2021 Australian Cup Tips
Harlem is chasing his third Australian Cup win on Super Saturday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

2021 Australian Cup Tips

It’s the jewel in the crown of the Melbourne Autumn Carnival and another outstanding edition of the Group 1 Australian Cup will be contested at Flemington on Super Saturday.

The Australian Cup has been won by some of the best horses ever to grace a racetrack in Australasia and a fittingly strong field, rich with Group 1 winners and talent will seek their place in the history books again this weekend.

You can find my 2021 Australian Cup tips below.

Suggested Bets

  • 1 Unit E/W #11 Shared Ambition
  • Boxed Trifecta of the selections below
Australian Cup - Winner
No. 11 Shared Ambition

There’s value around almost every horse in the Australian Cup field including Shared Ambition, who shapes as a winning chance at around the $11 mark.

Shared Ambition has always hinted at above-average talent, and while he went somewhat amiss during his last prep, he looks to have returned to the track in excellent nick this time.

His win over a classy field at Randwick when resuming last month was franked when he only just missed beating home the in-form Paradee in the Peter Young Stakes two weeks ago, and I only think he’ll be better third-up and out to 2000m.

Australian Cup - 2nd
No. 17 Paradee

Tipping the same quinella, but reversing the order to that of the Peter Young Stakes.

Paradee has been outstanding for the Danny O’Brien stable this time, and has only improved with racing and as the bar has been raised.

Having broken back into the winner’s stall in a WFA race on the Gold Coast in January, the Epaulette mare destroyed her rivals in the Magic Millions Quality and returned from a short freshen-up to make it three in a row in the Peter Young.

She gets into this race well under the conditions and is drawn well under Craig Williams.

Australian Cup - 3rd
No. 8 Steel Prince

Another horse that looks to be over the odds in Australian Cup betting is Steel Prince ($11 at publish).

Steel Prince has been a great horse for Anthony and Sam Freedman since arriving in Australia and returned plenty of typically tough and pleasing performances during his recent spring prep, winning the Geelong Cup most notably, and ending his prep with a run in the Melbourne Cup.

There was a lot to like about his resuming effort for fourth in the Peter Young Stakes and he’ll take wholesale improvement for that hit-out, while the booking of Jamie Kah is obviously huge for his chances as well.

Australian Cup - 4th
No. 2 Harlem

He absolutely loves the Australian Cup, so why not?

Harlem is a two-time winner of this WFA classic having proven too good for his rivals in both 2018 and 2019, and he returned another bold effort for fourth when chasing the hat-trick last year.

There’s certainly a case to be made for him being past his best, but he has stripped fitter for fair efforts in the Carlyon Cup and the Peter Young since resuming, and he’ll relish a return to his pet conditions.