Melbourne Cup 2026: Runner-by-Runner Preview & Betting Tips

The 2026 Melbourne Cup brings together proven international stayers, progressive three-year-olds and established Australian contenders for the famous two-mile test at Flemington. Below, we assess every runner’s recent form, likely race position, stamina and prospects under the anticipated conditions before revealing our preferred selections.

1. Sons and Lovers (3) - $21.00

One of the Joseph O’Brien runners who has previous form around James J Braddock, Enfjaar, Trustyourinstinct, and Goodie Two Shoes. Most recently he boxed on gamely behind Arabian Crown in the G3 Kilternan Stakes where he beat home James J Braddock and Goodie Two Shoes. He’s had 50-days between runs with no public trial since arriving in Australia, but he draws a lovely gate to settle handy to the speed, gets winkers on first time, and he’ll handle any sting out of the track. Needs to lump 57.5kgs which is never easy over two miles.

2. Trustyourinstinct (18) - $8.00

Another of the J O’Brien runners who hit the line strongly over 2011m at G3 level three starts ago to get within 0.8L of Purview (did his best work late) before winning the G2 Curragh Cup over 2816m where he sliced through the pack to get the prize (showed good late strength again). He went to the G1 Irish St Ledger last start with 61.5kgs on his back but he didn’t quite measure up finishing fourth behind Scandinavia beaten 4.5L (good gaps to the rest). He handles all conditions, he gets JMac to steer, and he should have residual fitness to stay the trip. If he gets some luck from the gate, I expect him to be in the finish.

3. Knight’s Choice (2) - $41.00

The defending champion who has to carry an extra 5kgs this time around. He was good behind Zahrann in the G3 Naturalism three starts ago when the stewards advised the jockey to use more vigour (should’ve finished closer) before going to 2400m in the G2 Herbert Power Stakes where he was held up at a key stage and then raced tight over the concluding stages to narrowly miss Pinhole who had the drop on him (good gap to fourth / beat Future History, Zakouma, and Shockletz). He backed up 7-days later in the Caulfield Cup where he was snagged back to last from a wide gate before failing to fire a shot. Should get all favours from the draw, I’m just not sure he can go back to back under the big impost.

4. Middle Earth (1) - $14.00

He was beaten 10.6L in the G1 Turnbull Stakes over 2000m on heavy ground, but was warming up late (fourth fastest 4-200m and third fastest L200m splits of the race). He went to the Caulfield Cup two back where he settled worse than midfield from a wide gate before being placed under pressure a long way from home and then working home OK (fourth fastest L200 split of the race). He buttered up a week later in the Cox Plate where he settled last in transit before doing his best work late again. Has a poor SP profile leading into this, but gets a good draw, wants every bit of two miles, and has the combination of Zahra/Maher. Top 10 hope.

5. Vauban (22) - $61.00

8YO returning for his fourth run in the Cup for Waterhouse/Bott. SP’d a $19 chance in the Geelong Cup first up where he had one of the runs of the race before only grinding through the line. Will likely roll forward to try and offset the bad gate, but will need to improve significantly to win.

6. Enfjaar (8) - $21.00

7YO Irish gelding from the Rogar Varian stable who was good first up over 2011m at Listed level as came from last to get within 0.8L of Boiling Point (kept grinding away nicely) before going to the Listed Wolferton Stakes over the same distance where he was never on the track (raced 3&4-wide the entirety), yet he still hit the line strongly over the concluding stages (sneaky good run / last furlong was very good). He went to the G3 Glorious Stakes over 2412m two back where he led them up and then gave a big kick to fend them all off to win (loved the way he kept attacking the line when challenged / good gaps behind). He made the trip to Australia and ran in the Caulfield Cup last start where he settled up on the speed before hitting the front a long way from home and only getting collared late by Kingswood and Saint George (beat home Cosmic Crusader who since won the Cox Plate / was best of those on pace). He rises 1.5kgs from last start, but he draws a nice gate to settle on speed again and he should take good benefit with that run under his belt. If he stays 3200m, he’s a clear winning hope.

7. Royal Supremacy (21) - $61.00

Controlled things from the front over 2000m in the G3 JRA Cup (led 7.5L slower than average to the 600m / had a picnic) to hold off Future History (ties in) before going to the Caulfield Cup where he led them up before compounding late to finish 17.1L behind the winner. Will need to use petrol early from the wide gate if they want to lead and was beaten a long way in this race last year with 5kg less than today. Prefer others.

