The worldwide brigade are nicely positioned to as soon as once more seize the Melbourne Cup, with main probabilities equivalent to Vauban and Onesmootheroperator faring nicely at Saturday’s barrier draw.
Buckaroo, a former European now educated in Australia, is main the native cohort however must overcome barrier 21 to win for champion coach Chris Waller.
Discover our interactive type information to all of the horses set to line up within the 164th Melbourne Cup.
$7: 1. Vauban
7yo gelding (France) | Barrier 11 | 55.5kg
Jockey: William Buick | Coach: Willie Mullins
Vauban is out for redemption after his much-hyped look final 12 months ended with a well-beaten 14th as favorite behind With out A Combat.
Legendary Irish coach Willie Mullins has despatched him again following a victory within the Lonsdale Cup (3,319m) and a second behind champion stayer Kyprios in September’s Irish St Leger (2,816m).
Much less depth on this 12 months’s Cup means a replica of Vauban’s greatest type actually places him among the many main contenders — however can punters belief him after final 12 months’s disappointment?
Vauban is a part of a two-pronged assault on the Cup for Mullins, who’ll additionally saddle up final 12 months’s seventh-place finisher Absurde.
$5.50 fav: 2. Buckaroo
6yo gelding (Nice Britain) | Barrier 21 | 54.5kg
Jockey: Joao Moreira | Coach: Chris Waller
Chris Waller has this former Irish-trained galloper racing in nice type this spring, amassing victories within the Chelmsford Stakes (1,600m) and Underwood Stakes (1,800m).
He then ran a slender second to Through Sistina within the Turnbull Stakes (2,000m) — that type reads fairly nicely contemplating the star mare then went out and demolished her rivals by eight lengths within the Cox Plate (2,040m).
Buckaroo is an unknown amount over the three,200 metres however closed off strongly for second within the Caulfield Cup (2,400m) when he arguably might need received with extra luck in working.
He is developed a great affiliation with the “Magic Man” Joao Moreira, who’s trying to go one higher than runner-up finishes in 2016 and 2023.
$34: 3. Circle Of Fireplace
5yo stallion (Nice Britain) | Barrier 24 | 54.5kg
Jockey: Mark Zahra | Coach: Ciaron Maher
At solely his third Australian begin, Circle Of Fireplace received the Chairmans Handicap (2,600m) on a moist observe in April and backed it up per week later by outstaying his rivals, together with Athabascan, to win the Sydney Cup (3,200m).
This former English galloper has hasn’t figured within the end at his three runs this spring; his most up-to-date a tenth, crushed 14 lengths, within the Caulfield Cup (2,400m).
Ciaron Maher, nevertheless, is a grasp at timing his horses to peak on the large day so an improved exhibiting over Tuesday’s 3,200m journey will not shock.
Circle Of Fireplace can be partnered by Mark Zahra who’s going for a hat-trick of Cup wins after victories aboard Gold Journey (2022) and With out A Combat (2023).
$34: 4. Warp Pace
6yo stallion (Japan) | Barrier 3 | 54.5kg
Jockey: Akira Sugawara | Coach: Noboru Takagi
Warp Pace is flying the flag for Japan this 12 months and will definitely admire the gap rise to three,200 metres on Tuesday.
It has been a 12 months for the reason that six-year-old’s final win, however he raced creditably within the Japanese spring which culminated with a fifth within the wealthy Tenno Sho (3,200m) in April.
Warp Pace’s first run in Australia was a well-beaten thirteenth on unsuitable moist floor within the Caulfield Cup (2,400m), trailing behind the likes of Buckaroo, Land Legend and Zardozi.
Coach Noboru Takagi is anticipating an improved efficiency on the larger Flemington observe and does not need to see any rain earlier than the Cup.
$21: 5. Kovalica
5yo gelding (New Zealand) | Barrier 17 | 53.5kg
Jockey: Damian Lane | Coach: Chris Waller
This Chris Waller-trained five-year-old has proven loads of means however is struggling to search out his subsequent win — his final victory was the Queensland Derby (2,400m) in Could 2023.
