FEATURE PREVIEWS: MELBOURNE CUP

Horse – KIZLYAR (IRE)
Trainer – Joseph O’Brien
Jockey – Beau Mertens
Barrier –20

Kizlyar (IRE) began his racing career in France before being transferred to the stable of current trainer Joseph O’Brien in Ireland. The eighth and final fly-in, fly-out international visitor contesting the 2026 Melbourne Cup, Kizlyar made his Australian debut in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup. He went around as the heavily backed favourite after attracting significant late market support, but unfortunately failed to deliver, tailing off to finish a disappointing 11th.
Surprisingly, I actually liked what I saw in the mounting yard. He was one of two runners I backed to win the race, and I thought he handled the occasion brilliantly for a young international visitor. He’s a smaller-framed gelding and was very forward in condition, his size can be an advantage when it comes to maintaining fitness, as there is generally less bulk to manage. I couldn’t find any real excuses for him from a mounting-yard perspective which makes his disappointing performance all the more intriguing. The big question now, as it is for all the international visitors, is how he will handle the enormity of the Melbourne Cup stage.

Horse – SONS AND LOVERS (GB)
Trainer – Joseph O’Brien
Jockey – Ryan Moore
Barrier –3

Joseph O’Brien has assembled a formidable team of five runners for the 2026 Melbourne Cup, with the ambitious Irish trainer chasing a third victory in Australia’s most iconic race. Whilst crowned Irish Champion Jockey in 2025, Dylan Browne McMonaglewill make his Melbourne Cup debut in 2026, adding another milestone to the young rider’s burgeoning career.

Sons and Lovers (GB) is a five-year-old gelding bred in the United Kingdom and trained in Ireland. A seasoned globetrotter, he has competed on the international stage across France, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and England, and will now add Australia to his racing résumé with his Melbourne Cup debut.
His most recent outing came in Ireland seven weeks ago, however his established racing pattern may help him cope with the gap between runs and the demands of international travel.

Horse – VAUBAN (FR)
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Jockey – Jordan Childs
Barrier – 22

Vauban (FR) will be competing in the Melbourne Cup for the 4th time this year, where each start has seen him progress up the placings from 14th in 2023, 11th in 2024 and 6th last year. Crucially, in both 2023 and 2024 Vauban competed in the Melbourne Cup as a fly-in visitor, prepared internationally by Willie Mullins in Ireland. Both parades were poor and well below the standard I expect of a Melbourne Cup runner.

He was a fantastic lay betting proposition both times. I was adamant that he was the type of international that needed time to acclimatise to Australia and didn’t suit the fly in fly out nature of these campaigns. So his transfer to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott after the 2024 Cup made perfect sense. Last year, he produced his best-ever parade and improved on the track. My main concern this year is fitness. Tackling the 3200 metres second-up, the naturally burly older gelding faces a significant challenge to reach peak condition.

Horse – POINT OF LAW (GB)
Trainer – Ciaron Maher
Jockey – Ethan Brown
Barrier –9

Arguably the most intriguing horse in the 2026 Melbourne Cup. Point Of Law (GB) is a three-year-old colt sired by Frankel (GB), widely regarded as one of the greatest racehorses and stallions of all time.

Exceptionally bred, he was bred and owned by King Charles III and Queen Camilla before being sold in August 2026 in a high-profile private transaction. The details of the deal remain a mystery, and I would love to know the story behind the sale.

Prior to his move to Australia, Point Of Law was trained in the United Kingdom by John and Thady Gosden.
Now based in Ballarat, Victoria, Point Of Law made an immediate impression on Australian soil, winning the Group 3 Geelong Cup on debut in the country, fresh off the plane.

His pre-race parade was among the best I have witnessed from an international newcomer. He was jaw-droppingly magnificent and looked like something special from the moment I laid eyes on him.
True to the reputation of trainer Ciaron Maher, Point Of Law arrived at the Geelong Cup exceptionally fit and forward in condition. Maher is a masterful conditioner of his horses, and based on what I saw at Geelong, fitness is not a concern heading into Tuesday’s feature.

