The 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup runs at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 as Flemington Race 7 at 3:00pm (AEDT) offering $10.2 million in total prize money for the 166th edition of the ‘race that stops a nation’!
The Melbourne Cup stands as Australia’s most iconic staying test — a race that blends history, high drama, and world‑class thoroughbred talent into one unmissable spring spectacle. Every November, the nation turns its attention to Flemington as elite stayers from Australia and abroad chase glory in the 3200m handicap known as the race that stops a nation. For Ladbrokes punters, the Cup isn’t just a tradition — it’s the ultimate betting event, delivering deep form lines, global contenders, massive markets, and year‑defining value plays. From early‑season lead‑ups and key qualifiers to late‑breaking Cup news and market movers, this page is your home for Melbourne Cup tips, the latest Melbourne Cup 2026 odds, Cup favourites, and expert analysis designed to keep you ahead of the pack. Whether you’re tracking international raiders, following local staying stars, or hunting the next big roughie, the Melbourne Cup offers endless angles — and Ladbrokes brings them together in one place to help you bet smarter, stay informed, and enjoy every moment of Australia’s greatest race.
2026 Melbourne Cup Odds
The latest Melbourne Cup 2026 odds will be updated below as the count down to the iconic two-mile handicap continues followed by the official finishing order after the pinnacle event of the spring down under.
Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 17/09/2026 10:22:54 PM (Australia/Brisbane)
General Melbourne Cup betting tips include looking for international performers, proven two-mile horses and gallopers coming off a top four run last start.
From 2009 – 2025 all but three of the Melbourne Cup winners finished first four in their lead-up run including four coming off a victory.
In 2022 Gold Trip improved on a lead-up ninth in the Cox Plate to win the 162nd Melbourne Cup.
In 2023 Without A Fight won the Melbourne Cup off a lead-up victory in the Caulfield Cup the month before.
In 2024 Knight’s Choice scored an upset in the Melbourne Cup results after a fifth in the Bendigo Cup.
In 2025 Half Yours made history winning the Melbourne Cup off his Caulfield Cup victory to become the 13th horse to do the coveted Spring Cups double.
Melbourne Cup tips can be found everywhere in the lead-up to the race, but the big field, handicap conditions and distance of the race make it very difficult to back the winner. The presence of a number of international horses and a variety of different form lines make it even more difficult to back the winner of the Melbourne Cup, which his why upsets Melbourne Cup results are not uncommon.
Other tips for Melbourne Cup punters is to look at several key lead up races that are considered good guides for Melbourne Cup performance.
Pay attention to strong runs in races like the Cox Plate and the Caulfield Cup.
Fiorente (2013) followed by Verry Elleegant (2021) and Gold Trip (2022) are the latest Melbourne Cup winners to back-up off a Cox Plate having run 3rd, 3rd and 9th.
Gold Trip ran 2nd in the 2022 Caulfield Cup before his Melbourne Cup victory with the Cox Plate run in between, while in 2023 Without A Fight did the Melbourne Cup – Caulfield Cup double for the first time since 2001.
Half Yours (2025) is the last Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double champion.
Another tip for people who are looking to have some fun with different bets on the day need not fear the exotics. Picking the Melbourne Cup trifecta pays extremely well along with other exotic bets including the quinella and first four. For instance, this year there is plenty of value in horses that have genuine chances at double figure odds.
2026 Melbourne Cup Predictions & Best Bets
Our expert team of tipsters will provide the 2026 Melbourne Cup betting tips below closer to Melbourne Cup Day so stay tuned for the stayers to back and sack for the two mile classic this spring.
Once the final field has been accepted and finalised we will be placing our top tips and selections for the Melbourne Cup here.
The Melbourne Cup is the biggest race run in Australia each year and the two-mile classic takes place on the first Tuesday of November as Flemington Race 7 each spring. The highlight of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival, the Group 1 staying showdown attracts a field of genuine turf stars including a host of international raiders.
Offering an incredible $10 million in prize money and trophies for the first time in 2025, the Melbourne Cup is the richest handicap race in the world and is equal second in prize money alongside the $10 million The Golden Eagle held in Sydney when it comes to flat racing in Australia behind only Group 1 $20 million The Everest.
