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Melbourne Cup Field Taking Shape as Final Places Go Down to the Wire

With final acceptances for the 166th edition of Australia’s most famous race fast approaching, the makeup of the 2026 Melbourne Cup field is becoming clearer, but there is still plenty of intrigue around the horses sitting on the cusp of securing a coveted start in the ‘race that stops a nation’.

The latest Melbourne Cup 2026 order of entry has received a significant shake-up in recent days thanks to Bendigo Cup results, veterinary rulings, and several key withdrawals, leaving punters closely monitoring which runners are safely in the field and which are still relying on late changes to gain a start.

For now, So You Are occupies the all-important final spot inside the top 24 after earning a 1kg penalty for his Bendigo Cup victory, while a number of fringe contenders remain in limbo ahead of final acceptances.

So You Are Claims Final Guaranteed Spot

Few horses have done more to earn their place in this year’s race than So You Are.

The Bjorn Baker-trained son of So You Think has pieced together a remarkable staying campaign, winning four consecutive races including the Group 3 Bendigo Cup to thrust himself into the likely Melbourne Cup 2026 field.

The handicapper’s decision to issue a 1kg penalty elevated the gelding into the final guaranteed position in the order of entry, ensuring he now controls his own destiny heading towards Tuesday’s two-mile feature.

Regular rider Rachel King is expected to maintain the partnership after guiding the horse through his winning streak.

“Yesterday’s win, based on weights and the quality of opposition, was the best of So You Are’s recent victories, carrying 58.5kg and proving too strong for all rivals,” chief handicapper David Hegan said on Thursday.

“He is a difficult horse to assess, having been extremely well placed recently while not winning by extensive margins.

“However, based on his overall profile and handicap performance ratings that are benchmarked internationally, a 1kg penalty to 54kg is the appropriate re-assessment against his potential competitors on Tuesday when considering the raised weight scale in this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup.”

So You Are is currently listed at $26 in the latest all-in Melbourne Cup 2026 odds at Ladbrokes.

Future History Faces Nervous Wait

The biggest storyline outside the top 24 centres on Future History who remains among the leading horses still requiring further movement to secure a Melbourne Cup berth.

Connections of Future History received a boost with reports that reigning Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jamie Melham has committed to the Greg Hickman-trained veteran should he gain a start.

The Euphrates currently sits nearest the cut-off and would be the first runner promoted should another horse come out before final acceptances, but it has been confirmed that connections of the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained import will not press onto the Melbourne Cup following his two disappointing 10th place efforts in the Geelong Cup and Bendigo Cup.

As always during Cup week, veterinary assessments, withdrawals, and stable decisions could dramatically alter the final field right up until declarations are completed.

Future History is paying $201 at Ladbrokes to make the field and win in what would be one of Melbourne Cup history’s biggest upsets.

Latest Melbourne Cup 2026 Order of Entry

The current order of entry for the horses inside the projected field stands as follows:

• 1 – DEFIANTLY (56.5kg) – Joseph O’Brien
• 1 – JUJA KIBO (55kg) – Ciaron Maher
• 1 – POINT OF LAW (53kg) – Ciaron Maher
• 1 – MR MONACO (52.5kg) – Ciaron Maher
• 1 – ZAKOUMA (52kg) – Grahame Begg
• 1 – SHOCKLETZ (51kg) – Ciaron Mahe
• 7 – SONS AND LOVERS (57.5kg) – Joseph O’Brien
• 8 – STINGER GLASS (57kg) – Yasuo Tomomichi
• 9 – TRUSTYOURINSTINCT (57kg) – Joseph O’Brien
• 10 – GOODIE TWO SHOES (55kg) – Joseph O’Brien
• 11 – MIDDLE EARTH (56.5kg) – Ciaron Maher
• 12 – JAMES J BRADDOCK (53.5kg) – Joseph O’Brien
• 13 – VAUBAN (56.5kg) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
• 14 – KNIGHT’S CHOICE (56.5kg) – John Symons & Sheila Laxon
• 15 – STRICTLY BUSINESS (53kg) – Thomas Carberry
• 16 – ROYAL SUPREMACY (56kg) – Ciaron Maher
• 17 – ENFJAAR (56kg) – Roger Varian
• 18 – WINE DARK SEA (56kg) – Harry Charlton
• 19 – ASTERIX (55kg) – Chris Waller
• 20 – SOUL OF SPAIN (54.5kg) – Chris Waller
• 21 – ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (54.5kg) – Tim Fitzsimmons
• 22 – ZAHRANN (54.5kg) – Ciaron Maher
• 23 – HOPEWELL ROCK (54.5kg) – George Boughey
• 24 – SO YOU ARE (54kg) – Bjorn Baker
• 25 – THE EUPHRATES (54kg) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
• 26 – FUTURE HISTORY (53.5kg) – Greg Hickman
• 27 – KIZLYAR (53.5kg) – Joseph O’Brien
• 28 – PINHOLE (53kg) – Chris Waller
• 29 – VALIANT KING (52.5kg) – Chris Waller
• 30 – TORRANZINO (52.5kg) – Paul Preusker
• 31 – KING PEDRO (52kg) – John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
• 32 – LITZDEEL (51kg) – Danny O’Brien
• 33 – SMALL FRY (51.5kg) – Joseph O’Brien
• 34 – OMNI MAN (51kg) – Joseph O’Brien
• 35 – KINGS VALLEY (51kg) – Ciaron Maher
• 36 – MANZOR BLUE (51kg) – Lisa Latta
• 37 – JENNIVAMOOSE (51kg) – Ciaron Maher
• 38 – SOULCOMBE (55kg) – Chris Waller

Note: Melbourne Cup 2026 order of entry correct as of Thursday, October 29

Horses Currently Outside the 24-Horse Melbourne Cup Field

The runners still chasing a start include:

• The Euphrates (25th)
• Future History (26th)
• Kizlyar (27th)
• Pinhole (28th)
• Valiant King (29th)
• Torranzino (30th)
• King Pedro (31st)
• Litzdeel (32nd)
• Small Fry (33rd)
• Omni Man (34th)
• Kings Valley (35th)
• Manzor Blue (36th)
• Jennivamoose (37th)
• Soulcombe (38th)

Of those, Future History appears the to have the most realistic hopes of sneaking into the final field.

Predicted Melbourne Cup 2026 Field*

*The confirmed Melbourne Cup 2026 field will only be known following the official final acceptances which close at 4:30pm (AEDT) on Saturday.

With final acceptances still to come, punters should continue keeping a close eye on the latest order of entry as the race for the final spots remains very much alive. While the majority of the confirmed Melbourne Cup horses now appear set, just one more withdrawal could dramatically alter the complexion of the starting line-up and hand a lifeline to those waiting in the wings.