Looking for the best Melbourne Cup betting guide, tips on how to bet on the 2026 Melbourne Cup, Melbourne Cup field updates and more? The expert tipsters at Neds have put together everything you need to know on the race.
Melbourne Cup 2026 Results
The official 2026 Melbourne Cup results will be available below once the race takes place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at 3:00pm (local Melbourne time).
- #20 Point Of Law
- #15 Zahrann
- #11 Juja Kibo
The 2026 Melbourne Cup results produced a race domination for trainer Ciaron Maher, who saddled the trifecta in the 166th running of Australia’s greatest race. Geelong Cup winner Point Of Law ($7F) continued his meteoric rise with a stunning victory under Ethan Brown, becoming the most lightly raced Melbourne Cup winner in history at just his sixth career start. The progressive son of Frankel stormed home to defeat stablemates Zahrann and Juja Kibo, while Irish raider Sons And Lovers finished fourth. The victory also completed the coveted Geelong Cup-Melbourne Cup double, the first since Dunaden in 2011, and delivered Maher his second Melbourne Cup triumph following Gold Trip’s success in 2022.
Click here for the full story.
2026 Melbourne Cup Race Replay
2026 Melbourne Cup Odds & Finishing Order
Melbourne Cup odds 2026 are already taking shape at Neds, with punters locking in early value as the world’s best stayers target Australia’s most famous 3200m handicap. Futures Melbourne Cup betting 2026 markets traditionally move quickly through the spring as key lead‑up races like the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, and international staying features reveal the major contenders, and this year is no different. Early Cup favourites often firm off strong staying credentials, lightweight chances, and proven Flemington form, while sharp market movers can emerge from both local stables and overseas raiders. With big‑price roughies historically capable of causing Cup‑day upsets, Neds futures markets give punters the chance to secure overs before the final field is declared — making early Melbourne Cup odds a crucial part of every spring betting strategy.
The latest Lexus Melbourne Cup 2026 odds followed by the official race finishing order after the event on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 will be available below.
| 20. Point Of Law (9) 53kg141×1 | |||
| 15. Zahrann (11) 54.5kgx4106 | |||
| 11. Juja Kibo (14) 55kgx3211 | |||
| 1. Sons And Lovers (3) 57.5kg44512 | |||
| 7. Royal Supremacy (21) 56kg1×910 | |||
| 24. Shockletz (17) 51kg64162 | |||
| 18. James J Braddock (24) 53.5kg136×6 | |||
| 16. So You Are (7) 54kg21111 | |||
| 12. Hopewell Rock (15) 54.5kg3612x | |||
| 4. Middle Earth (1) 56.5kg87898 | |||
| 2. Trustyourinstinct (18) 57kg21214 | |||
| 3. Knight’s Choice (2) 56.5kgx0930 | |||
| 14. Soul Of Spain (5) 54.5kg68378 | |||
| 23. Zakouma (10) 52kgx6650 | |||
| 6. Enfjaar (8) 56kg381×3 | |||
| 19. Kizlyar (20) 53.5kg1x2x0 | |||
| 22. Mr Monaco (16) 52.5kgx4013 | |||
| 21. Strictly Business (4) 53kg2×000 | |||
| 8. Wine Dark Sea (23) 56kg151×0 | |||
| 17. Future History (12) 53.5kgx3249 | |||
| 13. Onesmoothoperator (13) 54.5kg9×090 | |||
| 10. Goodie Two Shoes (19) 55kgx8210 | |||
| 5. Vauban (22) 56.5kg133×9 | |||
| 9. Asterix (6)SCRATCHED: | |||
Latest Melbourne Cup News
Melbourne Cup 2026 Tips
Our insider Melbourne Cup 2026 betting tips will be provided right here the week of the race and a full Melbourne Cup tipping preview available on the Neds Blog.
| 20. Point Of Law (9) 53kg141×1 |
HOPEWELL ROCK (15) looks a genuine value play at double-figure odds. The British raider brings strong staying form, drops to 54.5kg, and should relish the 3200m, while any rain on Cup Day only enhances his chances. A definite each-way contender.
