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The countdown to the 2026 Melbourne Cup is entering its most exciting phase, with punters, connections and racing fans all asking the same questions: When is the Melbourne Cup 2026 field released? And when is the Melbourne Cup 2026 barrier draw?
With just days remaining until the 166th running of the Group 1 $10.2 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday, November 3, the race is beginning to take shape, but there are still several crucial hurdles to clear before Australia’s famous two-mile handicap is locked in.
Melbourne Cup 2026 Key Dates
- Final Acceptances: Saturday, October 31, 2026 (4:30pm AEDT)
- Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw: Saturday, October 31, 2026
- Melbourne Cup Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Race Time: 3:00pm AEDT
- Venue: Flemington Racecourse
- Field Size: 24 runners
When is the Melbourne Cup 2026 Field Released?
The official Melbourne Cup 2026 field will be declared following final acceptances at 4:30pm (AEDT) on Saturday, October 31, 2026, after racing on Victoria Derby Day at Flemington.
That is the moment the long list of Melbourne Cup hopefuls is officially trimmed down to the 24-horse Melbourne Cup field, with no emergencies.
Between now and Saturday afternoon, the Order of Entry, late withdrawals, veterinary inspections, rider confirmations and any handicap penalties will continue to shape the final line-up.
For punters, Saturday’s final field announcement is one of the most important dates of the carnival, officially confirming which stayers have earned their place in the race that stops a nation.
When is the Melbourne Cup 2026 Barrier Draw?
The Melbourne Cup 2026 barrier draw will also take place on Saturday, October 31, shortly after final acceptances are taken.
Once the final field has been confirmed, the 24 runners will be allocated their barrier positions, determining where each horse jumps from in the famous two-mile event.
The Melbourne Cup barrier draw traditionally generates enormous betting interest, with punters closely analysing which runners have drawn favourably and which stars may face difficult tasks from wide gates.
While barriers are not always decisive over 3200 metres, a suitable draw can provide valuable tactical advantages, particularly for runners that prefer to settle close to the speed or find cover early in the race.
What Does the Current Melbourne Cup 2026 Field Look Like?
While the final field won’t be locked in until Saturday afternoon, a likely line-up is already emerging.
Among the horses expected to feature are:
- Point Of Law (GB)
- Trustyourinstinct (IRE)
- Defiantly (FR)
- Stinger Glass (JPN)
- Middle Earth (GB)
- Juja Kibo (IRE)
- Saint George (GB)
- James J Braddock (IRE)
- Goodie Two Shoes (IRE)
- Mr Monaco (GB)
- Shockletz (NZ)
- Zakouma
- Sons And Lovers (GB)
- Soul Of Spain (IRE)
- Hopewell Rock (IRE)
The likely field is headlined by the powerful stables of Ciaron Maher and Joseph O’Brien, who between them have dominated much of the spring’s staying features.
Likely Melbourne Cup 2026 Field*
| No. | Horse | Weight | Trainer | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sons And Lovers (GB) | 57.5kg | Joseph O’Brien | Ryan Moore |
| 2 | Stinger Glass (JPN) | 57kg | Yasuo Tomomichi | Christophe Lemaire |
| 3 | Trustyourinstinct (IRE) | 57kg | Joseph O’Brien | James McDonald |
| 4 | Defiantly (FR) | 56.5kg | Joseph O’Brien | Dylan Browne McMonagle |
| 5 | Middle Earth (GB) | 56.5kg | Ciaron Maher | Mark Zahra |
| 6 | Vauban (FR) | 56.5kg | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | TBC |
| 7 | Knight’s Choice | 56.5kg | John Symons & Sheila Laxon | Robbie Dolan |
| 8 | Royal Supremacy (IRE) | 56kg | Ciaron Maher | TBC |
| 9 | Enfjaar (IRE) | 56kg | Roger Varian | Ray Dawson (unconfirmed) |
| 10 | Wine Dark Sea (GB) | 56kg | Harry Charlton | TBC |
| 11 | Juja Kibo (IRE) | 55kg | Ciaron Maher | Sam Clipperton |
| 12 | Saint George (GB) | 55kg | Ciaron Maher | Blake Shinn |
| 13 | Asterix (NZ) | 55kg | Chris Waller | TBC |
| 14 | Goodie Two Shoes (IRE) | 55kg | Joseph O’Brien | Wayne Lordan |
| 15 | Soul Of Spain (IRE) | 54.5kg | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry |
| 16 | Onesmoothoperator (USA) | 54.5kg | Tim Fitzsimmons | Declan Bates |
| 17 | Zahrann (IRE) | 54.5kg | Ciaron Maher | Ben Melham |
| 18 | Hopewell Rock (IRE) | 54.5kg | George Boughey | Zac Lloyd |
| 19 | James J Braddock (IRE) | 53.5kg | Joseph O’Brien | Craig Williams |
| 20 | Point Of Law (GB) | 53kg | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown |
| 21 | Strictly Business | 53kg | Thomas Carberry | TBC |
| 22 | Mr Monaco (GB) | 52.5kg | Ciaron Maher | Jabez Johnstone (a) |
| 23 | Zakouma | 52kg | Grahame Begg | William Pike |
| 24 | Shockletz (NZ) | 51kg | Ciaron Maher | Harry Coffey |
*Note: This is a provisional Melbourne Cup 2026 final field based on the current order of entry. Final acceptances, barrier allocations, rider bookings, and any late changes remain subject to official confirmation prior to the race. The numbering shown reflects the current order of entry and should not be confused with the official Melbourne Cup saddlecloth numbers, which will be assigned following final acceptances and the barrier draw.