Cross Counter (2018) continued the recent dominance of internationals in the Melbourne Cup results. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Key lead-up races into the Melbourne Cup field each season include the Group 1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) and the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) with the latter now offering a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption.
In 2022 the Geelong Cup winner Emissary ran a brave second in the Melbourne Cup quinella at a big price.
Makybe Diva (2005) was the last horse to take out the Cox Plate – Melbourne Cup double without a run between the two spring majors. She also saluted in the 2003 and 2004 Melbourne Cup results and is the sole triple champion of the ‘race that stops a nation’.
In 2021 Verry Elleegant became the 14th overall mare and 12th individual female galloper to win the Lexus Melbourne Cup improving on a lead-up third in the Cox Plate.
In 2022 there were five mares that started in the Melbourne Cup field with the best result being a third from High Emocean who finished in the money behind her winning stablemate Gold Trip.
The Geelong Cup – Melbourne Cup double meanwhile was last completed by Dunaden (2011) who was the second French raider in as many years to take out the latter after Americain won the same two races the previous spring.
Held on Turnbull Stakes Day in early October, the Group 3 The Bart Cummings also offers a Melbourne cup ballot exemption.
The Melbourne Cup race runs over 3200m and is one of the few events still contested over this traditional Cups’ distance in Australia. The Melbourne Cup prize money has increased dramatically over the years since the race was first sponsored in 1985 and stakes went up to $1 million.
International horses are making more and more of an impact in the Melbourne Cup results. The first Northern hemisphere-trained Melbourne Cup winners was the Dermot Weld-trained Vintage Crop (1993), while from 2014 – 2020 five of the seven Melbourne Cup winners were from overseas including in 2020 when Twilight Payment defeated fellow raiders Tiger Moth and Prince Of Arran in an all-international Melbourne Cup trifecta.
There were two internationally-trained horses in the 2022 Melbourne Cup with Deauville Legend running fourth as the beaten favourite and Without A Fight running 13th.
Shocking (2009) meanwhile was the last Australian-bred Melbourne Cup winner before Vow And Declare (2019) broke the drought saluting for Australia in the 2019 Melbourne Cup Results.
Half Yours (2025), who completed that year’s Caulfield Cup / Melbourne Cup double, was also the last Australian-bred Melbourne Cup champion.
In 2021 the internationals were again in the Melbourne Cup trifecta with Spanish Mission from the UK running third behind Verry Elleegant and the beaten favourite Incentivise.
The 2022 Melbourne Cup winner, Gold Trip, was French-bred and imported but officially trained in Australia by Ciaron Maher & David Eustace.
The 2023 Melbourne Cup winner, Without A Fight, improved on his 13th as an international the year before with the now Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained galloper backing-up off a Group 1 Caulfield Cup victory. He became the first to do the Spring Cups double since Ethereal in 2001.
The 2024 Melbourne Cup winner, Knight’s Choice, improved on a lead-up fifth in the Bendigo Cup to win at huge odds of $91 with Robbie Dolan aboard. Co-trainer Shelia Laxon became a two-time champion trainer following on from her historic 2001 victory with Ethereal.
There have been many dual Melbourne Cup champions since the first, inaugural winner Archer going back-to-back in 1861-62, but Makybe Diva (2003-05) remains the only triple Melbourne Cup winner in history.
The Melbourne Cup training record is held by former champion horseman Bart Cummings dubbed the “Cup King”. Cummings celebrated his 12th Melbourne Cup victory in 2008 with Viewed.
The closest ever finish in Melbourne Cup history occurred in 2011 when the French-trained Dunaden narrowly held off Red Cadeuax. Dunaden was also the second French galloper in as many years to win top prize after Americain became the first in 2010 for the 150th anniversary of the Melbourne Cup.
From 2022, Sydney runs the $3 million The Big Dance (1600m) race at Royal Randwick on Melbourne Cup Day each year.
Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington meanwhile is also host to two Group 3 support races with the running of the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) for two-year-olds and the Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m).
