Melbourne Cup 2026: Runner by runner guide
The $10 million Melbourne Cup is still the race that stops a nation – though its nature has changed in the past few decades to the point where it’s now more a high-class staying contest which attracts a slew of international contenders.
For so long, this was the battlers’ race, where a lightly raced but tough stayer trained away from the big smoke and often of Kiwi descent could match it with the big stars on the unmatched stage of Flemington on the first Tuesday in November.
Some of the romance has been sucked out of the race by the lure of big dollars and reflected glory; these days, it’s becoming rare for the battling trainers to even get a runner. This year for example the powerful Ciaron Maher stable, probably the second-most-powerful in the country behind the Chris Waller camp, has seven runners.
Nonetheless it remains a wonderful spectacle, even if it is harder than ever to decipher from a betting point of view.
Our racing team has run an eye over this year’s field to give you a simple rundown of each runner, plus our free tips for the big race.
Read on for our Melbourne Cup tips for Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Runner by runner guide
Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m)
1 Sons And Lovers (3)
Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Betting odds: $21Best win: Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap (3000m)
Why it can win: Brings authentic European Group-level staying credentials having triumphed over 3000m in Riyadh. Despite carrying top weight, he is battle-hardened, lands gets a soft run from barrier three, and hails from a stable renowned for targeting and claiming Australian staying features.
2 Trustyourinstinct (18)
Jockey: James McDonald
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Betting odds: $8Best win: Group 2 Curragh Cup (2816m)
Why it can win: Ultra-consistent international performer which arrives off a fine fourth in the Irish St Leger. He relishes gruelling distances, gets substantial weight relief from his European runs, and has the world’s best jockey James McDonald to help him overcome the tricky wide gate.
3 Knight’s Choice (2)
Jockey: Robbie Dolan
Trainer: John Symons & Sheila Laxon
Betting odds: $41Best win: Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m, 2024)
Why it can win: The 2024 Cup champion knows exactly what it takes to peak on the first Tuesday of November. Barrier two ensures he can be switched off along the inside without spending energy, setting him up for another booming late finish if gaps emerge.
4 Middle Earth (1)
Jockey: Mark Zahra
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Betting odds: $14Best win: Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) / Group 3 Aston Park Stakes (2400m)
Why it can win: Ran third in this event last year and has been set to peak here again. He produced terrific late sectional splits in both the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate, draws barrier one, and has three-time Cup winner Mark Zahra steering.
5 Vauban (22)
Jockey: Jordan Childs
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Betting odds: $61Best win: Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3300m)
Why it can win: Lining up for his fourth Melbourne Cup assault, he has proven elite staying endurance at European level. Now locally conditioned by Waterhouse and Bott, he possesses the raw engine to cause a massive boilover if allowed to settle comfortably.
6 Enfjaar (8)
Jockey: Ray Dawson
Trainer: Roger Varian
Betting odds: $17Best win: Group 3 Glorious Stakes (2400m)
Why it can win: A lightly raced international stayer with a turn of foot, arriving on fresh legs. From barrier eight, he maps to secure a textbook midfield trailing run, making him a major threat if he stretches his acceleration to two miles.
7 Royal Supremacy (21)
Jockey: Ben Allen
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Betting odds: $51Best win: Group 2 The Q22 (2200m)
Why it can win: A gritty performer with a stout pedigree who has regularly matched motors with top-class Group horses. If the race becomes a brutally run test of stamina that grinds down the speedier rivals, his tenacity will keep him in the mix.
8 Wine Dark Sea (23)
Jockey: Damian Lane
Trainer: Harry Charlton
Betting odds: $51Best win: Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2670m)
Why it can win: Possesses high-class staying lines from the UK and secures premier hoop Damian Lane. He is a natural stayer who will relish the 3200m trip and keep galloping strongly through the line.
9 Asterix (6)
Jockey: Jye McNeil
Trainer: Chris Waller
Betting odds: $71Best win: Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m)
Why it can win: Group 1 classic winner who gets the magic touch of master trainer Chris Waller and Cup-winning rider Jye McNeil. Drawing low in gate six allows him to conserve energy and figure late at blowout odds.
10 Goodie Two Shoes (19)
Jockey: Wayne Lordan
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Betting odds: $26Best win: Listed Martin Molony Stakes (2500m)
Why it can win: Tough and versatile Irish mare which rarely runs a bad race over genuine staying trips. Joseph O’Brien’s stable excels at preparing horses to peak on the day.
11 Juja Kibo (14)
Jockey: Sam Clipperton
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Betting odds: $11Best win: Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m)
Why it can win: Enters on an impressive winning streak including a dominant display in The Metropolitan and the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. He possesses a devastating finishing burst that can mow down rivals over Flemington’s long straight.
12 Hopewell Rock (15)
Jockey: Zac Lloyd
Trainer: George Boughey
Betting odds: $11Best win: Group 3 St Simon Stakes (2400m)
Why it can win: Promising young European stayer carrying a featherweight 54.5kg with in-form Zac Lloyd aboard. He brings progressive formlines, travels smoothly, and has been specifically targeted at this contest with plenty of upside.