| 12. Hopewell Rock (15) 54.5kg3612x |
TRUSTYOURINSTINCT (18) is the class runner of the internationals and looks a serious threat despite the wide draw. A proven stayer with elite European form, he gets the services of James McDonald and has the turn of foot to charge over the top of them late. If the track stays in the Good range, he’s right in the finish.
| 2. Trustyourinstinct (18) 57kg21214 |
ZAKOUMA (10) shapes as one of the best value plays in the 2026 Melbourne Cup. The Andrew Ramsden winner gets in with a featherweight 52kg, is proven at staying trips, and looks ready to peak at the right time under the red-hot Willie Pike. At big odds, he’s a genuine roughie with claims.
| 23. Zakouma (10) 52kgx6650 |
SONS AND LOVERS (3) looks an underrated international hope with proven Group-class staying form and the ideal draw in gate three. Despite carrying top weight, the Joseph O’Brien-trained galloper has the class, versatility, and stamina to make his presence felt, and at around 20/1 represents excellent Top 6 value.
| 1. Sons And Lovers (3) 57.5kg44512 |
SHOCKLETZ (17) looks one of the ideal Top 6 plays in this year’s Melbourne Cup. The Maher-trained mare gets in with just 51kg, boasts terrific Flemington form, and her recent runs suggest she’s been perfectly set for the 3200m test. If she sees out the trip, she can be charging home late and looks a genuine chance to finish in the first six.
| 24. Shockletz (17) 51kg64162 |
Known as ‘the race that stops a nation’, the Melbourne Cup is one of the richest prizes in Australian racing along with the $20 million The Everest and $10 million The Golden Eagle held in Sydney.
Contested over the traditional two-mile Cup distance of 3200m, the Melbourne Cup is run and won on the first Tuesday of November annually at Flemington Racecourse. As of 2022, Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse hosts the Listed $3 million The Big Dance (1600m) on Melbourne Cup Day each year.
The world’s richest handicap race, first run in 1861 with Archer taking out the opening two editions of the event, now offers $10.2 million in prize money and trophies and is the jewel race of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
The Melbourne Cup runs as Flemington Race 7 at 3:00pm (local time) and has been won by many greats of the turf, including a host of international raiders the first of the Northern-hemisphere champions being Vintage Crop (1993).
There has only been one triple Melbourne Cup winner with the mighty mare Makybe Diva securing her hat-trick from 2003-05.
Verry Elleegant made history winning the 2021 Melbourne Cup as a 57kg weighted mare dominating by four lengths as the first winner from barrier 18.
In 2022 Gold Trip (57.5kg) became the latest Melbourne Cup top-weight to win with his upset success at $21.
In 2023 Without A Fight made history as the 12th horse to complete the Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double and the first since Ethereal (2001).
In 2024 Knight’s Choice won the Melbourne Cup as a $91 outsider with Robbie Dolan riding the champion in his first ever ride in the event for Sunshine Coast-based trainers John Symons & Shelia Laxon. Laxon famously won the event back in 2001 with New Zealand mare Ethereal when becoming the first Melbourne Cup winning female trainer.
In 2025, the Tony & Calvin McEvoy-trained Half Yours became the 13th stayer to do the Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double and the first Australian-bred Melbourne Cup winner since Vow And Declare (2019).
In 2026 history was made with the Ciaron Maher-trained import Point Of Law becoming the most lightly raced Melbourne Cup winner of all time taking out the event at just his sixth start as the $7 favourite off a Geelong Cup victory.
Melbourne Cup 2026 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Tuesday, November 3, 2026
- Race Starts: 3 PM (AEST)
- Track Location: Flemington Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 3,200 metres
- Weight Conditions: Handicap
- Qualification: Three-year-olds and over
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 1
- Operator: Victoria Racing Club
- Prize Purse: $10 million
- Inaugural Race: 1861
- 2026 Melbourne Cup Winner: Point Of Law
Melbourne Cup Betting 2026
There are many different ways to bet on the Melbourne Cup, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How To Place This Type of Bet on This Year’s Melbourne Cup |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Melbourne Cup. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Melbourne Cup. Pays less than a win bet but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Melbourne Cup, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the Melbourne Cup, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Melbourne Cup to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Melbourne Cup to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Melbourne Cup to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the Melbourne Cup, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
2026 Melbourne Cup Big Bets
How To Bet on the Melbourne Cup in 2026
- Log in at neds
- Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
- Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Melbourne Cup Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Melbourne Cup 2026 Form Guide
The final form guide will be available the week prior to the race following the final acceptances for the Melbourne Cup on Derby Day. You can check below for a link to our full 2026 Melbourne Cup Form Guide following final acceptances.
