Quick look at the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup contenders

The 33-year-old training maestro has already won two Melbourne Cups having trained Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020) and he will have multiple runners as he’s sent the strongest squad by any overseas trainer to tackle the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

O’Brien boasts of three of the top four in the betting for the Cup with Group 2 Prix De Kergorlay (3000m) winner, Defiantly, who is current third favourite after winning a golden ticket in August at Deauville.

He also has second favourite Trustyourinstinct and James J Braddock who is equal third favourite.

Joining them will be accomplished stayer Sons And Lovers and last year’s runner-up Goodie Two Shoes. Geelong Cup placegetters Small Fry and Omni Man look very unlikely to get a start but have paid up and could chase a bonus in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Kizlyar is the other O'Brien runner sitting on the cusp of getting a run, 25th in the ballot order after an eleventh-placed finish in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Cox Plate Day.

The English stayers are headed by Caulfield Cup placegetter Enfjaar and emerging prospect Hopewell Rock.

Where does that leave the locals?

Ciaron Maher could usurp O’Brien’s attack on the race as he has an incredible 7 horses currently left in the 24.

Geelong Cup winner Point Of Law who claimed a golden ticket into the Lexus Melbourne Cup heads the market in what will be only his sixth career start.

Mr Monaco lost no admirers with a strong performance in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup after booking a spot in the Cup with his win in The Lexus Bart Cummings. He chased home stablemate Juja Kibo who booked his spot with a win in the Gold Cup, following his impressive win in Sydney in The Metropolitan. Maher also has last year’s Cup third placegetter Middle Earth, along with Zahrann and Royal Supremacy.

Tough staying mare Shockletz makes up the ten and will try to emulate her sire Shocking who won the Melbourne Cup in 2009 after winning the Archer Stakes (Hotham Handicap), which was then run on Victoria Derby Day.

Her win in the Lexus Archer Stakes guaranteed her spot in the Cup. The race moved to Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day in 2024 and was renamed the Lexus Archer Stakes.

Chris Waller has Asterix and Soul Of Spain currently in the field, with Pinhole and Valiant King sitting just on the outside of calculations and would need some things to go their way to gain a start.

Astute trainer Grahame Begg will have his first Lexus Melbourne Cup runner with Zakouma, who won his way into the race by winning the golden ticket in the Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m) in May.

The 2024 Cup winner Knight’s Choice is also likely to start and if he does his co-trainer Sheila Laxon will be out to defend her perfect Melbourne Cup record.

As it stands Laxon, who co-trains Knight’s Choice with John Symons, is the only trainer in Melbourne Cup history to have saddled up two runners for two winners as she trained Ethereal to win in 2001.

We take a look at some of the contenders from home and abroad.

Tuesday, 3 November 2026

Race 7 - Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) - 3:00pm

The race that stops a nation®

Group 1. Of $10,200,000. 1st $4,500,000, 2nd $1,110,000, 3rd $560,000, 4th $360,000, 5th $240,000, 6th to 12th $160,000, 13th to 24th $100,000

For 3YO & Upwards Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim. Field limit: 24

2026 Golden Ticket Winners

Eleven golden ticket races granted automatic entry into the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) to the winner, see the results below;

GOLDEN TICKET #1 - Lexus Roy Higgins (2600m) - WHISKY ON THE HILL (GB) *

GOLDEN TICKET #2 - Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m) - ZAKOUMA

GOLDEN TICKET #3 - Belmont Gold Cup (3219m) - TAWNY PORT (USA) *

GOLDEN TICKET #4 - Ebor Handicap (2787m) - DAIQUIRI BAY (GB) **

GOLDEN TICKET #5 - Prix Kergorlay (3000m) - DEFIANTLY (FR)

GOLDEN TICKET #6 - Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) - SHOCKLETZ (NZ)

GOLDEN TICKET #7 - Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m) - MR MONACO (GB)

GOLDEN TICKET #8 - MRC Caulfield Cup (2400m) - KINGSWOOD (GB) **

GOLDEN TICKET #9 - GRC Geelong Cup (2400m) - POINT OF LAW (GB)

GOLDEN TICKET #10 - MVRC Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) - JUJA KIBO (IRE)

GOLDEN TICKET #11 - MVRC W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) - COSMIC CRUSADER (NZ) **

*  Withdrawn from the Lexus Melbourne Cup
**  Not nominated for the Lexus Melbourne Cup

Click her for more Lexus Melbourne Cup golden ticket information.