However, the biggest question mark surrounding Point Of Law is not his ability or his condition, but his maturity and raceday temperament. The Melbourne Cup will be just the sixth start of his career, and as an inexperienced three-year-old colt, he faces an enormous test in one of the most demanding environments in Australian, if not International, racing.
The occasion can overwhelm even seasoned campaigners — Vauban being a prime example — and the atmosphere, noise and sheer intensity of Cup day will be an entirely different challenge for a horse with so little racing experience.

I will be watching closely to see whether Point Of Law can remain relaxed, composed and professional in the mounting yard, conserving his energy for the task ahead rather than becoming unsettled by the occasion.
If he parades well on Tuesday, I believe he is the one to beat. Should he handle the occasion with the composure of a seasoned galloper, we could be witnessing the emergence of a genuine equine star.

Horse – FUTURE HISTORY (GB)
Trainer – Gregory Hickman
Jockey – Jamie Melham
Barrier – 12
One of the oldest horses in the 2026 Melbourne Cup, nine-year-old Future History (GB) returns for his second attempt at the race that stops a nation, having finished 15th in 2023. Bred in the United Kingdom by historic Juddmonte Farms, Future History made the move to Australia in 2023, initially joining the stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace before remaining with Maher. In October 2023, a 10% share was sold for $205,000, valuing him at $2.05 million. Just over a year later, in November 2024, he was sold online for just $40,000 to his current owners. Fast-forward to 2026, and those owners now find themselves with a runner in Australia’s biggest race. Current trainer
Gregory Hickman is the fifth trainer of Future History, and this will be his first-ever Melbourne Cup contender.
There’s plenty of history surrounding jockey Jamie Melham (formerly Jamie Kah), too. Having won the 2025 Melbourne Cup aboard Half Yours, she became only the second female jockey in history to win the race, exactly 10 years after Michelle Payne’s historic
victory in 2015. Adding a little personal intrigue, last year’s Cup marked the first time a married couple had competed against one another in the race, with Jamie lining up against her husband, fellow jockey Ben Melham. The husband-and-wife rivalry
continues in 2026, with Ben once again among Jamie’s competition.
From a mounting-yard perspective, Future History is a consistently honest parader who tends to look much the same every time I see him. He’s a dependable, rock-hard fit, no-fuss type who should turn up looking much as expected. Although he lacks the wow
factor I associate with a Melbourne Cup winner, if you’re keen on his chances, I doubt I’ll find much to fault.

Horse – KNIGHT’S CHOICE
Trainer – John Symons & Sheila Laxon
Jockey – Robbie Dolan
Barrier –2

Knight’s Choice made history in 2024, winning the Melbourne Cup at the extraordinary Betfair Starting Price of $268. After missing the 2025 edition due to a strangles outbreak at his stable, the Australian gelding returns as a seven-year-old, chasing a second Cup victory and hoping to become the 6th horse to ever win the Melbourne Cup more than once.

Despite approaching his 32nd career start, Knight’s Choice is parading better than I have ever seen him look. I can confidently recommend him from the mounting yard.

Horse – ASTERIX (NZ)
Trainer – Chris Waller
Jockey – Jye McNeil.
Barrier – 6

Asterix (NZ) is an eight-year-old New Zealand gelding who joined Chris Waller’s stable in 2025. While I haven’t followed him closely throughout his career, I have seen him regularly this preparation, and his parades have consistently fallen below the standard I expect of a Melbourne Cup winner.

Unless his looks improve drastically on Tuesday, he would surprise me

Horse – MR MONACO (GB)
Trainer – Ciaron Maher
Jockey – Jabez Johnstone
Barrier – 16

From the United Kingdom, Mr Monaco (GB) was purchased by Ciaron Maher at the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in training sale for 410,000 Guineas. He earned his place in this year’s field with victory in the Group 3 Bart Cummings at Flemington.

A mentally far more mature horse than he was 12 months ago, Mr Monaco has settled into Australian racing and looks every bit the natural stayer. I have liked him throughout this preparation, and his presence in the mounting yard has been consistently
appealing.