Kovalica has persistently raced within the highest grades and was fourth within the Epsom Handicap (1,600m) final month earlier than working second within the Hill Stakes (1,900m).
He settled on the tail of the sector and was honest via the road when ending sixth within the Cox Plate (2,040m) behind stablemate Through Sistina simply over per week in the past.
Regardless of being untested past 2,400 metres, and having upset punters a number of instances previously, it’s a must to respect Waller’s judgement to contemplate Kovalica worthy of a Cup tilt.
$71: 6. Sharp ‘N’ Good
5yo gelding (New Zealand) | Barrier 15 | 53.5kg
Jockey: Michael Dee | Trainers: Graeme & Debbie Rogerson
Sharp ‘N’ Good is making an attempt to recapture the shape that noticed him win three Group 1 races as a three-year-old, highlighted by the New Zealand Derby (2,400m) in March 2023.
A blood an infection ruined a lot of his four-year-old season however his co-trainer, Graeme Rogerson, is hopeful of a ahead exhibiting on Tuesday.
Sharp ‘N’ Good final appeared for an improved third within the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m) simply over per week in the past behind Okita Soushi and can carry much less weight.
Victory would cap an emotional 12 months for Rogerson (a Cup winner with Environment friendly in 2007), who underwent life-saving coronary heart surgical procedure earlier this 12 months.
His spouse, Debbie, is overseeing Sharp ‘N’ Good’s preparation as Rogerson continues his restoration.
$34: 7. Simply High-quality
7yo gelding (Eire) | Barrier 13 | 53kg
Jockey: Jye McNeil | Trainers: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
This former English-trained gelding burst onto the scene final spring with a string of hard-running victories, however a 12 months later he is struggling for consistency.
Simply High-quality kicked off his present marketing campaign with stable efforts over shorter distances, earlier than he booked a Cup berth with a slender win within the Bart Cummings (2,520m) in September.
Nonetheless he did not again up that front-running efficiency when tiring badly within the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m) to complete final, 10 lengths behind Cup rival Okita Soushi.
Jockey Jye McNeil has tasted Cup success aboard a entrance runner (Twilight Cost, 2020), whereas Corridor of Fame coach Gai Waterhouse is in search of a second after Fiorente saluted in 2013.
$15: 8. Land Legend
5yo gelding (France) | Barrier 18 | 53kg
Jockey: Zac Purton | Coach: Chris Waller
One of many main “native” hopes, this former European received his first Australian begin within the St Leger (2,600m) in Sydney final spring.
Now educated by Chris Waller, the five-year-old broke via for his maiden Group 1 victory by prevailing over Zardozi in an exhilarating end to the Metropolitan (2,400m) at Randwick final month.
Land Legend backed that up within the Caulfield Cup (2,400m) a fortnight in the past, preventing on for third though being no match for Duke De Sessa and Buckaroo.
Jockey Zac Purton reported the horse raced too keenly at Caulfield and he’ll not need a repeat if he is to see out the three,200 metres on Tuesday.
$10: 9. Absurde
7yo gelding (France) | Barrier 7 | 52.5kg
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy | Coach: Willie Mullins
For the second 12 months working, Absurde is accompanying stablemate Vauban as a part of of a twin assault on the Cup by grasp Irish coach Willie Mullins.
The seven-year-old was the topic of robust market assist final 12 months and beat Vauban residence when seventh behind With out A Combat.
Absurde comes into this 12 months’s Cup after 4 runs in Europe, together with a win over hurdles and making easy work of the Chester Stakes (2,916m) in August.
He’ll have the companies of the winningest jockey on this 12 months’s Cup, Kerrin McEvoy, who saluted aboard Brew (2000), Almandin (2016) and Cross Counter (2018).
