Ladbrokes Tip: Moonee Valley Gold Cup is a good early Melbourne Cup betting guide officially offering the winner a ballot exemption into the $10 million classic!
The latest edition of the Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup ran on Friday October 24, 2025 on the eve of Cox Plate Day in Melbourne offering the winner – Brian Ellison’s UK raider Onesmoothoperator ($4.20F) – a ballot exemption for the $10 million Melbourne Cup race on the first Tuesday of November!
2025 Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup Results
The official Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup 2025 Results & Finishing Order will be available below once the race is run and won on Friday October 24, 2025.
- 1st: No. 5 Onesmoothoperator
- 2nd: No. 9 Athabascan
- 3rd: No. 13 Scary
Brian Ellison’s UK raider Onesmoothoperator ($4.20F) stormed home to win the 2025 Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup results on Friday night returning to form down under in style and booking his ticket to the $10 million Melbourne Cup with a powerful late burst under hoop of the hour Mark Zahra. He has subsequently firmed in from $34 to $13 to improve on his 12th in last year’s Melbourne Cup results.
2025 Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup Odds
The updated Moonee Valley Gold Cup 2025 betting odds and links to our markets on the Cox Plate Carnival event will be available below the week of the race so stay tuned for the best prices on the Melbourne Cup lead-up.
| 5. Onesmoothoperator (3) J: Mark Zahra 56.5kg 5x840T: Brian Ellison | ||
| 9. Athabascan (7) J: Daniel Stackhouse 55kg 9x000T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton | ||
| 13. Scary (6) J: Lachlan Neindorf 53kg x0027T: Emma-Lee & David Browne | ||
| 11. Berkshire Breeze (5) J: Michael Dee 55kg 8x626T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 8. Grand Pierro (2) J: Zac Spain 56kg x0838T: Jason Warren | ||
| 10. Cleveland (4) J: Jye McNeil 55kg 48x47T: Kris Lees | ||
| 6. Post Impressionist (9) J: Ethan Brown 56.5kg 8x866T: Anthony & Sam Freedman | ||
| 3. Smokin' Romans (8) J: Ben Melham 56.5kg x7294T: Ciaron Maher | ||
| 2. Trav (1) J: Masahiro Hashizume 57kg 7x440T: Raymond Connors | ||
| 1. Brayden Star (11) J: Craig Williams 57kg x7451T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | ||
| 14. So You Are (10) J: Cejay Graham 53kg 33512T: Stirling Osland |
Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup Tips
Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup tips include looking for proven stayers with winning form over at least a mile and a half, runners with a good Moonee Valley track record and those under double figures in betting.
Looking for gallopers out of spring lead-up runs including the St. Leger race in Sydney and those to have contested previous editions of the Melbourne Cup from springs gone are other good Moonee Valley Gold Cup betting tips.
Cleveland (2nd in 2023) was the last $500,000 St. Leger graduate from Randwick to win the Moonee Valley Gold Cup in Melbourne next start.
2025 Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup Tips
Our Ladbrokes’ exclusive Moonee Valley Gold Cup 2025 betting tips and selections will be detailed below the week of the race so bookmark this page for the stayers to lock into your Moonee Valley Gold Cup Trifecta tips.
To Win: No. 5 Onesmoothoperator
With GILDED WATER likely to be scratched in favour of Thursday’s rescheduled Ladbrokes Geelong Cup, the Moonee Valley Gold Cup opens up — and ONESMOOTHOPERATOR shapes as a serious value contender. The UK raider from Brian Ellison’s yard won last year’s Geelong Cup but has been redirected to The Valley, a move that signals stable confidence in the eight-year-old stayer. Although winless since that Group 3 triumph, he’s been competitive in strong company, including a fourth at big odds in York’s Silver Cup and a credible effort in the Ebor under 61kg despite finishing well back. Back in Australia, he drops weight and gets the services of Mark Zahra, who’ll ride him at 57kg from a plum draw in barrier four. Proven up to 3319m and boasting a solid place record over 2500m (8:1-4-0), he is a genuine staying type who could surprise first-up at a juicy quote.
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5. Onesmoothoperator (3)
J: Mark Zahra 56.5kg
5×840T: Brian Ellison
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The Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup runs at Moonee Valley Racecourse on a Friday evening in late October on the eve of Ladbrokes Cox Plate Day during the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
The Moonee Valley Gold Cup runs over 2500m under set weights plus penalties conditions. The stayers in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup field face off for $750,000 in total prize money and many are eyeing a run on the first Tuesday of November in Flemington’s iconic Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) over the two miles.
In 2025 the Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup became an official Melbourne Cup ballot exemption event!
