Looking for this year’s Newcastle Gold Cup betting odds, tips and form guide? The experts at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
Newcastle Gold Cup 2026 Results
The official 2026 Newcastle Gold Cup results will be available below once the race takes place on Friday, September 18, 2026.
- #6 Aethelwulf
- #8 Steel Blaze
- #3 Bella Montagna
Aethelwulf ($1.20 favourite) strengthened his spring staying credentials with an emphatic victory in Friday’s 2026 Newcastle Gold Cup results, the progressive Matthew Smith-trained son of Saxon Warrior extending his winning streak to four with a comfortable 2.25 length success over Steel Blaze, while Bella Montagna finished third. Expertly ridden by Zac Lloyd, the emerging stayer settled just behind the pace before taking control approaching the 1000m and proving far too strong late to secure his maiden stakes victory and improve his record to five wins from just seven starts. With bigger targets now firmly in sight, Aethelwulf is being aimed towards races such as The Metropolitan and The Bart Cummings as connections chase a coveted start in the 2026 Melbourne Cup. Following the dominant Newcastle performance, Neds reacted by slashing his Melbourne Cup odds from $51 into $21, while he has also been installed as the $3.20 favourite in futures betting for The Metropolitan 2026.
2026 Newcastle Gold Cup Race Replay
2026 Newcastle Gold Cup Odds & Finishing Order
The 2026 Newcastle Gold Cup odds are already in motion at Neds as punters look to get an early read on one of spring’s most influential staying races. With proven stayers and emerging 2300m talents lining up at Newcastle, Newcastle Gold Cup odds 2026 are shifting quickly as key lead‑up runs, stable pushes and market confidence begin to separate the genuine contenders. As always, Newcastle Gold Cup betting 2026 centres on identifying horses ready to peak heading toward major targets like The Metropolitan and Caulfield Cup, making this race a crucial early‑spring form guide. Neds traders keep markets sharp and reactive, giving punters every chance to lock in value before final fields drop.
The latest Newcastle Gold Cup 2026 odds followed by the official race finishing order after the event will be available below.
Newcastle Gold Cup 2026 Results
| 6. Aethelwulf (4) J: Zac Lloyd 54kg 15111 T: Matthew Smith | ||
| 8. Steel Blaze (1) J: Reece Jones 54kg 08936 T: Brett Lazzarini | ||
| 3. Bella Montagna (3) J: Regan Bayliss 54kg 425×4 T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | ||
| 7. Amplify (6) J: Dylan Gibbons 54kg 94313 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 5. Elliptical (2) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 54kg 95453 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 1. Changingoftheguard (5) J: Tim Clark 59.5kg 910×8 T: Kris Lees | ||
| 4. Age Of Sail (7) J: Tom Sherry 54kg 38×97 T: Kris Lees |
Newcastle Gold Cup 2026 Tips
Our insider Newcastle Gold Cup 2026 tips will be detailed here closer to the race with a full Newcastle Gold Cup Day betting preview available on the Neds Blog.
| 6. Aethelwulf (4) J: Zac Lloyd 54kg 15111 T: Matthew Smith |
| 5. Elliptical (2) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 54kg 95453 T: Chris Waller |
| 7. Amplify (6) J: Dylan Gibbons 54kg 94313 T: Ciaron Maher |
Latest News
Run over 2,300 metres, the Newcastle Gold Cup is a Group 3 race taking place at Newcastle Racecourse on a Friday in mid-September. With a $300,000 prize purse, the handicap clash offers the winner a ballot exemption into the Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Royal Randwick on Epsom Handicap Day the following month. Glencadam Gold (2012) was the last horse to complete the Newcastle Gold Cup – The Metropolitan double.
This race has been run over various distances, including: 2250, 2300 and 2400 metres. Starting out as a Principal Race, this race was upgraded to Group 3 in 1981, followed by Group 2 in 1985. Since 2001, it was downgraded to Group 3 and has stayed that way.
The Grafton Cup winner is exempt from Newcastle Gold Cup ballot and plenty of nice types have won the race including Green Moon (2011) who won the following year’s Melbourne Cup.
The Newcastle Gold Cup also serves as a potential lead-up into the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) in Melbourne, a race the 2011 winner Green Moon ran second in next start.
Durston (2022) was the last horse to complete the Newcastle Gold Cup – Caulfield Cup double.
In 2019 Hush Writer handed trainer Gai Waterhouse with her seventh win in the race and her second in partnership with Adrian Bott after the 2017 win by Broadside. Hush Writer also set a new race record at the time winning in 2 minutes 23.25 seconds.
Hush Writer attempted back-to-back wins in 2020 but eventually finished runner-up to Mugatoo who gave local horseman Kris Lees his first Newcastle Cup victory.
Mugatoo went on to frank the 2020 Newcastle Gold Cup form when finishing second in The Metropolitan next-up before a fourth in Melbourne’s $5 million Cox Plate that spring. He also returned in the autumn of 2021 to claim the $5 million The All-Star Mile.
Horses in the Newcastle Gold Cup field may have previously contested the Listed Wyong Gold Cup (2100m) held a fortnight earlier and Carzoff (2018) followed by subsequent Caulfield Cup winner Durston (2022) are the last horses to do the double.