He is one I have no concerns about based on the yard. A fascinating layer to this Cup story is 20-year-old apprentice Jabez Johnstone, who will be the youngest jockey in the field. He has the chance to make history as the first apprentice to win the Melbourne Cup since 15-year-old Ray Neville partnered Rimfire tovictory in 1948.

Horse – TRUSTYOURINSTINCT (IRE)
Trainer – Joseph O’Brien
Jockey – James McDonald
Barrier – 18

Trustyourinstinct (IRE) brings genuine international class to the 2026 Melbourne Cup, arriving from Ireland seven weeks after his Group 1 Irish St Leger run, having previously won the Group 2 Curragh Cup. The exciting addition to his campaign is champion
jockey James McDonald, a multiple winner of the prestigious Longines World’s Best Jockey title.

Put JMac together with Joseph O’Brien and you have a combination that demands attention. However, I wouldn’t be getting carried away just yet.

His mounting yard parade will be crucial, and much like Vauban in 2023, he needs to impress in the yard to earn my confidence. He needs to tick that box on Tuesday.

Horse – STRICTLY BUSINESS
Trainer – Thomas Carberry
Jockey – Mick Dee
Barrier – 4

Strictly Business is one of the underdog stories of this year’s Cup, representing Ballarat-based trainer Thomas Carberry’s small stable, after winning the Group 1 Crown Oaks in 2025. However, she is yet to win again and has done little to excite me in the mounting yard this preparation.

At four, she still lacks the physical maturity and development I look for when a filly transitions into an older mare, particularly against seasoned rivals. I suspect her time is yet to come and with patience and further maturation, Strictly Business could develop into a stayer for the future.

Horse – SOUL OF SPAIN (IRE)
Trainer – Chris Waller
Jockey – Tommy Berry
Barrier – 5

Soul Of Spain (IRE) is a horse I’ve only seen a handful of times, and he’s yet to catch my eye. His parade in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup last start was underwhelming, and he’ll need to show significant improvement in the mounting yard on Tuesday to win me over.

Horse – ZAKOUMA
Trainer – Grahame Begg
Jockey – William Pike
Barrier – 10

Zakouma carries the hopes of one of Victoria’s finest trainers, in my opinion, with Grahame Begg saddling his first-ever Melbourne Cup runner. Zakouma earned his ballot-free entry with a remarkable late surge to win the Listed Andrew Ramsden atFlemington in May, securing his ticket into the $10 million feature.

Deep into his preparation, Zakouma should be rock-hard fit and present without any physical concerns in the mounting yard. The question now is whether he has the class to match the occasion. Adding further intrigue is jockey William Pike, who arrives in red-hot formafter a spectacular Group 1 Cox Plate victory. With a Cup debut for Begg and a jockey riding with confidence, Zakouma has a captivating team behind him heading into Tuesday.

Horse – GOODIE TWO SHOES (IRE)
Trainer – Joseph O’Brien
Jockey – Wayne Lordan
Barrier – 19

Goodie Two Shoes (IRE) returns to Flemington looking to go one better after finishing runner-up to Half Yours in the 2025 Melbourne Cup. The seven-year-old Irish mare arrives with an impressive résumé, including a Group 2 victory and two Group 3 wins. As she did last year, she heads into the first Tuesday in November without an Australian lead-up run, with seven weeks between starts.

I wasn’t a fan of Goodie Two Shoes’ parade last year, yet she vastly exceeded my expectations, so I’ll be fascinated to see how she presents this time around. Experienced Irish jockey Wayne Lordan has contested the Melbourne Cup twice, finishing second and third.

With only the winning placing missing from his record, could this be the year he completes the set?

Horse – ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE)
Trainer – Ciaron Maher
Jockey – Ben Allen
Barrier – 21

Royal Supremacy (IRE) returns for his second Melbourne Cup after a disappointing 15th in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup last start, where he had been my Pick of the Yard.
Despite that setback, I’ve adored him throughout this preparation, and physically, he looks on track to be cherry-ripe for Tuesday.

My biggest watchpoint is his attitude. Royal Supremacy can be cantankerous at times, so I’ll be looking for a calm, relaxed horse in the mounting yard. The looks are there — now I need to see the right temperament.