$51: 10. Athabascan
6yo gelding (France) | Barrier 2 | 52kg
Jockey: Zac Lloyd | Trainers: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
Athabascan, a former French galloper, narrowly missed out on a Cup begin in 2023 and comes into it this 12 months as certainly one of solely a handful of horses with a last-start win.
He appreciated a drop in grade to prevail narrowly within the St Leger (2,600m) in Sydney a fortnight in the past, leaving Cup rival Belief In You in fourth.
The victory, nevertheless, was an enchancment on his tenth place within the Metropolitan (2,400m) behind Land Legend and Zardozi on October 5.
Tuesday’s race will pose a a lot harder problem than final begin, though Athabascan does boast a second putting over 3,200 metres behind Circle Of Fireplace within the Sydney Cup.
$101: 11. Knight’s Selection
5yo gelding (Australia) | Barrier 6 | 51.5kg
Jockey: Robbie Dolan | Trainers: John Symons & Sheila Laxon
Knight’s Selection has carried out most of his racing in Queensland and confirmed promise earlier in his profession, claiming races just like the Winx Guineas (1,600m) in 2023.
He recorded a number of placings throughout this 12 months’s Brisbane winter carnival however has struggled when stepped as much as the elite degree in Melbourne this marketing campaign.
The five-year-old completed final behind Through Sistina and Buckaroo within the Turnbull Stakes (2,000m) earlier than a well-beaten 14th within the Caulfield Cup (2,400m) a fortnight in the past.
Knight’s Selection ran an improved fifth, albeit in weaker grade, in final Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup (2,400m), ending 5 lengths adrift of Sea King.
Sheila Laxon, who now co-trains Knight’s Selection along with her husband John Symons, landed a well-known Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double with Ethereal in 2001.
$23: 12. Okita Soushi
7yo stallion (Eire) | Barrier 10 | 51kg
Jockey: Jamie Kah | Coach: Ciaron Maher
Okita Soushi contested the Cup final 12 months, ending eleventh when ready by Irish coach Joseph O’Brien.
Now with the Ciaron Maher secure, the evenly raced seven-year-old is hitting type on the proper time as evidenced by a second putting within the Herbert Energy Stakes (2,400m) on October 12.
He then made an early sprint for residence and outstayed his rivals, together with Sharp ‘N’ Good and St George, to win the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m) simply over per week in the past.
Racing near the tempo is bringing one of the best out of Okita Soushi, so count on one other constructive journey from Jamie Kah as she goals to higher her third place aboard Prince Of Arran in 2020.
$8: 13. Onesmooth operator
7yo gelding (United States) | Barrier 12 | 51kg
Jockey: Craig Williams | Coach: Brian Ellison
English runner Onesmoothoperator rocketed up Cup betting markets following his spectacular two-length victory within the Geelong Cup (2,400m) the place he trounced the likes of Interpretation and The Map.
The race at Geelong has been a great pipe opener for abroad raiders over time — Media Puzzle (2002), Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011) did the Cups double.
Considered one of Onesmoothoperator’s key runs earlier than coming to Australia was a seventh within the prestigious Ebor Handicap (2,816m) in August, the type of which was franked when Cup rival Sea King simply defeated the locals in final Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup (2,400m).
Onesmoothoperator has been cleared to race regardless of a minor damage scare and betting suggests punters imagine he has the measure of lots of the locals.
$17: 14. Zardozi
4yo mare (Australia) | Barrier 4 | 51kg
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni | Coach: James Cummings
The Cummings identify is synonymous with the Melbourne Cup and this 12 months Bart’s grandson, James, is wanting so as to add one other Cup to the dynasty.
The winner of final 12 months’s Victoria Oaks, Zardozi was a slender second to Land Legend within the Metropolitan (2,400m) in Sydney final month.
She adopted that with fourth behind Buckaroo (second) and Land Legend (third) within the Caulfield Cup (2,400m) a fortnight in the past.
Zardozi is the lone Cup runner to have a standard hit-out on Derby Day, and she or he produced a slashing end for fifth within the Empire Rose Stakes (1,600m).