The official Melbourne Cup 2026 results revealing the 2026 Melbourne Cup winner will be published right here once the race is run and won on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
Melbourne Cup Betting
Melbourne Cup betting markets are available months in advance of the race and these pre-field odds are also known as ante-post or futures markets.
The Melbourne Cup is not only the biggest race in Australian horse racing, but is arguably the most popular event in the country every single year. Even non-racing fans are looking frantically for the best Melbourne Cup odds come race day, with sweeps also occurring in workplaces across the country.
Pre-post betting markets for the Melbourne Cup are available all year round, but the real money is invested in the three days prior to the race. The Melbourne Cup is easily the most popular betting event in Australia and the staggering amount of money wagered on the race means that there is generally great value available for every single runner in the field.
Melbourne Cup favourites have a poor record in the race with the only one to salute for the punters since Makybe Diva (2005) being Fiorente ($7 in 2013). Roughie hopes in Melbourne Cup betting have had plenty of success including most famously in recent years Prince Of Penzance ($101) who scored the upset at triple figures for trainer Darren Weir in 2015.
There were big Melbourne Cup odds on offer for the 2020 winner Twilight Payment who won at 25/1.
The 2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant won at odds of $18 improving on her seventh the year before.
There was also value to be found in the 2022 Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip who won at $21 defeating fellow outsiders in betting Emissary ($26) and High Emocean ($41), while the 2022 Melbourne Cup favourite Deauville Legend ($4.40) ran fourth.
The 2023 Melbourne Cup winner Without A Fight was at single-figures saluting as an $8 shot in Melbourne Cup betting. He defeated the Chris Waller-trained Soulcombe ($9.50) and Sheraz ($151).
One of the biggest upsets in recent history occurred in 2024 with Knight’s Choice saluting at Melbourne Cup odds of $91!
In 2025, the Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours paid $9.
Melbourne Cup Field
The Melbourne Cup race field has a capacity of 24 horses with no emergencies allowed for the iconic Flemington Race 7 on the first Tuesday of November annually.
In 2020 the Melbourne Cup field ran with just 23 starters following the race day scratching of King Of Leogrance.
There were also 23 horses in the Melbourne Cup 2021 field after the race morning withdrawal of Future Score.
The 2022 Melbourne Cup field ran with 22 horses after Point Nepean and Lunar Flare were scratched from the original line-up of final acceptors.
The 2023 Melbourne Cup final field ran with 23 runners after Cleveland was scratched on the eve of the race.
The 2024 Melbourne Cup final field also ran with 23 runners after Athabascan was scratched on the night before the race.
The 2025 Melbourne Cup final field featured a capacity 24 runners.
Melbourne Cup Ballot Exempt Races
There are currently 10 races offering a “golden ticket” into the Melbourne Cup field with the following races offering the winners a ballot free ride for the famous Flemington feature as of 2026.
International Melbourne Cup ballot exemption races:
The Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup (3219m)
Listed EborHandicap (2816m)
Australian Melbourne Cup ballot exemption races:
LexusRoyHiggins (2600m)
Listed LexusAndrewRamsden (2800m)
Group 3 LexusArcherStakes (2500m)
Group 3 LexusBartCummings (2500m)
Group 1 CaulfieldCup (2400m)
Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m)
Group 2 Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m)
Group 1 W.S. Cox Plate (2040m)
Melbourne Cup final acceptances close on Victoria Derby Day the Saturday prior, which is the first meeting of the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival, while the early Melbourne Cup nominations are taken way back in late August or early September.
Any horse balloted out of the 24-starter Melbourne Cup field that goes on to win the Group 3 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) on Champions Stakes Day the following Saturday is eligible for a VRC Bonus.
Key 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup Field & Acceptance Dates
Entry & Acceptance Stages
Date
Nominations/Entries
12:00pm Tuesday 1 September – 101 nominees, 23 internationals
2026 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw:Takes place on Saturday, October 31, 2026 @ 6:30pm (Melbourne time) following the Derby Day racing.
2026 Melbourne Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw
The Melbourne Cup 2026 Field & Barriers will be out the Saturday prior to the big $10.2 million classic and will be detailed in the section below when it’s made available by Racing Victoria following the VRC Derby Day races.
