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The countdown to the 166th running of the Group 1 $10.2 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) has taken another major step forward, with 39 horses officially remaining in contention following Monday morning’s third acceptances.
With just five days until Australia’s greatest race is run at Flemington on Tuesday, November 3, the shape of the Melbourne Cup 2026 field is becoming increasingly clear as several notable contenders fell by the wayside at the latest declaration stage.
One of the biggest developments was the official withdrawal of Chris Waller’s star mare Aeliana, while fellow Group 1-winning stablemate Birdman was also among those not paid up for third acceptances after the duo ran third and second respectively in last Saturday’s Cox Plate behind Cosmic Crusader.
Melbourne Cup 2026 Third Acceptances: At A Glance
- 39 horses remain in contention
- 15 runners withdrawn at third acceptance stage
- Aeliana officially out of Melbourne Cup calculations
- Birdman also withdrawn
- James McDonald confirmed for Joseph O’Brien’s Trustyourinstinct
- Joseph O’Brien retains five international raiders
- Ciaron Maher continues to boast the strongest local team
- Geelong Cup winner Point Of Law remains market leader at $7 through Ladbrokes
Waller Pair Headline Withdrawals
The biggest news from Monday’s third declarations was the absence of Aeliana, whose Melbourne Cup campaign has been in doubt since her brave third-place finish in Saturday’s historic Cox Plate at Flemington.
Trainer Chris Waller all but ruled out a Melbourne Cup start when speaking on The Big Sports Breakfast on Monday morning.
Waller indicated it was “very unlikely” Aeliana would contest the two-mile feature and suggested the mare was more likely to be aimed at the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Aeliana’s withdrawal subsequently allowed champion jockey James McDonald to commit to Joseph O’Brien’s Irish raider Trustyourinstinct.
Fellow Waller-trained Group 1 winner Birdman was another notable omission from third acceptances, with the Hall of Fame trainer leaning towards a spell for the talented galloper, although a Champions Stakes appearance remains under consideration.
As expected, the reigning Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours was also not among the official Melbourne Cup third declarations after the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained champ was sent to the paddock following his fall in the Caulfield Cup.
Horses Eliminated at Third Acceptances
A total of 15 horses failed to progress to the next stage of Melbourne Cup declarations.
Melbourne Cup 2026 Third Acceptance Withdrawals
| Withdrawn Horses |
|---|
| Aeliana |
| Aethelwulf |
| Athabascan |
| Bella Montagna |
| Birdman |
| Deakin |
| Klondike |
| Land Legend |
| Newlook |
| Piggyback |
| Sam Hawkens |
| Sapphire Siren |
| Starford |
| Thebudgiesmugla |
| Wootton Verni |
The withdrawal of Land Legend was particularly notable after the Ciaron Maher-trained stayer caused a massive upset in this spring’s Group 1 Might And Power Stakes.
James McDonald Commits to Trustyourinstinct
One of the key jockey announcements flowing from Monday’s declarations was confirmation that James McDonald will partner Trustyourinstinct on Cup Day.
McDonald had been closely linked to Aeliana, riding the mare into third place in the Cox Plate, but her withdrawal has opened the door for the champion hoop to reunite with the Joseph O’Brien-trained Irish stayer.
The son of Churchill has been building an impressive staying profile in Europe, highlighted by victory in the Group 2 Curragh Cup, while his latest effort produced a fourth-place finish in the Group 1 Irish St Leger behind Scandinavia.
A Melbourne Cup victory would provide McDonald with a second success in the race following his dominant 2021 triumph aboard Chris Waller’s champion mare Verry Elleegant.
Trustyourinstinct is currently on the second line of futures Melbourne Cup betting at $9 through Ladbrokes.
Joseph O’Brien Launches Five-Pronged Attack
Two-time Melbourne Cup-winning Irish horseman Joseph O’Brien remains strongly represented and now appears set to launch one of his most serious assaults on Australia’s greatest race.
The master trainer retains five live chances among the third acceptors:
| Horse (Confirmed Jockey) | Age |
|---|---|
| Defiantly (Dylan Browne McMonagle) | 5 |
| Goodie Two Shoes (Wayne Lordan) | 8 |
| James J Braddock (Craig Williams) | 4 |
| Kizlyar (TBC) | 5 |
| Trustyourinstinct (James McDoanld) | 7 |
| Sons And Lovers (Ryan Moore) | 6 |
| Small Fry (TBC) | 6 |
| Omni Man (TBC) | 5 |
Leading the charge is Melbourne Cup favourite Defiantly, while proven internationals Trustyourinstinct, James J Braddock, and Kizlyar continue to hold strong positions in both the market and order of entry.
Should one of O’Brien’s raiders prevail next Tuesday, it would hand the Irish trainer a third Melbourne Cup trophy and further cement his remarkable record in Australia’s most famous race.
Maher Continues to Hold the Strongest Hand
Victorian powerhouse Ciaron Maher remains a dominant force despite the withdrawal of Land Legend.
Among Maher’s leading third acceptors are:
- Point Of Law (Geelong Cup winner and current Melbourne Cup favourite)
- Middle Earth
- Saint George
- Shockletz
- Royal Supremacy
- Mr Monaco
- Kings Valley
- Jennivamoose
- Zahrann
Maher’s squad provides serious depth and gives the leading trainer multiple avenues into Melbourne Cup glory.
