Melbourne Cup order of entry

Every year the Melbourne Cup order of entry becomes a major talking point between racing fans as horses vie for a start in the race worth more than $6 million dollars.

24 horses can run in the Melbourne Cup Field. Below are the runners who are nominated for the race and where they sit in the order of entry into the field.

2017 Order of Entry

The order of entry for the 2017 Melbourne Cup will be released here and updated regularly closer to the Spring Carnival. You can see the latest odds and fancied runners on our Melbourne Cup page.

Runners marked in GREEN are ballot exempt and have a guaranteed spot in the field.

Runners marked in RED are ruled out of the race due to injuries or bypassing race.

Runners marked in BLUE are unlikely to run in the race.

Runners marked with NP have not passed the ballot clause.

Updated: October 22nd, 2017

Melbourne Cup 2017 Order Of Entry:

How does the order of entry work?

The Melbourne Cup order of entry is a list of all the Melbourne Cup contenders and are ordered by their eligibility ranking for the race.

Given the field for the Melbourne Cup is limited to 24 runners it’s important to be inside or as close to the top 24 as possible on the order of entry if you wish to gain a start in the Cup.

The ballot order is the biggest factor when determining the order of entry, while horses may also gain automatic entry by winning one of the four ballot-exempt races in the lead up to the Melbourne Cup.

Melbourne Cup Ballot Clause

A horse must pass at least one of the following criteria to pass the Melbourne Cup ballot clause.

• Since 1 February, 2015 inclusive, won or was placed 2nd or 3rd in an internationally recognised Group or Graded flat race run over 2300 metres or further; OR won or was placed 2nd or 3rd in the Queensland Derby, Queensland Oaks or Brisbane Cup; OR
• Since 1 February, 2015 inclusive, was placed 4th or 5th in an internationally recognised Group 1 or Grade 1 flat race run over 2300 metres or further in which horses older than 3 years old could run; OR
• Since 1 February, 2015 inclusive, won an internationally recognised Listed flat race run over 2300 metres or further; OR
• Since 1 February, 2015 inclusive, won or was placed 2nd or 3rd in the York Ebor (UK) or Champions & Chater Cup (HK); OR
• Since 1 February, 2015 inclusive, won the Northumberland Plate (UK), Cesarewitch (UK), or Queen Mother Memorial Cup (HK); OR
• Was placed 6th, 7th or 8th in the 2016 MRC Caulfield Cup; OR
• Was placed 2nd or 3rd in the 2016 MVRC Cox Plate; OR
• Was placed 2nd or 3rd in the 2016 VRC Emirates Stakes; OR
• Won the 2016 VRC Turnbull Stakes; OR
• Won or was placed 2nd or 3rd in the 2014 Emirates Melbourne Cup; OR
• Won the 2014 Caulfield Cup

Melbourne Cup Ballot Exempt Races

Horse can gain automatic entry into the 2017 Melbourne Cup field by winning any of the following races leading up to the Cup;