Accomplished trainer Grahame Begg should finally get his first Lexus Melbourne Cup runner, and not only that, he’s also in with a winning chance. Zakouma emerged as a staying prospect earlier this year where he put together three impressive wins. He then ran seventh over 2000 metres at Flemington where he gave away too big a start, before winning a golden ticket into the Lexus Melbourne Cup via the Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m) on May 16 at Flemington. His strong finishing burst suggests he’ll the 3200 metres of the Cup. Begg then sent him for a short break and he has since had two starts at Caulfield for a sixth in the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) and then a fifth in the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m). He had his final Lexus Melbourne Cup lead up in the Crystal Mile (1600m) at Flemington on Cox Plate Day. He was surprisingly close in the run as he was mid-field on turning for home but struggled in the closing stages. He will be much better suited over 3200 metres.

Joseph O’Brien-trained stayer, who received a ballot exemption into the Lexus Melbourne Cup field with his powerful display of stamina to win Group 2 Prix De Kergorlay (3000m) at Deauville. He led throughout, controlling the tempo from the outset, then kicked away to hold his advantage in what was a brilliant ride from young Irish jockey, Dylan Browne McMonagle. He was just as impressive winning the Goodwood Handicap (4100m) where the tempo was on from the outset and he left his rivals in his wake. Defiantly is a half-brother to Buckaroo and Middle Earth and is a classy galloper. He is trained by Joseph O’Brien who has trained Melbourne Cup winners Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020.)

Her sire Shocking won the race in 2009 and her trainer Ciaron Maher has also tasted success in the race with Gold Trip in 2022. She secured a spot in the Melbourne Cup by winning the Archer Stakes (2500m) in September at Flemington. In an interesting twist Shocking also won the Archer Stakes which was known as the Hotham Handicap which was run four days to the Melbourne Cup and carried the only win and you’re in tag in those days. That race was renamed The Archer and shifted to the Makybe Diva Stakes program in 2024. Shockletz has won three times over 2500m and she finished strongly at her only defeat at the trip when she finished sixth in the Herbert Power Stakes. Maher put the blinkers back on her in her final lead-up run and she impressed with her fast finishing second in the Tesio Stakes (2000m) at Flemington where she recorded 11.87 seconds for her last 200m on Cox Plate Day. She’s ready to run a huge race.

Ciaron Maher ensured he had another Lexus Melbourne Cup runner when his stayer Mr Monaco took out The Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington in early October on a suitable rain affected track. The former English galloper has shown glimpses of his staying ability since joining the Maher stable in mid-2025 but has really started to hit his straps this year. He took out the Group 3 N.E. Manion Cup on a soft Rosehill track over 2400 metres in March. He had his final Lexus Melbourne Cup hit-out and underlined he’s still in form with a solid performance in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) at Flemington where he finished third behind his stablemates Juja Kibo and Kings Valley.

Ciaron Maher has another golden ticket winner to add to his impressive line-up of Lexus Melbourne Cup runners. The northern hemisphere three-year-old made an impressive Australian debut, winning the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m). At just his fifth career start, the gelding contested an early hot speed with race favourite, The Euphrates, but kicked clear from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained runner shortly after straightening, holding off the efforts of Small Fry and Omni Man, who were both chasing golden tickets for Irish trainer, Joseph O'Brien. He now boasts three wins from his fledgling career including the Group 3 Bahrain Trophy (2615m) at Newmarket after a credible fourth placing in the Group 2 Queen's Vase over 2846 metres at Royal Ascot. Currently allotted 51kg for the Lexus Melbourne Cup, he's almost certain to receive a weight penalty but has shot to outright favouritism for the great race.

The former Irish stayer is getting better with each run and he will go into the Lexus Melbourne Cup as one of the in-form horses. He followed his win in the Group 2 The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick with a powerful finishing burst to win the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) to win the final golden ticket into the Lexus Melbourne Cup. In doing so, he became the fourth Ciaron Maher horse to have won a golden ticket race, following in the footsteps of Shockletz, Mr Monaco and Point Of Law. He has been penalised 1.5kg which has taken his weight to 55kg.