Particularly impressive has been Point Of Law, who enhanced his Cup credentials with victory in the Geelong Cup and currently heads all-in Melbourne Cup betting markets at $7 through Ladbrokes.
International Challenge Remains Strong
International hopes continue to feature prominently among the remaining third acceptors.
Japanese hope Stinger Glass remains among the more intriguing chances, while British visitor Wine Dark Sea continues to attract attention after a strong spring preparation.
Five Days Until ‘The Race That Stops a Nation’
With third acceptances now complete, attention turns to the final week before the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup, where the barrier draw, jockey confirmations and final field calculations will dominate headlines.
The withdrawal of two high-profile Waller runners has reshaped the market, James McDonald has locked in his ride on Trustyourinstinct, and Joseph O’Brien’s powerful Irish contingent remains firmly in the hunt.
With local stars, international raiders, proven stayers and emerging spring stars still in contention, all the ingredients are in place for another captivating edition of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday, November 3.
Melbourne Cup 2026 Odds
| 1. Point Of Law | ||
| 2. Trustyourinstinct | ||
| 3. Defiantly | ||
| 4. James J Braddock | ||
| 5. Saint George | ||
| 6. Shockletz | ||
| 7. Juja Kibo | ||
| 8. Enfjaar | ||
| 9. Hopewell Rock | ||
| 10. Stinger Glass | ||
| 11. Middle Earth | ||
| 12. Goodie Two Shoes | ||
| 13. Mr Monaco | ||
| 14. Sons And Lovers | ||
| 15. Zahrann | ||
| 16. Zakouma | ||
| 17. Kizlyar | ||
| 18. Knight’s Choice | ||
| 19. Pinhole | ||
| 20. So You Are |
2026 Melbourne Cup Third Acceptances
| Order | Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11661×5300 | ASTERIX (NZ) | G | 8 | Chris Waller |
| 2 | 147x04211x | DEFIANTLY (FR) | G | 5 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 3 | x543x381x3 | ENFJAAR (IRE) | G | 7 | Roger Varian |
| 4 | 4x436x3249 | FUTURE HISTORY (GB) | G | 9 | Gregory Hickman |
| 5 | 113x2x8210 | GOODIE TWO SHOES (IRE) | M | 8 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 6 | 3229x3612x | HOPEWELL ROCK (IRE) | G | 5 | George Boughey |
| 7 | 21x5136x6 | JAMES J BRADDOCK (GB) | G | 4 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 8 | 4114×33395 | JENNIVAMOOSE (NZ) | M | 7 | Ciaron Maher |
| 9 | 93339×3211 | JUJA KIBO (IRE) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher |
| 10 | 2x72211x44 | KING PEDRO (NZ) | G | 5 | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton |
| 11 | 191×087952 | KINGS VALLEY (IRE) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher |
| 12 | 93x011x2x0 | KIZLYAR (IRE) | G | 5 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 13 | 6x708x0930 | KNIGHT’S CHOICE | G | 7 | John Symons & Sheila Laxon |
| 14 | 0225×42525 | LITZDEEL | M | 5 | Danny O’Brien |
| 15 | 04612×4640 | MANZOR BLUE (NZ) | M | 6 | Lisa Latta |
| 16 | x891x87898 | MIDDLE EARTH (GB) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher |
| 17 | x5110x4013 | MR MONACO (GB) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher |
| 18 | 63x98543x3 | OMNI MAN (IRE) | G | 5 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 19 | 0x10x9x090 | ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA) | G | 9 | Tim Fitzsimmons |
| 20 | 09412×3117 | PINHOLE (GB) | G | 5 | Chris Waller |
| 21 | 2141×1 | POINT OF LAW (GB) | H | 4 | Ciaron Maher |
| 22 | 0x0331x910 | ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher |
| 23 | 14×4112025 | SAINT GEORGE (GB) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher |
| 24 | 1×34864162 | SHOCKLETZ (NZ) | M | 5 | Ciaron Maher |
| 25 | 99x42621x2 | SMALL FRY (IRE) | G | 6 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 26 | 1743242111 | SO YOU ARE | G | 5 | Bjorn Baker |
| 27 | 13x14451x2 | SONS AND LOVERS (GB) | G | 6 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 28 | 4262×68378 | SOUL OF SPAIN (IRE) | G | 6 | Chris Waller |
| 29 | 14372×0076 | SOULCOMBE (GB) | G | 8 | Chris Waller |
| 30 | x01x2x1x0x | STINGER GLASS (JPN) | H | 6 | Yasuo Tomomichi |
| 31 | 1x5802x000 | STRICTLY BUSINESS | M | 4 | Thomas Carberry |
| 32 | 12417×4130 | THE EUPHRATES (GB) | G | 6 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 33 | 808215×060 | TORRANZINO (NZ) | G | 7 | Paul Preusker |
| 34 | x76x721214 | TRUSTYOURINSTINCT (IRE) | G | 7 | Joseph O’Brien |
| 35 | x8670x0038 | VALIANT KING (GB) | G | 7 | Chris Waller |
| 36 | 6506x133x9 | VAUBAN (FR) | G | 9 | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 37 | 162x1151x0 | WINE DARK SEA (GB) | G | 5 | Harry Charlton |
| 38 | 17x53x4106 | ZAHRANN (IRE) | H | 5 | Ciaron Maher |
| 39 | 11171×6650 | ZAKOUMA | G | 6 | Grahame Begg |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
