Chris Waller’s high-flying import Birdman is the punters’ elect to close out the Melbourne Autumn Racing Carnival in style, as the gelding chases a hat-trick in Saturday’s 2026 Australian Cup at Flemington.
Birdman chases his third win on the trot up in grade for the Australian Cup this weekend. Photo: Bradley Photos.
Elite-level racing at HQ reaches its crescendo this weekend with a star-studded 12-horse field assembled for the time-honored Group 1 $2 million Australian Cup (2000m).
Currently topping the Australian Cup odds at $3.50 via Ladbrokes, Birdman has continued to firm after drawing perfectly in barrier five for jockey Ben Melham.
The son of Free Eagle arrives at the top of his game following consecutive Group 2 victories, having secured the Blamey Stakes (1600m) and Peter Young Stakes (1800m) double by a combined margin of nearly four lengths.
The money is coming for the favourite Birdman to become the first horse since Fiorente in 2014 to complete the Peter Young Stakes / Australian Cup double!
While no galloper has managed to clinch the Peter Young/Australian Cup double in the same season since Fiorente in 2014, the weight of money suggests Birdman is the horse to break the 12-year drought.
A proven stayer with winning form up to 2615m, he presents rock-hard fit fourth-up and appears ideally placed stepping up to the 2000m.
The primary threat on the second line of betting at $4.80 is Ciaron Maher’s front-running marvel Pride Of Jenni.
Despite being a rising nine-year-old, the daughter of Pride Of Dubai proved her elite competitive fire remains intact with a brave third in the All-Star Mile on March 7, finishing just a half-length behind Tom Kitten.
This marks her third attempt at the Australian Cup, having run second in 2024 and a disappointing ninth last year.
With a solid second-up record (10:2-4-1) and regular rider Declan Bates jumping from gate 10, she chases her first victory since her dominant Empire Rose Stakes win during the Melbourne Cup Carnival last November.
In a competitive market, two other contenders remain under double figures, led by history’s only dual All-Star Mile hero Tom Kitten ($5).
The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Godolphin gelding is undefeated this preparation, having recaptured his best form in the Kevin Heffernan before his historic title defence.
Despite the “car park” draw in barrier 12, his proven 2000m ability makes him a genuine danger.
Waller also saddles up the early market mover Leica Lucy ($6), who jumps from barrier three with Damian Lane in the irons.
The 2025 NZ Oaks winner is looking to join Duais (2022) as the only mares to win the Australian Cup in the last quarter-century.
While winless since her Oaks triumph, her sixth in the All-Star Mile was full of merit, and the rise in distance is exactly what she requires.
For those looking for an upset, the Lindsay Park-trained Perth Cup winner Apulia ($11)—who was second in the Peter Young—and All-Star Mile fourth-place finisher Sabaj ($11) represent the best value among the outsiders.
The 2026 Australian Cup is scheduled as Race 8 at 4:15 pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s 10-race Flemington program.
2026 Australian Cup Field & Barriers
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Weight | Age | Sex | Last Starts | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tom Kitten | Craig Williams | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 12 | 59kg | 5 | G | 53×11 | $7,053,150 |
| 2 | Light Infantry Man | Harry Coffey | Ciaron Maher | 9 | 59kg | 7 | G | 52×14 | $4,428,648 |
| 3 | Apulia | William Pike | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 2 | 59kg | 5 | H | 01152 | $1,879,420 |
| 4 | Just Fine | Jordan Childs | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 11 | 59kg | 8 | G | 29×93 | $1,150,734 |
| 5 | Birdman | Ben Melham | Chris Waller | 5 | 59kg | 5 | G | 8×411 | $1,049,509 |
| 6 | Sabaj | Beau Mertens | Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | 6 | 59kg | 4 | G | 10×24 | $681,645 |
| 7 | Mark Twain | Lachlan Neindorf | Phillip Stokes | 4 | 59kg | 6 | G | 009×3 | $495,302 |
| 8 | Pride Of Jenni | Declan Bates | Ciaron Maher | 10 | 57kg | 8 | M | 718×3 | $11,656,185 |
| 9 | Damask Rose | Jamie Melham | Mark Walker | 1 | 57kg | 4 | M | x2327 | $1,995,287 |
| 10 | Leica Lucy | Damian Lane | Chris Waller | 3 | 57kg | 4 | M | 32×56 | $1,234,684 |
| 11 | Basilinna | Jye Mcneil | Emma-Lee & David Browne | 8 | 57kg | 5 | M | 1x7x7 | $548,000 |
| 12 | Philia | Daniel Stackhouse | David Vandyke | 7 | 57kg | 4 | M | 8×644 | $384,200 |
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