Key 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup Field & Acceptance Dates
| Entry & Acceptance Stages | Date |
|---|---|
| Nominations/Entries | 12:00pm Tuesday 1 September |
| Late Nominations | 12:00pm Tuesday 8 September |
| Weights Released | 12:00pm Thursday 17 September |
| First Declarations | 12:00pm Tuesday 29 September |
| Second Declarations | 12:00pm Tuesday 13 October |
| Third Declarations | 10:00am Monday 26 October |
| Final/Fourth Declarations | 4:30pm Saturday 31 October |
Melbourne Cup 2026 Acceptance Dates
- 2026 Melbourne Cup Nominations: Close on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 @ 12:00pm (Melbourne time)
- 2026 Melbourne Cup Late Entries: Close on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 @ 12:00pm (Melbourne time).
- 2026 Melbourne Cup First Declarations: Close on Tuesday, September 29, 2026 @ 12:00pm (Melbourne time).
- 2026 Melbourne Cup Handicaps: Weights are declared on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
- 2026 Melbourne Cup Second Declarations: Close on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 @ 12:00pm.
- 2026 Melbourne Cup Third Declarations: Close on Monday, October 26, 2026 @ 10:00pm (Melbourne time).
- 2026 Melbourne Cup Final Field: Announced Saturday October 31, 2026 @ 4:30pm (Melbourne time) on Victoria Derby Day.
- 2026 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw: Takes place on Saturday, October 31, 2026 @ 6:30pm (Melbourne time) following the Derby Day racing.
Melbourne Cup Field 2026
The official Melbourne Cup 2026 field of final acceptances is announced by the VRC on the Saturday prior to the race following the action of Victoria Derby Day, Saturday October 31, 2026, live from Flemington Racecourse and will be published in full below.
The Melbourne Cup has a field limit of 24 starters and there are no emergency runners.
The official Melbourne Cup 2026 Field and Confirmed Barriers have been released with Ciaron Maher’s impressive Ladbrokes Geelong Cup winner Point Of Law drawing ideally in gate nine with the lightly raced four-year-old current co-favourite with Joseph O’Brien’s well-backed Irish raider Trustyourinstinct who drew wider out in gate 18 for jockey James McDonald.
Latest Melbourne Cup 2026 Field Updates & News:
- No. 9 Asterix (6) an official late scratching leaving 23 runners to contest the Cup
- No. 12 Hopewell Rock (14) elevated to outright favourite to win
- Harry Coffey cleared to ride No. 24 Shockletz, Michael Dee loses ride on No. 21. Strictly Business
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Sons And Lovers
J: Dylan Browne Mcmonagle
T: Joseph O’brien |
144512 | G | 3 | 57.5kg | |
|
2. Trustyourinstinct
J: James McDonald
T: Joseph O’brien |
721214 | G | 18 | 57kg | |
|
3. Knight’s Choice
J: Robbie Dolan
T: J G Symons & S Laxon |
8×0930 | G | 2 | 56.5kg | |
|
4. Middle Earth
J: Mark Zahra
T: Ciaron Maher |
x87898 | G | 1 | 56.5kg | |
|
5. Vauban
J: Jordan Childs
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
x133x9 | G | 22 | 56.5kg | |
|
6. Enfjaar
J: Ray Dawson
T: Roger Varian |
x381x3 | G | 8 | 56kg | |
|
7. Royal Supremacy
J: Ben Allen
T: Ciaron Maher |
31×910 | G | 21 | 56kg | |
|
8. Wine Dark Sea
J: Damian Lane
T: Harry Charlton |
1151×0 | G | 23 | 56kg | |
| 9. Asterix (6) Scratched: | |||||
|
10. Goodie Two Shoes