In 2023 Newcastle Gold Cup history was made with co-trainer Gai Waterhouse securing her eighth victory with Military Mission posting an upset at $16 odds in a new track record time of 2 minutes 22.40 seconds.
Chris Waller continued to close in on Waterhouse’s Newcastle Gold Cup training record preparing his sixth winner in 2024 with Etna Rosso, and seventh with the progressive favourite Soul Of Spain in 2025.
Soul Of Spain boosted the form with a next‑up second in The Metropolitan and later returned in the 2026 autumn to finish runner‑up in the Group 1 Sydney Cup over two miles. The 2025 Newcastle Gold Cup also produced that year’s Metropolitan winner, with Royal Supremacy improving on his lead‑up second to Soul Of Spain to turn the tables in the Group 1.
Newcastle Gold Cup 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Friday, September 18, 2026
- Track Location: Newcastle Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Right-handed
- Race Distance: 2,300 metres
- Weight Conditions: Open handicap
- Qualification: Open
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 3
- Prize Purse: $300,000
- Inaugural Race: 1898
- 2026 Newcastle Gold Cup Winner: Aethelwulf
Newcastle Gold Cup Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Newcastle Gold 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 Newcastle Gold Cup |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Newcastle Gold Cup. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Newcastle Gold Cup. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Newcastle Gold 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 Newcastle Gold 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 Newcastle Gold Cup to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Newcastle Gold Cup to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Newcastle Gold 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 Newcastle Gold Cup, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet on the Newcastle Gold Cup in 2026
- Join up 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 Newcastle Gold Cup Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the Newcastle Gold Cup in 2026?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Newcastle Gold Cup in 2026 is to take into account the lead-up spring racing form, assess the barriers and consider the weight each horse will carry.
Some of the key Newcastle Gold Cup form facts to consider include:
- Lightweights – From 2014-19 four of the Newcastle Gold Cup winners carried 54kg to victory and the lightweights were back in 2021 with Great House carting 54kg to victory and 2023 with Military Mission (54kg). In 2024 Etna Rosso also carried just 54kg to victory, as did Soul Of Spain in 2025 and the 2026 winner Aethelwulf.
- Waterhouse Factor – Ace Sydney horsewoman Gai Waterhouse has dominated the results preparing eight Newcastle Gold Cup winners most recently in 2023 with Military Mission.
- Waller Record – Trainer Chris Waller has dominated the race in the past decade with seven wins in 11 years following the 2021 victory of Great House, his 2022 win with runaway champ Durston, Etna Rosso in 2024, and most recently Soul Of Spain in 2025.
Newcastle Gold Cup Favourites 2026
Favourites in Newcastle Gold Cup 2026 betting include the flying Matthew Smith-trained Saxon Warrior four-year-old Aethelwulf chasing a fourth win on the trot and the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained mare Bella Montagna coming off a fourth fresh in the Wyong Cup.
Carzoff ($3.60 in 2018), Mugatoo ($2.40 in 2020), Etna Rosso ($3.40 in 2024), Soul Of Spain ($2.45 in 2025) and Aethelwulf ($1.20 in 2026) are the latest Newcastle Gold Cup favourites to win.
Newcastle Gold Cup Field 2026
The official Newcastle Gold Cup 2026 field of final acceptances is announced on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in full below.
The 2026 Newcastle Gold Cup field features a small but quality line-up of spring stayers including the flying Matthew Smith-trained four-year-old Aethelwulf chasing a fourth win on the trot.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Changingoftheguard
J: Tim Clark
T: Kris Lees |
9910×8 | G | 5 | 59.5kg | |
| 2. So You Are (3) Scratched: | |||||
|
3. Bella Montagna
J: Regan Bayliss
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
2425×4 | M | 3 | 54kg | |
|
4. Age Of Sail
J: Tom Sherry
T: Kris Lees |
638×97 | G | 7 | 54kg | |
|
5. Elliptical
J: Kerrin Mcevoy
T: Chris Waller |
695453 | G | 2 | 54kg | |
|
6. Aethelwulf
J: Zac Lloyd
T: Matthew Smith |
x15111 | G | 4 | 54kg | |
|
7. Amplify
J: Dylan Gibbons
T: Ciaron Maher |
594313 | M | 6 | 54kg | |
|
8. Steel Blaze
J: Reece Jones
T: Brett Lazzarini |
x08936 | G | 1 | 54kg | |
Newcastle Gold Cup Race Day 2026
2026 Newcastle Gold Cup Day takes place on Friday, September 18, 2026. The Newcastle Cup is one of three Group status events on the card that also features the:
- Group 3 $250,000 Tibbie Stakes (1400m), and the
- Group 3 $250,000 Cameron Handicap (1500m) offering Big Dance eligibility to the first two horses.
Newcastle Gold Cup 2026 Barrier Draw
The 2026 Newcastle Gold Cup barrier draw will be released to the public a few days before the race and published in our above Newcastle Gold Cup Field section.