Take into account that of the 45 mares to run within the Cup since 2005, solely Excessive Emocean (2022) and Verry Elleegant (2021) have completed prime three.
$9: 15. Sea King
6yo gelding (Nice Britain) | Barrier 1 | 50kg
Jockey: Hollie Doyle | Coach: Harry Eustace
English raider Sea King created an enormous impression on his Australian bow when streeting clear for a dominant win in final Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup (2,400m).
It was virtually a carbon copy of the efficiency of fellow abroad runner Onesmoothoperator, which made mild work of the locals within the Geelong Cup (2,400m) per week earlier.
There was nothing between Sea King and his “clean” rival when sixth and seventh respectively within the prestigious Ebor Handicap (2,816m) again in August — and punters are having a tough time splitting them right here on Tuesday.
Sea King could have the companies of record-breaking British jockey Hollie Doyle who’d expect a greater consequence than her fifteenth aboard Future Historical past final 12 months.
$61: 16. Valiant King
5yo gelding (Nice Britain) | Barrier 22 | 50.5kg
Jockey: Craig Newitt | Coach: Chris Waller
Champion coach Chris Waller holds this former Irish staying expertise in good regard, giving him loads of time to settle after arriving Down Beneath final spring.
And whereas Valiant King is being introduced alongside slowly this marketing campaign with the Cup in thoughts, his type hasn’t set the world on hearth — he was a distant ninth final begin within the Caulfield Cup (2,400m) behind Duke De Sessa and stablemate Buckaroo.
The five-year-old could also be one of many roughies on Tuesday however you may by no means low cost Waller, who educated Sheraz into third at 150-1 final 12 months.
Valiant King can also be one for these punters who wish to have a flutter on the greys, however be thoughts conscious that solely six have received the Cup in 163 runnings, the newest being Environment friendly in 2007.
$81: 17. Fancy Man
7yo gelding (Eire) | Barrier 19 | 50kg
Jockey: Ron Stewart | Trainers: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
This former English galloper has been with Annabel Neasham for nearly two years however has simply the one win to this point Down Beneath.
That success got here 12 months in the past towards a modest area within the Queensland Cup (2,400m).
However Fancy Man has been removed from disgraced in his three runs this spring, one of the best of which was a 3rd behind Herman Hesse and Okita Soushi within the Herbert Energy Stakes (2,400m).
He backed up per week later and held his floor within the straight for sixth behind the likes of Buckaroo and Land Legend within the Caulfield Cup (2,400m).
$15: 18. Interpretation
7yo gelding (Eire) | Barrier 14 | 50kg
Jockey: Teo Nugent | Coach: Ciaron Maher
Interpretation has survived an damage scare to line up within the Cup for a 3rd time for coach Ciaron Maher.
The previous Irish galloper failed to complete at his first try in 2022 however completed strongly from the tail of the sector when sixth final 12 months behind With out A Combat.
This spring he obtained nicely again and ran on for sixth behind Simply High-quality within the Bart Cummings (2,520m), and was once more one of the best of the late closers when runner-up to Onesmoothoperator within the Geelong Cup (2,400m), albeit over two lengths adrift.
Whereas Interpretation is shaping up for one more robust exhibiting, his profitable strike fee is a priority; victory in final 12 months’s Bendigo Cup (2,400m) is his solely success since 2021.
$51: 19. Manzoice
5yo gelding (Australia) | Barrier 8 | 50kg
Jockey: Declan Bates | Coach: Chris Waller
It has been a very long time between drinks for Manzoice — the truth is he has solely received two races, the newest of which was his Victoria Derby (2,500m) in 2022.
He comes into the Cup following a tenth behind Simply High-quality within the Bart Cummings (2,520m) and a battling seventh within the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m) behind Okita Soushi.
Whereas Manzoice has proven an occasional glimpse of his greatest type since his Derby triumph, his odds counsel punters have little religion of a win on Tuesday.
Victoria Derby winners have a poor report within the Cup — the one horse previously 50 years to win each races was Environment friendly in 2007.