J: Wayne Lordan
T: Joseph O’brien |
2×8210 | M | 19 | 55kg | |
|
11. Juja Kibo
J: Sam Clipperton
T: Ciaron Maher |
9×3211 | G | 14 | 55kg | |
|
12. Hopewell Rock
J: Zac Lloyd
T: George Boughey |
x3612x | G | 15 | 54.5kg | |
|
13. Onesmoothoperator
J: Declan Bates
T: Tim Fitzsimmons |
x9x090 | G | 13 | 54.5kg | |
|
14. Soul Of Spain
J: Tommy Berry
T: Chris Waller |
x68378 | G | 5 | 54.5kg | |
|
15. Zahrann
J: Ben Melham
T: Ciaron Maher |
3×4106 | H | 11 | 54.5kg | |
|
16. So You Are
J: Rachel King
T: Bjorn Baker |
421111 | G | 7 | 54kg | |
|
17. Future History
J: Jamie Melham
T: Gregory Hickman |
6×3249 | G | 12 | 53.5kg | |
|
18. James J Braddock
J: Craig Williams
T: Joseph O’brien |
5136×6 | G | 24 | 53.5kg | |
|
19. Kizlyar
J: Beau Mertens
T: Joseph O’brien |
11x2x0 | G | 20 | 53.5kg | |
|
20. Point Of Law
J: Ethan Brown
T: Ciaron Maher |
2141×1 | C | 9 | 53kg | |
|
21. Strictly Business
J: Dean Yendall
T: Thomas Carberry |
02×000 | M | 4 | 53kg | |
|
22. Mr Monaco
J: Jabez Johnstone
T: Ciaron Maher |
0x4013 | G | 16 | 52.5kg | |
|
23. Zakouma
J: William Pike
T: Grahame Begg |
1×6650 | G | 10 | 52kg | |
|
24. Shockletz
J: Harry Coffey
T: Ciaron Maher |
864162 | M | 17 | 51kg | |
Melbourne Cup Jockeys 2026
Ethan Brown is the latest Melbourne Cup winning jockey aboard Point Of Law in 2026.
Mark Zahra won in 2023 with Without A Fight and Gold Trip in 2022. He became the first since four-time winner Harry White for his last two victories in 1978 and 1979 to go back-to-back in the race on different horses.
The official 2026 Melbourne Cup jockeys must be declared by 4:30pm (Melbourne time) on Saturday the 31st of October 2026 and will be updated in our above Melbourne Cup Field section.
Stay up to date below to see what jockeys have confirmed rides in the Melbourne Cup 2026 field.
2026 Melbourne Cup Horse (Trainer) – Confirmed Jockey / Rider Booking:
- Sons And Lovers (Joseph O’Brien) – Dylan Browne Mcmonagle
- Trustyourinstinct (Joseph O’Brien) – James McDonald
- Middle Earth (Ciaron Maher) – Mark Zahra
- Vauban (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott) – Jordan Childs
- Knight’s Choice (John Symons & Sheila Laxon) – Robbie Dolan
- Royal Supremacy (Ciaron Maher) – Ben Allen
- Enfjaar (Roger Varian) – Ray Dawson
- Wine Dark Sea (Harry Charlton) – Damian Lane
- Juja Kibo (Ciaron Maher) – Sam Clipperton
Asterix (Chris Waller) – Jye McNeil- Goodie Two Shoes (Joseph O’Brien) – Wayne Lordan
- Soul Of Spain (Chris Waller) – Tommy Berry
- Onesmoothoperator (Tim Fitzsimmons) – Declan Bates
- Zahrann (Ciaron Maher) – Ben Melham
- Hopewell Rock (George Boughey) – Zac Lloyd
- So You Are (Bjorn Baker) – Rachel King
- James J Braddock (Joseph O’Brien) – Craig Williams
- Future History (Gregory Hickman) – Jamie Melham
- Kizlyar (Joseph O’Brien) – Beau Mertens
- Point Of Law (Ciaron Maher) – Ethan Brown
- Strictly Business (Thomas Carberry) – Dean Yendall (late alt)
- Mr Monaco (Ciaron Maher) – Jabez Johnstone (a)
- Zakouma (Grahame Begg) – William Pike
- Shockletz (Ciaron Maher) – Harry Coffey
Which Horse Will Win the Melbourne Cup in 2026?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Melbourne Cup in 2026 is to take into account their lead-up spring racing form, assess the Melbourne Cup barriers, consider the Melbourne Cup weights, and look for the proven stayers in the field.
