Looking for this year’s Coongy Cup betting odds, form guide and field preview? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
Coongy Cup 2026 Results
The official 2026 Coongy Cup results will be available below once the race takes place on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
- #8 Ziryab
- #6 Darkbonee
- #9 Sunset Park
The 2026 Coongy Handicap results at Caulfield saw Ziryab ($5) continue its outstanding spring form, with the Ciaron Maher-trained import producing a bold front-running display under apprentice Jabez Johnstone to claim the Group 3 feature on Wednesday. Sent straight to the lead, Ziryab controlled the tempo throughout before kicking strongly in the home straight and holding off the fast-finishing Darkbonee to secure back-to-back victories. The win provided Johnstone with another career highlight following his recent success in the Bart Cummings and served as the perfect confidence boost ahead of his maiden ride in the 150th Caulfield Cup on Saturday, where he partners fellow Maher runner Kings Valley.
2026 Coongy Cup Race Replay
2026 Coongy Cup Odds & Finishing Order
The latest Coongy Cup odds 2026 provide punters with an early guide to the leading chances in this important Melbourne Spring Carnival feature. Run over 2000m at Caulfield, the Group 3 handicap attracts a competitive field of stayers and middle-distance performers, with the added incentive of a coveted Caulfield Cup ballot exemption for the winner. At Neds, racing fans can compare the current Coongy Cup odds 2026, track market moves, and access expert insights to inform their Coongy Cup betting 2026 strategy. With plenty on the line and a proven history of producing quality spring contenders, the Coongy Cup is a race worth following closely in the lead-up to Caulfield Cup Day.
The latest Coongy Cup 2026 odds followed by the official race finishing order after the event will be available below.
| 8. Ziryab (10) J: Jabez Johnstone 54.5kg 0x521 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 6. Darkbonee (1) J: Damian Lane 55kg x2105 T: Symon Wilde | ||
| 9. Sunset Park (3) J: Jamie Melham 54kg 0x802 T: Michael Kent | ||
| 1. Pounding (12) J: Luke Nolen 59kg 22qx3 T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | ||
| 10. Autumn Mystery (9) J: Teo Nugent 54kg 3×067 T: Rory Hunter | ||
| 12. Prince Eric (5) J: Craig Williams 54kg 43195 T: Archie Alexander | ||
| 11. Military Academy (11) J: Daniel Stackhouse 54kg 5579x T: Jane Chapple-Hyam | ||
| 5. Newfoundland (8) J: Declan Bates 55.5kg 190×9 T: Shane Jackson | ||
| 2. Air Assault (2) J: Blake Shinn 58kg x5229 T: Andrew Gluyas | ||
| 4. Ambassadorial (7) J: Harry Coffey 56.5kg 110×8 T: Jane Chapple-Hyam | ||
| 3. Smokin’ Romans (4) J: Ethan Brown 58kg 32466 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 7. Statuario (6) J: Lachlan Neindorf 55kg x80x0 T: Emma-Lee & David Browne |
Coongy Cup 2026 Tips
Our Neds’ exclusive Coongy Cup 2026 tips will be detailed here the week of the race and a full betting preview available on the Neds Blog.
| 6. Darkbonee (1) J: Damian Lane 55kg x2105 T: Symon Wilde |
| 8. Ziryab (10) J: Jabez Johnstone 54.5kg 0x521 T: Ciaron Maher |
The Coongy Cup – currently known as the Coongy Handicap – is a 2000m handicap race run and won at Caulfield Racecourse on the Wednesday before the Caulfield Cup each October. The Group 3 event has been run and won since 1898 and offers $240,000 in prize money.
It has been held over varying distances between 2000m and 2400m over the years and gained its current Group 3 status in 1978.
The Coongy Cup winner is also exempt from ballot from the Group 1 $6.55 million Caufield Cup (2400m) held back at the track just three days later.
While no horse has completed the double in recent years, Shocking did improve on a Coongy Cup 2nd in 2009 to continue on and win both the Lexus Stakes and Melbourne Cup that spring.
The Coongy Cup form was franked in 2021 with the winning mare Duais going on to complete the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m) – Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) double in the autumn of 2022.
