Melbourne Cup Nominations 2025

Melbourne Cup Field 2025

The official Melbourne Cup 2025 field of final acceptances is announced by the VRC on the Saturday prior to the race following the action of Victoria Derby Day, Saturday November 1, 2025, 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 Lexus Melbourne Cup 2025 final field and barriers are now out with Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours the narrow favourite drawn well in barrier 8.

2025 melbourne cup news & Field Updates

Stay tuned for the breaking news on the horses and jockeys that are in and out of the Melbourne Cup 2025 field this spring.

Notable Withdrawals 

• Knight’s Choice: The 2024 Cup winner has been ruled out due to illness and quarantine restrictions at Macedon Lodge.
• Via Sistina: Chris Waller’s equal 59kg topweight for the 2025 Melbourne Cup was taken out at second acceptance stage and will focus on her Ladbrokes Cox Plate title defence
• Sir Delius: Standout Underwood Stakes – Turnbull Stakes double champ for Waterhouse & Bott was forced to withdraw from the Melbourne Cup (for which he was all-in favourite to win) and the Cox Plate on vet’s orders.

Likely Melbourne Cup 2025 Field

See below for the likely 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup field and jockeys as of 27/10/2025. 

melbourne cup JOCKEYS 2025

The official 2025 Melbourne Cup jockeys must be declared by 4:30pm (Melbourne time) on Saturday the 1st of November 2025 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 2025 field.

Confirmed 2025 Melbourne Cup Jockeys

• Mark Zahra – Al Riffa (Joseph O’Brien)
• Damian Lane – Chevalier Rose (Hisashi Shimizu)
• John Velazquez – Parchment Party (William Mott)
• Celine Gaudray – Torranzino (Paul Preusker)
• James McDonald – Meydaan (Simon & Ed Crisford)
• Rachel King – Arapaho (Bjorn Baker)
• Kerrin McEvoy – Absurde (Willie Mullins)
• Thore Hammer-Hansen – Flatten The Curve (Henk Grewe)
• Jamie Melham – Half Yours (Tony & Calvin McEvoy
• Stephane Pasquier – Presage Nocturne (Alessandro Botti)
• Blake Shinn – Vauban (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott)
• Ethan Brown – Middle Earth (Ciaron Maher)
• Tim Clark – Changingoftheguard (Kris Lees)
• Tommy Berry – More Felons (Chris Waller)
• Michale Dee – Furthur (Andrew Balding)
• Harry Coffey – Onesmoothoperator (Brian Ellison)
• Declan Bates – Athabascan (John O’Shea & Tom Charlton)
• Wayne Lordan – Goodie Two Shoes (Joseph O’Brien)
• Beau Mertens – River Of Stars (Chris Waller)
• Robbie Dolan – Royal Supremacy (Ciaron Maher)
• Jye McNeil – Valiant King (Chris Waller)
• Craig Williams – Buckaroo (Chris Waller)
• Ben Melham – Smokin’ Romans (Ciaron Maher)
• Joao Moreira – Land Legend (Chris Waller)

Mark Zahra to ride Al Riffa: Zahra has been locked in to ride the 59kg topweight, Irish raider Al Riffa, in his bid at a third Melbourne Cup trophy in four years. Zahra famously went back-to-back on Gold Trip (2022) and Without A Fight (2023) and gets a chance to partner one of the best in betting in 2025 with Joesph O’Brien’s galloper coming off a dominant four-length win in the Group 1 Irish St Leger to stamp his credentials as a genuine Cup contender.

John Velazuez to ride Parchment Party: American Hall of Fame jockey Velazuez will be down under for the historic ride on Parchment Party when William Mott’s Belmont Gold Cup winner becomes the first US trained horse to contest the Melbourne Cup.

Damian Lane to ride Chevalier Rose: Lane is set to partner Hisashi Shimizu’s Japanese raider in the Cup field with the veteran Deep Impact eight-year-old a proven Group 2 winner up to 3600m.

Celine Gaudray to ride Torranzino: Gaudry will make her Melbourne Cup debut aboard Torranzino after the duo combined to claim a golden ticket entry into the ‘race that stops a nation’ via a Ladbrokes Geelong Cup upset on October 23.

James McDonald to ride Meydaan: J-Mac has been confirmed as the new rider for UK raider Meydaan. Meydaan, a five-year-old by Frankel, was previously ridden by Andrea Atzeni in the Caulfield Cup, where he finished ninth after a tough run caught three-wide from barrier five. Despite missing Derby Day to ride Autumn Glow in the $10 million Golden Eagle, McDonald will be at Flemington for Cup week and now takes over the reins on Meydaan.

Rachel King to ride Arapaho: Rachel King has been confirmed to ride Arapaho in the 2025 Melbourne Cup. The experienced jockey reunites with the Bjorn Baker-trained stayer, who earned his spot in the Cup field after consistent performances this spring. Arapaho, known for his staying ability and toughness highlighted by his Sydney Cup win, will be looking to improve on his previous Cup effort when 11^th to Gold Trip in 2022, and King’s familiarity with the horse is a major asset heading into the big race.

