There is renewed focus on tonight’s opening of the Royal Ascot carnival with the first of four new ballot-free races for the 2026 Caulfield Cup to be run.
The Melbourne Racing Club on Tuesday announced the four European races as new win-and-you’re in races for the re-invigorated 2026 Caulfield Cup, which will be run at $6 million for the first time as part of a celebration of the 150th running of the historic race.
In an alignment with the Melbourne Cup’s prizemoney structure, the 2026 Caulfield Cup will see prize money paid to every starter for the first time with horses outside the top 10 to receive $60,000.
The revised prizemoney distribution will see the winner receive $3.3 million with the overall prizemoney pool increasing by $1 million from 2025. Trophies for the winning jockey, trainer and owner will also increase from $330,000 to $550,000.
The listed Wolferton Stakes (2004m) on tonight’s opening night of Royal Ascot, is the first of four new Caulfield Cup ballot-free races with the same reward given to the upcoming winners of the G3 races – the Glorious Stakes (2412m) at Goodwood, the Prix de Reux (2500m) at Deauville and Ballyroan Stakes (2414m) at Leopardstown.
“The Sportsbet Caulfield Cup is one of Australia’s great races and the Melbourne Racing Club has a responsibility to ensure it remains there,” MRC chief executive Tanya Fullarton said.
“The 150th running gives us the right moment to elevate the race, ensuring it remains a compelling target for the best available staying horses.
“The Sportsbet Caulfield Cup will remain the world’s richest 2400-metre handicap race supported by the increased prizemoney pool, which in distributing money to every starter, recognises the considerable commitment required to prepare a horse for a race of this scale.
“The Sportsbet Caulfield Cup has an extraordinary past. These changes are about making sure it has an equally strong future.”
The enhancements for the October 17 Caulfield Cup have been welcomed by Racing Victoria.
“The Sportsbet Caulfield Cup is an integral part of the rich heritage of Victorian, and indeed, Australian racing, and this year marks a momentous occasion with the 150th edition of this great handicap race,” Racing Victoria’s chief executive Aaron Morrison said.
“The MRC’s additional prizemoney investment celebrates that incredible milestone and will help to ensure another outstanding field of stayers from across Australia and abroad will target the race.
“The change to the prizemoney structure also aligns the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup and Lexus Melbourne Cup in recognising the additional time, effort and money that goes into training and qualifying horses for our greatest staying races.”