Additional factors to consider when selecting the Melbourne Cup winner include:
- Favourites – The favourites in Melbourne Cup betting have a poor record overall in the event. That said, Point Of Law was backed into $7 favouritism for his 2026 win.
- Barrier Hoodoo – Verry Elleegant (2021) became history’s first Melbourne Cup winner from barrier 18, while barrier 11 is considered the luckiest Melbourne Cup gate.
- Internationals Rule – Since the race opened up to contenders outside of Australia and New Zealand, the internationals from the Northern Hemisphere have dominated the Melbourne Cup results including in 2020 when three ran the trifecta: Twilight Payment (1st), Tiger Moth (2nd) and Prince Of Arran (3rd).
- Six Is It – Six-year-olds have the best recent record in the Melbourne Cup with Zed mare Verry Elleegant (2021) followed by the imported Gold Trip (2022) the last six-year-old Melbourne Cup winners.
Melbourne Cup Last Place
If you want to place bet on which horse will place last in this year’s Melbourne Cup results, then the table below will be of interest to you, displaying who took last place in the past ten years. Often Melbourne Cup sweeps pay out for the last placegetter, so keeping on the unlucky horse at the tail end of the field is popular.
| Melbourne Cup Race Year | Last Finishing Horse | Trainer/s | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Vauban | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Jordan Childs |
| 2025 | Buckaroo | Chris Waller | Craig Williams |
| 2024 | Just Fine | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Jye McNeil |
| 2023* | Magical Lagoon | Chris Waller | Mark Du Plessis |
| 2022* | Camorra | Ben & JD Hayes | Craig Newitt |
| 2021 | Ocean Billy | Chris Waller | Damien Thornton |
| 2020* | Avilius | James Cummings | John Allen |
| 2019 | Rostropovich | David Hayes | Dwayne Dunn |
| 2018* | Red Cardinal | Darren Weir | Damien Oliver |
| 2017 | Gallante | Robert Hickmott | Michael Dee |
| 2016 | Rose Of Virginia | Lee & Shannon Hope | Ben E Thompson |
| 2015 | Snow Sky | Ed Dunlop | Gérald Mossé |
| 2014 | Admire Rakti | Tomoyuki Umeda | Zac Purton |
| 2013 | Verema | Alain de Royer-Dupré | Christophe Lemaire |
| 2012 | Ethiopia | Pat Carey | Rhys McLeod |
| 2011 | Modun | Saeed Bin Suroor | Kieran McEvoy |
| 2010 | Zavite | Anthony Cummings | Michael Walker |
| 2009 | Warringah | Chris Waller | Damien Oliver |
| 2008 | Honolulu | Aidan O’Brien | Colm O’Donoghue |
*Notes:
- 2023 Right You Are failed to finish the Melbourne Cup, subsequently found to be lame in the behind after suffering heat stress but cleared of any serious injury.
- 2022 Interpretation failed to finish the Melbourne Cup, but was subsequently cleared of any injury with his failure put down to a wind issue.
- 2020 Anthony Van Dyck was pulled-up 350m out from the line and subsequently euthanised due to fracturing his fetlock.
- 2018 The Cliffsofmoher failed to finish after fracturing a shoulder and sadly having to be subsequently euthanised post-race.
Melbourne Cup Favourites 2026
Early favourites in Melbourne Cup 2026 betting include Ciaron Maher’s lightly raced import Point Of Law who comes off an excellent Geelong Cup win at just his fifth start and the best fancied of the international raiders Trustyourinstinct for two-time winning Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien.
Fiorente ($7 in 2013) and Point Of Law ($7 in 2026) are the latest Melbourne Cup favourites to win.
The 2021 Melbourne Cup favourite Incentivise ($2.90) finished second to Verry Elleegant ($18).
In 2022 the Melbourne Cup favourite was the James Ferguson-trained Deauville Legend ($4.40) who was in a gun position fourth at the top of the straight before being running down by the Aussies to finish fourth.
The 2023 Melbourne Cup favourite was the Willie Mullins-trained Irish raider Vauban ($5.50) who ran a disappointing 14th over 13 lengths beaten.