Kerrin McEvoy to ride Absurde: McEvoy has been confirmed to ride Absurde, teaming up with the Willie Mullins-trained Irish stayer who’s back for his third crack at the race after finishing seventh in 2023 and fifth in 2024. McEvoy, a three-time Cup winner, was impressed with Absurde during trackwork at Werribee, noting the gelding’s sharpness and maturity. Absurde arrived off a strong third in the Irish St. Leger and comes in via a Caulfield Cup 7th.

Thore Hammer-Hansen to ride Flatten The Curve: Thore Hammer-Hansen has been confirmed to ride German raider Flatten The Curve in Cup. The Danish-born jockey, who’s been making waves in Australia, will partner the dour stayer trained by Henk Grewe. Flatten The Curve is proven up to 3700m overseas and recently won back-to-back races over two miles or further including a 3319m event by 5.5 lengths with 57kg back in August.

Jamie Melham to ride Half Yours: Jamie Melham is confirmed to ride Half Yours who is out to become just the 13^th horse in history to complete the Spring Cups double. The pairing comes off a historic win in the Caulfield Cup, where Melham became the first female jockey to claim victory in the prestigious 2400m spring major. Half Yours, trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, surged late to win the Caulfield Cup and earned a 2kg penalty for the Melbourne Cup, lifting his weight from 51kg to 53kg. Despite the added impost, connections have declared it’s “all systems go” for the Cup, with Melham retaining the ride.

Stephane Pasquier to ride Presage Nocturne: Pasquier will continue his partnership with the French-trained stayer after a strong showing in the Caulfield Cup. Presage Nocturne, trained by Alessandro Botti, finished a credible fourth in the 2025 Caulfield Cup, and connections have expressed confidence in his progression heading into the Melbourne Cup. The grey son of Wootton Bassett has built a solid record in Europe and now looks to peak over two miles at Flemington. Pasquier, a seasoned international jockey, retains the ride after guiding the horse through his Australian campaign, and the pair will be looking to improve on their Caulfield effort with a strong staying test in the Cup.

Blake Shinn to ride Vauban: Shinn, who rode Viewed to victory in the 2008 Melbourne Cup, will partner Irish import Vauban in the 2025 race for the Waterhouse & Bott yard. Vauban has his third Melbourne Cup tilt after a 14^th in 2023 and 11^th last year when prepared by Willie Mullins.

Ethan Brown to ride Middle Earth: Brown partnered Ciaron Maher’s import Middle Earth to finish third in the Group 3 JRA Cup at Moonee Valley, reigniting the import’s Melbourne Cup ambitions. Brown sticks aboard for the two-mile classic with Middle Earth sure to appreciate a drop in weight from 60kg to 54.5kg.

Tim Clark to ride Changingoftheguard: Clark has been confirmed to ride Changingoftheguard for trainer Kris Lees, adding another seasoned Group 1 jockey to the lineup for this year’s race. Changingoftheguard, an Irish import formerly trained by Aidan O’Brien, has won just one of his starts in Australia to date in the Listed Tatt’s Cup over 2400m at Randwick in early September and was last seen crossing fourth with 60kg behind Torranzino in the Geelong Cup.

Tommy Berry to ride More Felons: Berry has been booked to continue associations with More Felons having ridden the import for his three latest starts this prep. Trained by Chris Waller, More Felons has been steadily building toward the two-mile test at Flemington having shown promise since arriving in Australia including a strong finish in the Group 1 The Metrop (4^th) only 1.34 lengths beaten and fourth again in the Group 3 St Leger over 2600m at Randwick on October 18.

Michael Dee to ride Furthur: Dee has been confirmed to ride Furthur for British trainer Andrew Balding. The Group 3 winning grey, who races as a four-year-old down under, is one of the emerging international contenders targeting the 3200m Flemington feature. The young horse has shown solid staying form in Europe and arrives in Australia with a progressive profile suited to the Cup’s testing distance. Dee, a Caulfield Cup and Victoria Derby-winning rider, brings tactical versatility and big-race experience to the partnership.

Harry Coffey to ride Onesmoothoperator: Onesmoothoperator, trained in the UK by Brian Ellison, secured his place in the Melbourne Cup field with a dominant win in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Cox Plate eve. Mark Zahra guided the gelding to victory with a cold ride from the back, slicing through the field to win eased down — a performance that earned the horse a 1kg penalty, lifting his Cup weight to 53kg, but it is Coffey who will be aboard for the 3200m feature.

Declan Bates to ride Athabascan: Bates has been confirmed to ride OTI Racing’s Athabascan in Cup, securing a key booking for the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained stayer. Athabascan earned his place in the Cup field with his strong run for second behind Onesmoothoperator in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup atoning for his three previous unplaced spring performances.