The 2026 Melbourne Cup barrier draw takes place on the Saturday evening from 6:30pm (AEDT).
What Time Does The Melbourne Cup Run?
All times are for the first Tuesday of November and are local.
Queensland: 2:00pm
New South Wales: 3:00pm
Victoria: 3:00pm
Tasmania: 3:00pm
Northern Territory: 1:30pm
ACT: 3:00pm
Western Australia: 12:00pm
UK & Ireland: 4:00am
New Zealand: 5:00pm
Japan: 1:00pm
Hong Kong: 12:00pm
Dubai: 8:00am
Melbourne Cup Form Guide
The Melbourne Cup form guide is poured over by punters right around Australia and the world in the lead-up to the race.
The Caulfield Cup is generally considered the major lead-up race to the Melbourne Cup, but no horse had completed the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double since Ethereal in 2001 until the 2023 victory in both events by Without A Fight. Just two years later, Half Yours (2025), also did the Cups Double.
The Cox Plate continues to grow as a Melbourne Cup form guide despite the notable difference in distances between the two spring features. Other races that have produced the Melbourne Cup winner in recent years include the Herbert Power Stakes, the Geelong Cup and the Lexus Stakes.
The Melbourne Cup each year attracts an incredible amount of betting activity and people are always looking out for the best tips to give them the winning edge. The Ladbrokes blog provides in depth racing tips and analysis on a daily basis.
Melbourne Cup Form Facts
From 2010 – 2025 six internationally trained raiders saluted in the Melbourne Cup most recently Twilight Payment (2020).
Trainer Robert Hickmott for prolific owner Lloyd Williams prepared three Melbourne Cup winners between 2012 – 2019.
In 2020 Lloyd Williams celebrated his record seventh Melbourne Cup success as a trainer.
Fiorente ($7 in 2013) was the last favourite in Melbourne Cup betting to salute.
Upset Melbourne Cup results are common with blow-out odds on offer for the likes of Viewed ($41 in 2008), Prince Of Penzance ($101 in 2015), Twilight Payment ($26 in 2020), and Knight’s Choice ($91 in 2024).
Barrier 11 has been the most successful Melbourne Cup gate in the past 30 years.
Triple champion Makybe Diva (2003-05) followed by Verry Elleegant (2021) are the last mares to win the Melbourne Cup.
Six-year-olds have an outstanding recent record in the Melbourne Cup results with seven winning between 2010 – 2025 most recently Verry Elleegant (2021) and Gold Trip (2022).
2026 Melbourne Cup Form Guide
A link to the official Melbourne Cup 2026 Form Guide will be provided below as soon as the final Melbourne Cup field is announced on the Saturday before the race.
2026 Melbourne Cup News & Field Updates
Stay tuned for the breaking news on the horses and jockeys that are in and out of the Melbourne Cup 2026 field this spring.
2026 Melbourne Cup Jockeys
Stay tuned here for the confirmed 2026 Melbourne Cup jockeys. See what jockeys have locked in a ride aboard one of the 24 Melbourne Cup horses this spring.
2026 Melbourne Cup Nominations
Early Melbourne Cup 2026 Nominations featuring a huge list of potential runners in the two-mile classic close in late August or early September and will be detailed in full below as soon as released.
101 total nominations received for the 166th Melbourne Cup
78 Australian-trained stayers and 23 international contenders
Entries from England, Ireland, Japan and the USA
Half Yours returns as the defending Melbourne Cup champion
Ciaron Maher submits 14 nominations as he chases a second Cup
Chris Waller enters 12 runners, including rising star Aeliana
Joseph O’Brien leads the internationals with 11 nominees, including golden ticket winner Defiantly and last year’s runner-up Goodie Two Shoes
Aidan O’Brien nominates five, headlined by Christmas Day, the Epsom Derby winner
Japan represented by Stinger Glass on the 20-year anniversary of Delta Blues’ historic Cup victory
Fan favourite Constitution Hill among the northern hemisphere entries
Golden ticket qualifiers: Zakouma, Tawny Port, Defiantly
Additional ballot exemption pathways include the Archer Stakes, Bart Cummings, Caulfield Cup, Moonee Valley Gold Cup and Geelong Cup
Click here to view the complete list of 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup nominations.
