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 $7 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.
2018 Order of Entry
The order of entry for the 2018 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.
Melbourne Cup 2018 Order Of Entry:
| Horse | Weight | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | HUMIDOR (NZ) (Darren Weir) | 58.0 |
| 2 | BEST SOLUTION (IRE) (Saeed bin Suroor) | 57.5 |
| 3 | KEW GARDENS (IRE) (Aidan O’Brien) | 53.0 |
| 4 | TORCEDOR (IRE) (Andreas Wohler) | 57.0 |
| 5 | ACE HIGH (David Payne) | 55.0 |
| 6 | CLIFFS OF MOHER (IRE) (Aidan O’Brien) | 56.5 |
| 7 | LATROBE (IRE) (Joseph O’Brien) | 52.0 |
| 8 | IDAHO (IRE) (Aidan O’Brien) | 56.0 |
| 9 | BONNEVAL (NZ) (Baker and Forsman) | 54.5 |
| 10 | MAGIC CIRCLE (IRE) (Ian Williams) | 56.0 |
| 11 | WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) (Chris Waller) | 55.5 |
| 12 | JON SNOW (NZ) (Baker and Forsman) | 55.5 |
| 13 | TOSEN BASIL (JPN) (Darren Weir) | 55.5 |
| 14 | UNFORGOTTEN (Chris Waller) | 52.5 |
| 15 | MUNTAHAA (IRE) (John Gosden) | 55.5 |
| 16 | CHESTNUT COAT (JPN) (Yoshito Yahagi) | 55.5 |
| 17 | AMBITIOUS (JPN) (Anthony Freedman) | 55.5 |
| 18 | SOUND CHECK (GER) (Michael Moroney) | 55.5 |
| 19 | ROSTROPOVICH (IRE) (Aidan O’Brien) | 51.0 |
| 20 | VIN DE DANCE (NZ) (Baker and Forsman) | 53.5 |
| 21 | MARMELO (GB) (Hughie Morrison) | 55.0 |
| 22 | CROSS COUNTER (GB) (Charlie Appleby) | 51.0 |
| 23 | THE TAJ MAHAL (IRE) (Liam Howley) | 55.0 |
| 24 | WEEKENDER (GB) (John Gosden) | 55.0 |
| 25 | FLAG OF HONOUR (IRE) (Aidan O’Brien) | 51.0 |
| 26 | EMOTIONLESS (IRE) (Charlie Appleby) | 55.0 |
| 27 | SINGLE GAZE (Chris Waller) | 53.0 |
| 28 | YOUNGSTAR (Chris Waller) | 51.5 |
| 29 | EGG TART (Chris Waller) | 53.0 |
| 30 | MATERIAL MAN (Justin Warwick) | 54.5 |
| 31 | HIYAAM (NZ) (Mick Price) | 51.5 |
| 32 | DURETTO (GB) (Andrew Balding) | 54.5 |
| 33 | POUNAMU (Alan Matthews) | 54.5 |
| 34 | BIG DUKE (IRE) (Darren Weir) | 54.0 |
| 35 | MAX DYNAMITE (FR) (Willie Mullins) | 54.0 |
| 36 | VENGEUR MASQUE (IRE) (Michael Moroney) | 54.0 |
| 37 | RED CARDINAL (IRE) (Darren Weir) | 54.0 |
| 38 | DESERT SKYLINE (IRE) (David Elsworth) | 54.0 |
| 39 | RED VERDON (USA) (Ed Dunlop) | 54.0 |
| 40 | AUVRAY (FR) (Richard Freedman) | 54.0 |
| 41 | COUNT OCTAVE (GB) (Andrew Balding) | 54.0 |
| 42 | FINCHE (GB) (Andre Fabre) | 54.0 |
| 43 | VENTURA STORM (IRE) (Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig) | 54.0 |
| 44 | TIBERIAN (FR) (Alain Couetil) | 53.5 |
| 45 | HAMADA (GB) (Charlie Appleby) | 53.5 |
| 46 | ZACADA (NZ) (Baker and Forsman) | 53.0 |
| 47 | SIR CHARLES ROAD (O’Sullivan and Scott) | 53.0 |
| 48 | NAKEETA (GB) (Iain Jardine) | 53.0 |
| 49 | WITHHOLD (GB) (Roger Charlton) | 53.0 |
| 50 | SOLE IMPACT (JPN) (Hirofumi Toda) | 53.0 |
| 51 | LADIES FIRST (NZ) (Allan Sharrock) | 51.5 |
| 52 | OUR VENICE BEACH (IRE) (Liam Howley) | 53.0 |
| 53 | KINGS WILL DREAM (IRE) (Darren Weir) | 53.0 |
| 54 | PRINCE OF ARRAN (GB) (Charlie Fellowes) | 53.0 |
| 55 | LIBRAN (IRE) (Chris Waller) | 53.0 |
| 56 | AVILIUS (GB) (James Cummings) | 53.0 |
| 57 | PRIZE MONEY (GB) (Saeed bin Suroor) | 52.5 |
| 58 | LORD FANDANGO (GER) (Archie Alexander) | 52.5 |
