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First acceptances for Australia’s most famous race, the Group 1 $10.2 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) on Tuesday November 3, closed on Tuesday leaving 71 potential Cup contenders for the iconic Flemington showdown.
The race to secure a place in the 2026 Melbourne Cup field tightened on Tuesday with 71 horses remaining in contention including 13 international raiders, down from 101 and 23 at nomination stage.
With the countdown to the first Tuesday in November now well underway, Australia’s leading stables continue to dominate the remaining entries, headed by champion trainer Ciaron Maher, who boasts the largest contingent still engaged in this year’s race.
2026 Melbourne Cup First Acceptances: At a Glance
- 71 horses remain in contention
- 58 Australian-trained runners and 13 international contenders left from Ireland, England, and Japan
- Ciaron Maher leading trainer with 14 acceptors including Zahrann, Shockletz and Middle Earth
- Chris Waller retains 9 contenders headed by Aeliana, Soulcombe, Valiant King and Birdman
- Defiantly (Joseph O’Brien, Ireland) heads latest all-in 2026 Melbourne Cup betting at $9 through Ladbrokes
- Half Yours remains on track to defend his 2025 Melbourne Cup crown as the $10 second favourite in futures markets
Maher Leads the Way with Powerful Melbourne Cup Arsenal
Fresh from another standout spring carnival weekend, Maher has 14 horses still in contention for the Melbourne Cup as he chases a breakthrough victory in Australia’s most famous race.
His impressive squad includes Naturalism Stakes winner Zahrann ($15), who has already firmed as one of the leading local hopes for the Cup, along with Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes winner Shockletz ($13) and talented import Middle Earth ($34).
Maher’s strength in depth has been a recurring theme throughout the spring and the stable again looks poised to play a major role in the staying features leading into November.
Shockletz has been one of the big early movers in Melbourne Cup odds online with the five-year-old daughter of the 2009 champion Shocking, firmed from $101 to $13 following her powerhouse Lexus Archer Stakes victory.
Waller Holds Strong Hand
Fellow training powerhouse Chris Waller remains heavily represented with nine contenders progressing to the next stage of Melbourne Cup qualification.
Several members of Waller’s team are set to continue their spring preparations this Saturday in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington, including Aeliana, Birdman, Asterix, Ohope Wins, Soul Of Spain, Valiant King and Soulcombe.
Of particular interest is Soulcombe, who finished runner-up in the 2023 Melbourne Cup and is looking to again progress through the staying ranks this spring.
Defending Champion Half Yours Still on Target
Reigning Melbourne Cup hero Half Yours remains firmly on track to defend his title after featuring among the first acceptances.
The popular stayer worked at Flemington on Tuesday morning ahead of his scheduled appearance in the Turnbull Stakes and co-trainer Calvin McEvoy said the stable was pleased with the horse’s condition.
According to McEvoy, Half Yours has returned in excellent order and may be performing even better than he was at the same stage last year.
The defending champion resumed with an encouraging effort in the Makybe Diva Stakes and is expected to take significant improvement into Saturday’s weight-for-age assignment.
With another 400 metres to work with in the Turnbull, connections are hopeful he can continue building towards a successful Melbourne Cup defence.
Half Yours is currently on the second line of futures Melbourne Cup betting at $10 through Ladbrokes to win the event back-to-back for the first time since the historic Makybe Diva three-peat in 2003-05.
International Challenge Reduced to 13
The overseas contingent has been trimmed to 13 internationals, but remains a significant factor in this year’s Cup picture.
Among those already on Australian soil are:
- Small Fry
- Kizlyar
- Omni Man
- Starford
- Wine Dark Sea
- Enfjaar
- Point Of Law
Several additional international hopefuls are currently progressing through pre-export quarantine, including:
- Sons And Lovers
- Trustyoursinstict
- Defiantly
- James J Braddock
- Goodie Two Shoes
- Stinger Glass
- Hopewell Rock
The remaining overseas challengers represent Ireland, England and Japan, ensuring another strong international presence remains in the mix for the race that stops a nation.
It is one of the international raiders sitting top of the markets currently at $9 with the Joseph O’Brien-trained Defiantly who claimed an impressive 5.5 length victory in the Group 2 Prix Kergolay (3000m) in France back in August.
Key Melbourne Cup Pathways Ahead
While the list of hopefuls has already narrowed considerably, several important opportunities remain for horses to secure a place in the Melbourne Cup field through ballot-exempt races.
The first of those comes this Saturday with the running of the Group 3 The Bart Cummings Stakes (2500m) at Flemington.
Further automatic qualification opportunities include:
- Caulfield Cup (2400m) – October 17
- Ladbrokes Geelong Cup (2400m) – October 21
- Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) – October 24
- Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) – October 24
These races are expected to play a major role in shaping the final Melbourne Cup field and could see several currently lower-ranked contenders vault into contention.
Second declarations for the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup are due at noon on Tuesday, October 13, when the list of contenders will be reduced further as trainers finalise their spring staying plans.
View the full list of 2026 Melbourne Cup first acceptances.
Melbourne Cup 2026 Odds
| 1. Defiantly | ||
| 2. Half Yours | ||
| 3. Aeliana | ||
| 4. James J Braddock | ||
| 5. Shockletz | ||
| 6. Aethelwulf | ||
| 7. Stinger Glass | ||
| 8. The Euphrates | ||
| 9. Zahrann | ||
| 10. Trustyourinstinct | ||
| 11. Zakouma | ||
| 12. Wine Dark Sea | ||
| 13. Hopewell Rock | ||
| 14. Green Spaces | ||
| 15. Saint George | ||
| 16. Sons And Lovers | ||
| 17. Birdman | ||
| 18. Deakin | ||
| 19. Enfjaar | ||
| 20. Goodie Two Shoes |
