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It’s nearly Cup Day, Australia — time to dress up, get punting, and soak in the greatest two miles in sport at Flemington on Tuesday!
The final 24-horse field for this year’s Group 1 $10 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) is locked in with a class line-up of local and international stayers ready to fight it out at HQ in the 165th edition of the great race including Half Yours jumping from barrier 8.
2025 Melbourne Cup Field: Quick Glance
- 24 final acceptors
- 10 internationals
- Joesph O’Brien trained Al Riffa 59kg top weight
- Mark Zahra will chase his third win in four years aboard Al Riffa
- Parchment Party first ever American trained Melbourne Cup runner
- Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours allocated 53kg
- 5 for trainer Chris Waller
2025 Melbourne Cup Favourites
- Fiorente ($7 in 2013) was the last Melbourne Cup favourite to win.
Half Yours (Tony & Calvin McEvoy) – Jamie Melham (53kg)
Jamie Melham will stick with Half Yours as the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained stayer looks to etch his name into the history books as just the 13th horse to complete the coveted Spring Cups double.
He drew ideally in gate eight, which last produced a Melbourne Cup winner with Viewed in 2008.
The pair combined for a memorable Caulfield Cup triumph, with Melham making headlines as the first female jockey to win the 2400m classic. Half Yours produced a powerful late surge to claim the Group 1 and now steps up to the two-mile test at Flemington with a 2kg penalty, rising from 51kg to 53kg for the Melbourne Cup.
Despite the extra weight, the stable is confident he’s right on track, declaring it’s “all systems go” for Tuesday’s feature. With Melham’s historic momentum and a proven stayer under her, the Cups double dream is well and truly alive.
Valiant King (Chris Waller) – Jye McNeil (51kg)
Jye McNeil will reunite with Valiant King in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup, continuing his successful partnership with the Chris Waller-trained stayer. The pair combined for a dominant win in the Group 3 Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, where McNeil timed his run to perfection, launching from the back to score by 2¾ lengths and secure a ballot exemption for the Cup.
The five-year-old grey by Roaring Lion has been building nicely this prep and backed up his Bart Cummings win with a strong third in the Caulfield Cup — the ideal lead-in to the two-mile test. McNeil, who famously claimed the 2020 Melbourne Cup aboard Twilight Payment, brings proven staying race credentials and a cool tactical hand that suits Valiant King’s late-finishing style.
Valiant King will carry just 51kg from barrier 10.
Al Riffa (Joesph O’Brien) – Mark Zahra (59kg)
Mark Zahra will chase a third Melbourne Cup crown in four years when he partners Irish star Al Riffa, the 59kg topweight for Tuesday’s feature. Zahra, who famously went back-to-back aboard Gold Trip (2022) and Without A Fight (2023), now links up with one of the leading fancies in the 2025 edition.
Zahra had a blinder on Derby Day riding four straight winners including back-to-back Group 1 champions in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and VRC Derby.
Al Riffa suffered an early blow drawing barrier 19, however Cross Counter in won from that alley 2018 for the internationals.
Buckaroo (Chris Waller) – Craig Williams (57kg)
Craig Williams has been locked in to ride Buckaroo, continuing his association with the Waller trained stayer who’s hit peak form at the right time.
Buckaroo surged into Cup calculations with a brave runner-up finish behind Via Sistina in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, prompting part-owner Ozzie Kheir to green-light a tilt at the famous two-mile test. His spring prep has been rock-solid, with placings in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (2nd) and Might And Power (3rd) confirming his consistency at the top level.
Williams, who won the Cup aboard Vow And Declare in 2019, will guide Buckaroo at 57kg from barrier 12.
Internationals in the Melbourne Cup 2025 Field (Outside Australia / New Zealand)
- Twilight Payment (2020) was the last international Melbourne Cup winner.
- Al Riffa (Joesph O’Brien)
- Onesmoothoperator (Brian Ellison)
- Parchment Party (William Mott)
- Chevalier Rose (Hisashi Shimizu)
- Presage Nocturne (Alessandro Botti)
- Furthur (Andrew Balding)
- Meydaan (Simon & Ed Crisford)
- Absurde (Willie Mullins)
- Flatten The Curve (Henk Grewe)
- Goodie Two Shoes (Joseph O’Brien)
There are 10 international raiders from outside the southern hemisphere looking to claim their place in the Melbourne Cup history books.
