The 2025 Melbourne Cup Day awaits us on Tuesday as trainers prepare last minute training regimes for the race that stops the nation. The Caulfield Cup winner Half Yours is the current favourite, while Valiant King and Al Riffa are on the next line of betting. Al Riffa (Ireland) is considered one of the best horses that trainer Joseph O’Brien has ever sent over for the big race and he will attract a lot of interest. At the time of typing the track is rated a Good 4 but 30mls of rain is predicted to fall at Flemington on Cup Day so the track will be a likely Soft or Heavy surface. Punters will have to check conditions on race morning. Race one starts at 10:45pm (AEDT) with race 10 finishing the day at 5:15pm.
Every race apart from the Melbourne Cup has been covered below. You can check out our full Melbourne Cup Runner-By-Runner Preview here!
2025 Melbourne Cup Day Racing Tips
Race 1: Darley Maribyrnong Plate Group 3 1000m - 10:45pm (AEDT)
(4) Carnevale has drawn barrier 13 but it's a straight race for the two year olds so that is okay. The Hayes stables combine with Mark Zahra and on combination alone this young colt gets the nod. Won a jumpout at Flemington on October 17.
(2) Tornado Valley won a jumpout at Cranbourne on a Soft track and then placed (3rd) on debut at Caulfield. Ran on pretty well on that occasion.
(3) Brazen Dechambeau won a Cranbourne jumpout on October 20 and Beau Mertens has taken the ride. First starter.
(4) Carnevale WIN
$5.00 (1 Unit)
Race 2: MA Services Grand Handicap 2000m - 11:20am (AEDT)
(10) Party Crasher has had 1 start on the Soft for a victory so that rating of surface will help his chances. Settled handy when resuming from a spell last start but got tired over the final 100m to finish 8th at Murray Bridge. WIll be up there early and will want a slowly run race so he can kick on at the end. Each-Way.
(7) Brave Miss has a good winning strike rate having won 5 from 14 starts. She has won 4 times from 9 starts on a Soft track and she has placed at Flemington previously.
(17) The Muffin Man is a good roughie for Shane Jackson and the extra distance should suit. A wet track is a query but he should get the distance.
(10) Party Crasher Each-Way
$7.50/$2.60 (1 Unit)
Race 3: TAB Trophy 1800m - 12pm (AEDT)
(9) Arabian Prince is down in class for this race and despite being 6th in the Norman Robinson at Caulfield last start, he was only beaten 1.2L. He has seen and placed at Flemington before and he did Place on a wet track on July 19 when he got done by a head. Will settle midfield to rear of the field and will run on.
(2) Obvious won at Bendigo two starts back on a Soft 5 and Ben Allen rides well on this horse. Regal Award smashed him by 7.5L last start but did Place on Derby Day.
(4) Different Gravy has drawn wide in 15 but was very good last start when beaten a nose at Morphetville. Has had no race starts on wet tracks which is a watch. Zahra will take him back and he should appreciate the longer straight.
(9) Arabian Prince WIN
$4.00 (1 Unit)
Race 4: The Schweppervescance 1000m - 12:40pm (AEDT)
(2) Pallaton was 2nd last start at Randwick and James McDonald has opted to ride the colt here which is a positive. He has had 1 start on the Heavy for a 3rd so a likely wet track by race four should see conditions okay. He is usually pretty quick out the barrier so he should settle in the top 4 once they settle. He has defeated a few of his rivals before and has won over the distance.
(4) Street Artist goes into this race pretty fresh and gets the tongue tie on for the first time. He was $1.30 when he won at Bendigo 2 starts ago and he is the likely second favourite for this.
(10) Vangogh Bankcheque will get back in the run but he will be one of the fastest late. If they go too quick up front he can finish over the top of them.
