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 offering A$9.09 million in prize money plus A$1.11 million in trophies.
A maximum of 24 horses can run in the Melbourne Cup field. Progressive 2026 ballot-order lists are due from 17 September; the detailed list retained lower on this page is the final 2026 order of entry for reference.
2026 Order of Entry
The progressive order of entry for the 2026 Melbourne Cup is scheduled to be published from 15 September and updated through the declaration stages. You can see the latest odds and fancied runners on our Melbourne Cup page.
Runners marked in GREEN are ballot exempt, subject to meeting the remaining acceptance and veterinary requirements.
Runners marked in RED are no longer in contention following first acceptances.
Runners marked in BLUE are in doubt to run in the race.
Runners marked with NP have not passed the first ballot clause.
View the Odds for the Melbourne Cup 2026
Melbourne Cup 2026 Order Of Entry:
Updated 4 October 2026. Rankings and weights are from the official 29 September first-acceptance order, with Mr Monaco’s Bart Cummings ballot exemption added. Subsequent weight penalties and ranking changes are pending an official update.
Runners marked in GREEN are ballot exempt, subject to meeting the remaining acceptance and veterinary requirements.
Runners marked in RED are confirmed withdrawn or did not accept for the race.
Runners marked in BLUE are in doubt or unlikely to run, but have not been confirmed withdrawn.
Runners marked with NP have not passed the first ballot clause.
View the Odds for the Melbourne Cup 2026
Melbourne Cup 2026 Order Of Entry:
Updated 4 October 2026. Rankings and weights are from the official 29 September first-acceptance order, with Mr Monaco’s Bart Cummings ballot exemption added. Subsequent weight penalties and ranking changes are pending an official update.
| 29 Sep Rank | Horse | Trainer | Weight (kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot exempt: 4 | |||
| 1 | DEFIANTLY (FR) | Joseph O’Brien | 56.5 |
| 1 | SHOCKLETZ (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | 51.0 |
| 1 | ZAKOUMA | Grahame Begg | 52.0 |
| Exempt | MR MONACO (GB) | Ciaron Maher | 51.0* |
| Passed first ballot clause: 52 | |||
| 4 | AELIANA (NZ) | Chris Waller | 58.0 |
| 5 | HALF YOURS | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 59.0 |
| 6 | LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (FR) | Ciaron Maher | 58.5 |
| 7 | TREASURETHE MOMENT | Matt Laurie | 57.0 |
| 8 | BIRDMAN (IRE) | Chris Waller | 58.0 |
| 9 | SONS AND LOVERS (GB) | Joseph O’Brien | 57.5 |
| 10 | GREEN SPACES | Bjorn Baker | 56.0 |
| 11 | STINGER GLASS (JPN) | Yasuo Tomomichi | 57.0 |
| 12 | TRUSTYOURINSTINCT (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | 57.0 |
| 13 | GOODIE TWO SHOES (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | 55.0 |
| 14 | MIDDLE EARTH (GB) | Ciaron Maher | 56.5 |
| 15 | JAMES J BRADDOCK (GB) | Joseph O’Brien | 53.5 |
| 16 | VAUBAN (FR) | Waterhouse & Bott | 56.5 |
| 17 | KNIGHT’S CHOICE | J Symons & S Laxon | 56.5 |
| 18 | CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) | Kris Lees | 56.0 |
| 19 | STRICTLY BUSINESS | Thomas Carberry | 53.0 |
| 20 | ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 56.0 |
| 21 | SHE’S A HUSTLER (NZ) | Grahame Begg | 54.5 |
| 22 | ENFJAAR (IRE) | Roger Varian | 56.0 |
| 23 | WINE DARK SEA (GB) | Harry Charlton | 56.0 |
| 24 | OHOPE WINS (NZ) | Chris Waller | 52.5 |
| 25 | ASTERIX (NZ) | Chris Waller | 55.0 |
| 26 | SOUL OF SPAIN (IRE) | Chris Waller | 54.5 |
| 27 | ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA) | T Fitzsimmons | 54.5 |
| 28 | CAMPALDINO (NZ) | Waterhouse & Bott | 54.5 |
| 29 | HOPEWELL ROCK (IRE) | George Boughey | 54.5 |
| 30 | ZAHRANN (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 54.5 (0.5) |
| 31 | OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 54.0 |
| 32 | POINT OF LAW (GB) | Ciaron Maher | 51.0 |
| 33 | FUTURE HISTORY (GB) | Gregory Hickman | 53.5 |
| 34 | KIZLYAR (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | 53.5 |
| 35 | DEAKIN (FR) | Phillip & Tommy Stokes | 53.0 |
| 36 | TORRANZINO (NZ) | Paul Preusker | 52.5 |
| 37 | VALIANT KING (GB) | Chris Waller | 52.5 |
| 38 | MACHINE GUN GRACIE | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 51.0 |
| 39 | SO YOU ARE | Bjorn Baker | 52.5 (0.5) |
| 40 | PIGGYBACK | Ciaron Maher | 51.0 |
| 41 | THEBUDGIESMUGLA (NZ) | Bjorn Baker | 52.0 |
