna (IRE)
+600
6. Pride Of Jenni (1)
- T: Ciaron Maher
- J: Craig Newitt
- W: 57kg
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Pride of Dubai
- Dam: Sancerre (NZ)
-250
7. Atishu (7)
- T: Chris Waller
- J: Blake Shinn
- W: 57kg
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Brown
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Savabeel
- Dam: Posy (NZ)
+140
8. Zardozi (9)
- T: James Cummings
- J: Jamie Melham
- W: 57kg
- Age: 4YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Kingman (GB)
- Dam: Chanderi (GB)
+110
9. Deny Knowledge (3)
- T: Anthony & Sam Freedman
- J: Craig Williams
- W: 57kg
- Age: 7YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Pride of Dubai
- Dam: The Paris Shrug (GB)
+250
10. Feroce (5)
- T: Dominic Sutton
- J: Billy Egan
- W: 54.5kg
- Age: 3YO
- Colour: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Super Seth
- Dam: Corinthia (NZ)
+250
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