13 Onesmoothoperator (13)
Jockey: Declan Bates
Trainer: Tim Fitzsimmons
Betting odds: $41Best win: Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m, 2024)
Why it can win: Proven two-mile handicap performer with an abundance of natural stamina. He can sit comfortably in the second half of the field and unwind a steady, relentless surge when other runners tire in the closing stages.
14 Soul Of Spain (5)
Jockey: Tommy Berry
Trainer: Chris Waller
Betting odds: $34
Best win: Listed VRC St Leger (2800m)
Why it can win: Waller-trained stayer blessed with barrier five and Tommy Berry in the saddle. His pedigree screams stamina, and he has shown in his lead-up trials that a true staying tempo brings out his absolute best.
15 Zahrann (11)
Jockey: Ben Melham
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Betting odds: $26Best win: Group 3 Bart Cummings (2500m)
Why it can win: Powerful import from the Maher yard which secured qualification with a stout win earlier this spring. He makes his own luck settling near the speed and will give a mighty kick entering the home straight.
16 So You Are (7)
Jockey: Rachel King
Trainer: Bjorn Baker
Betting odds: $26Best win: Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m)
Why it can win: Highly progressive stayer that has strung together multiple impressive victories this campaign. From gate seven, Rachel King can place him in the prime striking position with just 54kg on his back.
17 Future History (12)
Jockey: Jamie Melham
Trainer: Gregory Hickman
Betting odds: $67Best win: Group 3 Bart Cummings (2500m)
Why it can win: Seasoned warrior which has contested top staying races for seasons and runs well at Flemington. He gets the services of last year’s Cup-winning rider Jamie Melham and carries a lightweight 53.5kg.
18 James J Braddock (24)
Jockey: Craig Williams
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Betting odds: $11Best win: Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes (2400m)
Why it can win: Another dangerous Irish raider from Joseph O’Brien with tremendous upside. Despite the outside barrier, Craig Williams has the tactical guile to slot in, and the horse’s turn of foot makes him a standout contender.
19 Kizlyar (20)
Jockey: Beau Mertens
Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
Betting odds: $34Best win: Listed Stanerra Stakes (2800m)
Why it can win: An out-and-out two-miler which excels when the pace is genuine and conditions are testing. With only 53.5kg to shoulder, he will outstay many more fancied rivals if the race is run at a furious clip.
20 Point Of Law (9)
Jockey: Ethan Brown
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Betting odds: $7Best win: Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m)
Why it can win: Current race favourite which booked his ticket with an emphatic Australian debut win in the Geelong Cup. Bred by King Charles III, the son of Frankel drops to a featherweight 53kg, draws ideally in barrier nine, and has huge upside.
21 Strictly Business (4)
Jockey: Dean Yendall
Trainer: Thomas Carberry
Betting odds: $151Best win: Listed Andrew Ramsden (2800m)
Why it can win: Genuine lightweight roughie from gate four with veteran lightweight rider Dean Yendall steering. He will save every inch of ground on the rail and has proved he stays every metre of the distance.
22 Mr Monaco (16)
Jockey: Jabez Johnstone
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Betting odds: $26
Best win: Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m)
Why it can win: Sneaks into the field down in the weights with 52.5kg for the powerhouse Maher stable. He has displayed steady staying progress this spring and can sustain a long run from the 800m mark.
23 Zakouma (10)
Jockey: William Pike
Trainer: Grahame Begg
Betting odds: $51Best win: Listed Roy Higgins (2600m)
Why it can win: Master trainer Grahame Begg has geared this entire campaign toward Flemington. He secures the services of champion jockey William Pike, carries just 52kg, and draws barrier 10, historically one of the Cup’s most successful gates.
24 Shockletz (17)
Jockey: Harry Coffey
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Betting odds: $11Best win: Group 3 Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m)
Why it can win: Carries the bottom weight of 51kg, giving her a massive handicap advantage against male rivals. This progressive mare has attracted heavy market support and finishes off her races with tremendous gusto.
Melbourne Cup tips 2026
Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m)
The Melbourne Cup is never an easy race to find the winner of, and the 2026 edition is more difficult than most, with (20) Point Of Law solid in the market as favourite but with good each-way odds available. Ciaron Maher has seven runners with many of them fancied so it’s a good idea to see where the late money on his runners go. In fact, just two trainers – Maher and Irishman Joseph O’Brien – are responsible for half the field, 12 runners. It’s always a good idea to watch the betting and it’s even more important under this scenario. (16) So You Are is in red-hot form with four wins on the bounce and has been well backed but we have a class doubt on the gelding. (2) Trustyourinstinct has a great winning strike but has a rough draw that will fully test the skills of James McDonald, while (11) Juja Kibo is also drawn awkwardly but is flying of late. There should be plenty of speed on with half a dozen potential leaders, meaning you probably need to find a horse with no doubts of running a strong 3200m. The like of (4) Middle Earth, (10) Goodie Two Shoes and (24) Shockletz look suited. (12) Hopewell Rock is a lightly raced, progressive type, just the sort of import that have a great record in the Cup over the past decade.
Brad McGrath tips: 20,12,4,24. Best bet: Point Of Law each-way but it’s a better race for a trifecta or even first four. Stand out your pick and go wide with the placegetters!.
