Sixty-six top-line stayers are still officially in the mix for the Group 1 $10 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Tuesday November 4 following this week’s first acceptances for the iconic two-mile feature race of the spring.

The overall number of Melbourne Cup first acceptors is down from 72 at the same stage last year, but the international contingent remains elite with 11 raiders from six countries outside of Australia or New Zealand ready to give the locals a shake-up.

2025 Melbourne Cup First Acceptances: Quick Glance

• 66 total first acceptances taken
• Down from 72 in 2024
• 11 international nominees (up from 6 at the same stage last year)
• Horses from Ireland, America, Japan, Germany and the UK all remain in Melbourne Cup contention
• Sir Delius for Waterhouse & Bott $5 top fancy at Ladbrokes.com.au
• Joesph O’Brien’s Irish raider Al Riffa second favourite at $6 through Ladbrokes.com.au
• Al Riffa and unlikely final acceptor Via Sistina 59kg top-weights
• Defending champion Knight’s Choice withdrawn
• Last year’s third placegetter Okita Soushi also ruled out
• 14 for Chris Waller chasing his second trophy (down from 27 at nomination stage)
• Parchment Party, Revelare and Deakin ballot exempt horses paid up for at first acceptance stage

Originally 19 international nominees were in the hunt for the 165th edition of the world’s richest handicap, but with eight dropping out of contention there’s still a strong northern hemisphere raid heading to Flemington this Cup Carnival.

The best fancied of those is Al Riffa for two-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Joseph O’Brien whose second victor, Twilight Payment (2020), still stands as the most recent international winner from outside the southern hemisphere.

Al Riffa booked his ticket to Melbourne in emphatic fashion, storming home by five lengths under top weight in the Group 2 Curragh Cup (2816m) on July 19.

He then firmed further in the markets after winning the prestigious Irish St Leger on September 14 where he surged to an incredible four-length win carting 61.5kg to victory over 2800m.

That success was the perfect stepping-stone into the Melbourne Cup over 3200m where he will carry the top-weight of 59kg.

O’Brien could also be represented by his seven-year-old mare Goodie Two Shoes.

“The 165th running of the Lexus Melbourne Cup is shaping up as a truly great contest, with the first acceptances showcasing the depth of class set to line up in this year’s race, marking an important milestone on the road to the Cup,” VRC Chief Racing Officer, Leigh Jordon, said.

“International contenders add intrigue to the Lexus Melbourne Cup, and this year runners from England, Ireland, France, Germany, Japan, and the United States will challenge the locals in what promises an exciting contest.”

“A number of Lexus Melbourne Cup hopefuls will be on display at Flemington this weekend for TAB Turnbull Stakes Day. The race meeting is highlighted by the Lexus Bart Cummings, which offers a coveted Golden Ticket into the Lexus Melbourne Cup.”

The prospect of the first-ever American-trained runner contesting the Cup surged over the weekend, with Parchment Party among six international contenders cleared for quarantine ahead of their journey to Victoria in two weeks.

Winner of the Group 2 Belmont Gold Cup (3200m) in New York this June, Parchment Party was approved by Racing Victoria to begin the mandatory two-week quarantine in Europe and Japan after passing a critical distal limb scan.

Adding to his intrigue, Parchment Party is trained by US Hall of Famer Bill Mott and will be partnered by fellow American racing icon Johnny Velazquez, making him not only a historic entrant but also one of the most high-profile internationals heading toward Flemington this spring.

Absurde (Willie Mullins, Ireland); Golden Snap (Katsunori Tanaka, Japan); Meydaan (Simon & Ed Crisford, England); Onesmoothoperator (Brian Ellison, England); and Presage Nocturne (Alessandro Botti, France) are the other recent arrivals in Melbourne from around the globe.

Parchment Party is also one of three horses currently exempt from Melbourne Cup ballot paid up for at first acceptance stage along with the Robert Hickmott trained Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes winner Revelare and Phillip Stokes‘ Roy Higgins Quality champ Deakin.

Via Sistina – currently paying $34 for Chris Waller – was also allocated 59kg in the Melbourne Cup weights but the reigning Australian Racehorse of the Year is an unlikely final acceptor.

Waller remains the best represented trainer in the latest list of Melbourne Cup horses with 14.

The latest all-in Melbourne Cup odds at Ladbrokes.com.au have the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott trained Group 1 Underwood Stakes winning import Sir Delius as the $5 favourite.

Allocated 55.5kg, the Frankel five-year-old was excellent second-up over the 1800m at Caulfield in a fighting finish with Buckaroo.

He has his next start on Saturday in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

Hall of Fame trainer Waterhouse along with Bott are set to launch a powerful two-pronged attack on this year’s Melbourne Cup field, now also guiding the fortunes of Vauban, a proven contender and one of the race favourites in recent editions.

Notable horses to drop out of the mix include last year’s winner Knight’s Choice, Ciaron Maher’s Okita Soushi who was third in 2024, and boom mare Treasurethe Moment.

Knight’s Choice was withdrawn due to illness and a confirmed outbreak of strangles at his training base, Macedon Lodge.

He was ruled out after Racing Victoria declared Macedon Lodge an “infected place” following a positive strangles test in another horse on the property.

Although Knight’s Choice initially tested negative, co-trainer Sheila Symons confirmed the horse was unwell and said, “We won’t push on with him, regardless of what the tests say.” The team acknowledged they simply didn’t have enough time to prepare him for the Cup, even if he recovered quickly.

This marks a disappointing end to Knight’s Choice’s title defence, especially after his fairytale $91 win in the 2024 Melbourne Cup.

Along with Saturday’s Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2520m) the other upcoming events to offer a ballot free ride into the Melbourne Cup this year include the: Group 3 Ladbrokes Geelong Cup (2400m) on Wednesday 22 October, the Group 2 Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) on Friday 24 October, the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m).

The full list of 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup first acceptances can be found here.

Second declarations must be submitted by noon (AEDT) on Tuesday 14 October. 

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