The 2026 Melbourne Cup nominations are in, and punters have been handed a mouth‑watering first look at one of the deepest and most internationally diverse fields in recent memory. A total of 101 stayers have been entered for the $10.2 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m), with a powerful mix of Australian stars and global raiders from England, Ireland, Japan and the USA all targeting Flemington on Tuesday 3 November.
Reigning champion Half Yours headlines the local hopes as Tony & Calvin McEvoy chase back‑to‑back Cup victories — a feat not achieved since Makybe Diva’s famous three‑peat. The defending champ is safely among the 2026 Melbourne Cup early entries and sits at $11 in the latest all‑in Melbourne Cup betting markets.
Half Yours is out to go back-to-back in the Melbourne Cup for the first time since three-time hero Makybe Diva (2003-05)!
Early Melbourne Cup Odds: Waller’s Aeliana Tops the Futures
Chris Waller’s classy mare Aeliana has opened as the early Melbourne Cup favourite at $10. The Tancred/Ranvet Stakes double winner is expected to improve sharply as she rises in trip after finishing last when fresh in the Winx Stakes.
“She has run home as good as any,” jockey Nash Rawiller said of the favourite in the 2026 Melbourne Cup nominations after Aeliana’s first-up run in Sydney.
“Over the last furlong she gave me a feel of something special. She is a real darling beast. Just didn’t work for us.”
Waller has submitted 12 Melbourne Cup 2026 nominations, forming one of the strongest Australian contingents in this year’s early entries.
2026 Melbourne Cup Nominations: Key Stats & Fast Facts
- 101 Melbourne Cup nominations received
- 78 Australian‑trained stayers
- 23 international contenders
- Entries from England, Ireland, Japan, USA
- Half Yours returns as defending Melbourne Cup champion
- Ciaron Maher submits 14 nominations
- Chris Waller enters 12, including favourite Aeliana
- Joseph O’Brien leads internationals with 11 nominees
- Golden‑ticket winner Defiantly among them
- Goodie Two Shoes (2025 runner‑up) returns at $26
- Aidan O’Brien nominates five, headlined by Christmas Day
- Japan represented by Stinger Glass (Diamond Stakes winner)
- Fan favourite Constitution Hill among northern hemisphere entries
- Golden‑ticket qualifiers: Zakouma, Tawny Port, Defiantly
- Ballot‑exemption pathways: Archer Stakes, The Bart Cummings, Caulfield Cup, Moonee Valley Gold Cup, Ladbrokes Geelong Cup
International Raiders: O’Brien Powerhouse Leads the Charge
Ireland’s Joseph O’Brien, already a dual Melbourne Cup winner, again brings serious firepower. His 11 Melbourne Cup 2026 nominations include:
- Defiantly – Prix Kergorlay winner, golden‑ticket holder, $11 (at time of publish)
- Goodie Two Shoes – 2025 runner‑up, $26 (at time of publish)
Aidan O’Brien adds further depth with five early entries, spearheaded by Christmas Day, the Epsom Derby winner aiming to become the first English Derby champion to contest the Cup since Serpentine.
Japan returns to Flemington 20 years after Delta Blues’ historic victory, represented by Stinger Glass, a proven stayer rated a $15 chance.
Fan favourite Constitution Hill, the champion hurdler turned flat performer, is also among the 2026 Melbourne Cup nominations, building toward a potential Cup tilt via the September Stakes.
Other Notable Melbourne Cup 2026 Nominees
- Knight’s Choice – 2024 Melbourne Cup winner
- Strictly Business – VRC Oaks heroine
- Soulcombe, Okita Soushi, Middle Earth – past Cup placegetters
- Green Spaces – ATC Derby winner
These runners add further depth to what is shaping as one of the strongest Melbourne Cup nominations lists in recent years.
Golden Tickets & Pathways to the Final Field
Three runners have already secured ballot exemption:
- Zakouma – Andrew Ramsden
- Tawny Port – Belmont Gold Cup
- Defiantly – Prix Kergorlay
Additional pathways remain through key spring staying features including:
- Lexus Archer Stakes (Flemington, September 12)
- The Bart Cummings (Flemington, October 3)
- Caulfield Cup (Caulfield, October 17)
- Ladbrokes Geelong Cup (Ladbrokes Geelong, October 21)
- Moonee Valley Gold Cup (Flemington, October 24)
These races will play a crucial role in shaping the final 2026 Melbourne Cup field.
The Road to the First Tuesday in November
With a defending champion returning, Australian stables stacked with talent, and a formidable international assault, the 2026 Melbourne Cup nominations promise a blockbuster build‑up to Australia’s greatest race.
The full list of 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup nominations can be found here.
Key 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup Nominations & Acceptance Dates
| Entry & Acceptance Stages | Date |
|---|---|
| Nominations/Entries | 12:00pm Tuesday 1 September |
| Late Nominations | 12:00pm Tuesday 8 September |
| Weights Released | 12:00pm Thursday 17 September |
| First Declarations | 12:00pm Tuesday 29 September |
| Second Declarations | 12:00pm Tuesday 13 October |
| Third Declarations | 10:00am Monday 26 October |
| Final/Fourth Declarations | 4:30pm Saturday 31 October |
Latest Melbourne Cup 2026 Odds
| 1. Aeliana | ||
| 2. Defiantly | ||
| 3. Half Yours | ||
| 4. Green Spaces | ||
| 5. James J Braddock | ||
| 6. Stinger Glass | ||
| 7. Wine Dark Sea | ||
| 8. Hopewell Rock | ||
| 9. Trustyourinstinct | ||
| 10. Saint George | ||
| 11. Zahrann | ||
| 12. Birdman | ||
| 13. Christmas Day | ||
| 14. Deakin | ||
| 15. Goodie Two Shoes | ||
| 16. Middle Earth | ||
| 17. Mr Monaco | ||
| 18. Small Fry | ||
| 19. Sons And Lovers | ||
| 20. Zakouma |