Coongy Cup 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Wednesday, October 14, 2026
- Track Location: Caulfield Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 2,000 metres
- Weight Conditions: Handicap
- Qualification: Maidens ineligable
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 3
- Prize Purse: $200,000
- Inaugural Race: 1898
- 2026 Coongy Cup Winner: Ziryab
Coongy Cup Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Coongy Cup, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How to Place This Type of Bet on This Year’s Coongy Cup |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Coongy Cup. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers in this year’s Coongy Cup. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Coongy Cup, 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 Coongy Cup, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Coongy Cup to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Coongy Cup to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Coongy Cup 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 Coongy Cup, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
2026 Coongy Cup Big Bets
How to Bet on The Coongy Cup in 2026
- Log in at neds
- Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
- Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Coongy Cup Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the Coongy Cup in 2026?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Coongy Cup in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up spring racing form, assess the barriers and consider the weight each horse will carry in the field.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Coongy Cup winner include:
- Four-Year-Old Factor: Four-year-olds have dominated the Coongy Cup results with 12 straight victories between 2013-2023. Lightinthenite (5YO, 2012), Kingswood (5YO in 2024) and Ziryab (7YO in 2026) are the latest non-4YOs to win.
- Inside Alleys: Since Ginga Dude (barrier 10 in 2010) the only Coongy Cup champ to win from wider than gate nine was Ziryab (barrier 10 in 2026).
Coongy Cup Favourites 2026
Coongy Cup 2026 favourites include Palentino gelding Darkbonee drawn the rails, Ciaron Maher’s last start Mornington winner Ziryab coming right back in the weights and the Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained topweight Pounding racing second-up off a good return when third to Pride Of Jenni in the Group 2 Feehan Stakes at 60/1.
Wolfe ($3.50 in 2019), Nonconformist ($3.30 in 2020), Gunstock ($2.45 in 2022), Kingswood ($2.60 in 2024), and Wootton Vernie ($3.80 in 2025) are the latest Coongy Cup favourites to win.
Coongy Cup 2026 Field
The official 2026 Coongy Cup field of final acceptances is announced on the Monday leading-up to the event and will be published in full below.
The 2026 Coongy Cup final field features a quality line-up of spring stayers led in betting by Symon Wilde’s rails-drawn Darkbonee coming off a fourth in the Group 3 JRA Cup and the Ciaron Maher-trained last start Mornington winner in easier grade Ziryab.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Pounding
J: Luke Nolen
T: Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
222qx3 | G | 12 | 59kg | |
|
2. Air Assault
J: Blake Shinn
T: Andrew Gluyas |
8×5229 | G | 2 | 58kg | |
|
3. Smokin’ Romans
J: Ethan Brown
T: Ciaron Maher |
232466 | G | 4 | 58kg | |
|
4. Ambassadorial
J: Harry Coffey
T: Jane Chapple-Hyam |
1110×8 | G | 7 | 56.5kg | |
|
5. Newfoundland
J: Declan Bates
T: Shane Jackson |
5190×9 | G | 8 | 55.5kg | |
|
6. Darkbonee
J: Damian Lane
T: Symon Wilde |
3×2105 | G | 1 | 55kg | |
|
7. Statuario
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Emma-Lee & David Browne |
4x80x0 | G | 6 | 55kg | |
|
8. Ziryab
J: Jabez Johnstone
T: Ciaron Maher |
70×521 | G | 10 | 54.5kg | |
|
9. Sunset Park
J: Jamie Melham
T: Michael Kent |
00×802 | M | 3 | 54kg | |
|
10. Autumn Mystery
J: Teo Nugent
T: Rory Hunter |
93×067 | G | 9 | 54kg | |
|
11. Military Academy
J: Daniel Stackhouse
T: Jane Chapple-Hyam |
05579x | G | 11 | 54kg | |
|
12. Prince Eric
J: Craig Williams
T: Archie Alexander |
843195 | G | 5 | 54kg |
Coongy Cup Race Day 2026
The 2026 Coongy Cup takes place on Wednesday, October 14, 2026 and is the sole Group status race on Coongy Cup Day 2026.
Coongy Cup 2026 Barrier Draw
The 2026 Coongy Cup barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and published in our above Coongy Cup Field section.
Coongy Cup 2026 Nominations
2026 Coongy Cup nominations close at 12:00 PM on the Thursday prior to the race.
Coongy Cup Weights 2026
Handicap conditions apply to this race. The minimum weight is 54kg. Final 2026 Coongy Cup weights will be announced by 4:00 PM on the Friday prior to the race with weights on the final acceptors to be published in our above Coongy Cup Field section.
2026 Coongy Cup Topweight:
- No. 1 Pounding (59kg)
Coongy Cup 2026 Acceptances
2026 Coongy Cup final acceptances must be declared before 9:00 AM on the Monday of race week and will be published in our above Coongy Cup Field section.