In 2024 the Melbourne Cup favourite Buckaroo ($6) finished ninth with the race won by $91 outside Knight’s Choice!
The 2025 Melbourne Cup favourite, Presage Nocturne, finished 19th.
Melbourne Cup Race Day 2026
Race day takes place on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Melbourne Cup Day 2026 is the second of the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
It follows on from Victoria Derby Day and runs on the first Tuesday of November annually.
After Cup Day the Carnival continues with VRC Oaks Day on the Thursday and comes to a close with Champions Stakes Day on the Saturday.
The key support races on the 2026 Melbourne Cup Day Race Card are the:
- Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m), and the
- Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m).
Melbourne Cup Race Time 2026
The Melbourne Cup race is scheduled to start at 3 PM Australian Eastern Daylight time. Melbourne Cup start times for various states appear in the table below.
| State | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Western Australia | 12:00 PM |
| Queensland | 2:00 PM |
| Australian Capital Territory | 3:00 PM |
| Tasmania | 3:00 PM |
| Victoria | 3:00 PM |
| New South Wales | 3:00 PM |
| Northern Territory | 1.30 pm |
| South Australia | 2.30 pm |
Melbourne Cup 2026 Barrier Draw
The official 2026 Melbourne Cup barrier draw will be released to the public on Saturday October 31, 2026, at 6:30 pm following the VRC Derby Day racing action at Flemington Racecourse and published in full in our above Melbourne Cup Field section.
Melbourne Cup 2026 Nominations
The 2026 Melbourne Cup nominations close on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 12:00pm (Melbourne time).
The 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup nominations feature 101 horses (down from 120 last year) including 23 internationals (up from 19 last year) and featuring the defending champion Half Yours.
View a full list of 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup nominations.
Melbourne Cup 2026 First Acceptances
The 2026 Melbourne Cup first acceptances close on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at 12:00pm (Melbourne time).
You can view the full list of first declarations on our Melbourne Cup Nominations page once released.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup 2026 first acceptances are now out leaving 71 remaining hopefuls including 13 internationals led by last year’s Spring Cups double hero Half Yours and Joseph O’Brien’s impressive Group 2 Prix Kergolay winning Irish raider Defiantly.
Click here to view the complete list of 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup first acceptors.
Melbourne Cup 2026 Second Acceptances
The 2026 Melbourne Cup second acceptances close on Tuesday October 13, 2026, at 12:00pm (Melbourne time).
The 2026 Melbourne Cup second acceptances have been taken with 58 remaining chances including 13 international raiders with the Joseph O’Brien-trained Irish stayer Defiantly narrow favourite in the latest all-in markets.
Click here to view the complete list of 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup second acceptors.
Melbourne Cup 2026 Third Acceptances
The 2026 Melbourne Cup third acceptances close on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 10:00pm (Melbourne time).
The official Lexus Melbourne Cup 2026 third acceptances are now out featuring 39 horses still in the hunt including Ciaron Maher’s Geelong Cup winner and current all-in favourite, Point Of Law, and an eight-strong contingent for Ireland’s Joesph O’Brien headed by Trustyourinstinct.
Melbourne Cup Weights 2026
Handicap conditions apply to this race. The early 2026 Melbourne Cup weights on the nominated horses are announced in September and will be detailed here.
Gold Trip (57.5kg in 2022) was the last Melbourne Cup top-weight to salute.
Gold Trip carried the 58.5kg top weight in 2023 running 17th in his failed title defence.
The 2026 Melbourne Cup topweight Sons Of Lovers (57.5kg) ran a brave race to finish fourth as the best placed of that year’s international raiders.
2026 Melbourne Cup Topweight
- No. 1 Sons And Lovers (57.5kg)
The 2026 Melbourne Cup weights (handicaps) are declared on Tuesday, September 15, 2026.
You can view the official 2026 Melbourne Cup weights on our dedicated Melbourne Cup Nominations page once released.