Latest Melbourne Cup 2026 Field News
- Point Of Law remains Melbourne Cup favourite after winning the Geelong Cup.
- Aeliana and Birdman withdrawn after the Cox Plate.
- James McDonald confirmed for Trustyourinstinct.
- Ciaron Maher and Joseph O’Brien dominate the likely final field.
- So You Are boosts his Cup chances with Bendigo Cup victory.
Point Of Law Remains the Horse to Beat
Following his impressive victory in the Geelong Cup, Point Of Law has assumed favouritism in all-in Melbourne Cup 2026 betting at $7 through Ladbrokes and shapes as one of the most progressive stayers in the race.
The lightly raced son of Frankel secured a ballot-free exemption into the Cup and is currently leading futures Melbourne Cup odds heading into final acceptances.
Ciaron Maher’s stable also boasts a powerful supporting cast including Saint George, Juja Kibo, Middle Earth, Shockletz, Mr Monaco, Royal Supremacy and Zahrann.
Trustyourinstinct Heads International Challenge
The biggest threat among the overseas raiders looks to be Trustyourinstinct, one of several runners from the formidable Joseph O’Brien stable.
The Irish visitor arrives in Australia following strong European staying form, including his Curragh Cup triumph, while champion jockey James McDonald has been confirmed for the ride.
Trustyourinstinct is on the second line of betting at $9 at time of publish.
O’Brien’s other Melbourne Cup 2026 horses include:
- Defiantly
- Sons And Lovers
- Goodie Two Shoes
- James J Braddock
With previous Melbourne Cup victories courtesy of Rekindling and Twilight Payment, the Irish trainer knows exactly what it takes to win Australia’s greatest race.
The Horse Everyone is Talking About: So You Are
The biggest Melbourne Cup story heading into Saturday’s final field announcement belongs to Bjorn Baker’s emerging stayer, So You Are.
The son of So You Think enhanced his Cup claims with a fourth consecutive black-type victory in Wednesday’s Group 3 Bendigo Cup, defeating Berkeley Square and Litzdeel in a convincing staying performance.
The victory was another major step forward, but unlike the Geelong Cup, Bart Cummings, Moonee Valley Gold Cup or Archer Stakes, the Bendigo Cup does not provide a ballot-free exemption into the Melbourne Cup.
That leaves connections anxiously awaiting the handicapper’s decision.
Before the Bendigo Cup, So You Are sat 28th in the Order of Entry, and connections are believed to need around a 1.5kg penalty to elevate him into the likely final field.
If the penalty comes up short, So You Are may also require horses above him to be withdrawn before Saturday’s final declarations.
The horse currently sitting on the bubble is Hopewell Rock, who could be the runner most under threat should So You Are receive the penalty connections are hoping for.
Who Are the Confirmed Melbourne Cup Jockeys?
Many of the sport’s biggest names have already secured rides in the 2026 Melbourne Cup.
Some of the key confirmed jockey bookings include:
- Ryan Moore – Sons And Lovers
- Christophe Lemaire – Stinger Glass
- James McDonald – Trustyourinstinct
- Mark Zahra – Middle Earth
- Craig Williams – James J Braddock
- Blake Shinn – Saint George
- William Pike – Zakouma
- Tommy Berry – Soul Of Spain
- Sam Clipperton – Juja Kibo
- Ethan Brown – Point Of Law
Several mounts remain unconfirmed, adding another layer of intrigue ahead of final declarations.
What Happens Between Now and Melbourne Cup Day?
