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All-time greats stand out in the Race History of the Australian Cup at Flemington on Saturday.

Northerly and his legend on the east coast started in the 2001 version of the race. The 2019 Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on Saturday would love one as good as him.

2019 AUSTRALIAN CUP - RACE HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

The Australian Cup is a Group 1 race for open class WFA horses conducted by the Victoria Racing Club at Flemington.

The Australian Cup is run over 2000m and was introduced in 1863. It is run under Weight For Age conditions now but was a handicap until 1979. The first running was taken out by Barwon.

It was run at Caulfield in 2007 when Flemington was under reconstruction and won by Pompeii Ruler.

The Australian Cup is an outstanding race through history, mostly since it became WFA. 3yos haven’t had a great record during that period. Super Cool won in 2013 but it was back to Saintly before that in 1996.

Even since that WFA change, Melbourne Cup winners have subsequently run well in the race including Let’s Elope, Makybe Diva, Shocking and Fiorente plus others who ran very well in November.

One of the greatest upsets in Australian racing history came in 1988 when two elite horses Bonecrusher and Vo Rogue were expected to fight the race out.

However despite Vo Rogue kicking clear inside the 400m, Dandy Andy flashed home at 125-1 prompting caller Bill Collins to say “Goodness Gracious Me”. Vo Rogue would get revenge winning the next two editions.

Mares have not been to the fore with the last winner being Makybe Diva in 2005. There have only been four in the last 30 years.

Almost every winner in the last decade ran in both the Orr Stakes and the St George (Peter Young) Stakes. Those that didn’t run in both, invariably at least ran in one and won the Cup.

Bart Cummings had an incredible record taking the Australian Cup 13 times.

Tom Hales rode the winner on eight occasions in the 1800s.

The 2019 Australian Cup is worth $1.5million in prizemoney.

Previous winners of the Australian Cup include Malua (1886), Spearfelt (1927), Gay Icarus (1971), Leilani (1975), Ming Dynasty (1978, 1980), Dulcify (1979), Hyperno (1981), Bonecrusher (1987), Vo Rogue (1989, 1990), Better Loosen Up (1991), Let’s Elope (1992), Veandercross (1993), Saintly (1996), Octagonal (1997), Northerly (2001, 2003), Lonhro (2004), Makybe Diva (2005), Shocking (2011), Fiorente (2014).

The 2018 Australian Cup was won by Harlem from Gailo Chop and Ventura Storm.