| 59 | GALLIC CHIEFTAIN (FR) (Darren Weir) | 52.5 |
| 60 | SULLY (NZ) (Busuttin and Young) | 51.0 |
| 61 | MEGABLAST (NZ) (Darren Weir) | 52.5 |
| 62 | MONGOLIANCONQUEROR (NZ) (Jamie Richards) | 51.0 |
| 63 | DAL HARRAILD (GB) (Maher and Eustace) | 52.5 |
| 64 | DOHA DREAM (FR) (Andre Fabre) | 52.5 |
| 65 | WALL OF FIRE (IRE) (Maher and Eustace) | 52.5 |
| 66 | ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN (IRE) (Chris Waller) | 52.5 |
| 67 | HUNTING HORN (IRE) (Aidan O’Brien) | 50.0 |
| 68 | RUNAWAY (Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott) | 50.5 |
| 69 | REZEALIENT (Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig) | 50.5 |
| 70 | MISS ADMIRATION (Mick Price) | 50.0 |
| 71 | THOMAS HOBSON (GB) (Willie Mullins) | 52.0 |
| 72 | YUCATAN (IRE) (Aidan O’Brien) | 52.0 |
| 73 | ANOTHER DOLLAR (NZ) (Chris Waller) | 50.0 |
| 74 | RISING RED (NZ) (Busuttin and Young) | 51.0 |
| 75 | GIUSEPPE GARIBALDI (IRE) (Aidan O’Brien) | 50.0 |
| 76 | CASTERTON (IRE) (Andre Fabre) | 51.0 |
| 77 | PENTATHLON (NZ) (John Wheeler) | 51.0 |
| 78 | ODEON (NZ) (Ellerton and Zahra) | 51.0 |
| 79 | US ARMY RANGER (IRE) (Liam Howley) | 51.0 |
| 80 | NORTHWEST PASSAGE (Waterhouse and Bott) | 50.5 |
| 81 | NELSON (IRE) (Aidan O’Brien) | 50.0 |
| 82 | WALTON STREET (GB) (Charlie Appleby) | 50.5 |
| 83 | HAPPY MOMENT (JPN) (Anthony Freedman) | 50.0 |
| 84 | SIN TO WIN (NZ) (Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig) | 50.0 |
| 85 | YOGI (NZ) (Darren Weir) | 50.0 |
| 86 | CORDERO (Team Hawkes) | 50.0 |
| 87 | ETAH JAMES (NZ) (Matt Cumani) | 50.0 |
| 88 | ORMITO (GER) (Darren Weir) | 50.0 |
| 89 | STEPS (IRE) (Liam Howley) | 50.0 |
| 90 | PERIBSEN (IRE) (John O’Shea) | 50.0 |
| 91 | MILSEAIN (NZ) (Kris Lees) | 50.0 |
| 92 | EXEMPLAR (IRE) (Liam Howley) | 50.0 |
| 93 | KELLSTORM (IRE) (Darren Weir) | 50.0 |
| 94 | WHEAL LEISURE (Archie Alexander) | 50.0 |
| 95 | HUSH WRITER (JPN) (Waterhouse and Bott) | 50.0 |
| 96 | MIDTERM (GB) (Liam Howley) | 50.0 |
| LANCASTER BOMBER (USA) (Aidan O’Brien) | 57.5 | |
| COMIN’ THROUGH (Chris Waller) | 56.5 | |
| D’ARGENTO (Chris Waller) | 54.0 | |
| GRUNT (NZ) (Mick Price) | 54.0 | |
| HARLEM (GB) (Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig) | 55.5 | |
| MIGHTY BOSS (Mick Price) | 53.5 | |
| MR MOONLIGHT MAGIC (GB) (James Cummings) | 54.0 | |
| SOPRESSA (Darren Weir) | 51.0 | |
| DEAUVILLE (IRE) (Aidan O’Brien) | 53.5 | |
| SENSE OF OCCASION (Kris Lees) | 53.5 | |
| HOMESMAN (USA) (Liam Howley) | 53.0 | |
| TRAP FOR FOOLS (Jarrod McLean) | 53.0 | |
| MUSTAJEER (GB) (Ger Lyons) | 52.5 | |
| GAME STARTER (IRE) (Saeed bin Suroor) | 52.0 | |
| OUR ABBADEAN (NZ) (Jamie Richards) | 50.5 | |
| INVICTUS PRINCE (GB) (Matthew Smith) | 51.5 | |
| LIFE LESS ORDINARY (IRE) (Chris Waller) | 51.5 | |
| LUVALUVA (NZ) (John Sargent) | 50.0 | |
| PACODALI (IRE) (Darren Weir) | 51.5 | |
| ADMIRE ROBSON (JPN) (Darren Weir) | 51.0 | |
| DIVINE UNICORN (GB) (Matthew Dunn) | 51.0 | |
| DOUGLAS MACARTHUR (IRE) (Liam Howley) | 51.0 | |
| HIGHLAD (Baker and Forsman) | 51.0 | |
| NIGHT’S WATCH (NZ) (Darren Weir) | 51.0 | |
| POETIC DREAM (IRE) (Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig) | 51.0 | |