$101: 20. Principally Cloudy
6yo gelding (Eire) | Barrier 16 | 50kg
Jockey: Karis Teetan | Trainers: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Younger
Principally Cloudy has been a constant performer since he was imported from England a few years in the past.
In that point he is solely received one race however has not been crushed far in races just like the Andrew Ramsden (2,800m) and Brisbane Cup (3,200m).
He is made his approach into the Cup regardless of falling brief in golden-ticket races just like the Archer Stakes (fourth) and the Bart Cummings (2,520m) when he completed twelfth behind Simply High-quality when not dealing with the gentle observe.
Principally Cloudy will fly the flag for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Younger after their extra fancied hopefuls Muramasa and Brayden Star have been dominated unfit to race by the stewards.
$101: 21. Positivity
4yo mare (New Zealand) | Barrier 20 | 50kg
Jockey: Winona Costin | Coach: Andrew Forsman
New Zealand coach Andrew Forsman saddles up Positivity, a winner of the SA Fillies Traditional (2,500m) in Could and certainly one of three mares to contest this 12 months’s Cup.
Plans to run her within the Caulfield Cup (2,400m) have been scuppered by a hoof difficulty, however she turned out per week later and weakened into sixth within the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m) behind Okita Soushi.
Whereas Positivity will take enchancment from that run, remember that of the 45 mares to run within the Cup since 2005, solely Excessive Emocean (2022) and Verry Elleegant (2021) have completed prime three.
She can be Forsman’s first Cup runner since his coaching partnership with Murray Baker ended; their journeyman stayer The Chosen One contested three Cups, together with his greatest consequence a fourth in 2020.
$34: 22. Saint George
5yo stallion (Nice Britain) | Barrier 9 | 50kg
Jockey: Tyler Schiller | Coach: Ciaron Maher
This former English-trained galloper made his approach into the sector as a number of rivals fell by the wayside as a consequence of health issues.
A placegetter at Royal Ascot early in his profession, Saint George caught the attention with two promising runs earlier this spring however then completed ninth behind Simply High-quality within the Bart Cummings (2,520m).
He hit the road extra convincingly final begin when fifth behind Okita Soushi within the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m), indicating he’ll relish the step as much as 3,200 metres.
For anybody trying to again a gray horse, Saint George is certainly one of two within the area — however solely six have received the Cup in 163 runnings, the newest being Environment friendly in 2007.
$41: 23. The Map
6yo mare (Australia) | Barrier 23 | 50kg
Jockey: Rachel King | Coach: Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray
A number of hours earlier than final 12 months’s large race, The Map received the “Cup comfort” over 2,800 metres in a her show of her staying potential.
Quick-forward six months and the then-five-year-old received a golden ticket into the Cup with victory within the Andrew Ramsden (2,800m) forward of Principally Cloudy.
Harm posed a slight hiccup to The Map’s spring marketing campaign however she goes into Tuesday on the again of an excellent sixth within the Geelong Cup (2,400m) behind Onesmoothoperator and Interpretation.
Whereas she does have a liking for Flemington, be conscious that of the 45 mares to run within the Cup since 2005, solely Excessive Emocean (2022) and Verry Elleegant (2021) have completed prime three.
$101: 24. Belief In You
6yo gelding (New Zealand) | Barrier 5 | 50kg
Jockey: Mark Du Plessis | Trainers: Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley
New Zealand challenger Belief In You has raced as soon as over 3,200 metres, ending sixth within the Auckland Cup behind one-time Cup contender Mahrajaan.
The gelding has had three runs in Australia, one of the best of which was a stable fourth, crushed three lengths, behind Land Legend and Zardozi within the Metropolitan (2,400m).
Belief In You then had each probability when a weakening fourth behind Athabascan within the St Leger (2,600m) a fortnight in the past.
Bruce Wallace isn’t any stranger to bringing horses throughout the Tasman however punters seem to have little belief in his runner on Tuesday.
