Looking for this year’s MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) betting tips, field & form guide? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.

Harlem (Photo: Ultimate Racing Photo) - Neds.com.au

The Naturalism Stakes, currently run as the MRC Foundation Cup, is a key Group 3 race contested over 2000m at Caulfield Racecourse on Underwood Stakes Day in mid-late September each Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.

The open handicap has been run and won since 1983 and since 2007 has offered the winner a ballot free ride into the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in October. Jameka (2016) was the last galloper to do the Naturalism Stakes – Caulfield Cup double.

Many horses may back-up out of the Naturalism Stakes and continue towards the Spring Cups via the Group The Bart Cummings held on Turnbull Stakes Day.

In 2022 Smokin’ Romans won the Naturalism Stakes before a next-up victory in Flemington’s Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m), while the third-placed Gold Trip went on to win that year’s iconic Melbourne Cup race on the first Tuesday of November.

Naturalism Stakes 2024 – Fast Facts

  • Current Race Name: MRC Foundation Cup
  • Race Day: Saturday the 21st of September, 2024
  • Track: Caulfield Racecourse
  • Surface: Turf
  • Track: Left-handed
  • Distance: 2000m
  • Weight Class: Quality Handicap
  • Qualification: Open
  • Type: Thoroughbred
  • Grade: Group 3
  • Operator: Melbourne Racing Club
  • Purse: $200,000
  • Inaugural Race: 1983
  • 2024 MRC Foundation Cup Winner: Positivity

MRC FOUNDATION CUP (Naturalism Stakes) 2024 RESULTS

The official 2024 MRC Foundation Cup results will be available below once the race takes place on Saturday, September 21, 2024. 

  1. #14 Positivity
  2. #11 Future History
  3. #9 Gear Up

The 2024 MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) winner was the Andrew Forsman-trained mare Positivity ($16) who improved on a lead-up Black-Type second at the track to enjoy the extra distance and narrowly charge through late in a thrilling finish ahead of a possible Caulfield Cup bid this spring.

Naturalism Stakes Betting 2024

New Ways to Bet at neds

There are many different ways to bet on the Naturalism Stakes (MRC Foundation Cup), and we have included some of the most popular options below:

Bet Type How To Place This Type Of Bet In This Year’s Naturalism Stakes
Win Bet Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Naturalism Stakes.
Place Bet Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Naturalism Stakes. Pays less than a win bet, but offers safer odds.
Each-Way Bet If your runner finishes 1st in the Naturalism Stakes, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend.
Quinella Bet You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the Naturalism Stakes, in order to win the Quinella.
Exacta Bet You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Naturalism Stakes to win the Exacta.
Trifecta Bet You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Naturalism Stakes to win the Trifecta.
First Four You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Naturalism Stakes to win the First 4.
Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the Naturalism Stakes, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie.

 

How To Bet On The Naturalism Stakes In 2024

  1. Login at neds.com.au
  2. Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
  3. Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
  4. Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Naturalism Stakes Betting above).
  5. Select the horse(s) for the race.

MRC Foundation Cup 2025 Odds

Early market betting odds on the 2025 MRC Foundation Cup will be displayed below once available. Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live markets, please visit neds.com.au.

BET NOW
Timezone: all times are in Australian Eastern Standard Time

WHICH HORSE WILL WIN THE Naturalism Stakes IN 2024

The best way to pick which horse will win the Naturalism Stakes (MRC Foundation Cup) in 2024 is to take into account their lead-up spring racing form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight each horse will carry.

Additional factors to consider when picking the Naturalism Stakes winner include:

  • Boys’ Club – Positivity (2024) was the first mare since Jamkea (2016) to beat home the boys in the Naturalism Stakes results.
  • Waller Factor – Trainer Chris Waller prepared both the 2018 and 2019 Naturalism Stakes winners.

Naturalism Stakes FAVOURITES 2024

2024 MRC Foundation Cup favourites include the Ciaron Maher-trained import Saint George racing second-up on way to the Melbourne Cup, the Team Hayes-trained topweight Que Tempesta, and last year’s Group 1 The Metropolitan winner Just Fine from the Waterhouse/Bott stable.

Night’s Watch ($2.70 in 2018) followed by Orderofthegarter ($2.90 in 2020) and Nonconformist ($4.40 in 2021) are the latest favourites in Naturalism Stakes betting to salute for the punters.

MRC Foundation CUp (Naturalism Stakes) FIELD 2024

The official line-up of horses in the 2024 MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) final field will be announced by Racing Victoria the Wednesday of race week and published in full below.

MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) 2024 Tips

Favourite: #15 Saint George ($4 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Best Bet: #11 Future History ($19 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Best Roughie: See Above – BET NOW

Our insider tips on the 2024 MRC Foundation Cup will be detailed here the week of the race and a full betting preview available on the Neds Blog.

CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2024 UNDERWOOD STAKES DAY PREVIEW & TIPS

Naturalism Stakes RACE DAY 2024

The 2024 Naturalism Stakes (MRC Foundation Cup) takes place on Saturday, September 21, 2024 as part of 2023 Underwood Stakes Day. The meeting’s other Group status are the:

MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) 2024 BARRIER DRAW

The Naturalism Stakes barrier draw takes place following final acceptances on the Wednesday of race week.

The official 2024 MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) barriers will be available in our above Naturalism Stakes Field section.

MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) 2024 Nominations

2024 Naturalism Stakes nominations are taken the Monday of race week with the full list of early entries to be made available below. 

mrc foundation cup (Naturalism Stakes) 2024 WEIGHTS

Quality Handicap conditions apply. Final 2024 Naturalism Stakes weights will be announced by 4:00 PM on the Tuesday of race week. The official Naturalism Stakes weights will be available in our above Naturalism Stakes Field section. 

2024 MRC Foundation Cup Top-Weight:

  • #1 Que Tempesta (59kg)

mrc foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) 2024 ACCEPTANCES

Acceptances must be declared before 9:00 AM on the Wednesday of race week. The official 2024 Naturalism Stakes acceptances will be published in our above Naturalism Stakes Field section.

mrc foundation cup (Naturalism Stakes) 2024 JOCKEYS

The final riders announcement is at 12:00 PM on the Wednesday of race week. The official 2024 Naturalism Stakes jockeys will be available in our above Naturalism Stakes Field section.

mrc foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) SCRATCHINGS 2024

2024 Naturalism Stakes scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Saturday, the 21st of September, 2024.

  • #8 Muramasa (14)

MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) PRIZE MONEY 2024

The 2024 Naturalism Stakes prize money is set at $200,000 including $120,000 going to the Naturalism Stakes winner.

Place Prize Money
1st $120,000
2nd $36,000
3rd $18,000
4th $9,000
5th $5,000
6th $4,000
7th $4,000
8th $4,000

MRC Foundation Cup (naturalism Stakes) race nubmer 2024

The 2024 MRC Foundation Cup race number is scheduled as Caulfield Race 7 at 3:35pm (AEST) on Saturday the 21st of September, 2024. Underwood Stakes Day features ten races in total at Caulfield Racecourse.

naturalism stakes Live 2024

You can watch or listen to the 2024 Naturalism Stakes live, across the following mediums.

Free-to-air television: Seven Network

Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)

Radio: Radio Sport National

Stream Online: 7Live

StreamingRacing.com

MobileNeds App

MRC Foundation Cup (Naturalism Stakes) Form Guide 2024

The final form guide will be available the week before the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2024 Naturalism Stakes Form Guide following final acceptances. 

CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2024 MRC FOUNDATION CUP FORM GUIDE

Naturalism Stakes Winners

Winners and placegetters in the Naturalism Stakes / MRC Foundation Cup going back to 1994 are displayed in the table below.

Year Winner Second Third
2024 Positivity Future History Gear Up
2023 Uncle Bryn Floating Artist Alaskan God
2022 Smokin’ Romans Uncle Bryn Gold Trip
2021 Nonconformist Delphi Tralee Rose
2020 Orderofthegarter Chapada Steel Prince
2019 Brimham Rocks So You Win Sikandarabad
2018 Night’s Watch Rising Red Odeon
2017 Harlem Samovare Stampede
2016 Jameka Gallante Berisha
2015 Magnapal The United States Genuine Lad
2014 Gris Caro Entirely Platinum Bonfire
2013 Mr O’Ceirin Kesampour Bit Of Hell
2012 Folding Gear Mr O’Ceirin Exceptionally
2011 December Draw At First Sight Lucky Eighty Eight
2010 Rainbow Styling Valdemoro Moudre
2009 Red Lord Light Vision Majestical
2008 Zagreb Light Vision Baughurst
2007 Douro Valley Maldivian Dolphin Jo
2006 Zipping Show Barry Growl
2005 Sarrera Emerald Jack Swift Tango
2004 Confectioner Evil Master Devastating
2003 Rose Archway Another Warrior Vicksburg
2002 Pentastic Spirit Of Westbury Thong Classic
2001 Inaflury Celestial Show Natch
2000 Celestial Show Ancient City Prince Iluka
1999 Second Coming Figurehead Ancient City
1998 Our Unicorn Kristalero Vitrinite
1997 Skybeau Waterford Road Dendy Park
1996 Peep On The Sly Centico Prince Calaf
1995 Campaign Warrior Native Zam Skliero
1994 Sugarstone Shatin Heights Paxmat Will