Horse – ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA)
Trainer – Tim Fitzsimmons
Jockey – Declan Bates
Barrier –13

Onesmoothoperator (USA) has certainly travelled, born in America, previously trained in England and now based in Bendigo. He returns for his third Melbourne Cup attempt, having previously showcased his staying talent with victories in the 2024 Geelong Cup and 2025 Moonee Valley Gold Cup. However, his 11th-place finish in this year’s Group 3 Geelong Cup was underwhelming.

After thriving in previous Cup lead-ups, his latest performance raises questions about whether he is at the same level this preparation.

Horse – SHOCKLETZ (NZ)
Trainer – Ciaron Maher
Jockey – Harry Coffey
Barrier – 17

Shockletz (NZ) earned her golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup with victory in the Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes. A typical Kiwi staying mare, she’s tough as nails — and her mounting-yard presentation reflects exactly that.

She may not be the most eye-catching or conventionally beautiful horse in the field, but she is an absolute professional. Shockletz rarely puts a foot wrong, presents consistently well and carries the natural fitness I love to see in a stayer. Most notably, her coat has improved dramatically between her Caulfield run on October 10 and her latest parade on October 24, suggesting she is thriving and peaking at the right time.

Shockletz is another I can confidently recommend from the mounting yard heading into Tuesday.

Horse – MIDDLE EARTH (GB)
Trainer – Ciaron Maher
Jockey – Mark Zahra
Barrier – 1

Middle Earth (GB) returns to the Melbourne Cup after finishing third in 2025, behind winner Half Yours and runner-up Goodie Two Shoes. This is a lethal trainer-and-jockey combination, with the pair having already tasted Melbourne Cup glory together in 2022 with Gold Trip.

From a mounting-yard perspective, Middle Earth is an atypical contender. He tends to do things backwards and rarely looks particularly impressive in the yard, but that’s simply him and not something that concerns me.

With this gelding, I’d be looking beyond the parade for clues to his chances, as his physical appearance in the mounting yard isn’t necessarily the best guide to his performance on the track.

Horse – ENFJAAR (IRE)
Trainer – Roger Varian
Jockey – Ray Dawson
Barrier – 8

Enfjaar (IRE) is an Irish-bred gelding trained by English trainer Roger Varian at Newmarket. Making his Australian debut in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup, Enfjaar arrived off an 11-week break and, as is often the case with international gallopers fresh off the
plane, he was quite above himself in the mounting yard.

He was toey, became slightly worked up and sweaty, and his coat was only fair. Physically, he also looked to be a run short of peak fitness. His Caulfield Cup parade suggested to me that he had natural improvement to come and would be peaking for the Melbourne Cup.

His third-place finish was therefore a pleasant surprise, and I’ll be keen to see whether he comes into Tuesday’s race having delivered on that predicted improvement.

Horse – ZAHRANN (IRE)
Trainer – Ciaron Maher
Jockey – Ben Melham
Barrier –11

Following a highly successful three-year-old campaign in Ireland under trainer Johnny Murtagh, Zahrann (IRE) was purchased privately by prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir and partners in October 2025 before being exported to Australia to join the stable of Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Ciaron Maher. Zahrann is a horse I’ve seen at almost all of his Australian starts, and I’ve yet to find fault with him.

He’s a handsome, good-looking stallion with a straightforward presence in the mounting yard. If you’re a fan of Zahrann, I have absolutely no reservations about how he’ll present on Tuesday.

I expect him to look primed, polished and ready to go.

Horse – JUJA KIBO (IRE)
Trainer – Ciaron Maher
Jockey – Sam Clipperton
Barrier – 14

Juja Kibo (IRE) was one of two horses I backed to win the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup, he looked exceptional and his parade was breathtakingly faultless. I hadn’t seen him since winter 2025, and the physical transformation has been extraordinary.

He has filled out, strengthened considerably and matured into a horse who looks every bit a man rather than a teenager. The progression in his physique is impossible to ignore.

If Juja Kibo can translate those looks into performance on the track, he shapes as a serious Melbourne Cup contender.