Joesph O’Brien from Ireland, who is already a two-time Melbourne Cup winning trainer thanks to his previous victories with Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020) who was the last international champion of the event, saddles-up two chances vying for his third Loving Trophy.
One-time favourite Al Riffa, a dominant four-length winner of the Group 1 Irish St Leger with 61.5kg at his latest, will carry the 59kg Melbourne Cup topweight.
His stablemate, seven-year-old Fastnet Rock mare Goodie Two Shoes, is also in the mix and has proven winning form overseas up to 3419m making Tuesday’s two-mile distance ideal.
Both of O’Brien’s runners drew wide with gates 19 and 20 respectively.
The Brian Ellison trained Onesmoothoperator from the UK earned his spot in the field via an impressive Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup victory.
He was one of the big winners in the Melbourne Cup barrier draw coming up with gate six.
Twelfth to Knight’s Choice in last year’s race, he will carry 53kg this year after getting a one kilo penalty for his lead-up win at The Valley.
History is against him however as no horse has completed the Moonee Valley Gold Cup – Melbourne Cup double in the same year since the mighty Kingston Rule (1990).
Harry Coffey takes the ride.
William Mott will make history on Tuesday when he runs the first ever American trained Melbourne Cup starter – Parchment Party.
The five-year-old entire earned a ballot free ride into the field via a win in the Belmont Gold Cup back in June and will be partnered by American Hall of Fame jockey Johnny Velazquez from barrier 3.
Delta Blues (2006) is the sole Japanese trained Melbourne Cup winner to date and Chevalier Rose is the sole chance from Japan looking to be the next nearly 20 years on.
Damian Lane is set to partner Hisashi Shimizu’s raider in the Cup field from barrier 5 with the veteran Deep Impact eight-year-old a proven Group 2 winner up to 3600m.
French raider Presage Nocturne meanwhile runs for trainer Alessandro Botti and is being kept safe in Melbourne Cup betting at Ladbrokes.com.au after a sensational Australian debut and favourable gate nine draw.
Stephane Pasquier will stay aboard Presage Nocturne for Tuesday’s feature race, continuing his partnership with the proven stayer following a solid Caulfield Cup performance. The grey, a son of Wootton Bassett, ran a credible fourth in the 2400m feature and has earned praise from connections for his steady progression this spring.
With a strong European staying record behind him, Presage Nocturne now steps up to the ultimate test over 3200m at Flemington. Pasquier, a seasoned international rider, has been with the horse throughout his Australian campaign and will be looking to build on their Caulfield effort with a bold showing in the Cup.
Michael Dee has been booked to ride Furthur (barrier 7) in the Melbourne Cup, teaming up with British trainer Andrew Balding’s promising grey stayer. A Group 3 winner in Europe, the four-year-old arrives with solid staying credentials and a profile that suggests he’ll relish the 3200m test at Flemington. Dee, already a Caulfield Cup and Victoria Derby winner, adds proven big-race experience and tactical smarts to the international partnership.
Fresh off his fourth straight Cox Plate victory, leading rider James McDonald rides UK raider Meydaan from wide out in gate 22 in the Melbourne Cup, taking over from Andrea Atzeni who partnered the five-year-old Frankel gelding to a luckless ninth in the Caulfield Cup after being caught three-wide from barrier five.
While McDonald missed Derby Day to ride Autumn Glow in the $10 million Golden Eagle, he returns to Flemington for Cup week and now takes the reins on the international contender.
Triple Melbourne Cup winning hoop Kerrin McEvoy will reunite with Absurde partnering the Willie Mullins-trained Irish stayer from barrier 4 who finished seventh in 2023 and fifth in 2024.
McEvoy was impressed with Absurde’s sharpness and maturity during trackwork at Werribee.
The gelding arrives in solid form, having placed third in the Irish St Leger before a credible seventh in the Caulfield Cup.
Flatten The Curve will be partnered by Thore Hammer-Hansen with the Danish-born jockey continuing his rise in Australia aboard the German-trained stayer.
Prepared by Henk Grewe, the grey has proven staying credentials in Europe, including back-to-back wins over two miles or more — highlighted by a dominant 5.5-length victory over 3319m carrying 57kg in August.
