Looking for this year’s Sandown Cup betting odds, field and race day tips? The expert tipsters at Neds have put together everything you need to know before this year’s race.
Sandown Cup 2026 Tips
Our insider 2026 Sandown Cup tips will be listed here the week of the race and a full betting preview available on the Neds Blog.
The Sandown Cup is a popular two-mile showdown previously run and won over the 3200m at the tail-end of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival before moving to its own feature race meeting in late May or early June during the autumn.
Sandown Cup Day now takes place on the Sunday following Queensland’s Queensland Derby Day program in Brisbane.
The Listed race offers $175,000 and is a quality handicap event contested over the traditional “two-mile” cup distance, the same as the iconic Melbourne Cup race at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November.
In 2021 and 2022 it ran at Caulfield Racecourse.
In 2024 it returned to Sandown at the Lakeside track.
Many nice types have won the Sandown Cup over the years including Renew (2014), Almoonqith (2015), Qewy (2016), and Carif (2020).
Sandown Cup 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Sunday, May 31, 2026
- Track Location: Sandown Racecourse (Lakeside)
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 3,200 metres
- Weight Conditions: Quality Handicap
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Listed
- Operator: Melbourne Racing Club
- Prize Purse: $175,000
- 2026 Sandown Cup Winner: TBD
Sandown Cup 2026 Results
The official 2026 Sandown Cup results will be available below once the race takes place on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
Sandown Cup 2026 Race Day Schedule
There are eight races on Sandown Cup Day at Sandown, which is the feature race on the Sunday card.
| Race Name | Number | Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green Tick Hurlde | 1 | 12:35 pm | 3400m |
| Australian Hurdle | 2 | 1:15 pm | 3900m |
| Race Previews Handicap | 3 | 1:55 pm | 1600m |
| Australian Steeplechase | 4 | 2:35 pm | 3900m |
| Samson BM70 | 5 | 3:05 pm | 2100m |
| Sandown Cup | 6 | 3:35 pm | 3200m |
| Fast Form BM70 | 7 | 4:05 pm | 1400m |
| Same Race Multi BM70 | 8 | 4:36 pm | 1200m |
Sandown Cup 2026 Date & Race Time
The 2026 Sandown Cup is run at 3:35 pm on Sunday, May 31. It’s the sixth race on the card at Sandown, on a card that features the Australian Hurdle and Steeplechase.
Sandown Cup Prize Money Breakdown
The Sandown Cup 2026 runs for a total prize pool of $200,000, with $118,000 going to the winner. Places are paid down to 10th.
| Position | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $118,000 |
| 2nd | $40,000 |
| 3rd | $18,000 |
| 4th | $8,000 |
| 5th | $4,000 |
| 6th-10th | $2,000 |
Sandown Cup Barrier Draw 2026
The 2026 Sandown Cup final field and barriers are announced on Thursday, May 28. The barrier draw is important for the 3200m contest at Sandown, but as is the case with most two-mile races, they all have time to find a spot in the run.
The final field, draw, and odds are released between 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm on the Thursday prior, with Neds among the first bookmakers to release markets for the race.
Sandown Cup Info
When: Sunday, May 31, 2026
Where: Sandown, Victoria
Stake: $200,000
Distance: 3200m
Sandown Cup Barrier Statistics
Sandown’s Hillside circuit is generally regarded as a fair staying track, though barrier draws still carry some tactical importance over the 3200m trip. With a long run and likely shifts in tempo throughout, inside to midfield barriers typically give runners the best chance to find a comfortable rhythm without being forced to do too much early work.
Horses that are able to relax in transit and conserve energy are usually well suited, especially those able to settle in the first half of the field without covering unnecessary ground. While wide draws aren’t necessarily a major hindrance over this distance, runners that are pressured early or find themselves too far back often struggle to bridge the gap in the final stages.
In the end, the Sandown Cup is shaped more by race tempo, stamina, and timing the finishing run than by any strong barrier bias.
Sandown Cup Betting Guide
The Sandown Cup is a classic staying test that typically draws proven distance horses, improving stayers, and runners stepping up from 2400m benchmark or listed company.
While staying races can produce the occasional surprise, the Sandown Cup is usually decided by horses with solid, consistent form over longer trips. Stamina is the key requirement, especially for those who have already shown they can handle 2400m or further and are building nicely into their preparation.
From a betting point of view, it pays to focus on horses with proven staying ability, reliable recent form, and a record of coping with genuinely run distance races. The most dependable profiles are those that can sustain a strong, grinding run rather than rely on a short turn of foot.
Recent runnings have generally reinforced that pattern, with class and endurance tending to hold up better than rough outsiders in the finish.
Sandown Cup 2026 Field and Odds
| 6. The Western Front (5) J: Luke Currie 55kg 14116 T: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | ||
| 10. Zibulon (2) J: Teo Nugent 54kg 37688 T: Paul Preusker | ||
| 4. Tajanis (8) J: Lachlan Neindorf 56.5kg 8×007 T: Charlotte Littlefield | ||
| 3. Tempesti (4) J: Damien Thornton 58.5kg x9673 T: Matt Cumani | ||
| 5. Sir Chartwell (3) J: Declan Bates 55kg 06543 T: Annabel & Rob Archibald | ||
| 1. Crouch (1) J: Harry Coffey 60kg 02318 T: Mike Breslin | ||
| 8. Shamarkand (7) J: Luke Cartwright 54kg x9820 T: Shane Jackson | ||
| 11. Reddivo (6) J: Jett Stanley 54kg x8565 T: Jamie Edwards |
Sandown Cup Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Sandown 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 Sandown Cup |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Sandown Cup. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Sandown Cup. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Sandown 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 Sandown 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 Sandown Cup to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Sandown Cup to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Sandown 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 Sandown Cup, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet on The Sandown Cup in 2026
- Login at neds.com.au
- 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 Sandown Cup Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Which Horse Will Win the Sandown Cup in 2026?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Sandown Cup in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up form in similar grade/distance races, any previous runs at the track and looking for proven Group performers.