Newcastle Gold Cup 2026 Nominations
2026 Newcastle Gold Cup nominations close at 11:00 AM on the Monday of race week.
Newcastle Gold Cup 2026 Weights
The Newcastle Gold Cup is a handicap race. Final 2026 Newcastle Gold Cup weights will be announced by 4:00 PM on the Tuesday of race week with final weights to be published in our above Newcastle Gold Cup Field section.
Mugatoo (59kg in 2020) was the last Newcastle Gold Cup topweight to win.
2026 Newcastle Gold Cup Topweight:
- No. 1 Changingoftheguard (59.5kg)
Newcastle Gold Cup 2026 Acceptances
2026 Newcastle Gold Cup final acceptances must be declared before 9:00 AM on the Wednesday of race week and will be published in our above Newcastle Gold Cup Field section.
Newcastle Gold Cup 2026 Jockeys
The final riders’ announcement is at 12:00 PM on the Wednesday of race week and the official 2026 Newcastle Gold Cup jockeys will be published in our above Newcastle Gold Cup Field section.
Newcastle Gold Cup Scratchings 2026
2026 Newcastle Gold Cup scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Friday, September 18, 2026.
- No. 2 So You Are (3)
Newcastle Gold Cup Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Newcastle Gold Cup prize purse is worth $300,000 in total, distributed from places first through tenth.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $170,000 |
| 2nd | $56,000 |
| 3rd | $27,250 |
| 4th | $13,250 |
| 5th | $7,200 |
| 6th | $4,000 |
| 7th | $3,700 |
| 8th | $3,700 |
| 9th | $3,700 |
| 10th | $3,700 |
Newcastle Gold Cup Race Number 2026
The 2026 Newcastle Gold Cup race number is scheduled as Newcastle Race 6 at 4:05pm (AEST) on Friday, September 18, 2026. There are eight races in total that day at Newcastle Racecourse.
Newcastle Gold Cup Form Guide 2026
The final form guide will be available the week of the race. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 Newcastle Gold Cup Form Guide following final acceptances.
Newcastle Gold Cup Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Newcastle Gold Cup live, across the following mediums.
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing NSW
Newcastle Gold Cup Winners
Winners of the Newcastle Gold Cup going back to 2000 are displayed in the table below.
The 2026 Newcastle Gold Cup winner Aethelwulf set a new track record winning in 2 minutes 22.02 seconds.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Weight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Aethelwulf | Matthew Smith | Zac Lloyd | 54 kgs | 2:22.02 (R) |
| 2025 | Soul Of Spain | Chris Waller | Zac Lloyd | 54 kgs | 2:25.00 |
| 2024 | Etna Rosso | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 54 kgs | 2:24.06 |
| 2023 | Military Mission | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Rachel King | 54 kgs | 2:22.40 |
| 2022 | Durston | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 55.5 kgs | 2:26.72 |
| 2021 | Great House | Chris Waller | Jeff Penza | 54 kgs | 2:28.04 |
| 2020 | Mugatoo | Kris Lees | Kerrin McEvoy | 59 kgs | 2:25.10 |
| 2019 | Hush Writer | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 54 kgs | 2:24.25 |
| 2018 | Carzoff | Chris Waller | Kerrin McEvoy | 54 kgs | 2:24.44 |
| 2017 | Broadside | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 54 kgs | 2:24.26 |
| 2016 | Sacred Master | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 56.5 kgs | 2:14.59 |
| 2015 | Beyond Thankful | Chris Waller | Hugh Bowman | 58 kgs | 2:23.55 |
| 2014 | Disclaimer | Paul Snowden | Jason Collett | 54 kgs | 2:23.16 |
| 2013 | Winning Glory | David Payne | Nash Rawiller | 56.5 kgs | 2:24.96 |
| 2012 | Glencadam Gold | Gai Waterhouse | Nash Rawiller | 58 kgs | 2:23.34 |
| 2011 | Green Moon | Robert Hickmott | Brenton Avdulla | 53 kgs | 2:22.47 |
| 2010 | Stratofortress | Gai Waterhouse | Peter Robl | 53 kgs | 2:22.22 |
| 2009 | Streetfighter | Terry Mathrick | Kerrin McEvoy | 54 kgs | 2:26.99 |
| 2008 | Bianca | Gai Waterhouse | Nash Rawiller | 56.5 kgs | 2:23.45 |
| 2007 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2006 | Bikkie Tin Blues | Brian Smith | Brad Pengelly | 54 kgs | 2:21.13 |
| 2005 | Carael Boy
high Cee | Bob Milligan
Bart Cummings | Larry Cassidy
Blake Shinn | 56 kgs
52 kgs | 2:25.58 |
| 2004 | Another Warrior | Alan Bailey | Glen Colless | 55.5 kgs | 2:20.54 |
| 2003 | Comforts | John Hawkes | Corey Brown | 55.5 kgs | 2:21.58 |
| 2002 | Time Off | John Hawkes | Corey Brown | 53 kgs | 2:23.40 |
| 2001 | Agincourt Express | Gai Waterhouse | Glen Boss | 54 kgs | 2:24.88 |
| 2000 | Silent Impact | Neville McBurney | Darryl McLellan | 51 kgs | 2:28.46 |