2026 Melbourne Cup First Acceptances
The official Melbourne Cup 2026 first acceptances closeon Tuesday, September 29, 2026 @ 12:00pm (Melbourne time).
2026 Melbourne Cup Second Acceptances
The Lexus Melbourne Cup 2026 second acceptances closed on Tuesday, October 13, 2026 @ 12:00pm (Melbourne time).
2026 Melbourne Cup Third Acceptances
The Lexus Melbourne Cup 2026 third acceptances close on Monday, October 26, 2026 @ 10:00pm (Melbourne time).
Melbourne Cup Facts & Statistics
Below we have a look at some of the key Melbourne Cup facts and statistics ahead of the next edition of the ‘race that stops a nation’.
Weight:
The four of the past 10 Melbourne Cup winners all carried under 53kg to victory most recently Knight’s Choice (51.5kg in 2024)
The most successful weight with eight wins overall is 54.5kg
Makybe Diva (2005) is the only Melbourne Cup winner to carry 58kgs or more to victory in the past 35 years
Gold Trip (57.5kg in 2022) is the last Melbourne Cup top-weight to win
Verry Elleegant (2021) carried 57kg to victory; the first winner since Makybe Diva (58kg in 2005) to successfully carry more than 56.5kg
The latest Melbourne Cup weight carried to victory was 53kg by Half Yours in 2026
Name:
Since 1924 only 10 Melbourne Cup winners had a first name beginning with a vowel (A = 4, E = 5 and 0 = 1)
Since 1924 only four Melbourne Cup winners had a name starting with ‘A’ (Almandin, Americain, Arwon and At Talaq)
The only Melbourne Cup winner in history to have a name starting with ‘O’ was Old Rowley (1940)
The five Melbourne Cup winners since 1924 to have a name starting with ‘E’ are: Efficient, Ethereal, Empire Rose, Even Stevens and Evening Deal
Favourites:
Only 34 Melbourne Cup favourites have won throughout history for a strike rate of just under 21%
Age:
Four-year-olds have the best strike rate (46 wins) followed by five-year-olds (46 wins most recently Half Yours in 2025)
Saddlecloth:
Saddlecloth numbers 4 has produced 12 Melbourne Cup winners following Verry Elleegant in 2021
No. 12 is the next best with 11 Melbourne Cup winners
The most successful Melbourne Cup saddlecloth number in the last 35 years with 6 wins in Number 6 – most recently carried to victory by Twilight Payment in 2020
Saddlecloth No. 14 is the latest to produce a Melbourne Cup winner (Half Yours in 2025)
Colour:
13 of the past 19 Melbourne Cup winners were coloured bay most recently Twilight Payment (2020), Gold Trip (2022), and Knight’s Choice (2024)
Mares:
There have only been 17 female Melbourne Cup winners with Makybe Diva (2003-2005) accounting for three and Verry Elleegant (2021) the latest
2026 Melbourne Cup Horses: As The Field Takes Shape
The Melbourne Cup 2025 horses will be detailed on the dedicated Melbourne Cup Horses page accessible above as we draw closer to the great race.
Melbourne Cup Favourites
From 2006 – 2025 just one favourite in Melbourne Cup betting saluted for the punters with Fiorente ($7 in 2013)
Makybe Diva (2004-05) was the last back-to-back Melbourne Cup favourite to salute; she also won her first ‘Loving Trophy’ as an $8 chance in 2003
Before Makybe Diva the last time Melbourne Cup favourites won back-to-back was Might And Power (1997) and Jezabeel (1998)
Since 2006 the worst result from a beaten Melbourne Cup favourite was the ill-fated Admire Rakti (22nd of 22 horses) in 2014
Since 2006 only three Melbourne Cup favourites have finished in the money: So You Think (3rd in 2010), Fiorente (1st in 2013) and Hartnell (3rd in 2016)
The 2022 Melbourne Cup favourite, Deauville Legend, ran fourth
The 2023 Melbourne Cup favourite, Vauban, ran a disappointing 14th
The 2024 Melbourne Cup favourite, Buckaroo, finished ninth
The 2025 Melbourne Cup favourite, Presage Nocturne, finished 19th
Melbourne Cup Bet Types
Win – The most basic type of bet. Put your money straight up on the runner that you think will win the Melbourne Cup.
