One of Australia’s premier staying tests, the two-mile classic at Royal Randwick, is set to take center stage this Saturday as part of Day 2 of The Championships.
2026 NE Manion Cup winner Mr Monaco is the new favourite for the Group 1 Sydney Cup. Photo: Bradley Photos.
Punters have made their move, backing the in-form Ciaron Maher-trained Mr Monaco into the top spot for the 2026 Sydney Cup.
The Randwick program features four elite contests this weekend, but none are as grueling as the Group 1 $2 million Sydney Cup (3200m).
Following the early scratchings of one-time favourite Campaldino and Paradise Storm, a competitive field of 14 remains.
Updated markets at Ladbrokes have the progressive five-year-old Mr Monaco leading the way at $5.50.
Chasing a hat-trick of wins, the son of Territories enters the race following a gritty, sweeping victory in the Group 3 NE Manion Cup (2400m) on a rain-affected Rosehill track.
Maher is searching for his fourth Sydney Cup title, having prepared past champions including Circle Of Fire (2024).
He saddles up the favourite, who drops to a featherweight 52kg with Jamie Melham taking the ride.
While Mr Monaco is yet to test his stamina beyond 2400m, he is expected to drift back and hunt for late gaps to become the first favourite to salute since 2024.
Maher’s triple-pronged attack also includes Parramatta Cup winner Piggyback ($14), with Zac Lloyd aboard, and the ultra-consistent Juja Kibo ($13).
The latter lines up on a quick back-up after three consecutive third-place finishes, including last week’s Group 2 Chairman’s Quality.
Craig Williams retains the ride on Juja Kibo, who benefits from a weight drop to 52kg.
Trainer Ciaron Maher chases his fourth Sydney Cup victory and saddles-up the favourite Mr Monaco on Saturday!
In a wide-open market, five other stayers are currently under double figures, including the Chris Waller-trained topweight River Of Stars ($7).
Carrying 56.5kg, the seven-year-old mare is aiming to be the first female winner since Etah James in 2020.
River Of Stars is out to be the first Sydney Cup winning mare since Etah James in 2020!
Boasting international form up to nearly 2900m, River Of Stars was enormous in the spring, finishing second in the Caulfield Cup at 90/1 before a brave fourth in the Melbourne Cup.
She enters fit third-up following solid efforts behind Vauban and Aeliana.
Waller also prepares Soul Of Spain ($8), one of the few proven over the two miles.
After a sixth in the Tancred Stakes, he looks perfectly suited stepping up to his preferred trip and dropping 4.5kg.
The betting movement has been sharp elsewhere, with the Lindsay Park-trained Machine Gun Gracie crunched from $15 into $7.50 following a dominant Epona Stakes win.
The former WA Oaks / WATC Derby winner drops from 58kg to a “postage stamp” 51kg and is expected to lead.
Rounding out the primary chances are Danny O’Brien’s Litzdeel ($8.50) and the rails-drawn Newlook ($9.00), who aims for the Chairman’s/Sydney Cup double.
The 2026 Sydney Cup is scheduled as Race 7 at 3:15 pm (AEST) on Saturday’s 10-race card.
2026 Sydney Cup Field & Barriers
| No | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Barrier | Weight | Age | Sex | Last Starts | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | River Of Stars | James McDonald | Chris Waller | 5 | 56.5kg | 7 | M | 4×044 | $2,015,265 |
| 3 | Changingoftheguard | Jason Collett | Kris Lees | 3 | 55.5kg | 7 | G | 9×699 | $905,548 |
| 4 | Soul Of Spain | Tommy Berry | Chris Waller | 11 | 54.5kg | 5 | G | x9426 | $628,195 |
| 5 | Whisky On The Hill | Damian Lane | Glen Thompson | 13 | 54.5kg | 6 | G | x5661 | $737,796 |
| 6 | Valiant King | Jye Mcneil | Chris Waller | 10 | 54.5kg | 6 | G | 0x867 | $1,058,217 |
| 8 | Piggyback | Zac Lloyd | Ciaron Maher | 7 | 53kg | 5 | M | x5145 | $619,850 |
| 9 | Athabascan | Tom Sherry | Tom Charlton | 4 | 53kg | 7 | G | x0285 | $1,644,606 |
| 10 | Juja Kibo | Craig Williams | Ciaron Maher | 9 | 52kg | 5 | G | x9333 | $415,411 |
| 11 | Mr Monaco | Jamie Melham | Ciaron Maher | 14 | 52kg | 5 | G | 1×511 | $394,226 |
| 12 | Machine Gun Gracie | Luke Cartwright | Ben, Will & Jd Hayes | 8 | 51kg | 4 | M | 44×91 | $647,375 |
| 13 | Newlook | Rachel King | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 1 | 51kg | 5 | G | 0x551 | $362,361 |
| 14 | Litzdeel | Tyler Schiller | Danny O’brien | 6 | 51kg | 4 | M | 1×022 | $417,085 |
| 15 | Highland Bling | Ben Thompson | Phillip Stokes | 2 | 51kg | 5 | G | 2×522 | $164,769 |
| 16 | Hutchence | Alysha Collett | Chris Waller | 12 | 51kg | 5 | G | x0579 | $98,257 |
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