Entrants to the 2026 bet365 Seymour Cup on Sunday will be looking to emulate the efforts of Cote Atlantique, which claimed a sensational win last year. Photos: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos.
Photo by
Brett Holburt
Early October means one thing in Seymour, and it’s that time of the year again.
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The 2026 bet365 Seymour Cup is set to be another blockbuster event this Sunday, October 11, with the Seymour Racing Club to play host to racegoers from right around the region, as well as a fair portion from Melbourne, for one of the premier country cups on offer across the state.
With a stacked nine-race card set to thrill punters, all eyes will be on race eight, the 2026 bet365 Seymour Cup, with the field set to complete the 1600m trip in just over a minute-and-a-half as they stake their claim to take out the $200,000 race.
While the field is yet to be finalised at the time of publication, every runner will be trying to emulate the feat of 2025 victor Cote Atlantique, trained by Henry Dwyer and ridden by Beau Mertens, who all added their names to the honour roll with a stunning victory last year.
Ever present at the front of the field, Cote Atlantique passed the halfway mark in third, before moving up to second with 400m to go, capturing the lead in the final 100m and holding off a fast-finishing Saint George to win by just under half a length.
The current forecast is looking favourable, too, with plenty of sun throughout the week to help dry out the track after the deluge it copped at the weekend, before a small chance of a shower on Sunday morning should give way to a glorious sunny afternoon with a top of 20 degrees.
The other eight races on the card will also keep those trackside thoroughly entertained, with a number of them providing ballot exemption for big races throughout the Spring Carnival.
Competitors will be aiming to get their hands on the Seymour Cup this Sunday. Last year’s cup was claimed by jockey Beau Mertens and trainer Henry Dwyer.
Photo by
Brett Holburt
Race six will double as heat four of the Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Series, with the winner of the 1400m race to earn direct qualification to the final of the $500,000 BM80 1600m Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final on Oaks Day at Flemington on November 5.
The winners of both race five and race seven on Sunday will also earn ballot exemptions to race at Flemington, with the winner of race five over 2000m to qualify for the BM80 2000m Grand Handicap on Melbourne Cup Day, while the winner of the 1100m race seven will lock in a spot at Stakes Day on November 7.
There’s also a 10th race on offer on Sunday, although not quite of the horse variety.
Joining forces with another of Seymour’s big events, the Seymour Racing Club has combined with the Seymour Running Club and the Victorian Athletic League for the newly formed Seymour Classic foot race, with VAL athletes set to race down the home straight over a 365m distance.
Set to take place between races two and three, both the men and women will take to the turf in separate events, with $2000 in prize money up for grabs across each race as well as a VAL sash in a unique addition to the day.
Away from the track, there will be plenty of other entertainment on offer, with a free carnival zone for children with dodgem cars, jumping castles, temporary tattoos and other attractions, as well as live music and roving entertainment, the return of the popular mirrored unicorn, a Bathurst 1000 precinct and style spotting.
Getting to the track has been made simple with a ticketed bus service operating to and from Nagambie, while a free shuttle between Seymour Station and the track will meet all three morning V/Line services from Melbourne, while providing a continuous loop following the final race of the day.
Tickets start from $25. General admission tickets and limited marquee options can be purchased from country.racing.com/seymour
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