(2) Pallaton WIN
$3.00 (2 Units)
Race 5: Australian Heritage Cup 2800m - 1:20pm (AEDT)
(9) Litzdeel has had 3 runs in from a spell and she is ready to fire now. She drops 3kg for this race but is lucky enough to have Craig Williams on top. Settled handy when 2nd last start (Caulfield) and from barrier 8 she should be able to get over and either sit outside of the leader in 2nd or 4th on the outside. Her form is better on Dry ground but with the weight relief I think she has to be considered over the longer distance.
(17) Karburan led and almost held on when 2nd last start at Geelong. He drops 7kg for this race and the consistent gelding has place on this track previously.
(1) Cleveland has never placed on Soft ground but has won on the Heavy. If it is a Heavy track then he is worth a small bet at big odds.
(9) Litzdeel WIN
$4.50 (1 Unit)
Race 6: Kirin Ichiban Plate 1800m - 1:55pm (AEDT)
(8) Molly Bloom ran on well 2 starts ago at The Valley when backmarkers weren't making much late ground and is good odds here. Damien Lane has stuck with her and I think Flemington’s long straight is the key here. She does get back in the run and a lot of the time she runs on into around 4th or 5th. She has placed at this track and over this distance and a Heavy track might be good as well.
(5) Saint George hasn’t really come on for the Maher table since joining about 16 months ago. Ran poorly in last year’s Melbourne Cup (22nd) but he ran on very well at Seymour when first up last start for 2nd.
(3) Kingswood has raced and won in harder races than this. May have wanted a Dry track though. Might start favourite.
(8) Molly Bloom Each-Way
$13/$3.20 (0.50 Units)
Race 7: Lexus Melbourne Cup 3200m – 3:00pm (AEDT)
Race 8: Lexus Amanda Elliot 1400m - 3:50 (AEDT)
(8) Burma Star has very good form on wet tracks and by race eight I am counting on the track being wet and turned over which may suit this guy. On October 1 at Rosehill he almost got there when 2nd after running on from midfield and He has been freshened since and goes into this race with pretty good credentials when fresh. Is up in class though and Each-Way is the play.
(2) Navy Pilot should get a good run from barrier 4 and JMAC goes on for the first time. He likes the 1400m and he has raced well at Flemington previously.
(10) Sulek has drawn well in 2 and raced well behind Bacash on Caulfield Cup day. He should get a similar run to that day in this race. Willow is on for the first time.
(8) Burma Star Each-Way
$8.50/$2.80 (0.5 Units)
Race 9: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes Group 3 1400m - 4:35pm (AEDT)
(10) Gumdrops has placed on a Heavy track but has poor form on Soft tracks so the jury is still out there. She is going well though and ran a very good 2nd behind She’s Bulletproof at Caulfield last start and she has won a jumpout since (Flemington). Hasn’t won in a very long time though so we will go Each-Way.
(3) Dance To The Bloom has drawn very wide in 17 so may have to go back. She has raced well both on speed and when setting near last before so she is versatile. Has won 2 races over the 1400m and she is going for 3 on the bounce for Bjorn Baker.
(15) Surfin’ Bird has won 2 from 3 on Soft tracks so those conditions will suit her. Last start Caulfield winner who is second up. Was unplaced when second up last prep which is a slight concern.
(10) Gumdrops Each-Way
$8.00/$2.50 (0.5 Units)
Race 10: Channel 9 Trophy 1400m - 5:15pm (AEDT)
(12) Persian Spirit has drawn terribly in 18 but after 10 races on a possible Heavy track the outside just might be the place to be. The Simon Wilde trained gelding was a Flemington winner on September 19 over 1100m and he ran on very well on that occasion and it looked like he liked the long straight. Has been slowly working his way back to 1400m which is where he does his best racing. He is 1 from 1 on the Heavy and $10.00 looks okay to finish off Cup Day.
(8) Sabaj comes back from Randwick where he ran 6th behind Linebacker after running on well. Is 1 from 1 second up but $2.80 looks too short.
(14) He’ll Rip will want a Soft track because he has won 3 from 7 on the Soft. Was just fair when 5th at The Valley last start but raced well when winning here on September 21.
(12) Persian Spirit Each-Way
$10/$3.20 (0.5 Units)