8. Wine Dark Sea (23) - $51.00

Won the G3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes over 2715m after being well backed (beat home Dubai Honour) before resuming in the Caulfield Cup where he SP’d $8.00, crossed over from a wide gate to settle on speed, and then faded sharply inside the last 100m. Draws the carpark, rises 1.5kgs after being beaten a long way, and concussion plates go on. Would need to improve significantly.

9. Asterix (6) - $61.00

Was OK behind Zahrann in the Naturalism Stakes before failing to do anything in the Turnbull Stakes (SP’d $71) or the Caulfield Cup (SP’d $61). Looks beyond him.

10. Goodie Two Shoes (19) - $26.00

She was tough winning the G2 Lillie Langtry Stakes for F&M over 2816m where she nailed Santorini Star right on the post (good gap to fourth) before failing to fire a shot in the G3 Kilternan Stakes behind Arabian Crown (beaten 9L after SP’ing $34). She was brave running second to Half Yours in this race last year off a long break, but she has to carry an extra 3.5kgs this year. She’ll likely look to roll forward to make her own luck from a wide draw. If we forgive her last start, she’d likely be half her current quote. Clear top 10 hope.

11. Juja Kibo (14) - $11.00

He closed off nicely behind The Euphrates over 2000m in the G2 Kingston Town Stakes (strong form race) before going to the G2 Metropolitan Stakes over 2400m where he camped in behind the leaders and then hooked over heels to sprint sharply to get the money (strong through the line (second fastest 6-400m, fastest 4-200m and second fastest L200m splits of the race). He had three weeks between runs before resuming over 2500m in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup where he was taken back from a wide gate and was never on the track (3-wide with cover the entirety), yet he came very wide turning for home and sustained a long run to beat them all (still had the ninth fastest L200m split of the meeting at the end of 2500m). He drops 3kgs to help offset the rise in grade, they’ll have options from a middle gate, and any rain around is no knock. Keen he runs well.

12. Hopewell Rock (15) - $11.00

Lightly raced 5YO Irish gelding from the G Boughey stable who arrives without a public trial in Australia. He closed off strongly behind Daiquiri Bay over 2414m first up when coming from last to get within 1.8L of the winner before looking a genuine winning chance second up over the same trip when he only battled late behind stablemate Opportunity. He had 6-weeks between runs before resuming over 2816m where he settled just worse than midfield in transit before hitting the front 400m from home and sustaining a long run to hold his rivals at bay (beat home Small Fry which ties in with Point of Law / showed good late strength). He went to the $1million Ebor Handicap last start where he settled midfield in running before getting presented nearer the inside to beat all bar Daiquiri Bay in a photo (good gaps in behind / went super). He plummets 6kgs from last start, he’s a proven stayer with upside, and he gets Zac Lloyd to steer. A leading chance.

13. Onesmoothoperator (13) - $71.00

Hasn’t shown anything this preparation and is now a 9YO. A top 10 finish would surprise.

14. Soul of Spain (5) - $34.00

Was good behind The Euphrates in the Kingston Town Stakes before being well beaten by Juja Kibo in the Metropolitan. Went around as a $61 chance in the Caulfield Cup where he made a mid-race move about 1000m from home and then whacked away gamely to finish within 4.7L of Kingswood. Maps for a softer run from gate 5 today, so expect a better showing. Not a bad roughie.

15. Zahrann (11) - $26.00

Won the Naturalism Stakes well over 2000m before going to the Turnbull Stakes on heavy ground where he tailed off beaten 18.8L (didn’t seem to handle the conditions behind a strongly run race). He got back onto dry ground in the Caulfield Cup where he SP’d $7.50 before settling worse than midfield from gate 3 and having to dart back toward the inside on straightening, but failed to hit the line as strongly as you would’ve liked. Not sure he’s up to this level at this stage of his career.

16. So You Are (7) - $12.00

This bloke is airborne since joining the Bjorn Baker stable winning his last 4 in a row, including the G3 Colin Stephen Quality over 2400m, G3 St Ledger Stakes over 2600m, and the G3 Bendigo Cup over 2400m. He’s another who will look to settle handy to the speed from a good draw, but the big query is whether he can produce another peak run 6-days after his last. Been up for a long time now, so I’m happy to risk him.

