The Melbourne Cup order of entry is always a hot topic among racing enthusiasts, as horses compete for a coveted spot in the prestigious race, which offers over $10 million in prize money.
With a field limited to 24 runners, every position in the order of entry becomes critical. Below is a list of the nominated horses and their current standing in the race’s order of entry.
Odds 💰: View the Odds for the Melbourne Cup 2026
Melbourne Cup 2026 Order Of Entry:
Updated October 4th 2026.
The rankings below retain the official September 29 first-acceptance order, with Mr Monaco moved into the ballot-exempt group following his Bart Cummings win. Subsequent penalties and an updated official order may change the weights and positions shown.
Green: Ballot exempt.
Blue: Campaign in doubt, but not confirmed out.
Red: Out of the race / did not remain in first acceptances.
NP: Has not passed the ballot clause.
| September 29 Rank | Horse | Trainer | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballot-exempt horses | |||
| Exempt | DEFIANTLY (FR) | Joseph O’Brien | 56.5kg |
| Exempt | SHOCKLETZ (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | 51.0kg |
| Exempt | ZAKOUMA | Grahame Begg | 52.0kg |
| Exempt — previously 48 | MR MONACO (GB) | Ciaron Maher | 51.0kg* |
| Horses that have passed the ballot clause | |||
| 4 | AELIANA (NZ) | Chris Waller | 58.0kg |
| 5 | HALF YOURS | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | 59.0kg |
| 6 | LIGHT INFANTRY MAN (FR) | Ciaron Maher | 58.5kg |
| 7 | TREASURE THE MOMENT | Matt Laurie | 57.0kg |
| 8 | BIRDMAN (IRE) | Chris Waller | 58.0kg |
| 9 | SONS AND LOVERS (GB) | Joseph O’Brien | 57.5kg |
| 10 | GREEN SPACES | Bjorn Baker | 56.0kg |
| 11 | STINGER GLASS (JPN) | Yasuo Tomomichi | 57.0kg |
| 12 | TRUSTYOURINSTINCT (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | 57.0kg |
| 13 | GOODIE TWO SHOES (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | 55.0kg |
| 14 | MIDDLE EARTH (GB) | Ciaron Maher | 56.5kg |
| 15 | JAMES J BRADDOCK (GB) | Joseph O’Brien | 53.5kg |
| 16 | VAUBAN (FR) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 56.5kg |
| 17 | KNIGHT’S CHOICE | John Symons & Sheila Laxon | 56.5kg |
| 18 | CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) | Kris Lees | 56.0kg |
| 19 | STRICTLY BUSINESS | Thomas Carberry | 53.0kg |
| 20 | ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 56.0kg |
| 21 | SHE’S A HUSTLER (NZ) | Grahame Begg | 54.5kg |
| 22 | ENFJAAR (IRE) | Roger Varian | 56.0kg |
| 23 | WINE DARK SEA (GB) | Harry Charlton | 56.0kg |
| 24 | OHOPE WINS (NZ) | Chris Waller | 52.5kg |
| 25 | ASTERIX (NZ) | Chris Waller | 55.0kg |
| 26 | SOUL OF SPAIN (IRE) | Chris Waller | 54.5kg |
| 27 | ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA) | Tim Fitzsimmons | 54.5kg |
| 28 | CAMPALDINO (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 54.5kg |
| 29 | HOPEWELL ROCK (IRE) | George Boughey | 54.5kg |
| 30 | ZAHRANN (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 54.5kg (includes 0.5kg penalty) |
| 31 | OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 54.0kg |
| 32 | POINT OF LAW (GB) | Ciaron Maher | 51.0kg |
| 33 | FUTURE HISTORY (GB) | Gregory Hickman | 53.5kg |
| 34 | KIZLYAR (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | 53.5kg |
| 35 | DEAKIN (FR) | Phillip & Tommy Stokes | 53.0kg |
| 36 | TORRANZINO (NZ) | Paul Preusker | 52.5kg |
| 37 | VALIANT KING (GB) | Chris Waller | 52.5kg |
| 38 | MACHINE GUN GRACIE | Ben, Will & JD Hayes | 51.0kg |
| 39 | SO YOU ARE | Bjorn Baker | 52.5kg (includes 0.5kg penalty) |
| 40 | PIGGYBACK | Ciaron Maher | 51.0kg |
| 41 | THEBUDGIESMUGLA (NZ) | Bjorn Baker | 52.0kg |
| 42 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 52.0kg |
| 43 | KING PEDRO (NZ) — in doubt | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 52.0kg |
| 44 | POUNDING | Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman | 52.0kg |
| 45 | LITZDEEL | Danny O’Brien | 51.0kg |
| 46 | JUJA KIBO (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 51.5kg* |