Last year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup third placegetter is ready to run another big race. Ciaron Maher has trained him again to peak in the race and his form suggests that will happen. He produced the third best last 200 metres in the Caulfield Cup of 11.85 seconds. He followed that with another good Lexus Melbourne Cup trial in the Cox Plate (2040m), where he settled last and was still in that position with 200 to go before he finished on solidly to finish eighth. 

He is the best credentialled of Joseph O’Brien’s squadron aimed at the Lexus Melbourne Cup having won the Group 2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil (2800m) at Longchamp in July and earlier this year the Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap (3000m) at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. He underlined his class where he finished second in the Group 3 Kilternan Stakes (2414m) at Leopardstown before heading into quarantine for the trip to Melbourne. In that race he took up a spot behind the leaders and toughed it out well with 63.5kg on his back to finish second. He will carry 57.5kg which makes him the highest weighted horse of the international raiders. O’Brien said Sons And Lovers will be suited by 3200 metres at Flemington.

Another one of Joseph O’Brien’s attack on the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup and he has similar credentials to his previous Melbourne Cup winners. Trustyourinstinct won the Group 2 Curragh Cup (2816m) as did O’Brien’s Melbourne Cup winners Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020). He sprinted home from last in a six-horse field to win the race before his last start fourth to Scandinavia in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m), also at The Curragh. O’Brien believes Trustyourinstinct has enjoyed an outstanding year and, as a backmarker, possesses a powerful finishing burst.

English stayer Enfjaar finished third in the Caulfield Cup in a display which suggests the Lexus Melbourne Cup is firmly on the Roger Varian trained stayer’s radar. He raced on speed and looked a great winning chance but was only outsprinted by Kingswood and Saint George. He’s now had two starts over 2400m for a win at Group 3 level at Goodwood and then his Caulfield Cup placing. Caulfield Cup is always a great guide to the Lexus Melbourne Cup so he will be one of the major players, having his first try at 3200 metres.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained eight-year-old mare displayed her staying prowess when she finished second in last year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup to Half Yours carrying 51.5kg. This year, she has been allotted 55kg but, as her trainer pointed out, she has been in career best form this year, as demonstrated by her win in the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes (2816m) at Goodwood in August. O’Brien pointed out that she is a genuine fast ground horse and is “a very obvious contender.”

Hopewell Rock ran a brave second in the prestigious Ebor Handicap (2786m) at York which was enough for his trainer George Boughey to take the lightly raced five-year-old gelding to Australia for the Lexus Melbourne Cup. He narrowly missed out on a ballot exemption finishing second to Daiquiri Bay in the race offering a golden ticket into the Cup. Before that he was also successful in a 2816m handicap at Goodwood. Boughey said after the Ebor that the Melbourne Cup had been on his radar all year and he saw enough to justify the trip.

James J Braddock finished third in the Group 1 English Derby (2420m) where he finished on powerfully in a display which underlined his stamina. Subsequently an Australian-based syndicate, headed by Ozzie Kheir, bought into the horse, with Irish racing commentator Kevin Blake retaining a share in the horse. He has been handicapped at 53.5kg which Blake said was a reasonable weight. Since the Epsom Derby, he has been gelded and Craig Williams has been booked to ride him in the Cup. He is trained by Joseph O’Brien, who already has two Melbourne Cup wins to his credit, having trained Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020). O’Brien could have multiple runners in the Lexus Melbourne Cup and the trainer said he was the best weighted of his contingent.

Bjorn Baker has got his wish, with the consistent stayer So You Are receiving the penalty needed to force his way into Lexus Melbourne Cup contention. The son of So You Think has been re-handicapped three times since his original 52kg allocation and will now carry 54kg in Tuesday’s 3200m feature. So You Are has been in outstanding form this preparation, stringing together four consecutive stakes-level victories at 2400m or beyond, including the Group 3 Bendigo Cup. That latest success earned him a 1kg penalty, lifting him up the order of entry and securing his place in the final field. He will now face 3200 metres for the first time, in only his second start at Flemington. His previous appearance at the track came at last year’s Melbourne Cup Carnival, when he finished 11th behind Whisky On The Hill in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes over 2600m. With Rachel King retaining the ride, So You Are arrives in a purple patch of form and has thoroughly earned his spot among the 24 runners