Melbourne Cup 2026 Scratchings
2026 Melbourne Cup scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
- No. 9 Asterix (6)
Melbourne Cup Prize Money 2026
The 2026 Melbourne Cup prize purse is worth $10.2 million in prize money, now distributed from places first through to 24th place including $4.5 million going to the Melbourne Cup winner in 2026.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $4,500,000 + trophies |
| 2nd | $1,100,000 |
| 3rd | $560,000 |
| 4th | $360,000 |
| 5th | $240,000 |
| 6th | $160,000 |
| 7th | $160,000 |
| 8th | $160,000 |
| 9th | $160,000 |
| 10th | $160,000 |
| 11th | $160,000 |
| 12th | $160,000 |
| 13th | $100,000 |
| 14th | $100,000 |
| 15th | $100,000 |
| 16th | $100,000 |
| 17th | $100,000 |
| 18th | $100,000 |
| 19th | $100,000 |
| 20th | $100,000 |
| 21st | $100,000 |
| 22nd | $100,000 |
| 23rd | $100,000 |
| 24th | $100,000 |
Melbourne Cup Race Number 2026
The 2026 Melbourne Cup runs as Flemington Race 7 at 3:00pm (AEDT) on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 as part of Lexus Melbourne Cup Day 2026, the second race day event of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. There are ten races in total that day at Flemington Racecourse.
Melbourne Cup Live 2026
You can watch or listen to the 2026 Melbourne Cup live, across the following mediums.
Telecast: Channel 9
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing.com
Mobile: Neds App
Melbourne Cup Sweep
All around the country, workplaces participate in putting together a Melbourne Cup sweep, allotting a horse (usually at random) to each person that decides to join the sweep. Please note that sweeps are a casual gambling environment organised among peers. You can learn more about sweeps here.
Melbourne Cup Tickets 2026
Tickets for the Melbourne Cup Carnival are available through Ticketek.
Melbourne Cup Carnival 2026
The 2026 Melbourne Cup Carnival is from Saturday the 31st of October 2026 until Saturday the 7th of November 2026.
The first race day is the Victoria Derby Day on Saturday the 31st of October, followed by the Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday the 3rd of November. The next race meet is VRC Oaks Day on the Thursday the 5th of November, followed by the final race meet for the carnival, VRC Champions Stakes Day held on Saturday the 7th of November 2026.
Australian Horses in the Melbourne Cup
Australian horses dominated the Melbourne Cup 2021 field with COVID-19 restrictions and the early withdrawal of a number of internationals.
Vow And Declare in 2019 beat out a host of international fancies to salute as an Australian born and bred stayer.
New Zealand-bred Verry Elleegant (1st) prepared in Sydney by Chris Waller defeated the Queensland-bred Incentivise (2nd) who is trained in Victoria by Peter Moody defeated the UK raider Spanish Mission (3rd) in the 2021 Melbourne Cup results.
French-bred expat Gold Trip won the 2022 Melbourne Cup prepared in Australia by Ciaron Maher & David Eustace. The first three over the line in the Melbourne Cup 2022 results were Australian trained with Deauville Legend (4th) the best of the internationals.
In 2023 the Melbourne Cup winner was the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight who is prepared in Australia but was an international import last year.
In 2024 Knight’s Choice scored an upset win at 90/1 to become the first Australian bred and trained Melbourne Cup winner since 2019.
In 2025 the Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours was the only Australian bred stayer in the 2025 Melbourne Cup field, and he went on to win becoming the 13th horse in history to do the Spring Cups double.
The best finish by an Australian-bred horse in the 2026 Melbourne Cup results was by So You Are who ran a credible eighth.
International Horses in the Melbourne Cup
International horses dominate the Melbourne Cup field each year. From 2010 – 2026 six internationally-trained raiders prepared from outside of Australian / New Zealand saluted in the Melbourne Cup most recently Cross Counter (2018) for Godolphin followed in 2020 by Twilight Payment (Joseph O’Brien) who beat fellow internationals Tiger Moth (2nd) and Prince Of Arran (3rd).
There were just two internationally trained horses in the 2021 Melbourne Cup field from outside of Australia and New Zealand: Twilight Payment (Joseph O’Brien) and Spanish Mission (Andrew Balding). They finished 11th and 3rd respectively.
The 2022 Melbourne Cup field featured two official internationally trained raiders with Deauville Legend (James Ferguson) running fourth as the beaten favourite and Without A Fight (Simon & Ed Crisford) a disappointing 13th.