| 42 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | O’Shea & Charlton | 52.0 |
| 43 | KING PEDRO (NZ) | O’Shea & Charlton | 52.0 |
| 44 | POUNDING | Moody & Coleman | 52.0 |
| 45 | LITZDEEL | Danny O’Brien | 51.0 |
| 46 | JUJA KIBO (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 51.5* |
| 47 | NEWLOOK (FR) | Busuttin & Young | 51.0 |
| 49 | MANZOR BLUE (NZ) | Lisa Latta | 51.0 |
| 50 | HIGHLAND BLING (IRE) | Phillip & Tommy Stokes | 51.0 |
| 51 | KINGS VALLEY (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 51.0 |
| 52 | JENNIVAMOOSE (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | 51.0 |
| 53 | AETHELWULF | Matthew Smith | 51.0 |
| 54 | TAJANIS (IRE) | Charlotte Littlefield | 51.0 |
| 55 | BELLA MONTAGNA (NZ) | Waterhouse & Bott | 51.0 |
| 56 | THINK GIANT (GB) | Price & Kent (Jnr) | 51.0 |
| Not passed first ballot clause: 15 | |||
| 57 NP | SAINT GEORGE (GB) | Ciaron Maher | 55.0 |
| 57 NP | SOULCOMBE (GB) | Chris Waller | 55.0 |
| 57 NP | STARFORD (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | 55.0 |
| 57 NP | WOOTTON VERNI (FR) | Chris Waller | 55.0 |
| 61 NP | LAND LEGEND (FR) | Ciaron Maher | 54.0 |
| 61 NP | THE EUPHRATES (GB) | Waterhouse & Bott | 54.0 |
| 63 NP | KLONDIKE (GB) | O’Shea & Charlton | 53.5 |
| 64 NP | SMALL FRY (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | 51.5 |
| 65 NP | OMNI MAN (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | 51.0 |
| 66 NP | PINHOLE (GB) | Chris Waller | 51.0 |
| 66 NP | SAM HAWKENS (IRE) | O’Shea & Charlton | 51.0 |
| 66 NP | SAPPHIRE SIREN | Bill Papazaharoudakis | 51.0 |
| 66 NP | SUFFOLK STAR (GB) | Paul Preusker | 51.0 |
| 66 NP | TARVUE (NZ) | John Sadler | 51.0 |
| 66 NP | VEGAS JACK | Craig Conron | 51.0 |
| Total remaining after first acceptances: 71, including doubtful runners | |||
| Did not accept — no longer in contention | |||
| OUT | TAWNY PORT (USA) | Miguel Clement | 55.5 |
| OUT | CHRISTMAS DAY (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien | 56.5 |
| OUT | HIGHWAYMAN (FR) | Joseph O’Brien | 56.5 |
| OUT | PIERRE BONNARD (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien | 55.0 |
| OUT | BARNAVARA (IRE) | Chris Waller | 56.0 |
| OUT | WIGMORE (NZ) | Phillip & Tommy Stokes | 54.5 |
| OUT | CAUSEWAY (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien | 53.0 |
| OUT | RIVER OF STARS (IRE) | Chris Waller | 54.0 |
| OUT | YELLOW JERSEY (FR) | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 54.5 |
| OUT | AMELIA EARHART (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien | 51.0 |
| OUT | STORM LEOPARD | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 51.0 |
| OUT | DON DIEGO DE VEGA (FR) | A & R Archibald | 51.0 |
| OUT | GOLDEN CENTURY (NZ) | Chris Waller | 51.0 |
| OUT | NIL BUA GAN DUA (USA) | Joseph O’Brien | 51.0 |
| OUT | AGE OF SAIL (GB) | Kris Lees | 51.0 |
| OUT | GRAND PIERRO | Jason Warren | 51.0 |
| OUT | SIR CHARTWELL (FR) | A & R Archibald | 51.0 |
| OUT | PORTLAND (IRE) | Matthew Smith | 51.5 |
| OUT | AETHELFLAED | Matthew Smith | 51.0 |
| OUT | CONSTITUTION HILL (GB) | N Henderson | 51.0 |
| OUT | DARKBONEE | Symon Wilde | 51.0 |
| OUT | FLOATING | Matthew Smith | 51.0 |
| OUT | JENNI MULTABELLA (NZ) | Lloyd Kennewell | 51.0 |
| OUT | JOHNICH | Jason Warren | 51.0 |
| OUT | MALE MODEL | John Thom | 51.0 |
| OUT | NEARCO FROD (FR) | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 51.0 |
| OUT | PIAZZA SAN MARCO (USA) | Aidan O’Brien | 51.0 |
| OUT | STARZINTHEIREYES (GB) | O’Shea & Charlton | 51.0 |
| OUT | WINDAY (FR) | Emmet Mullins | 51.0 |
| OUT | WOLFGANG (NZ) | Peter McKay | 51.0 |
*Mr Monaco and Juja Kibo are shown at their previously allocated weights, before any penalties following their wins on 3 October. Mr Monaco is ballot exempt following his Bart Cummings victory. Juja Kibo’s Metropolitan victory does not provide Melbourne Cup ballot exemption.
King Pedro is marked blue following reports that an infection had placed his spring campaign in doubt. He remains on the first-acceptance list and has not been confirmed withdrawn.
Second acceptances close at noon on Tuesday, 13 October 2026.
When is the Melbourne Cup order of entry released?
The Order of Entry for the 2026 Melbourne Cup will be released in September 2026.
What is Melbourne Cup 2026 Order of Entry?
The Melbourne Cup Order of Entry is a list that ranks all the Melbourne Cup contenders in order of their eligibility for entry. The order of entry is the best way to determine the chances a horse has of making the final field of 24.
