The first Tuesday of November has arrived, which can mean only one thing – it's Melbourne Cup day.
By Stephen Foote
The race which is traditionally said to stop two nations prepares to jump the gates at 5pm today, available live and free for your viewing pleasure on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ with coverage starting at 4.30pm.
So, who are the favourites, and more importantly, how is your office sweepstake draw shaping up?
Prepare your fascinators, here’s everything you need to know ahead of the big race at Flemington.
What is the Melbourne Cup?
First run in 1861, the Melbourne Cup has become an annual institution in the world of racing.
Australia essentially shuts down (the state of Victoria enjoys a public holiday) for the 24-horse race, run around a 3200m trip of the Flemington racecourse in Melbourne’s northwest.
With the Fashion in the Field crown almost as coveted as the race itself, it’s as much an event at which to be seen as it is a sporting occasion.
But of course, we all know it’s a successful betting slip (or three) which truly makes or breaks the day.
Who are the favourites?
British and Irish-trained horses have had the run of recent results in Melbourne, winning four of the last nine Cups, and odds suggest that may trend may continue.
On the back of some impressive form, including a dominant win in the Geelong Cup, English horse Point of Law starts as the betting favourite, paying $7 to win with NZ oddsmakers.
Ridden by superstar Kiwi jockey James MacDonald, Irish horse Trust Your Instinct is another highly favoured contender, sitting just behind at $7.50.
UK horse Hopewell Rock has the third highest odds at $9.50.
Conspicuous by its absence will be the Jamie Melham-steered Half Yours, who last year completed a historic Melbourne Cup/Caulfield Cup double.
Half Yours won’t get the chance to chase consecutive Cups due to a fall suffered in last month’s Caulfield Cup.
What about the Kiwis?
Although this year’s field doesn’t feature any New Zealand-trained horses, there are a pair who are New Zealand bred.
Expat Kiwi trainer Chris Waller’s Asterix starts in Barrier 6, ridden by Jye McNeill, sitting as a rank outsider at $61 for victory.
The other is Shockletz, trained by Ciaron Maher and ridden by Harry Coffey, paying $10 to cross first. The horse has Melbourne Cup winning pedigree, sired by 2009 champion Shocking.
A New Zealand owned and trained horse hasn’t won the Melbourne Cup since Ethereal in 2001, while the last NZ-bred horse to claim top honours was Verry Elleegant (2021).
How is the prize money divided?
The field battles it out for more than A$10 million (NZ$12.75m) in prize money, making it the world’s richest handicap race.
The winning horse’s connection receives a A$4.5 million first prize, with the rest of the payouts distributed as follows: 2nd: A$1.1 million, 3rd: A$560,000, 4th: A$360,000, 5th: A$240,000, 6th-12th: A$160,000, 13-24th: A$100,000.
How's the weather looking?
The forecast in Melbourne is for fine and mildly cloudy conditions on race day, with only a slight chance of a light morning shower and an expected high of 18C.
But rain and thunderstorms expected overnight on Monday mean the track will likely be soft.
2026 Melbourne Cup field 2026 (including barrier draw & TAB odds)
1. Sons And Lovers (GB) - Joseph O’Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle (3) - $19.00
2. Trustyourinstinct (IRE) 57kg Joseph O’Brien James McDonald (18) - $7.50
3. Knight’s Choice (AU) John Symons & Sheila Laxon Robbie Dolan (2) - $34.00
4. Middle Earth (GB) Ciaron Maher Mark Zahra (1) - $16.00
5. Vauban (FR) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Jordan Childs (22) - $51.00
6. Enfjaar (IRE) Roger Varian Ray Dawson (8) - $23.00
7. Royal Supremacy (IRE) Ciaron Maher Ben Allen (21) - $51.00
8. Wine Dark Sea (GB) Harry Charlton Damian Lane (23) - $41.00
9. Asterix (NZ) Chris Waller Jye McNeil (6) - $61.00
10. Goodie Two Shoes (IRE) 55kg Joseph O’Brien Wayne Lordan (19) - $26.00
11. Juja Kibo (IRE) Ciaron Maher Sam Clipperton (14) - $12.00
12. Hopewell Rock (IRE) George Boughey Zac Lloyd (15) - $9.50
13. Onesmoothoperator (USA) Tim Fitzsimmons Declan Bates (13) - $61.00
14. Soul Of Spain (IRE) Chris Waller Tommy Berry (5) - $34.00
15. Zahrann (IRE) Ciaron Maher Ben Melham (11) - $31.00
16. So You Are (AU) - Bjorn Baker Rachel King (7) - $12.00
17. Future History (GB) 53.5kg Gregory Hickman Jamie Melham (12) - $51.00
18. James J Braddock (IRE) 53.5kg Joseph O’Brien Craig Williams (24) - $19.00
19. Kizlyar (IRE) 53.5kg Joseph O’Brien Beau Mertens (20) - $41.00
20. Point Of Law (GB) 53kg Ciaron Maher Ethan Brown (9) - $7.00
21. Strictly Business (AU) 53kg Thomas Carberry Dean Yendall (4) - $71.00
22. Mr Monaco (GB) 52.5kg Ciaron Maher Jabez Johnstone (16) - $23.00
23. Zakouma (AU) 52kg Grahame Begg William Pike (10) - $34.00
24. Shockletz (NZ) 51kg Ciaron Maher Harry Coffey (17) - $10.00
SHARE ME