The last horse to complete the Moonee Valley Gold Cup – Melbourne Cup double in the same year was the mighty Kingston Rule (1990). More recently Darren Weir’s 2014 MV Gold Cup winner ran second in the event in 2015 before scoring an upset in the Melbourne Cup at 100/1.
Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup Race Info
- Date: Friday October 24, 2025
- Track: Moonee Valley
- Distance: 2500m
- Conditions: Set Weights + Penalties
- Status: Group 2
- Prize Money: $750,000
- First Run: 1883
Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup Betting
Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup betting odds are led by proven stayers with form over at least 2400m and runners with previous experience at the tight Moonee Valley track. Past Group performers and staying types with an eye on a Melbourne Cup run also sit high up the Moonee Valley Gold Cup betting markets.
Recent winners to salute at double-figures in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup betting odds include Prince Of Penzance ($11 in 2014) and Vatuvei ($10 in 2012). Prince Of Penzance ran second in the following year’s Moonee Valley Gold Cup before saluting in the Melbourne Cup results in 2015 at a blowout price of $101!
More recently in 2020 Miami Bound scored an upset in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup winning as a $25 outsider in betting on the Melbourne Cup lead-up. She went on to run third in the next year’s Sydney Cup trifecta over the two miles at Randwick.
The mares also won in 2021 with Lunar Flare ($12).
Francesco Guardi ($3.30 in 2022) and Onesmoothoperator ($4.20 in 2025) are the latest favourites in Moonee Valley Gold Cup betting to win.
In 2024 Okita Soushi saluted at $11.
Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup Field
The Moonee Valley Gold Cup race field attracts a quality line-up of stayers each season including increasingly a number of international raiders heading towards a run in the world’s richest handicap – the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on the first Tuesday of November.
Runners in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup field may come off a run in the Group 3 JRA Cup (2040m) at the same track earlier in the month, a race that last produced a winner with The United States (6th) in 2015.
Another good lead-up race is the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) a fortnight before at Caulfield a race Bohemian Lily ran third in before her third next-up in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup in 2015.
Okita Soushi (2nd in 2024) was the last Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner to come via a lead-up run in the Herbert Power.
In 2014 Prince Of Penzance won the Moonee Valley Gold Cup before returning for a second in the race in 2015 that lead to his upset Melbourne Cup victory as a $101 roughie.
The Group 3 VRC Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) on Champions Stakes Day is the other most popular next-up option for Moonee Valley Gold Cup graduates. In 2014 the MV Cup winner Prince Of Penzance ran second in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes behind Le Roi who improved on a MV Cup second that spring. Third in that year’s Moonee Valley Gold Cup Au Revoir meanwhile won the Group 2 Sandown Classic (2400m) two runs later, a race Prince Of Penzance finished third in. Americain is the other recent Melbourne Cup winner to have also won the Moonee Valley Gold Cup in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
The last galloper to complete the Moonee Valley Gold Cup – Queen Elizabeth Stakes double was Precedence in 2013. Precedence also won the 2010 Moonee Valley Gold Cup on the back of a Herbert Power Stakes third and a JRA Cup victory.
Looking further ahead, many graduates out of the Moonee Valley Gold Cup field may continue onto the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) over the two miles on Zipping Classic Day in November.
2025 Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup Field
The official Moonee Valley Gold Cup 2025 Final Field & Barriers are set for release on the Wednesday leading up to the race and will be published below so stay tuned to see what potential Melbourne Cup horses making the line-up.
The Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup 2025 final field features 14 potential Melbourne Cup bound hopefuls led in betting by UK raider Onesmoothoperator who won the Geelong Cup in Victoria last year and is back down under on his way to the ‘race that stops a nation’.
| Entrant | Last 6 | Sex | Barrier | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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1. Brayden Star
J: Craig Williams
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
4x7451 | G | 11 | 57kg | |
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2. Trav
J: Masahiro Hashizume
T: Raymond Connors |
17x440 | G | 1 | 57kg | |
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3. Smokin' Romans
J: Ben Melham
T: Ciaron Maher |
0x7294 | G | 8 | 56.5kg | |
| 4. Hezashocka (12) Scratched: | |||||
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5. Onesmoothoperator
J: Mark Zahra
T: Brian Ellison |
35x840 | G | 3 | 56.5kg | |
|
6. Post Impressionist
J: Ethan Brown
T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
x8x866 | G | 9 | 56.5kg | |
| 7. Changingoftheguard (7) Scratched: | |||||
|
8. Grand Pierro
J: Zac Spain
T: Jason Warren |
3x0838 | G | 2 | 56kg | |
|
9. Athabascan
J: Daniel Stackhouse
T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton |
59x000 | G | 7 | 55kg | |
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10. Cleveland
J: Jye McNeil
T: Kris Lees |
x48x47 | G | 4 | 55kg | |
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11. Berkshire Breeze
J: Michael Dee
T: Ciaron Maher |
48x626 | G | 5 | 55kg | |
| 12. Gilded Water (2) Scratched: | |||||
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13. Scary
J: Lachlan Neindorf
T: Emma-Lee & David Browne |
5x0027 | H | 6 | 53kg | |
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14. So You Are
J: Cejay Graham
T: Stirling Osland |
233512 | G | 10 | 53kg | |
2025 Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup Nominations
The early Moonee Valley Gold Cup 2025 nominations are taken the Monday of race week with the full list of potential Melbourne Cup-bound stayers to be listed below.
