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He was unplaced last year but can Chris Waller‘s in-form galloper Buckaroo flip the script and continue his purple patch this spring with a 2025 Melbourne Cup win?

After a ninth-place effort as the beaten favourite12 months ago, Waller’s now seven-year-old son of Fastnet Rock returns looking to atone in the 165th edition of the Group 1 $10 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) this week.

Joao Moreira partnered him last year with the ‘Magic Man’ launching a wide run from barrier 20, briefly looming as a danger before fading in the closing stages.

He has been in stellar form all spring coming into Tuesday’s two-mile classic on the back of a quartet of Top 4 runs in Group 1 company including his heart-stoppingly close second when beaten a nose by the queen Via Sistina in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate.

The question however remains whether he can extend that brilliance over 3200m now rising sharply in trip after the 2040m WFA feature at The Valley.

Aiding his cause is the booking of Craig Williams and the long-term preparation by ace horseman Waller who has aligned Buckaroo’s lead-up with the ‘Cups King’ Bart Cummings’ famed formula for Melbourne Cup success — the kind of conditioning and groundwork the 12-time winner believed was essential to peak on the big day.

“What he has done is a lot of mileage,” Waller told Racenet last week.

“If you go back to Bart Cummings’ theory, he’s run the distance to run in a Melbourne Cup.

“I believe a horse has got muscle memory.

“He ran over two miles in the Melbourne Cup last year and I think that has some help towards his performances.

“He was prepared to run 2400m in the Caulfield Cup but instead ran in the Cox Plate, but he’s had a pretty good foundation.”

The bookies are also taking no chances with Buckaroo currently at single-figure Melbourne Cup odds of $9 through Ladbrokes.com.au.

So, will he get the distance and carrying 57kg to victory?

Read on for the arguments for and against Buckaroo being crowned the 2025 Melbourne Cup winner!

2025 Melbourne Cup Horse Form: No. 2 Buckaroo

• Breeding: by FASTNET ROCK from ROHERYN (IRE)
• Age/Gender: 7YO Gelding
• Trainer: Chris Waller
• Jockey: Craig Williams
• Weight: 57kg
• Barrier: 12
• Owners: Mr A Kheir, Qatar Bloodstock Ltd, Mr J A O’Neill, YES Bloodstock, Carty Racing, A K Racing, Mr B D Nettlefold, Mr T R Maddern, Bromfield Park Pty Ltd
• Career Summary: 30-5:6:5    
• Prizemoney: $3,446,148    
• Min/Max-Dist-Win: 1600/1800     
• Firm: 0:0-0-0     Good: 19:3-4-3     Soft: 9:1-2-2     Heavy: 2:1-0-0    Synthetic: 0:0-0-0
• Previous Melbourne Cup Performances: 9th in 2024
• Last Start: 2nd in the Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at The Valley on October 25, beaten 0.1 lengths by Via Sistina carrying 59kg

Positives in His Corner

• Cox Plate Form: His near-miss in the Cox Plate was a massive lead-up effort, showing he’s in peak condition and capable of mixing it with the best at weight-for-age level.
• Elite Training & Riding Combo: Chris Waller knows how to prepare a stayer for Cup day, and Craig Williams — who won aboard Vow And Declare in 2019 — brings tactical nous and big-race experience.
• Track Versatility: Rain or shine, Buckaroo handles all surfaces, which is a major asset given the unpredictable Flemington forecast.
• Reliable Profile: He’s been ultra-consistent this prep and brings genuine class to the race, with form that stacks up across multiple distances and conditions.

Concerns to Consider

• Distance Doubts: He finished 9th in last year’s Cup and didn’t look like he was crying out for 3200m. That effort came with less weight, so the step up to 57kg this time adds another layer of difficulty.
• Weight Allocation: He’s not well in at the weights compared to some of the lighter-framed internationals and emerging stayers, which could blunt his finishing punch late.

Final Call

Buckaroo is a genuine top-tier galloper with strong lead-up form and a proven team behind him. But the two-mile test remains a question mark, especially under 57kg. If he settles well and gets a soft run, he’s capable of grinding into the finish — but whether he can outstay the lighter-weight threats is the big unknown.

Verdict: Top 6 contender — solid Each Way play, but more likely to place than win

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