Coongy Cup 2026 Jockeys
The final riders’ announcement is at 12:00 PM on the Monday of race week and the official 2026 Coongy Cup jockeys will be published in our above Coongy Cup Field section.
Coongy Cup Scratchings 2026
2026 Coongy Cup scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
Coongy Cup Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Coongy Cup prize purse is worth $240,000 in total, distributed from places first through to eighth.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $144,000 |
| 2nd | $43,200 |
| 3rd | $21,600 |
| 4th | $10,800 |
| 5th | $6,000 |
| 6th | $4,800 |
| 7th | $4,800 |
| 8th | $4,800 |
Coongy Cup Race Number 2026
The 2026 Coongy Cup race number is scheduled as Caulfield Race 7 at 5:10pm (AEDT) on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. There are eight races in total that day at Caulfield Racecourse.
Coongy Cup 2026 Form Guide
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 Coongy Cup Form Guide following final acceptances.
Coongy Cup Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Coongy Cup live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Free to air television: Channels 78 (and 68 in regional areas)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing.com
Mobile: Neds App
Coongy Cup Winners
Winners of the Coongy Cup going back to 1988 are displayed in the table below.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
| 2026 | Ziryab | Darkbonee | Sunset Park | 2:03.05 |
| 2025 | Wootton Vernie | Casino Seventeen | Future History | 2:01.75 |
| 2024 | Kingswood | Berkeley Square | Star Vega | 2:05.90 |
| 2023 | Muramasa | Diamil | Gregolimo | 2:01.21 |
| 2022 | Gunstock | Yonkers | Aurora’s Symphony | 2:06.6 |
| 2021 | Duais | Wentwood | Floating Artist | 2:03.2 |
| 2020 | Nonconformist | Harlem | Kiwia | 2:03.7 |
| 2019 | Wolfe | Top Of The Range | Kiwia | 2:02.7 |
| 2018 | Mask Of Time / Best Of Days (Dead Heat) | – | Life Less Ordinary | 2:07.0 |
| 2017 | Kiwia | Samovare | Maurus | 2:02.9 |
| 2016 | Vanbrugh | Tom Melbourne | It’s Somewhat | 2:02.1 |
| 2015 | Stratum Star | Awesome Rock | Leebaz | 2:02.1 |
| 2014 | Contributer | Noble Protector | Signoff | 2:05.2 |
| 2013 | Spurtonic | Bass Strait | Garud | 2:03.1 |
| 2012 | Lightinthenite | Bagman | Extra Zero | 2:04.2 |
| 2011 | Foreteller | Extra Zero | Midnight Martini | 2:03.1 |
| 2010 | Ginga Dude | Purple | Zoomin | 2:06.6 |
| 2009 | Baughurst | Shocking | Pacino | 2:03.6 |
| 2008 | Baughurst | Pacino | Annenkov | 2:02.0 |
| 2007 | Fire In The Night | Molotov | Pachino | 2:02.4 |
| 2006 | Maybe Better | King Of Ashford | Temple Hills | 2:01.2 |
| 2005 | Activation | Studebaker | Uprize | 2:00.6 |
| 2004 | Reclaim | Pretorius | Star Of Grechen | 2:05.7 |
| 2003 | Frightening | Crawl | Adolescence | 2:03.5 |
| 2002 | Mr Lofty | Little Miss Quick | Society Beau | 2:02. |
| 2001 | Citras Prince | Indian Ridge | Tempest Morn | 2:04.1 |
| 2000 | Typhoon | Avilde | Slavonic | 2:00.9 |
| 1999 | Oliver Twist | Make A Scene | Nahayan | 2:03.5 |
| 1998 | Its All In Fun | Kalastaire | Madonna | 2:16.3 |
| 1997 | Our Sumo | Sunny Lane | Toil | 2:15.8 |
| 1996 | Circles Of Gold | Filante | Beau Heed | 2:03.0 |
| 1995 | Macdrury | Waikikamukau | Makarpura Star | 2:03.6 |
| 1994 | Excited Angel | Ball Park | Over The Top | 2:02.8 |
| 1993 | Silk Ali | Maraakiz | Notwithstanding | 2:01.6 |
| 1992 | Fraar | Brave Expectations | Mountain Rule | 2:02.5 |
| 1991 | Mantlepiece | Majestic Boy | Centro | 2:01.1 |
| 1990 | Kessem | Kingston Rule | Goliath | 2:00.6 |
| 1989 | Eye Of The Sky | Perfect Answer | Chigarow | 2:01.6 |
| 1988 | Ideal Centreman | Be Reasonable | Exocet | 2:00.1 |