Wayne Lordan to ride Goodie Two Shoes: Lordan has been confirmed to ride Goodie Two Shoes teaming up with trainer Joseph O’Brien for another tilt at Australia’s greatest race. Fastnet Rock mare Goodie Two Shoes, one of two Cup runners for O’Brien alongside current race favourite Al Riffa, arrives in Melbourne as an outsider in the market but with solid European staying form. Lordan’s booking adds experience with the Irish jockey having previously ridden in major races across the globe. While Al Riffa is the stable’s headline act, Goodie Two Shoes has been working well at Werribee quarantine and is expected to relish the step up to 3200m at Flemington as she’s proven up to 3419m in Europe.

Beau Mertens to ride River Of Stars: Mertens is locked in to partner Chris Waller’s Sea the Stars mare continuing his association with the seven-year-old import after partnering her huge Caulfield Cup second earlier this spring when only a half-length beaten as a 90/1 outsider. River Of Stars has emerged as a genuine staying prospect this campaign and produced a bold front-running effort in the 2025 Caulfield Cup, leading into the first turn under Mertens before being overhauled late by Half Yours. Despite finishing second, the performance was full of merit and earned her a spot in the Melbourne Cup field.

Robbie Dolan to ride Royal Supremacy: Dolan is confirmed to ride Royal Supremacy in stepping in after his original mount, Knight’s Choice, was ruled out due to a stable illness. Dolan, who famously won the 2024 Melbourne Cup aboard Knight’s Choice at odds of $91, will now partner Royal Supremacy, the Group 1 The Metropolitan winner in Sydney. Maher’s Irish-bred stayer surged into Cup contention with a powerful win at Randwick, showcasing a sharp turn of foot and strong staying ability over 2400m before a credible Caulfield Cup fifth.

Jye McNeil to ride Valiant King: McNeil will partner the flying Chris Waller trained Valiant King, continuing his association with the in-form stayer after guiding him to victory in The Bart Cummings. The Roaring Lion grey secured his place in the Melbourne Cup field with a dominant win in the Group 3 Bart Cummings (2520m) at Flemington, where McNeil produced a perfectly timed ride to storm home from off the pace and win by 2¾ lengths. That victory granted the five-year-old a ballot exemption, locking in his spot for the 3200m feature on Tuesday. McNeil, who famously won the 2020 Melbourne Cup aboard Twilight Payment, brings proven Cup-winning credentials and a calm tactical style that suits Valiant King’s strong-finishing profile. The pair will be aiming to replicate their Flemington success on the biggest stage of all. Valiant King went on to run the ideal lead-up when third in the Caulfield Cup.

Craig Williams to ride Buckaroo: Williams is confirmed to ride Buckaroo taking the reins of the Cox Plate runner-up for trainer Chris Waller. Buckaroo surged into Melbourne Cup contention after a gallant second-place finish behind Via Sistina in the Ladbrokes Cox Plate, prompting part-owner Ozzie Kheir to push for a Cup campaign. With his form peaking and a strong spring preparation that includes placings in the Underwood Stakes (2^nd) and Might And Power (3^rd), Buckaroo now shapes as a serious threat over 3200m at Flemington. Williams, a Melbourne Cup-winning jockey aboard Vow And Declare in 2019, will ride Buckaroo on 57kg.

Ben Melham to ride Smokin’ Romans: Melham is confirmed to ride Smokin’ Romans in reuniting with the Ciaron Maher-trained stayer for another crack at the two-mile classic. Smokin’ Romans, a seasoned campaigner and former Group 1 Turnbull Stakes winner from 2022, has earned his place in the Cup field following consistent performances throughout the spring. Most recently, he contested the Moonee Valley Gold Cup, where Melham partnered him over 2500m, finishing eighth behind Onesmoothoperator.

Joao Moreira to ride Land Legend: Brazilian star Moreira will partner Land Legend for Chris Waller in the 2025 Melbourne Cup, continuing his association with the lightly weighted stayer who is out to atone for back-to-back last place efforts in the Turnbull (14th) and Caulfield Cup (18th).

Melbourne Cup 2025 Barrier Draw

The official 2025 Melbourne Cup barrier draw will be released to the public on Saturday November 1, 2025, 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 2025 third acceptances

Melbourne Cup 2025 second acceptances

Melbourne Cup 2025 first acceptances

Melbourne Cup Weights 2025

Handicap conditions apply to this race. The early 2025 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.

2025 Melbourne Cup Topweights (Pre-Field):

Al Riffa

Via Sistina

The 2025 Melbourne Cup weights (handicaps) have been released with Joseph O’Brien’s Irish St Leger winner Al Riffa and the Chris Waller trained 2024 Cox Plate winning mare Via Sistina the equal 59kg topweights.

See below for the full list of Lexus Melbourne Cup weights and the Order of Entry as of 16 September 2025. 

Melbourne Cup 2025 Nominations

The 2025 Melbourne Cup nominations close on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at 12:00pm (Melbourne time).

The 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup nominations feature last year’s champion Knight’s Choice who won at 90/1 in 2024 along with Ciaron Maher’s third placegetter Okita Soushi, while master trainer Chris Waller has 27 nominees including Via Sistina.

2025 Melbourne Cup Nominations: Quick Glance

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