The final countdown to Melbourne Cup Day 2026 now follows a familiar path:
Saturday, October 31
- Final acceptances close at 4:30pm AEDT
- Official Melbourne Cup field declared
- Melbourne Cup barrier draw conducted
- Remaining jockey bookings confirmed
Sunday & Monday
- Final veterinary clearances
- Trackwork sessions at Flemington
- Market fluctuations and betting moves
Tuesday, November 3
- 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup
- Flemington Racecourse
- 3:00pm AEDT start time
Melbourne Cup 2026 Odds
| 1. Point Of Law | ||
| 2. Trustyourinstinct | ||
| 3. Defiantly | ||
| 4. Shockletz | ||
| 5. James J Braddock | ||
| 6. Saint George | ||
| 7. Juja Kibo | ||
| 8. Hopewell Rock | ||
| 9. Enfjaar | ||
| 10. Middle Earth | ||
| 11. Stinger Glass | ||
| 12. Goodie Two Shoes | ||
| 13. Mr Monaco | ||
| 14. So You Are | ||
| 15. Sons And Lovers | ||
| 16. Zahrann | ||
| 17. Zakouma | ||
| 18. Kizlyar | ||
| 19. Knight’s Choice | ||
| 20. Soul Of Spain | ||
| 21. Vauban | ||
| 22. Wine Dark Sea | ||
| 23. Asterix | ||
| 24. Litzdeel |
Melbourne Cup 2026 Field and Barrier Draw: The Final Word
For punters wondering when the Melbourne Cup field is released, the answer is Saturday, October 31 at 4:30pm AEDT, when final acceptances close and the official 24-horse line-up is confirmed.
For those asking when the Melbourne Cup 2026 barrier draw is held, it also takes place on Saturday shortly after the final field is locked in, officially completing the picture for the race that stops a nation.
Until then, all eyes remain on So You Are, whose Bendigo Cup victory has provided one final twist in the battle for a Melbourne Cup berth. Whether the Bjorn Baker-trained stayer receives enough weight from the handicapper to force his way into the field may prove one of the biggest stories of Melbourne Cup week.
One thing is certain: by Saturday evening, punters will finally know exactly which 24 horses are chasing Melbourne Cup glory at Flemington on November 3.
Melbourne Cup 2026 Field & Barrier Draw FAQs
When is the Melbourne Cup 2026 field released?
The official Melbourne Cup 2026 field will be announced after final acceptances close at 4:30pm (AEDT) on Saturday, October 31, 2026. At that point, the final field of 24 runners for the Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington will be confirmed.
When is the Melbourne Cup 2026 barrier draw?
The Melbourne Cup 2026 barrier draw will be conducted on Saturday, October 31, 2026, following final acceptances. The draw will determine the starting positions for all 24 runners in Australia’s most famous horse race.
How many horses run in the Melbourne Cup?
The Melbourne Cup field is limited to 24 starters. Unlike many major Australian races, the Melbourne Cup does not have emergencies, making the order of entry and ballot exemptions crucial.
What time is the Melbourne Cup in 2026?
The 2026 Melbourne Cup will be run at 3:00pm AEDT on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne.
Who is favourite for the 2026 Melbourne Cup?
Following his impressive Geelong Cup victory, Point Of Law heads the latest Melbourne Cup betting markets. Other leading contenders include Trustyourinstinct, Defiantly, Saint George, Juja Kibo, and Shockletz.
Can horses still get into the Melbourne Cup field after the Bendigo Cup?
Yes. While the Bendigo Cup does not carry a ballot exemption, a strong performance can earn a weight penalty from the handicapper and improve a horse’s position in the Melbourne Cup order of entry. This is the scenario facing So You Are after his Bendigo Cup victory.
Is So You Are guaranteed a start in the 2026 Melbourne Cup?
No. Despite winning the Bendigo Cup, So You Are still requires a sufficient penalty from the handicapper and/or withdrawals from horses above him in the order of entry to secure a place in the final Melbourne Cup field.
Which trainers have the strongest hand in the Melbourne Cup 2026?
Ciaron Maher and Joseph O’Brien currently boast the strongest representation in the likely Melbourne Cup field. Maher has several leading chances including Point Of Law, Juja Kibo, Saint George and Shockletz, while O’Brien is set to be represented by Trustyourinstinct, Defiantly, Sons And Lovers, Goodie Two Shoes and James J Braddock.
How are Melbourne Cup barriers allocated?
The Melbourne Cup barriers are allocated via a random draw once final acceptances have been taken. Each of the 24 runners receives a starting gate for the 3200m feature at Flemington.
Where can I see the final Melbourne Cup 2026 field?
The official Melbourne Cup 2026 field, barrier draw, jockeys, weights and betting markets will be published right here at Races.com.au after final acceptances on Saturday afternoon ahead of Cup Day on Tuesday, November 3.