Additional factors to consider when picking the Sandown Cup winner include:
- Highly Weighted: Higher-rated and weighted runners make a solid Sandown Cup tip with four of the five winners between 2015 and 2019 carrying at least 57kg to victory including Almoonqith (59kg in 2015).
Sandown Cup 2026 Favourites
Favourites in Sandown Cup 2026 betting will be updated here the week of the event.
Azuro ($2.90 in 2019) and Gin Martini ($4.40 in 2022) are the last Sandown Cup favourites to win.
Sandown Cup 2026 Field
The official 2026 Sandown Cup field of final acceptances is announced the Thursday of race week and will be published in full below.
Sandown Cup 2026 Race Day
2026 Sandown Cup no longer takes place on Zipping Classic Day in the spring but is now the sole Black-Type feature at a standalone Sunday meeting on Sunday, May 31, 2026 at Sandown Lakeside.
Sandown Cup 2026 Barrier Draw
The 2026 Sandown Cup barrier draw is released along with final acceptances the Thursday leading up to the race and will be published in our above Sandown Cup Field section.
Sandown Cup 2026 Nominations
2026 Sandown Cup nominations close 12 PM on the Tuesday of race week and will be published in full below as an early guide to the Sandown Cup field.
Sandown Cup 2026 Weights
Quality handicap conditions apply to this race. 2026 Sandown Cup weights will be declared before 4 PM on the Wednesday of race week with weights on the final acceptances to be published in our above Sandown Cup Field section.
2026 Sandown Cup Topweight:
- TBD
Sandown Cup 2026 Acceptances
2026 Sandown Cup final acceptances must be declared before 9:15 AM on the Thursday of race week and will be published in our above Sandown Cup Field section.
Sandown Cup 2026 Jockeys
Riders’ declaration must happen before 12:30 PM on the Thursday of race week and the official 2026 Sandown Cup jockeys will be published in our above Sandown Cup Field section.
Sandown Cup 2026 Scratchings
2026 Sandown Cup scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
Sandown Cup Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Sandown Cup prize purse is worth $175,000 in total, distributed from places first through to eighth.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $105,000 |
| 2nd | $31,500 |
| 3rd | $15,750 |
| 4th | $7,875 |
| 5th | $4,375 |
| 6th | $3,500 |
| 7th | $3,500 |
| 8th | $3,500 |
Sandown Cup Race Number 2026
The 2026 Sandown Cup race number is TBC for Sunday, May 31, 2026. There are eight races in total that day at Sandown Lakeside Racecourse.
Sandown 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 Sandown Cup Form Guide following final acceptances.
Sandown Cup Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Sandown 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) broadcast
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing.com
Mobile: Neds App
Sandown Cup Winners
Sandown Cup winners and placegetters going back to 2012 are detailed in the table below.
| Year | Winner | Second | Third |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2025 | Diwali | Through Irish Eyes | Alma Rise |
| 2024 | Amade | Ferago | Strawberry Rock |
| 2023
(Race Not Held) | – | – | – |
| 2022 | Gin Martini | Team Captain | Good Idea |
| 2021 | Dragon Storm | True Marvel | Sweet Thomas |
| 2020 | Carif | Realm Of Flowers | San Huberto |
| 2019 | Azuro | Wall Of Fire | Neufbosc |
| 2018 | Yogi | Azuro | Vengeur Masque |
| 2017 | Fanatic | Swacadelic | Gallic Chieftain |
| 2016 | Qewy | Swacadelic | All I Survey |
| 2015 | Almoonqith | The Offer | Grand Marshal |
| 2014 | Renew | Like A Carousel | Shoreham |
| 2013 | Caravan Rolls On | Like A Carousel | Crafty Cruiser |
| 2012 | Ibicenco | Reuben Percival | Unusual Suspect |
FAQs about the Sandown Cup
When is the Sandown Cup 2026?
The Sandown Cup is run on May 31, 2026, at 3:35 pm. It’s the sixth race on the card.
Where is the Sandown Cup 2026?
Sandown hosts the Sandown Cup 2026. It’s one of Victoria’s premier racecourses and home to the Sandown Jumping Carnival.
What is the prize money for the Sandown Cup 2026?
The Sandown Cup prize money is $200,000, with the winner receiving $118,000.
What distance is the Sandown Cup run over?
The Sandown Cup is run over 3200m.
How many horses run in the Sandown Cup?
The Sandown Cup is limited to 16 runners and four emergencies, but most of the Sandown Cup fields attract 10-12 runners.
Who won the 2025 Sandown Cup?
Diwali won the 2025 Sandown Cup as a $9 chance with bookmakers.
How can I bet on the Sandown Cup?
Bet on the Sandown Cup with Neds. It has everything you need to place your Sandown Cup bets, including win, place, exotics, futures, and more.
What is Sandown Cup futures betting?
Sandown Cup futures betting is when punters bet on the race before the final field is released.
How do I watch the Sandown Cup live?
You can watch the Sandown Cup live on Neds. Other options are available, including SkyRacing and Racing.com.
How do I buy Sandown Cup tickets?
Tickets for the Sandown Cup are available at Victorian Racing.
What is the Sandown Cup dress code?
The Sandown Cup has a smart dress code, but it provides a more relaxed atmosphere on track.