The 2023 Melbourne Cup final field featured four international horses from outside of Australia or New Zealand with No. 4 Breakup (Japan), No. 5 Vauban (Ireland), No. 7 Absurde (Ireland), and No. 13 Okita Soushi (Ireland).
The 2024 Melbourne Cup final field featured five international horses from outside of Australia or New Zealand with No. 1 Vauban, No. 4 Warp Speed, No. 9 Absurde, No. 13 Onesmoothoperator, and No. 15 Sea King. The best finish was by Absurde (5th).
In 2025 the Melbourne Cup field featured 10 international horses including the 59kg topweight Al Riffa for two-time winning trainer Joseph O’Brien as well as the first ever American trained Melbourne Cup winner – Parchment Party. The best finish was by O’Brien’s Irish-trained mare Goodie Two Shoes who ran second at 40/1.
The 2026 Melbourne Cup field featured eight internationally trained horses with the Joseph O’Brien-trained Irish galloper Sons And Lovers finishing best in fourth place.
Grey Horse in the Melbourne Cup
Grey horses which have seen success in the Melbourne Cup include Subzero (first place in 1992), Gunsynd (third place in 1972) Manighar (fifth place in 2010). A total of six grey horses have won the Melbourne Cup throughout history.
In 2025 the Melbourne Cup field featured three grey horses – No. 6 Presage Nocturne who ran 19th as the beaten favourite, No. 17 Furthur (11th) and No. 24 Valiant King (16th).
Melbourne Cup Winners
Winners of the Melbourne Cup going back to 1999 displayed in the table below. If you would like to view the full list of Melbourne Cup winners, going all the way back to 1861, please visit our Melbourne Cup Winners page.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Point Of Law | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 3:21.88 |
| 2025 | Half Yours | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Jamie Melham | 3:22.46 |
| 2024 | Knight’s Choice | John Symons & Shelia Laxon | Robbie Dolan | 3:19.53 |
| 2023 | Without A Fight | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Mark Zahra | 3:18.37 |
| 2022 | Gold Trip | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Mark Zahra | 3:24.04 |
| 2021 | Verry Elleegant | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 3:17.43 |
| 2020 | Twilight Payment | Joseph O’Brien | Jye McNeil | 3:17.34 |
| 2019 | Vow And Declare | Danny O’Brien | Craig Williams | 3:24.76 |
| 2018 | Cross Counter | Charlie Appleby | Kerrin McEvoy | 3:21.17 |
| 2017 | Rekindling | Joseph O’Brien | Corey Brown | 3:21.19 |
| 2016 | Almandin | Robert Hickmott | Kerrin McEvoy | 3:20.58 |
| 2015 | Prince Of Penzance | Darren Weir | Michelle Payne | 3:23.15 |
| 2014 | Protectionist | Andreas Wohler | Ryan Moore | 3:17.71 |
| 2013 | Fiorente | Gai Waterhouse | Damien Oliver | 3:20.30 |
| 2012 | Green Moon | Robert Hickmott | Brett Prebble | 3:20.45 |
| 2011 | Dunaden | Mikel Delzangles | Christophe Lemaire | 3:20.84 |
| 2010 | Americain | Alain de Royer Dupre | Gerald Mosse | 3:26.87 |
| 2009 | Shocking | Mark Kavanagh | Corey Brown | 3:23.87 |
| 2008 | Viewed | Bart Cummings | Blake Shinn | 3:20.40 |
| 2007 | Efficient | Graeme Rogerson | Michael Rodd | 3:23.34 |
| 2006 | Delta Blues | Katsuhiko Sumii | Yasunari Iwata | 3:21.42 |
| 2005 | Makybe Diva | Lee Freedman | Glen Boss | 3:19.79 |
| 2004 | Makybe Diva | Lee Freedman | Glen Boss | 3:28.55 |
| 2003 | Makybe Diva | David Hall | Glen Boss | 3:19.90 |
| 2002 | Media Puzzle | Dermot K Weld | Damien Oliver | 3:16.97 |
| 2001 | Ethereal | Sheila Laxon | Scott Seamer | 3:21.08 |
| 2000 | Brew | Michael Moroney | Kerrin McEvoy | 3:18.68 |
| 1999 | Rogan Josh | Bart Cummings | John Marshall | 3:19.64 |