| Last 10 | Horse | Sex | Age | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | True Weight | Penalty | Hcp Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17425x9x00 | HERMAN HESSE (GB) | G | 9 | Ciaron Maher | 1 | 57kg | 100 | ||
| 2 | 07344×7451 | BRAYDEN STAR (GB) | G | 7 | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 2 | 57kg | 99 | ||
| 3 | 12x75x8541 | WOOTTON VERNI (FR) | G | 5 | Chris Waller | 3 | 57kg | 97 | ||
| 4 | 059417×440 | TRAV (NZ) | G | 6 | Raymond Connors | 4 | 57kg | 94 | ||
| 5 | 8x159x5090 | MIDDLE EARTH (GB) | G | 6 | Ciaron Maher | 5 | 56.5kg | 107 | ||
| 6 | 60310×7294 | SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) | G | 9 | Ciaron Maher | 6 | 56.5kg | 105 | ||
| 7 | 05735x840x | ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA) | G | 8 | Brian Ellison | 7 | 56.5kg | 102 | ||
| 8 | x7726540x4 | HEZASHOCKA (NZ) | G | 8 | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 8 | 56.5kg | 99 | ||
| 9 | 84212×8082 | TORRANZINO (NZ) | G | 6 | Paul Preusker | 9 | 56.5kg | 98 | ||
| 10 | x460x8x866 | POST IMPRESSIONIST (IRE) | G | 7 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 10 | 56.5kg | 97 | ||
| 11 | 3x742x8210 | CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) | G | 7 | Kris Lees | 11 | 56kg | 106 | ||
| 12 | 1103×85913 | WHISKY ON THE HILL (GB) | G | 6 | Glen Thompson | 12 | 56kg | 96 | ||
| 13 | 21253×0838 | GRAND PIERRO | G | 6 | Jason Warren | 13 | 56kg | 95 | ||
| 14 | 782959×000 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | G | 7 | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 14 | 55kg | 98 | ||
| 15 | x0x2311330 | SAYEDATY SADATY (IRE) | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 15 | 55kg | 97 | ||
| 16 | x54248x626 | BERKSHIRE BREEZE (IRE) | G | 7 | Ciaron Maher | 16 | 55kg | 97 | ||
| 17 | 202763×070 | INTERPRETATION (IRE) | G | 8 | Ciaron Maher | 17 | 55kg | 97 | ||
| 18 | 0x80x48x47 | CLEVELAND (IRE) | G | 8 | Kris Lees | 18 | 55kg | 97 | ||
| 19 | 0x0000x806 | STAR OF INDIA (IRE) | G | 7 | Chris Waller | 19 | 55kg | 95 | ||
| 20 | 10x112x313 | GILDED WATER (GB) | G | 5 | Ciaron Maher | 20 | 55kg | 92 | ||
| 21 | 0x1x28x000 | EARL OF TYRONE (IRE) | G | 8 | Ciaron Maher | 21 | 55kg | 92 | ||
| 22 | 52x05x0027 | SCARY (NZ) | H | 4 | Emma-Lee & David Browne | 22 | 53kg | 91 | ||
| 23 | 70x5585x09 | DASHING DUCHESS (NZ) | M | 6 | Symon Wilde | 23 | 53kg | 91 | ||
| 24 | 7x500x5036 | CADMUS (IRE) | G | 7 | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 24 | 55kg | 88 | ||
| 25 | 121213×775 | FERNAO (IRE) | G | 7 | Annabel & Rob Archibald | 25 | 55kg | 86 | ||
| 26 | 32×8233512 | SO YOU ARE | G | 4 | Stirling Osland | 26 | 53kg | 84 |
Table Credit: Racing Australia.
Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup Form Guide
The Moonee Valley Gold Cup form guide features essential facts and stats like the jockeys, trainers, barriers and lead-up runs of the stayers in the field.
In recent years the Moonee Valley Gold Cup form has held up in better spring features like the Melbourne Cup a number of times including in 2002 when Mr Prudent ran third and second respectively and in 2000 when Brew won the Melbourne Cup after a second to Yippyio in the MV Cup.