17. Future History (12) - $61.00

He’s been racing well this preparation and shares form lines Royal Supremacy, Knights Choice, and Juja Kibo et al, I just don’t think he can turn the tables as a 9YO.

18. James J Braddock (24) - $18.00

Another of the Joseph O’Brien raiders who was very good in the Epsom Derby that was run in wet conditions before being beaten by a huge margin behind Benvenuto Cellini in the Irish Derby. He resumed over 2414m in the Kilternan Stakes where he finished behind Sons and Lovers, but he was doing his best work late there. Needs to overcome barrier 24, but get Craig Williams up. Would need to be very good to win as a 3YO in his eighth career start.

19. Kizlyar (20) - $41.00

The last of the Joseph O’Brien runners who was well-backed in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup ($5.00>$3.80) before having the run of the race behind the leaders and then didn’t quicken as expected (Juja Kibo and Mr Monaco went straight past him). He showed his class beating one time Melbourne Cup favourite Defiantly over 4026m in June of this year, so if you can forgive last start, you’re getting a much bigger price for him to run well here. Will need a good steer from the gate.

20. Point Of Law (9) - $6.50

3YO English colt who’s been picked up by the all-conquering Maher stable that was super impressive winning the Geelong Cup at his first start in Aus where he sat outside the leader on a hot tempo before going straight past The Euphrates and fending the rest off (good gap to fourth / went super). Back home, he was very good over 2816m in the G2 Queen’s Vase where he settled last in transit before hooking widest down the straight to get within 1.5L of Limestone. He then went to the G3 Bahrain Trophy over 2615m where he camped outside the leader throughout before giving a big kick to fend them all off (tough win / showed a lot of fight through the line). He looks to be a terrific staying type with a stack of upside as a 3YO and is deserved favourite. Key winning hope.

21. Strictly Business (4) - $71.00

She hasn’t found her form from the South Australian Derby last preparation this time in. Has SP’d $51 or longer in all three runs back. Looking elsewhere.

22. Mr Monaco (16) - $23.00

Impressive winner of the G3 Bart Cummings Stakes over 2520m on heavy ground at Flemington, albeit with race shape in his favour sitting outside the leader on a very slow tempo (big gap to third). He went to the Moonee Valley Gold Cup last start where he matched motors with Juja Kibo for portions of the home straight before finishing third beaten 0.8L. He gets a 2kg swing on Juja Kibo today, he’ll handle the sting out of the track, and he should stay the trip (he was a $5.50 chance in the Sydney Cup earlier this year when the rider was concerned with his action). Genuine top 10 hope.

23. Zakouma (10) - $26.00

Looked to be ticking over nicely this preparation when he hit the line strongly behind Pinhole over 2400m in the G2 Herbert Power Stakes, but then they dropped him back to 1600m in the Kia Ora Stud Mile last start where he was slowly away and never a hope (not sure what the stable was thinking there?). He won the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes over 2800m earlier this year where he made a sustained run from the rear of the field behind a fearsome tempo which suggests he’ll stay for 3200m. Draws an ideal gate for the in form Willy Pike and he’ll handle the conditions, I just have my doubts going from 1600m straight to two miles.

24. Shockletz (17) - $10.00

She showed great stamina three starts ago in the G3 Archer Stakes over 2500m where she settled midfield behind a tearaway leader who went 20L faster than average to the 600m before outstaying her opposition to win by 2.2L and earn her ticket into the race (big gaps behind / was well-backed $3.80>$2.90). She went to the Herbet Power two starts ago where she was taken back from a wide gate behind another very strong tempo (they went 13.9L faster than average to the 600m) which had her wheels spinning turning for home, yet she picked the bit up and surged late to get within 2.8L of Pinhole (fastest L200m split of the race / good over the line). She dropped back to 2040m in the G3 Tesio Stakes last start which didn’t look to suit her as she was outsprinted following a slow tempo. She gets in on the minimum, she handles all conditions, she likes Flemington, and she should see out the trip. The only query is she’s been up for a while and arrives on a quick back up going 2040m>3200m. If she can slot in from an awkward gate and they set a strong tempo, she can come over the top of them. Good first 4 chance.

Prices are indicative and subject to change; confirm current odds before publishing.

Selections are based on the anticipated Good/Soft track conditions noted above. Monitor the weather and final track rating before betting. 18+ Gamble Responsibly.