The Sydney Cup proved a brutal staying test at Randwick, with the 3200m exposing plenty across the field and leaving several jockeys with hard-luck stories and queries post-race.
While the winner stood up when it mattered, the beaten riders pointed to a mix of tempo, toughness at the trip and in-run factors, with some mounts failing to see out the two miles and others left wondering what might have been with a different run.
It’s a Cupset 🤯
Changingoftheguard leads most of the way in the @SchweppesAus Sydney Cup at odds of $61 on @tabcomau Fixed Odds!@Leesracing with a double on Day 2 of The Championships
Congratulations to jockey Jason Collett 👏 pic.twitter.com/8fzpu6NLdK
— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) April 11, 2026
James McDonald (River Of Stars): “The winner was very well rated, good ride. With the pedestrian sort of pace, my mare stuck to her guns well.”
Tommy Berry (Soul Of Spain): “Did a massive effort from the barrier. If he draws a gate, he arguably wins but the winner has done a good job in front as well.”
Damian Lane (Whisky On The Hill): “Had a torrid trip from the draw.”
Jye McNeil (Valiant King): “Had a nice smooth run but over-travelled a touch in a slowly run race. Wasn’t able to finish off as good as he could.”
Zac Lloyd (Piggyback): “She tried hard. A bit keen on that tempo.”
Tom Sherry (Athabascan): “He went super.”
Craig Williams (Juja Kibo): “Got into a nice position. They didn’t go fast. With the shuffle up at the 800m he lost his position. He stayed on well but no change up speed.”
Jamie Melham (Mr Monaco): “Initially he was a bit disappointing. He did pull quite hard.”
Luke Cartwright (Machine Gun Gracie): “Had a great run in transit. Just didn’t get the trip out today.”
Rachel King (Newlook): “Super run. He just needed a bit of give in the track.”
Tyler Schiller (Litzdeel): “I thought she ran terrific. A lovely spot and possibly could have been in the box seat with hindsight. She relaxed and found the line strong.”
Ben Thompson (Highland Bling): “Great run. At start 16 it feels like he’s got a stack of scope left. To run third in this grade, off the back of a good second in the Adelaide Cup, he’s got a bright future.”
Alysha Collett (Hutchence): “One paced the whole way.”
And, Jason Collett on the winner (Changingoftheguard): “He (Kris Lees) said to me beforehand that he struck a wet track the other day and his wheels spun, I was probably a little bit critical of him. If he finds the bridle he’ll want to do it and he did. It was very lonely down the back straight, I loved it though. It’s a good feeling when a horse gets in a good rhythm like that. We don’t get too many opportunities here in Australia over these distances.”
