The final fields are out, the barriers have been drawn and the jockeys have been chosen, and all that awaits punters now is the running of the 2025 Melbourne Cup. Running over 3200m with a jump time of 3pm (AEDT), this is still the race that stops the nation.
(14) Half Yours is the favourite after a dominant win in the main lead up race being the Caulfield Cup. A lot of the talk has been about the predicted weather in the lead up to the big race, and punters will have to be wary of which horses run well on wet ground.
Brendan Bunworth takes you through his full runner-by-runner Melbourne Cup preview and tips below, with odds thanks to Dabble.
We also have you covered with tips for all 10 races on the program. Check out our FREE Melbourne Cup Day tips here!
2025 Melbourne Cup Runner By Runner Preview & Tips
1 Al Riffa - J.O’Brien, M.Zahra (19)
Irish runner who smashed them in the Group 1 Irish St Leger over 2816m on September 14. Carried 61.5kg on that occasion so the top weight might not worry him. First try over the 3200m and he has won in the rain previously. The slight concern for me is that he normally runs better in his second and third runs from a spell. $8.50.
2 Buckaroo - C.Waller, C.Williams (12)
Ran very well in the Cox Plate and for about 50m it looked as though he would run past stablemate Via Sistina before she thought on to win. He was wide and had no luck in last year's Melbourne Cup and he has won on the Heavy previously. Drawn well but hasn’t won in more than a year. $9.00.
3 Arapaho - B.Baker, R. King (15)
A roughie who loves wet track so he does come into play here. He has won 6 races for Rachel King who rides him well and and he has won over this distance previously. Ran on fairly in the Bendigo Cup last week for 8th and was poor in the Metropolitan when second last. Will want heaps of rain to have a chance. $61.00.
4 Vauban - G. Waterhouse&A. Bott, B.Shinn (2)
Has won 6 from 12 on Soft tracks and he will get that at the very least. Hs been running quite well but Royal Supremacy and Half Yours have had him covered in recent races and they are in this field. Is proven over the distance though and he should be running in the top 10. $26.00.
5 Chevalier Rose - H. Shimizu, D.Lane (5)
Has drawn well and can definitely run the 3200m. Hasn’t been near a win in a while though and all of his form is on Dry tracks. Happy to dismiss. $51.00.
6 Pesage Nocturne - A. Botti, S. Pasquier (9)
Will appreciate a wet track and he was one of the best runners in the Caulfield Cup when 4th, beaten just 1.8L after coming over from France.. The grey ran on from worst of midfield and was one of the best closers over 2400m. First try over this distance and runs well when fresh. $9.00.
7 Middle Earth - C.Maher, E.Brown (13)
Ran a lot better on Cox Plate Day when 3rd over 2040m. Before that he was running on a little but looked dour in his races. Can definitely run the distance and he is a rare horse in this race who has previously won at this track. Will settle midfield but his chances might have been better on drier ground. Winner of the Australia Cup Prelude back in March and he did win the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes at Newbury last year. $41.00.
8 Meydaan - S&E Crisford, J.McDonald (22)
Drawn poorly and was a little disappointing in the Caulfield Cup when 9th. Drops 2kg since that run but is running over the 3200m for the first time and at Flemington for the first time. Hasn’t blown out too much in odds and if you like him, stick with him. Hasn’t won in 16 months. $26.00.
9 Absurde - W. Mullins, K. McKevoy (4)
Has won 5 from 16 races on Dry surfaces and he drops 2kg since running 7th in the Caulfield Cup. He was 3rd in the Irish St Leger and he has won over this distance. He ran 5th in this race last year and a win wouldn’t surprise but the track might get too wet for him. $23.00.
10 Flatten The Curve - H.Grewe, T.H.Hansen (17)
Interesting runner who travelled a lot to qualify for this race. The German horse qualified in USA in the end and his jockey has traveled over to Australia to ride him. Hansen has won 4 times on top and is very confident of a forward showing. He has proven that he can win on Dry and Wet ground and he did win at Kentucky just 6 weeks ago over 3319m. He has won 5 races this year. $27.00.
11 Land Legend - C.Waller, J. Moreira (16)
Has been racing very poorly this campaign but Waller has accepted the start so you can't really rule him out. He was beaten 18L in the Caulfield Cup and never looked like it. He was in my top 3 picks for this race just a month ago but you just can’t support him the way he is going. Can the Magic Man create some magic, doubt it. $101.00.
