Melbourne Cup 2026 Field - Runners and barriers for the Flemington showpiece
The 2026 Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday, 3 November features a final field of 24 runners, with home favourite Point Of Law emerging as a leading contender after winning the Group 3 Geelong Cup and drawing barrier 9 for trainer Ciaron Maher and jockey Ethan Brown. International challengers such as Trustyourinstinct, Hopewell Rock, and James J Braddock add depth, while Maher and Joseph O'Brien field seven and five runners respectively. The barrier draw and recent form suggest a highly competitive race for the $10 million prize.
- International and local stars make up a 24-strong Melbourne Cup field
- Point Of Law is a leading contender after a strong Geelong Cup win and barrier 9 draw
- Ciaron Maher has seven runners, including last year's third-placed Middle Earth
The 24 runners have been revealed for the 2026 Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday, November 3.
Home favourites will clash with international contenders in the $10 million Group 1 in the latest edition of the Race The Stops A Nation.
Leading contender Point Of Law (barrier 9) has drawn favourably for Ciaron Maher and Ethan Brown, with the lightly raced import securing his place in the field through an impressive victory in the Group 3 Geelong Cup over 2400m, earning a 2kg penalty that lifted his Melbourne Cup weight to 53kg.
Irish challenger Trustyourinstinct (barrier 18) faces a wider assignment for Joseph O'Brien and James McDonald, having won the Group 2 Curragh Cup over 2800m before finishing fourth behind Scandinavia in the Group 1 Irish St Leger over the same distance.
English visitor Hopewell Rock (barrier 15) has drawn towards the middle of the field for George Boughey and Zac Lloyd, arriving after finishing a narrow second in the Ebor Handicap over 2787m at York, having previously defeated subsequent Geelong Cup runner-up Small Fry at Goodwood.
James J Braddock (barrier 24) has landed the outside gate for Joseph O'Brien and Craig Williams, with the four-year-old having finished third in the Group 1 Epsom Derby earlier this year before returning from a break with a sixth-place finish in the Group 3 Kilternan Stakes at Leopardstown.
Maher has a powerful hand with seven runners, including Juja Kibo (barrier 14), who will be ridden by Sam Clipperton after completing the Group 1 Metropolitan and Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup double this spring.
Middle Earth (barrier 1) has secured the inside draw for Maher and Mark Zahra, with the British-bred stayer looking to improve on his third-place finish in last year's Melbourne Cup, while stablemate Shockletz (barrier 17) will carry just 51kg for Harry Coffey after earning a ballot exemption through her Group 3 Archer Stakes victory at Flemington.
Maher's remaining runners are Royal Supremacy (barrier 21) for Ben Allen, Zahrann (barrier 11) for Ben Melham and Mr Monaco (barrier 16) for Jabez Johnstone, giving the stable runners spread across the starting gates.
O'Brien has five runners in the field, with topweight Sons And Lovers (barrier 3) drawing favourably for Dylan Browne McMonagle, while Goodie Two Shoes (barrier 19) will be partnered by Wayne Lordan after finishing runner-up to Half Yours in last year's Melbourne Cup.
Kizlyar (barrier 20) completes the Irish trainer's representation with Beau Mertens aboard, as O'Brien chases a third Melbourne Cup victory following his successes with Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020.
Bjorn Baker's emerging stayer So You Are (barrier 7) has landed a favourable draw for Rachel King after winning four consecutive races, most recently the Group 3 Bendigo Cup, where he defeated Berkeley Square and Litzdeel.
Reigning 2024 Melbourne Cup winner Knight's Choice (barrier 2) has drawn close to the inside for John Symons and Sheila Laxon, with Robbie Dolan retaining the ride as the gelding attempts to become the first dual winner since Makybe Diva completed her famous hat-trick in 2005.
The other international runners include Roger Varian's Enfjaar (barrier 8) for Ray Dawson and Harry Charlton's Wine Dark Sea (barrier 23) for Damian Lane, while former Irish-trained stayer Vauban (barrier 22) will represent Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott with Jordan Childs aboard.
Chris Waller has two runners in Asterix (barrier 6) for Jye McNeil and Soul Of Spain (barrier 5) for Tommy Berry, while Future History (barrier 12) will represent Gregory Hickman and Jamie Melham.
The remaining runners are Onesmoothoperator (barrier 13) for Tim Fitzsimmons and Declan Bates, Strictly Business (barrier 4) for Thomas Carberry and Michael Dee, and Grahame Begg's Zakouma (barrier 10), who will be ridden by William Pike.
With a formidable international contingent, seven runners from Ciaron Maher and several proven Australian stayers in the field, the completed barrier draw has added another important dimension to Tuesday's 166th running of the Melbourne Cup.
Melbourne Cup 2026 - Barriers & Final Field
| No. | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sons And Lovers (GB) | Joseph O'Brien | Dylan Browne McMonagle | 3 | 57.5kg |
| 2 | Trustyourinstinct (IRE) | Joseph O'Brien | James McDonald | 18 | 57kg |
| 3 | Knight's Choice | John Symons & Sheila Laxon | Robbie Dolan | 2 | 56.5kg |
| 4 | Middle Earth (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Mark Zahra | 1 | 56.5kg |
| 5 | Vauban (FR) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Jordan Childs | 22 | 56.5kg |
| 6 | Enfjaar (IRE) | Roger Varian | Ray Dawson | 8 | 56kg |
| 7 | Royal Supremacy (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Ben Allen | 21 | 56kg |
| 8 | Wine Dark Sea (GB) | Harry Charlton | Damian Lane | 23 | 56kg |
| 9 | Asterix (NZ) | Chris Waller | Jye McNeil | 6 | 55kg |
| 10 | Goodie Two Shoes (IRE) | Joseph O'Brien | Wayne Lordan | 19 | 55kg |
| 11 | Juja Kibo (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Sam Clipperton | 14 | 55kg |
| 12 | Hopewell Rock (IRE) | George Boughey | Zac Lloyd | 15 | 54.5kg |
| 13 | Onesmoothoperator (USA) | Tim Fitzsimmons | Declan Bates | 13 | 54.5kg |
| 14 | Soul Of Spain (IRE) | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 5 | 54.5kg |
| 15 | Zahrann (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Ben Melham | 11 | 54.5kg |
| 16 | So You Are | Bjorn Baker | Rachel King | 7 | 54kg |
| 17 | Future History (GB) | Gregory Hickman | Jamie Melham | 12 | 53.5kg |
| 18 | James J Braddock (GB) | Joseph O'Brien | Craig Williams | 24 | 53.5kg |
| 19 | Kizlyar (IRE) | Joseph O'Brien | Beau Mertens | 20 | 53.5kg |
| 20 | Point Of Law (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 9 | 53kg |
| 21 | Strictly Business | Thomas Carberry | Michael Dee | 4 | 53kg |
| 22 | Mr Monaco (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Jabez Johnstone (a) | 16 | 52.5kg |
| 23 | Zakouma | Grahame Begg | William Pike | 10 | 52kg |
| 24 | Shockletz (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Harry Coffey | 17 | 51kg |
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