Horse – JAMES J BRADDOCK (IRE)
Trainer – Joseph O’Brien
Jockey – Craig Williams
Barrier – 24

James J Braddock (IRE) takes his name from heavyweight boxing champion James J. Braddock, famously nicknamed the “Cinderella Man” after defying the odds to claim the world heavyweight title in 1935.

His remarkable story was later brought to the big screen in the 2005 film Cinderella Man, starring Russell Crowe. What a cool name for a racehorse! As for the horse himself, James J Braddock is a Northern Hemisphere three-year-old who appears to still be putting the pieces together following a recent gelding operation.

Heading into his ninth career start, with seven weeks between runs, the Melbourne Cup presents a monumental challenge for such a young galloper.

While there’s no questioning the enormity of the task ahead, I suspect this experience will be valuable for his development. He may be one to watch for the future rather than a horse ready to peak on Tuesday.

Horse – WINE DARK SEA (GB)
Trainer – Harry Charlton
Jockey – Damian Lane
Barrier – 23

Wine Dark Sea (GB) made his Australian debut in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup, finishing11th. To my eye, he looked physically immature and not yet the fully furnished product you’d hope to see in a Melbourne Cup winner.

At just four years old, he still has plenty of physical development ahead of him. I suspect this year’s experience will be invaluable, but time, growth and maturity will be his greatest allies.

He’s one I’d be happy to keep on the radar for the future. And if the name Charlton rings a bell, there’s a strong racing pedigree behind this operation. Harry Charlton is the brother of Sydney-based trainer Tom Charlton, with both men the sons of former multiple Group 1-winning trainer Roger Charlton.

Harry took over the historic Beckhampton House training operation in Wiltshire, England, from his father, and Wine Dark Sea will be his first-ever Melbourne Cup runner — a significant milestone for the young trainer. Adding another layer to this full-circle story, jockey Damian Lane also rode Quest For More in the 2015 Melbourne Cup for Roger Charlton.

Horse – HOPEWELL ROCK (IRE)
Trainer – George Boughey
Jockey – Zac Lloyd
Barrier – 15

Hopewell Rock (IRE) is another international visitor flying in for the Melbourne Cup, trained by Newmarket-based George Boughey, who previously trained champion mare Via Sistina before her move to Australia.
This lightly raced four-year-old has an impressive record, having finished in the placings in 80% of his career starts. However, with 10 weeks between runs and his first international voyage behind him, there are a few unknowns heading into Tuesday.

His mounting-yard presentation will be crucial, offering valuable insight as to how he has travelled, settled into his surroundings and whether he’s ready to produce his best on the big stage.
One exciting addition is jockey Zac Lloyd. Arguably one of the most exciting young talents in Australian racing, this young gun is an absolute jet, and will be his third ride in the Melbourne Cup. Lloyd made his Cup debut aboard Kalapour in 2023 before returning in 2024 as the field’s sole apprentice jockey, riding Athabascan

Horse – SO YOU ARE
Trainer – Bjorn Baker
Jockey – Rachel King
Barrier –7

So You Are is a five-year-old son of champion stallion So You Think (NZ), who arrives at the Melbourne Cup just six days after winning the Group 3 Bendigo Cup. He secured his place in the field after Ciaron Maher trained Saint George was devastatingly ruled out following mandatory pre-race veterinary examinations and CT scans.
But So You Are brings a remarkable story of his own. A homebred for passionate, long-time breeder-owner Stuart Ramsey, a former auctioneer turned cattleman, this gelding represents the culmination of a lifetime spent breeding and racing horses.
In a particularly heartwarming twist, Ramsey didn’t even know So You Are had made the Melbourne Cup field when a journalist contacted him on Thursday afternoon.
Fighting back tears, he said: “I can’t believe it. You breed and race horses all your life, hoping to get a runner in the Melbourne Cup. It’s a dream come true.”
Adding even more character to the story is trainer Bjorn Baker, one of the most colourful  personalities in Australian racing, and jockey Rachel King, who will be one of two female riders in this year’s Melbourne Cup.