12 Smokin’ Romans - C.Maher, B. Melham (11)
Has been a grand ole campaigner but surely he can’t win a Melbourne Cup. In saying that I said the same about Knight’s Choice and Prince Of Penzance so anything can happen in this race. He has won twice at Flemington before but he has been mixing his form. Will likely settle in the top 4 early and will want a slowly run race. $91.00.
13 Changingoftheguard - K.Lees, T.Clark (24)
Has drawn the carpark and it will take a miracle to win from that draw. Has never raced on a Heavy track and was 3.9L behind Toranzino in the Geelong Cup (6th) so he has a bit to do. Is a lightly raced seven-year-old who will put his trainer on the map if he wins. $101.00.
14 Half Yours - T&C McKevoy, J. Melham (8)
Has drawn very well for the Caulfield Cup combination. First try at the 3200m but is your deserved favourite. He has been up for a long time and has won in all conditions. Will likely settle in midfield and he gets his second look at Flemington. He was 4th in the Turnbull Stakes on that occasion but he did run on well. $6.00.
15 More Felons - C. Waller, T.Berry (23)
Has been running well but has drawn poorly in this. He ran a good 4th in the Metropolitan, beaten only 1.3L and then was fair when 4th in the St Leger at Randwick. Is probably over the odds but the barrier really does no favours. $81.00.
16 Onesmootheoperator - B. Ellison, H.Coffey (6)
Winner of the Geelong Cup (2024) and winner of the Moonee Valley Cup (2025). After the win at The Valley I thought he was a huge chance for this race but apparently he doesn’t fare well on Heavy ground which is an issue. Has drifted in betting since the forecast of wet weather on the day. $26.00.
17 Furthur - A.Balding, M. Dee (7)
Has drawn well and the four-year-old isn’t without a chance. Good win at Newbury on August 16 over 2715m but was plain at Doncaster over 2921m when 6th at big odds. Others look better but he has his admirers in Melbourne. $27.00.
18 Parchment Party - W. Mott, J. Velaquez (3)
Last start winner over 2816m at Saratoga and he has a good winning strike rate having won 4 races from just 11 starts. He is 1 from 1 on the Heavy and he will have admirers if the track is that rating. $51.00.
19 Athabascan - J. O’Shea&T.Charlton, D.Bates (1)
A Soft track rating would do this horse's chances no harm because he has won 3 from 17 on that surface. He was 2nd in the Moonee Valley Cup but he hasn’t won in more than 12 months. Barrier 1 might save him some ground but he needs to pick up a few lengths to win this. The stable is in form though and he deserves his chance. $81.00.
20 Goodie Two Shoes - J. Obrien, W. Lordan (20)
Loves racing on Good ground which he will not get on Cup Day. He did win 3 in a row during winter in England and you can;t discount the stable. Good winning strike rate of 7 wins from 18 attempts. $36.00.
21 River Of Stars - C. Waller, B.Mertens (14)
Ran well at big odds in the Caulfield Cup when 2nd and drops 2kg from that run. Hasn’t won in 15 months though which is a concern. Was 12th at this track in the Turnbull Stakes and he needs to improve a few lengths to win. Is in the right stable though and runs okay on wet ground. $18.00.
22 Royal Supremacy - C.Maher, R. Dolan (21)
Settled midfield in the Caulfield Cup and ran quite well when 5th with Dolan on top. Goes well on wet ground and only has to carry 51kg. Won the Metropolitan when running on well and can run on well again with a light weight. $31.00.
23 Torranzino - P.Preusker, C.Gaudray (18)
Loves a Soft track so the rain doesn’t look like it will worry him. Took off at the 500m and saluted in the Geelong Cup and he was 2nd at Flemington in the Bart Cummings and it looked like he liked the track on that occasion. First try over the 3200m but the stable knows how to train stayers. $31.00.
24 Valiant King - C. Waller, J. McNeil (10)
Won the Bart Cummings and was reeled straight in by bookmakers for the Melbourne Cup. Backed that up with a 3rd in the Caulfield Cup and those lead up races are good form for this race. Will definitely get the trip and wet tracks don’t worry him. Only has to carry 51kg and is well supported. $7.50.
Trifecta: 7-6-4
(7) Middle Earth E/W
$41/$10 (1 Unit)