Waller’s 2025 Melbourne Cup Contenders
- Chris Waller won the 2021 Melbourne Cup with Verry Elleegant.
Chris Waller, who won in 2021 with the ill-fated Verry Elleegant, brings a powerful five-horse squad to Flemington for this year’s Melbourne Cup field, each with a unique form profile and genuine claims.
- Valiant King (51kg) – The Bart Cummings winner with a strong late finish and a proven Flemington record. Light weight and Jye McNeil aboard make him a serious player.
- Buckaroo (57kg) – Cox Plate runner-up with top-level form all spring. Craig Williams takes the reins, and he’s peaking at the right time.
- Land Legend (53.5kg) – European import with staying credentials and upside. Quietly building into his prep and could surprise at odds. The ‘Magic Man’ – Joao Moreira – is booked for the ride.
- River Of Stars (51.5kg) – Lightly weighted mare with solid European form. Brings X-factor to the field after her shock Caulfield Cup second at 90/1 and could be the blowout in exotics. Beau Mertens will ride.
- More Felons (53kg) – Tommy Berry sticks with More Felons, the Waller-trained import who’s built solid staying form this prep with fourths in both The Metrop and St Leger.
Melbourne Cup Winning Jockeys Riding in 2025
- Mark Zahra (Al Riffa)
- James McDonald (Meydaan)
- Craig Williams (Buckaroo)
- Kerrin McEvoy (Absurde)
- Blake Shinn (Vauban)
- Jye McNeil (Valiant King)
Female Jockeys With a 2025 Melbourne Cup Ride
- Jamie Kah (Hal f Yours)
- Rachel King (Arapaho)
- Celine Gaudray (Torranzino)
Michelle Payne on 100/1 outsider Prince Of Penzance in 2015 is the only Melbourne Cup winning female rider to date but there will be a record three female jockeys in the event this year including Celine Gaudray who makes her Melbourne Cup debut aboard Torranzino after the duo combined to claim a golden ticket entry into the ‘race that stops a nation’ via a Ladbrokes Geelong Cup upset on October 23.
2025 Melbourne Cup Field: Trainers with The Most Runners
- Chris Waller (5) – (Valiant King, Buckaroo, Land Legend, River Of Stars, More Felons)
- Ciaron Maher (3) – (Middle Earth, Smokin’ Romans, Royal Supremacy)
- Joesph O’Brien (2) – (Al Riffa, Goodie Two Shoes)
2024 Melbourne Cup Contenders Back in 2025
- Absurde (5th)
- Land Legend (8th)
- Buckaroo (9th)
- Vauban (11th)
- Onesmoothoperator (12th)
- Valiant King (13th)
2025 Melbourne Cup Mares
- River Of Stars (Chris Waller)
- Goodie Two Shoes (Joesph O’Brien)
Verry Elleegant in 2021, who tragically passed away in foal last year, became the first Melbourne Cup winning mare since the Makybe Diva three-peat (2003-05).
The 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup is set to run as Flemington Race 7 at 3:00pm (AEDT) on Tuesday’s bumper 10-race card.
