Melbourne Cup Day – the race that truly stops the nation!
The first Tuesday in November isn’t just another day on the calendar — it’s when Australia tunes in, the world watches on, and 24 horses line up for glory in the great race that captures over 700 million eyeballs worldwide.
This year’s Cup field? Absolutely stacked. Big names, bold stories, and plenty of betting spice to keep every punter guessing.
Will we see a hometown hero, an international raider, or that classic roughie charging home to blow up the sweeps?
Whatever unfolds, it’s Cup Day — the biggest day in racing, and I’ve got you covered for all 10 races. Let’s find a few winners together!
TORNADO VALLEY (2) was stiff not to salute on debut — and looks ready to make amends in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate.
The Ciaron Maher colt got back in the Debutante Stakes, ran into a wall of traffic, but still stormed home to grab third — less than a length off the winner.
There was plenty to like about the run — he clocked the fastest closing splits despite being held up and forced to change course.
He’ll only be better for that hit-out, and second-up he’s got the fitness and experience edge on most of these.
- Selections: 2-4-3-8
| 2. Tornado Valley (2) J: Ethan Brown 58kg 3 T: Ciaron Maher |
BRAVE MISS (7) is flying — two wins and a pair of thirds from her past four says it all.
The Freedman mare has been ultra-consistent, finding the line every time. She kicked things off with a strong Hillside win, then ran two brave thirds — one of those right here over the 1800m.
Last start, she ate up the ground to win the Pinker Pinker Plate at Pakenham, and I loved the way she did it — smooth action, powerful through the line.
Everything about that run screams Flemington suits — big track, long straight, perfect for her pattern.
- Selections: 7-3-14-10
| 7. Brave Miss (8) J: Jamie Melham 58kg 61331 T: Anthony & Sam Freedman |
ARABIAN PRINCE (9) might’ve missed his shot at the Group 1 Victoria Derby, but that’s good news for us — he looks mighty hard to beat here.
The Michael Kent colt was excellent in the Caulfield Classic, getting back early before unleashing the fastest final 400m of the race to finish just 1.2 lengths off them in sixth.
That form stacks up perfectly for this, and it followed a similar run in the Super Impose Stakes, where he wasn’t far away again.
He’s rock-hard fit, draws a good rider in Ethan Brown, and gets his chance to finally cash in.
- Selections: 9-4-3-2
| 9. Arabian Prince (7) J: Ethan Brown 57kg 3×56 T: Michael Kent |
PALLATON (2) has had zero luck from wide gates since joining the Michael Freedman yard — but that won’t matter down the famous Flemington straight.
The Wootton Bassett colt was never on the track in the Group 2 Roman Consul, and understandably faded late after covering plenty of extra ground.
Last start in the Listed Brian Crowley, he was three-deep on speed the whole way but still dug in to finish a brave second — just 1.4 lengths off them. That was a serious run under pressure.
Now he gets J-Mac in the saddle — the perfect booking to give him every chance to show his best.
- Selections: 2-4-9-1
| 2. Pallaton (4) J: James McDonald 57.5kg x3562 T: Michael Freedman |
GOLDEN CENTURY (10) just keeps turning up — as honest and consistent as they come this prep, and well-placed to keep the roll going.
The Chris Waller gelding was a touch fresh last start — played up at the gates, pulled a bit early behind a slow tempo over 2400m at Caulfield — but still rattled home with the fastest last 400m to grab third, less than a length away.
Before that, he went bang-bang in back-to-back wins across the ditch, including one in testing conditions that proved his versatility.
A Group 1 NZ Derby placegetter, he’s fit, tough, and drops nicely in weight — all signs point to another big showing.
- Selections: 10-8-9-3
SAINT GEORGE (5) will be hoping for a much smoother Melbourne Cup Day than last year, when he finished near the tail in the big one — but this time, the story could be very different.
The Ciaron Maher-trained ghost-grey spent almost a year in the paddock and returned a gelded horse in the Listed Seymour Cup, where he absolutely flew home from the back to grab second — beaten just a neck.
It was a flashing light run, the kind that screams “next time, further, yes please.” And he gets exactly that here.
There’s plenty of speed on paper, which should set it up perfectly for him to unwind late.
- Selections: 5-2-6-8
| 5. Saint George (8) J: Ethan Brown 56kg 950×2 T: Ciaron Maher |
AL RIFFA (1) is out to make Melbourne Cup history, asked to lug a monster 59 kilos — but if any horse can shoulder the load, it’s this one.
The Wootton Bassett powerhouse brings serious European class and the muscle to match. He’s a brute of a galloper who’s proven he can carry weight — his last-start four-length romp in the Irish St. Leger under 61.5kg was pure arrogance.
That came off the back of a five-length demolition in the Curragh Cup, and the way he’s been running out those 2800m trips suggests the two miles will be right up his alley.
Trainer Joseph O’Brien knows exactly what it takes to win this race — he’s done it twice before — and reckons Al Riffa is the best he’s ever brought Down Under.
And with Mark Zahra — the hottest hoop in the country — doing the steering, this international raider looks every inch the real deal.
- Selections: 1-24-14-17
| 1. Al Riffa (19) J: Mark Zahra 59kg x4211 T: Joseph O’Brien |
LUDLUM (15)might be lightly raced, but he oozes natural class — the kind of horse that just screams X factor.
The Grahame Begg-trained gelding was strong late on debut at Ballarat, charging home to miss by a head over 1000m. Then at Seymour, despite being easy in the market, he sat three-wide the trip and still powered clear to win by 1.8 lengths over Chergui — a galloper with Listed-level form. That’s proper merit for a horse still learning the ropes.
He’ll only be sharper third-up, and the step to 1400m looks absolutely ideal.
- Selections: 15-2-4-11
| 15. Ludlum (11) J: Jordan Childs 54kg 21 T: Grahame Begg |
SURFIN’ BIRD (15) has kicked off her career in serious style — four wins from five starts and doing it with flair. 🏄♀️
The Waterhouse & Bott mare came off an eight-week freshen and absolutely blew them away at Caulfield, sitting three-wide the trip before putting her rivals to the sword for a 4.25-length demolition.
Before that, she was just as dominant — a five-length romp at Geelong, then a gutsy mile win where she dived through tight traffic like a horse who just refuses to lose.
She’s got huge upside, race fitness, and with Tim Clark mapping for a perfect run on speed, she looks set to keep the wave rolling.
- Selections: 15-10-1-2
| 15. Surfin’ Bird (6) J: Tim Clark 55kg 17111 T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
SABAJ (8) just keeps getting better — three straight wins last prep before runner-up efforts in the Morphettville Guineas and Group 2 Tobin Bronze proved he’s the real deal.
The Manhattan Rain gelding switched to the Price & Kent Jnr camp during his spell and resumed in the Group 3 Silver Eagle, where he was stiff not to finish closer. Held up badly until the final 150m, he still charged home to be only 3.6 lengths away.
That run screamed “back me next time” — he’s got the engine, and he’s two-from-two second-up, so you know he’ll improve again.
And with Mark Zahra taking over from Damian Lane, we’re in very safe hands.
- Selections: 8-3-7-1
| 8. Sabaj (4) Scratched: | |||