Place – Pick the horse that you think will finish in the top three positions but at lower odds.
Each-Way – Put equal amounts on a horse for the win and a place, the equivalent of two bets and you get paid out for both if it wins.
Quinella – Bet on the horses you think will finish first and second in either order. You can also pick for example one horse to finish 1st and then a combination The fewer horses you pick the greater the dividend.
Exacta – An exacta also involves choosing horses that you think will finish first and second but it differs from a quinella in that it has to be the exact order you specify in the bet.
Trifecta – Very similar to an Exacta, but for the first, second and third placings in the correct finishing order. You can also Box Trifecta to finish in any of the first 3 combinations.
First Four – A First Four bet works the same as an Exacta and Trifecta but for the first four runners in finishing order.
Past Melbourne Cup Results
The Melbourne Cup results will be available at just after 3pm (AEDT) on the first Tuesday of November every year. The first three horses across the line draw the largest amount of interest from most punters, but due to the popularity of sweeps there is always interest in the final finishing position of all 24 runners.
Notable Past Melbourne Cup Results
1862:Archer became a back-to-back Melbourne Cup winner defending his title from the inaugural Melbourne Cup of 1861
1930:Phar Lap won the Melbourne Cup – the shortest priced favourite to salute at 8/11 ($1.70)
1941:Skipton saluted in the Melbourne Cup as a three-year-old
1990:Kingston Town set the current Melbourne Cup record time of 3:16.3
1993:Vintage Crop prepared in Ireland by Dermot Weld became the first Northern hemisphere-trained Melbourne Cup winner
2005: Makybe Diva became the first three-time Melbourne Cup winner
2011: Dunaden won in the closest Melbourne Cup result in history defeating fellow international Red Cadeaux
2017:Rekindling became the first international Melbourne Cup winner to salute first-up without a lead-up run in Australia since Vintage Crop (1993)
2019: Vow And Declare (Danny O’Brien) became the first Australian-bred Melbourne Cup winner since Shocking in 2009
2020: Twilight Payment (Joseph O’Brien) handed owner Lloyd Williams with his seventh success
2021: Verry Elleegant (Chris Waller) won the Melbourne Cup as a mare with 57kg from barrier 18 – the first in history from that gate – with a four length success
2022: Gold Trip (Ciaron Maher & David Eustace) became the latest top-weight in a Melbourne Cup field to salute carrying 57.5kg to victory
2023: Without A Fight (Anthony & Sam Freedman) became the 12th horse in history and first since 2001 to complete the Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double
2024: Knight’s Choice (John Symons & Shelia Laxon) became the latest Australian-trained Melbourne Cup winner with the Queenslander scoring a huge upset at 90/1
2025: Half Yours (Tony & Calvin McEvoy) became the 13th horse to pull of the Spring Cup doubles, winning under Jamie Melham at 9-1 after securing the Caulfield Cup two weeks prior.