| No | Last 10 | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Probable Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 210x3x4211 | AL RIFFA (FR) | Joseph O’Brien | Mark Zahra | 19 | 59kg | .5 | ||
| 2 | 9x970x3232 | BUCKAROO (GB) | Chris Waller | Craig Williams | 12 | 57kg | 2.5 | ||
| 3 | 5241×36408 | ARAPAHO (FR) | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 15 | 56.5kg | 3 | ||
| 4 | 0x130x3650 | VAUBAN (FR) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Blake Shinn | 2 | 56.5kg | 3 | ||
| 5 | x11x070x0x | CHEVALIER ROSE (JPN) | Hisashi Shimizu | Damian Lane | 5 | 55.5kg | 4 | ||
| 6 | 71x4x13x34 | PRESAGE NOCTURNE (IRE) | Alessandro Botti | Stephane Pasquier | 9 | 55.5kg | 4 | ||
| 7 | x159x50903 | MIDDLE EARTH (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 13 | 54.5kg | 5 | ||
| 8 | 47×5205239 | MEYDAAN (IRE) | Simon & Ed Crisford | James McDonald | 22 | 54kg | 5.5 | ||
| 9 | 5x3132x3x7 | ABSURDE (FR) | Willie Mullins | Kerrin McEvoy | 4 | 53.5kg | 6 | ||
| 10 | 011x11411x | FLATTEN THE CURVE (FR) | Henk Grewe | Thore Hammer Hansen | 17 | 53.5kg | 6 | ||
| 11 | x768x39500 | LAND LEGEND (FR) | Chris Waller | Joao Moreira | 16 | 53.5kg | 6 | ||
| 12 | 0310×72948 | SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Ben Melham | 11 | 53.5kg | 54kg | 6 | |
| 13 | x742x82106 | CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) | Kris Lees | Tim Clark | 24 | 53kg | 6.5 | ||
| 14 | x211215141 | HALF YOURS | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Ms Jamie Melham | 8 | 53kg | 2.0kg | 6.5 | |
| 15 | 50x12x0944 | MORE FELONS (IRE) | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 23 | 53kg | 6.5 | ||
| 16 | 5735x840x1 | ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA) | Brian Ellison | Harry Coffey | 6 | 53kg | 1.0kg | 6.5 | |
| 17 | 72×152516 | FURTHUR (IRE) | Andrew Balding | Michael Dee | 7 | 52kg | 4.5 | ||
| 18 | 5x59231x1x | PARCHMENT PARTY (USA) | William Mott | John Velazquez | 3 | 52kg | 7.5 | ||
| 19 | 82959×0002 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Declan Bates | 1 | 51.5kg | 8 | ||
| 20 | 57x331113x | GOODIE TWO SHOES (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | Wayne Lordan | 20 | 51.5kg | 6.5 | ||
| 21 | 42x73x7802 | RIVER OF STARS (IRE) | Chris Waller | Beau Mertens | 14 | 51.5kg | 6.5 | ||
| 22 | 32×0011215 | ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Robbie Dolan | 21 | 51kg | 9 | ||
| 23 | 4212×80821 | TORRANZINO (NZ) | Paul Preusker | Ms Celine Gaudray | 18 | 51kg | 8.5 | ||
| 24 | 0x0693x013 | VALIANT KING (GB) | Chris Waller | Jye McNeil | 10 | 51kg | 9.5 |
Lexus Melbourne Cup 2025 Results
|
1st
14. Half Yours (8)
J: Jamie Melham 53kg
T: Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
||
|
2nd
20. Goodie Two Shoes (20)
J: W M Lordan 51.5kg
T: Joseph O'Brien |
||
|
3rd
7. Middle Earth (13)
J: Ethan Brown 54.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
4th
21. River Of Stars (14)
J: Beau Mertens 51.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
5th
23. Torranzino (18)
J: Celine Gaudray 51kg
T: Paul Preusker |
||
|
6th
4. Vauban (2)
J: Blake Shinn 56.5kg
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
||
|
7th
1. Al Riffa (19)
J: Mark Zahra 59kg
T: Joseph O'Brien |
||
|
8th
9. Absurde (4)
J: Kerrin McEvoy 53.5kg
T: Willie Mullins |
||
|
9th
13. Changingoftheguard (24)
J: Tim Clark 53kg
T: Kris Lees |
||
|
10th
8. Meydaan (22)
J: James McDonald 54kg
T: Simon & Ed Crisford |
||
|
11th
17. Furthur (7)
J: Michael Dee 52kg
T: Andrew Balding |
||
|
12th
3. Arapaho (15)
J: Rachel King 56.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
||
|
13th
10. Flatten The Curve (17)
J: Thore Hammer-Hansen 53.5kg
T: Henk Grewe |
||
|
14th
12. Smokin' Romans (11)
J: Ben Melham 53.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
15th
22. Royal Supremacy (21)
J: Robbie Dolan 51kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
16th
24. Valiant King (10)
J: Jye McNeil 51kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
18th
15. More Felons (23)
J: Tommy Berry 53kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
19th
6. Presage Nocturne (9)
J: Stephane Pasquier 55.5kg
T: Alessandro Botti |
||
|
20th
18. Parchment Party (3)
J: John R Velazquez 52kg
T: William I Mott |
||
|
21st
19. Athabascan (1)
J: Declan Bates 51.5kg
T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton |
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