| SATONO RASEN (JPN) Chris Waller) | 51.0 | |
| ORDEROFTHEGARTER (IRE) (Liam Howley) | 50.5 | |
| SIXTIE’S GROOVE (IRE) (Darren Weir) | 50.5 | |
| ABDON (GB) (Chris Waller) | 50.0 | |
| AL HARAM (FR) (Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig) | 50.0 | |
| AZURO (FR) (Darren Weir) | 50.0 | |
| BEDFORD (NZ) (Anthony Freedman) | 50.0 | |
| BELGRAVIA (IRE) (Liam Howley) | 50.0 | |
| BEST OF DAYS (GB) (James Cummings) | 50.0 | |
| BRIMHAM ROCKS (GB) (Chris Waller) | 50.0 | |
| CALIBRATION (IRE) (Darren Weir) | 50.0 | |
| CHELKAR (FR) (Willie Mullins) | 50.0 | |
| CHEQUERED FLAG (NZ) (Darren Weir) | 50.0 | |
| CULLINGWORTH (IRE) (Darren Weir) | 50.0 | |
| DANDY GENT (Terry & Karina O’Sullivan) | 50.0 | |
| DANON ROMAN (JPN) (Anthony Freedman) | 50.0 | |
| DOMED (John Thompson) | 50.0 | |
| GOLDEN AUTHORITY (NZ) (Matt Cumani) | 50.0 | |
| GUARDINI (FR) (Darren Weir) | 50.0 | |
| HANS HOLBEIN (GB) (Liam Howley) | 50.0 | |
| HARIPOUR (IRE) (Darren Weir) | 50.0 | |
| HARRISON (GB) (Liam Howley) | 50.0 | |
| HE EKSCELS (NZ) (Richard Laming) | 50.0 | |
| HERE AND NOW (GB) Ralph Beckett) | 50.0 | |
| HIGH BRIDGE (GB) (Chris Waller) | 50.0 | |
| ILWENDO (GER) (Matthew Smith) | 50.0 | |
| JAAMEH (IRE) (Hayes, Hayes & Dabernig) | 50.0 | |
| JAKE’S HILL (GB) (Chris Waller) | 50.0 | |
| KILIMANJARO (IRE) (Robert Hickmott) | 50.0 | |
| LAGOSTOVEGAS (IRE) (Willie Mullins) | 50.0 | |
| LANGLEY (JPN) (Darren Weir) | 50.0 | |
| MASTER OF REALITY (IRE) (Joseph O’Brien) | 50.0 | |
| MASTER ZEPHYR (GB) (Darren Weir) | 50.0 | |
| MING (IRE) (Joseph O’Brien) | 50.0 | |
| MR CLARIFY (NZ) (Wayne Walters) | 50.0 | |
| MR GARCIA (GB) (Darren Weir) | 50.0 | |
| NAVAL WARFARE (IRE) (Chris Waller) | 50.0 | |
| OPPOSITION (GB) (Chris Waller) | 50.0 | |
| OUR LIBRETTO (NZ) (Grahame Begg) | 50.0 | |
| PATRICK ERIN (NZ) (Chris Waller) | 50.0 | |
| PIONEERTOWN (IRE) (Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig) | 50.0 | |
| PLEIN CIEL (GER) (Darren Weir) | 50.0 | |
| ROMANESQUE (IRE) (Jarrod McLean) | 50.0 | |
| SELF SENSE (David Brideoake) | 50.0 | |
| SHIMRANO (GER) (Michael Hickmott) | 50.0 | |
| SHRAAOH (IRE) (Chris Waller) | 50.0 | |
| SIR CHAUVELIN (GB) (Jim Goldie) | 50.0 | |
| SIR JOHN LAVERY (IRE) (Liam Howley) | 50.0 | |
| STRATUM (GB) (Willie Mullins) | 50.0 | |
| SUPERNOVA (GB) (David Simcock) | 50.0 | |
| SURREY (Graeme Rogerson) | 50.0 | |
| SYDNEY BLUE (Waterhouse and Bott) | 49.0 | |
| TALL SHIP (IRE) (Darren Weir) | 50.0 | |
| TAVISTOCK ABBEY (NZ) (Anthony Freedman) | 50.0 | |
| THE LORD MAYOR (NZ) (Chris Waller) | 50.0 | |
| THE PENTAGON (IRE) (Aidan O’Brien) | 50.0 | |
| THE STATESMAN (GB) (Darren Weir) | 50.0 | |
| THINKIN’ BIG (Waterhouse and Bott) | 49.0 | |
| TIFFANY’S LASS (Danny Laws) | 50.0 | |
| TOP OF THE RANGE (NZ) (Michael Moroney) | 50.0 | |
| VALAC (IRE) (Hayes, Hayes and Dabernig) | 50.0 | |
| WOLFE TONE (NZ) (Francis Finnegan) | 50.0 |
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 2018 Melbourne Cup field by winning any of the following races leading up to the Cup;
| Race | Date |
|---|---|
| The Bart Cummings | October 6th |
| Caulfield Cup | October 20th |
| Cox Plate | October 27th |
| Lexus Stakes | November 3rd |