| 47 | NEWLOOK (FR) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 51.0kg |
| 49 | MANZOR BLUE (NZ) | Lisa Latta | 51.0kg |
| 50 | HIGHLAND BLING (IRE) | Phillip & Tommy Stokes | 51.0kg |
| 51 | KINGS VALLEY (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | 51.0kg |
| 52 | JENNIVAMOOSE (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | 51.0kg |
| 53 | AETHELWULF | Matthew Smith | 51.0kg |
| 54 | TAJANIS (IRE) | Charlotte Littlefield | 51.0kg |
| 55 | BELLA MONTAGNA (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 51.0kg |
| 56 | THINK GIANT (GB) | Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | 51.0kg |
| Horses that have not passed the ballot clause | |||
| 57= — NP | SAINT GEORGE (GB) | Ciaron Maher | 55.0kg |
| 57= — NP | SOULCOMBE (GB) | Chris Waller | 55.0kg |
| 57= — NP | STARFORD (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | 55.0kg |
| 57= — NP | WOOTTON VERNI (FR) | Chris Waller | 55.0kg |
| 61= — NP | LAND LEGEND (FR) | Ciaron Maher | 54.0kg |
| 61= — NP | THE EUPHRATES (GB) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 54.0kg |
| 63 — NP | KLONDIKE (GB) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 53.5kg |
| 64 — NP | SMALL FRY (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | 51.5kg |
| 65 — NP | OMNI MAN (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | 51.0kg |
| 66= — NP | PINHOLE (GB) | Chris Waller | 51.0kg |
| 66= — NP | SAM HAWKENS (IRE) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | 51.0kg |
| 66= — NP | SAPPHIRE SIREN | Bill Papazaharoudakis | 51.0kg |
| 66= — NP | SUFFOLK STAR (GB) | Paul Preusker | 51.0kg |
| 66= — NP | TARVUE (NZ) | John Sadler | 51.0kg |
| 66= — NP | VEGAS JACK | Craig Conron | 51.0kg |
*Mr Monaco and Juja Kibo are shown at their September 29 weights, pending confirmation of any penalties following their October 3 wins. Juja Kibo’s Metropolitan victory does not provide an automatic Melbourne Cup ballot exemption.
King Pedro remains among the first acceptors, but his spring campaign has been reported in doubt following an infection. He is marked blue because a withdrawal has not been confirmed.
Melbourne Cup 2026 horses out of the race
The following 30 horses from the original nominations did not remain in the race at first acceptances.
| Status | Horse | Trainer |
|---|---|---|
| OUT | TAWNY PORT (USA) | Miguel Clement |
| OUT | CHRISTMAS DAY (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien |
| OUT | HIGHWAYMAN (FR) | Joseph O’Brien |
| OUT | PIERRE BONNARD (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien |
| OUT | BARNAVARA (IRE) | Chris Waller |
| OUT | WIGMORE (NZ) | Phillip & Tommy Stokes |
| OUT | CAUSEWAY (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien |
| OUT | RIVER OF STARS (IRE) | Chris Waller |
| OUT | YELLOW JERSEY (FR) | Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
| OUT | AMELIA EARHART (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien |
| OUT | STORM LEOPARD | Ben, Will & JD Hayes |
| OUT | DON DIEGO DE VEGA (FR) | Annabel & Rob Archibald |
| OUT | GOLDEN CENTURY (NZ) | Chris Waller |
| OUT | NIL BUA GAN DUA (USA) | Joseph O’Brien |
| OUT | AGE OF SAIL (GB) | Kris Lees |
| OUT | GRAND PIERRO | Jason Warren |
| OUT | SIR CHARTWELL (FR) | Annabel & Rob Archibald |
| OUT | PORTLAND (IRE) | Matthew Smith |
| OUT | AETHELFLAED | Matthew Smith |
| OUT | CONSTITUTION HILL (GB) | Nicky Henderson |
| OUT | DARKBONEE | Symon Wilde |
| OUT | FLOATING | Matthew Smith |
| OUT | JENNI MULTABELLA (NZ) | Lloyd Kennewell |
| OUT | JOHNICH | Jason Warren |
| OUT | MALE MODEL | John Thom |
| OUT | NEARCO FROD (FR) | Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
| OUT | PIAZZA SAN MARCO (USA) | Aidan O’Brien |
| OUT | STARZINTHEIREYES (GB) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton |
| OUT | WINDAY (FR) | Emmet Mullins |
| OUT | WOLFGANG (NZ) | Peter McKay |
Second acceptances close at noon on October 13. Further withdrawals, qualifying performances and ballot exemptions will shape the field before final acceptances.
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