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The all-in 2025 Melbourne Cup price on Valiant King to take out the 165th edition of the ‘race that stops a nation’ has been slashed after his powerhouse win in the Group 3 $350,000 The Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington.
Now exempt from ballot for the Group 1 $10 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) back at headquarters on Tuesday November 4, the underrated Chris Waller trained stayer showed off his credentials for a crack at the two-mile classic when putting his rivals to bed by nearly three lengths on Turnbull Stakes Day.
Ridden by Melbourne Cup winning jockey Jye McNeil, who rode Twilight Payment to victory in the world’s richest handicap back in 2020, Valiant King was emphatic second-up improving sharply after crossing dead last in his lead-up run when 18th behind Estadio Mestalla at Rosehill on August 30 over an unsuitably short 1500m distance.
“Fitness was our biggest concern which is why he held a nomination in the Turnbull as well as this,” Waller’s stable rep Charlie Duckworth explained.
“He was much better suited to this in terms of grade and also distance.
“We were really unlucky to miss the Sydney Cup in the autumn when he had a minor foot issue leading into it and we just thought he was primed and ready to go, but hey, it will be much better to win a Melbourne Cup than a Sydney Cup!”
Up in trip the Roaring Lion six-year-old came from well back to charge home over the final 300m flying past the front runners like it was nothing to bolt home by an official margin of 2.75 lengths as a forgotten 60/1 outsider.
Adding even more value to the quinella was the brave second of $71 roughie Torranzino, while Gilded Water ran third as the beaten favourite having sat in front a long way out from the line before being run down.
“He looked like being a tough horse to run down, but from the 300 (metres) I think everyone knew it was all over red rover,” Duckworth said.
“He’s a good horse and he’s got some great owners. He was bought for this reason and hopefully they had a fill up on the punt too.”
McNeil is now hoping he gets to stick with Valiant King, who is currently allocated 51kg in the Melbourne Cup weights as one of 14 first acceptors for Waller, for a crack at winning his second ‘Loving Trophy’.
“Let’s hope so,” he said.
“He’ll run well anyway. I won that race once before, you never know. I’m absolutely rapt.”
Almandin (2016) was the last galloper to complete The Bart Cummings – Melbourne Cup double.
The price on Valiant King, who looks every bit like he’ll eat up the 3200m, has been tightened dramatically at Ladbrokes from $101 to $26.
The Bart Cummings 2025 Results
| 14. Valiant King (13) J: Jye McNeil 55kg 693x0 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 10. Torranzino (7) J: Celine Gaudray 56.5kg 2x808 T: Paul Preusker | ||
| 15. Gilded Water (12) J: Jamie Melham 54kg 12x31 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 1. Berkeley Square (16) J: Luke Nolen 59kg 08466 T: Dan O'Sullivan | ||
| 16. Fernao (8) J: Luke Currie 54kg 13x77 T: Annabel & Rob Archibald | ||
| 6. Berkshire Breeze (11) J: Mark Zahra 57kg 48x62 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 2. Revelare (4) J: Declan Bates 59kg 1x711 T: Robert Hickmott | ||
| 11. Grand Pierro (1) J: Zac Spain 56kg 3x083 T: Jason Warren | ||
| 17. Bur Dubai (14) J: Beau Mertens 54kg 1x727 T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | ||
| 7. Interpretation (2) J: Damian Lane 57kg 63x07 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 13. Trav (5) J: Masahiro Hashizume 55.5kg 17x44 T: Raymond Connors | ||
| 9. Sayedaty Sadaty (10) J: Ben Melham 57kg 31133 T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 4. Mark Twain (9) J: Jamie Mott 58kg 1x860 T: Roger James & Robert Wellwood | ||
| 12. Mormona (3) J: Michael Dee 56kg 62132 T: Annabel & Rob Archibald | ||
| 3. Asterix (6) J: James McDonald 58kg 50x00 T: Chris Waller | ||
| 5. Mister Wolfgang (15) J: Daniel Stackhouse 57.5kg 81x00 T: Peter & Shaun McKay |
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