The Victoria Racing Club has received 101 nominations for the 166th Melbourne Cup, to be run over 3200 metres at Flemington on November 3.
While overall entries have fallen from 120 last year, international representation has climbed, with 23 horses nominated from England, Ireland, Japan and the United States.
Defending champion Half Yours headlines the local contingent for Tony and Calvin McEvoy, while Ciaron Maher has entered 14 runners and Chris Waller has 12.
Two-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Joseph O’Brien leads the overseas challenge with 11 nominations, including 2025 runner-up Goodie Two Shoes and Prix Kergorlay winner Defiantly.
Aidan O’Brien’s team is headed by Epsom Derby winner Christmas Day, while champion British hurdler Constitution Hill is among the more intriguing entries.
Former winner Knight’s Choice is also nominated, alongside Middle Earth, Okita Soushi and Japanese entrant Stinger Glass.
Late nominations close on September 8, with Melbourne Cup weights released on September 17.
Market 💰: View the Odds for the Melbourne Cup
| Horse | Trainer | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | AELIANA (NZ) | Chris Waller |
| 2 | AETHELFLAED | Matthew Smith |
| 3 | AETHELWULF | Matthew Smith |
| 4 | AGE OF SAIL (GB) | Kris Lees |
| 5 | AMELIA EARHART (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien |
| 6 | ASTERIX (NZ) | Chris Waller |
| 7 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton |
| 8 | BARNAVARA (IRE) | Chris Waller |
| 9 | BELLA MONTAGNA (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 10 | BIRDMAN (IRE) | Chris Waller |
| 11 | CAMPALDINO (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 12 | CAUSEWAY (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien |
| 13 | CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) | Kris Lees |
| 14 | CHRISTMAS DAY (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien |
| 15 | CONSTITUTION HILL (GB) | Nicky Henderson |
| 16 | DARKBONEE | Symon Wilde |
| 17 | DEAKIN (FR) | Phillip & Tommy Stokes |
| 18 | DEFIANTLY (FR) | Joseph O’Brien |
| 19 | DON DIEGO DE VEGA (FR) | Annabel & Rob Archibald |
| 20 | ENFJAAR (IRE) | Roger Varian |
| 21 | FLOATING | Matthew Smith |
| 22 | FUTURE HISTORY (GB) | Gregory Hickman |
| 23 | GOLDEN CENTURY (NZ) | Chris Waller |
| 24 | GOODIE TWO SHOES (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien |
| 25 | GRAND PIERRO | Jason Warren |
| 26 | GREEN SPACES | Bjorn Baker |
| 27 | HALF YOURS | Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
| 28 | HIGHLAND BLING (IRE) | Phillip & Tommy Stokes |
| 29 | HIGHWAYMAN (FR) | Joseph O’Brien |
| 30 | HOPEWELL ROCK (IRE) | George Boughey |
| 31 | JAMES J BRADDOCK (GB) | Joseph O’Brien |
| 32 | JENNI MULTABELLA (NZ) | Lloyd Kennewell |
| 33 | JENNIVAMOOSE (NZ) | Ciaron Maher |
| 34 | JOHNICH | Jason Warren |
| 35 | JUJA KIBO (IRE) | Ciaron Maher |
| 36 | KING PEDRO (NZ) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton |
| 37 | KINGS VALLEY (IRE) | Ciaron Maher |
| 38 | KIZLYAR (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien |
| 39 | KLONDIKE (GB) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton |
| 40 | KNIGHT’S CHOICE | John Symons & Sheila Laxon |
| 41 | LAND LEGEND (FR) | Ciaron Maher |
| 42 | LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (FR) | Ciaron Maher |
| 43 | LITZDEEL | Danny O’Brien |
| 44 | MACHINE GUN GRACIE | Ben, Will & JD Hayes |
| 45 | MALE MODEL | John Thom |
| 46 | MANZOR BLUE (NZ) | Lisa Latta |
| 47 | MIDDLE EARTH (GB) | Ciaron Maher |
| 48 | MR MONACO (GB) | Ciaron Maher |
| 49 | NEARCO FROD (FR) | Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
| 50 | NEWLOOK (FR) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 51 | NIL BUA GAN DUA (USA) | Joseph O’Brien |
| 52 | OHOPE WINS (NZ) | Chris Waller |
| 53 | OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) | Ciaron Maher |
| 54 | OMNI MAN (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien |
| 55 | ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA) | Tim Fitzsimmons |
| 56 | PIAZZA SAN MARCO (USA) | Aidan O’Brien |
| 57 | PIERRE BONNARD (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien |
| 58 | PIGGYBACK | Ciaron Maher |
| 59 | PINHOLE (GB) | Chris Waller |
| 60 | POINT OF LAW (GB) | Ciaron Maher |
| 61 | PORTLAND (IRE) | Matthew Smith |
| 62 | POUNDING | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman |
| 63 | RIVER OF STARS (IRE) | Chris Waller |
| 64 | ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) | Ciaron Maher |
| 65 | SAINT GEORGE (GB) | Ciaron Maher |
| 66 | SAM HAWKENS (IRE) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton |
| 67 | SAPPHIRE SIREN | Bill Papazaharoudakis |
| 68 | SHE’S A HUSTLER (NZ) | Grahame Begg |
| 69 | SHOCKLETZ (NZ) | Ciaron Maher |
| 70 | SIR CHARTWELL (FR) | Annabel & Rob Archibald |
| 71 | SMALL FRY (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien |
| 72 | SO YOU ARE | Bjorn Baker |
| 73 | SONS AND LOVERS (GB) | Joseph O’Brien |
| 74 | SOUL OF SPAIN (IRE) | Chris Waller |
| 75 | SOULCOMBE (GB) | Chris Waller |
| 76 | STARFORD (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien |
| 77 | STARZINTHEIREYES (GB) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton |
| 78 | STINGER GLASS (JPN) | Yasuo Tomomichi |
| 79 | STORM LEOPARD | Ben, Will & JD Hayes |
| 80 | STRICTLY BUSINESS | Thomas Carberry |
| 81 | SUFFOLK STAR (GB) | Paul Preusker |
| 82 | TAJANIS (IRE) | Charlotte Littlefield |
| 83 | TARVUE (NZ) | John Sadler |
| 84 | TAWNY PORT (USA) | Miguel Clement |
| 85 | THE EUPHRATES (GB) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 86 | THEBUDGIESMUGLA (NZ) | Bjorn Baker |
| 87 | THINK GIANT (GB) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) |
| 88 | TORRANZINO (NZ) | Paul Preusker |
| 89 | TREASURETHE MOMENT | Matt Laurie |
| 90 | TRUSTYOURINSTINCT (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien |
| 91 | VALIANT KING (GB) | Chris Waller |
| 92 | VAUBAN (FR) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 93 | VEGAS JACK | Craig Conron |
| 94 | WIGMORE (NZ) | Phillip & Tommy Stokes |
| 95 | WINDAY (FR) | Emmet Mullins |
| 96 | WINE DARK SEA (GB) | Harry Charlton |
| 97 | WOLFGANG (NZ) | Peter McKay |
| 98 | WOOTTON VERNI (FR) | Chris Waller |
| 99 | YELLOW JERSEY (FR) | Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
| 100 | ZAHRANN (IRE) | Ciaron Maher |
| 101 | ZAKOUMA | Grahame Begg |