Recent Melbourne Cup Winners
Recent Melbourne Cup winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer/s
Time
2026
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
2025
Half Yours
Jamie Melham
Tony & Calvin McEvoy
3:22.46
2024
Knight’s Choice
Robbie Dolan
John Symons & Shelia Laxon
3:19.53
2023
Without A Fight
Mark Zahra
Anthony & Sam Freedman
3:18.37
2022
Gold Trip
Mark Zahra
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
3:24.04
2021
Verry Elleegant
James McDonald
Chris Waller
3:17.43
2020
Twilight Payment
Jye McNeil
Joseph O’Brien
3:17.34
2019
Vow And Declare
Craig Williams
Danny O’Brien
3:24.76
2018
Cross Counter
Kerrin McEvoy
Charlie Appleby
3:21.17
2017
Rekindling
Corey Brown
Joseph O’Brien
3:21.19
2016
Almandin
Kerrin McEvoy
Robert Hickmott
3:20.58
2015
Prince of Penzance
Michelle Payne
Darren Weir
3.23.15
2014
Protectionist
Ryan Moore
Andreas Wohler
3.17.71
2013
Fiorente
Damien Oliver
Gai Waterhouse
3.20.84
2012
Green Moon
Brett Prebble
Robert Hickmott
3.20.45
2011
Dunaden
Christophe Lemaire
Mikel Delzangles
3.20.84
2010
Americain
Gérald Mossé
Alain de Royer Dupre
3.26.87
2009
Shocking
Corey Brown
Mark Kavanagh
3.23.87
2008
Viewed
Blake Shinn
Bart Cummings
3.20.40
2007
Efficient
Michael Rodd
Graeme Rogerson
3.23.34
2006
Delta Blues
Yasunari Iwata
Katsuhiko Sumii
3.21.47
2005
Makybe Diva
Glen Boss
Lee Freedman
3.19.17
2004
Makybe Diva
Glen Boss
Lee Freedman
3.28.55
2003
Makybe Diva
Glen Boss
David Hall
3.19.90
2002
Media Puzzle
Damien Oliver
Dermot K. Weld
3.16.97
2001
Ethereal
Scott Seamer
Sheila Laxon
3.21.08
2000
Brew
Kerrin McEvoy
Mike Moroney
3.18.68
Melbourne Cup Quick Facts
Makybe Diva has recorded a record 3 consecutive Melbourne Cup wins.
The Melbourne Cup was first contested in 1861 and was won by the Etienne de Mestre-trained Archer, who successfully defended his crown the following year.
Alongside Archer, only four other horses have won the Melbourne Cup more than once; Peter Pan (1932,34), Rain Lover (1968,69), Think Big (1974,75) and Makybe Diva (2003,04,05).
The Melbourne Cup was originally contested over a distance of two miles (3219m) but was shortened to 3200m in 1972 when Australia adopted the metric system.
Kingston Rule holds the record for the fastest time in Melbourne Cup; taking out the race’s 1990 edition in 3:16.30.
The 2015 edition of the Melbourne Cup was won by the Darren Weir-trained Prince Of Penzance; a rank outsider having left at odds of $101 for success. The race also figured as the first time a female jockey was triumphant, in the form of Michelle Payne.
Melbourne Cup Trainer Profiles
Several trainers from around the world have enjoyed success in the Melbourne Cup throughout its rich history and their names have been etched into Australian race history and folklore as a result.
Bart Cummings is the most successful Melbourne Cup trainer.
Bart Cummings
Undoubtedly the name most synonymous with the Melbourne Cup is that of the late, great Bart Cummings, who secured a record and incredible 12 wins in the race over a long and illustrious career. Cummings saddled his first Cup winner through Light Fingers in 1964 and it fast became clear the trainer was on his way to stardom when defending his crown with Galilee and Red Handed in 1965 and 1966 respectively. Cummings’ record will likely never been eclipsed and he will always be the toast of the Race That Stops a Nation.
Lee Freedman
Prominent Australian trainer Lee Freedman has won the second-most amount of Melbourne Cups having so-far saddled five winners. The trainer’s first triumph came when Tawriffic won in 1989, but his biggest impact on the race undoubtedly came in preparing equine superstar Makybe Diva to two of her three-consecutive successes in 2004 and 2005. Freedman currently trains in partnership with brother Anthony and the pair prepared Our Ivanhowe in the 2015 edition of the race, who was unlucky to be hampered for a run in the final straight.
Dermot Weld
A number of international trainers have made their mark in Australia on the first Tuesday of November, but perhaps none more than two-time winner Dermot Weld. Weld claimed his first Melbourne Cup success via popular stayer Vintage Crop in 1993 but is most famous for preparing Media Puzzle in 2002; partnered by champion hoop Damien Oliver in the wake of his brother Jason’s sudden passing from a fall in track work.
Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival
Undoubtedly considered Australia’s major series, the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival as the name suggests runs through the season of spring each year, officially beginning in early August and concluding in the late stages of November.
The Melbourne Spring Carnival boasts black type racing each weekend and often through the week and is headlined by the Group 1 races that take place over four days during the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
There are also what are known as the ‘Big 3’ Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival races or majors.
The Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) is the first of these contested over a mile-and-a-half (2400m) in mid-October. Won by some of the country’s best staying horses, the Caulfield Cup often figures as the final turning point for horses both local and international ahead of the Melbourne Cup.
The Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) is the country’s premier weight-for-age race and boasts an impressive $5 million purse. Contested just over a week prior to the Melbourne Cup, the Cox Plate has been won by everything from locals to internationals and even three-year-olds since the turn of the century. Winx is the most famous Cox Plate champion winning a record four straight editions of the WFA feature from 2015-18.
The ‘Big 3’ spring majors finish with the Melbourne Cup over the two miles run as Flemington Race 7 on the first Tuesday of November annually.
Melbourne Cup FAQs
How do I bet on the 2026 Melbourne Cup?
Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android apps with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at Ladbrokes. The process is quick and easy!
Once you've created your account you can make a deposit via credit card, or any other of our secure payment methods. Next up, head to the racing page and find the race and runner that's right for you.
Which horse will win the 2026 Melbourne Cup?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Melbourne Cup is to take into account the form, assess the barriers, and consider the weight the horse will carry (among other factors). Check out Ladbrokes in the lead up to the race for full form information.
What are the best Melbourne Cup Tips?
The Melbourne Cup is a deep, tactical staying test, and the best tips come from combining proven Cup trends with sharp race‑day insight. Punters typically start by assessing lead‑up form — especially the Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Cup, and international staying races — as these consistently produce Cup contenders. Look for horses with strong two‑mile stamina, a light handicap, and a proven ability to handle the long Flemington straight. Barrier draws matter less than in shorter races, but settling position and track conditions can be crucial, so many punters wait for late market moves before locking in their bets. International raiders with strong ratings are always worth consideration, but locally trained stayers with Cup‑specific preparation often offer value. For exotic plays, building trifectas and first fours around a reliable stayer on the rise is a popular strategy. Ultimately, the best Melbourne Cup tips focus on fitness, form, weight, and timing — the key ingredients that repeatedly shape Cup results.
When is the Melbourne Cup 2026?
The Melbourne Cup date is always set for the first Tuesday of November. The 2026 Melbourne Cup will run on Tuesday November 3, 2026, as the 166th edition of the two-mile classic as the pinnacle of the Melbourne Cup Carnival in late spring.
What is the prize money for the Melbourne Cup 2026?
The 2026 Melbourne prize money is set at $10.2 million which is paid from 1st to 24th place including $4.5 million going to the Melbourne Cup winner.
Where is the Melbourne Cup 2026?
The 2026 Melbourne Cup is set to run a Victoria's famous Flemington Racecourse, which is located at 448 Epsom Road, Flemington, VIC.
What distance is the Melbourne Cup run over?
The Melbourne Cup is run over 3200 metres, making it Australia’s premier two‑mile staying test and one of the most demanding handicap races in world racing. The distance is central to the Cup’s identity — it rewards genuine stamina, tactical patience, and a strong finishing motor, which is why punters always look closely at proven stayers and horses with solid lead‑up form at two miles or beyond.
How many horses run in the Melbourne Cup?
The Melbourne Cup fields a maximum of 24 runners, making it the largest Group 1 handicap line‑up in Australia and one of the most competitive staying contests in world racing. The Cup regularly attracts a full field, with local stayers, international raiders, and ballot‑exempt qualifiers all vying for a spot in the final 24. There are no emergencies for the Melbourne Cup field.
Who won the 2024 Melbourne Cup?
The 2024 Melbourne Cup was won by the John Symons & Shelia Laxon-trained Queensland Knight's Choice at $91 who was ridden by first-time Melbourne Cup hoop Robbie Dolan.
Who won the 2025 Melbourne Cup?
The 2025 Melbourne Cup was won by five-year-old St Jean gelding Half Yours who came off a lead-up Caulfield Cup win. Half Yours started at $9 for trainers Tony & Calvin McEvoy and the Australian-bred, chestnut stayer wore the No. 14 saddlecloth with jockey Jamie Melham becoming just the second female Melbourne Cup winning jockey in history aboard on 53kg from barrier 8 to win by 2.75 lengths in a time of 3:22.46 on a Soft (5) track.