More recently Americain won the 2011 Moonee Valley Gold Cup a year after saluting in the Melbourne Cup, while in 2015 Prince Of Penzance ran second when failing to defend his Moonee Valley Gold Cup title before success in that year’s Melbourne Cup as a triple-figure roughie.
In 2021 the Moonee Valley Gold Cup runner up Floating Artist went on to run a good fourth behind Verry Elleegant in that year’s Melbourne Cup results.
In 2024 the Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner, Otaki Soushi, went on to place third in that year’s Melbourne Cup trifecta.
2025 Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup Form Guide
A link to our comprehensive Moonee Valley Gold Cup 2025 Form Guide will be available below for punters the week of the race.
Moonee Valley Gold Cup Results
There have been more favourites than roughies saluting for the punters in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup race results over the past decade.
Many quality gallopers have taken out the race and standout recent Moonee Valley Gold Cup winners include UK raider Onesmoothoperator (2025), Miami Bound (2020), Prince Of Penzance (2014), Americain (2011), and Zipping (2006).
Lunar Flare (2021) was the last Moonee Valley Gold Cup winning mare. Lunar Flare also finished runner-up in 2022 and fourth as the beaten favourite with excuses in 2023.
Past Moonee Valley Gold Cup Winners
Recent Moonee Valley Gold Cup winners and placegetters dating back to the year 2000 are detailed in the below table.
| Year | Winner | 2nd | 3rd | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Onesmoothoperator | Athabascan | Scary | 2:36.77 |
| 2024 | Okita Soushi | Serpentine | Sharp ‘N’ Smart | 2:34.77 |
| 2023 | Cleveland | Vow And Declare | Future History | 2:35.20 |
| 2022 | Francesco Guardi | Lunar Flare | Persan | 2:39.3 |
| 2021 | Lunar Flare | Floating Artist | Sound | 2:40.1 |
| 2020 | Miami Bound | Shared Ambition | Oceanex | 2:39.6 |
| 2019 | Hunting Horn | Mr Quickie | Downdraft | 2:39.4 |
| 2018 | Ventura Storm | Trap For Fools | Libran | 2:34.3 |
| 2017 | Who Shot Thebarman | Libran | Cismontane | 2:37.3 |
| 2016 | Grand Marshal | Who Shot Thebarman | Pentathlon | 2:41.4 |
| 2015 | The United States | Prince Of Penzance | Bohemian Lily | 2:34.4 |
| 2014 | Prince Of Penzance | Le Roi | Au Revoir | 2:36.0 |
| 2013 | Precedence | Shoreham | Gotta Take Care | 2:36.9 |
| 2012 | Vatuvei | Reuben Percival | Ironstein | 2:35.7 |
| 2011 | Americain | Tullamore | Illo | 2:36.4 |
| 2010 | Precedence | Above Average | Capecover | 2:38.9 |
| 2009 | The Sportsman | Irazu | Think Money | 2:37.3 |
| 2008 | Gallopin | Baughurst | Ice Chariot | 2:36.5 |
| 2007 | Gallic | Lazer Sharp | Jukebox Johnny | 2:36.5 |
| 2006 | Zipping | Show Barry | Gallic | 2:38.9 |
| 2005 | Umbula | Bazelle | Kindjhal | 2:45.1 |
| 2004 | Another Warrior | Rizon | Hard To Get | 2:37.1 |
| 2003 | Frightening | Legible | County Tyrone | 2:38.5 |
| 2002 | Thong Classic | Rain Gauge | Mr Prudent | 2:40.9 |
| 2001 | Rain Gauge | Spirit Of Westbury | Big Pat | 2;37.6 |
| 2000 | Yippyio | Brew | Cronus | 2:41.3 |
FAQ
Who won the 2025 Moonee Valley Gold Cup?
The 2025 Moonee Valley Gold Cup was won by eight-year-old Dialed In gelding Onesmoothoperator at $4.20 favouritism for UK trainer Brian Ellison with jockey Mark Zahra aboard on 57kg (a half kilo over the horse’s 56.5kg allocation) from barrier 3 to win by 0.75 lengths on a Good (3) track in a time of 2:36.77.
When is the Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup 2025?
Friday October 24, 2025What is the prize money for the Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup 2025?
$750,000
Where is the Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup 2025?
Moonee Valley Racecourse, Feehan Ave, Moonee Ponds VIC 3039.
How do I bet on the 2025 Moonee Valley Gold Cup?
Bet online or via the latest iOS/Android app with Ladbrokes.
The first step is to create an account at ladbrokes.com.au. 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 runner that’s right for you.
Which horse will win the 2025 Moonee Valley Gold Cup?
The best way to pick which horse will win the Moonee Valley Gold 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.com.au in the lead up to the race for full form information.