Early look at the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup contenders

The 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup was one of racing’s most astonishing underdog stories as Knight’s Choice, at long odds, stormed home to claim Australia’s great race. He was Queensland’s first winner trained from the state and was piloted to an emotional, history-making win by Irish-born jockey Robbie Dolan in his very first ride in the race that stops a nation®.

His career began at his home Sunshine Coast track, a barrier trial of sorts over 1000 metres. It wasn’t until he stepped up to a mile where his career really took off. He strung together three impressive wins over that trip with a fourth coming in the Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m). It wasn’t quite a win reminiscent of the mare the race carries the name of but it was impressive in its own regard, slicing through the field and surging over the top to win and win well.

He tackled races in Sydney at his next preparation but wasn’t in the winner’s stall until a 2000-metre handicap at Doomben. A plan was mapped out for the winter which saw him run second in the Group 2 Q22 (2200m) and third behind 2019 Lexus Melbourne Cup-winner Vow And Declare in the Group 3 Tattersall’s Cup (2400m), passing the essential ballot clause for the Lexus Melbourne Cup, he then finished 4th in the Listed Caloundra Cup (2400m) to round at the campaign and set his sights on the spring of 2024.

His three runs to begin his Cup campaign were modest but all at Group 1 level. An approved fifth in the Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) had him fit and ready to fire in the main event. It took a patient ride from Dolan and a bit of luck but Knight’s Choice surged home to just deny Japanese raider Warp Speed. It was a triumph for trainers John Symons and Shelia Laxon, for which was Laxon’s second taste of Cup glory—having previously guided Ethereal to victory more than two decades prior.

2025 presents a new challenge. Unsighted since his Cup win, wet tracks kept him out of the Brisbane winter carnival, but his trainers remain confident he can return to form in the spring.

He will be attempting to join the likes of Archer, Rain Lover, Think Big and Makybe Diva to win consecutive Melbourne Cups, with the mare achieving an unprecedented three-peat in 2003, 2004, and 2005.

Deakin has already secured his place in this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup, winning a golden ticket in the Lexus Roy Higgins (2600m), adding to the strong hand that’s being assembled by the OTI Racing ownership group.

Deakin is by the aptly named Coolmore stallion, Australia, who was an English and Irish Derby champion out of seven-time Group 1-winning, champion mare, Ouija Board. Deakin began his racing career in Ireland with two-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer, Joseph O’Brien, before being transferred to Australia and into the care of Pakenham trainer, Phillip Stokes in late 2023.

It didn’t take long for Deakin to make his mark, winning over 2000 metres at just his second Australian start, before a dominant performance at Moonee Valley over 2500 metres saw him start a short-priced favourite to claim a coveted golden ticket in the Lexus Roy Higgins. He was pushed to the line by the Ciaron Maher-trained, Berkshire Breeze, but was too strong at the end of the 2600 metres.

In landing the first golden ticket for this year's Lexus Melbourne Cup, Deakin has been spelled and connections have been afforded the luxury of planning a pathway in the spring to have the gelding peaking on the first Tuesday in November.

He looks to have acclimatised well to the Australian training conditions and clearly enjoys Flemington and his trainer has earmarked two lead-up runs to be at home of the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

He’s eyeing the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) as a starting point followed by runs in the 1600-metre Group 1 Crown Makybe Diva Stakes and Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m) both at Flemington before a preliminary run in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

Vow And Declare (2019), Makybe Diva (2003, 2004) and Doriemus (1995) all used the Turnbull Stakes and the Caulfield Cup as their final two lead-up races heading into the Cup.

By securing the first golden ticket into this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup, Deakin has earned a well-deserved spell—and his connections now have the rare luxury of plotting a tailored spring campaign aimed squarely at peaking on that famous first Tuesday in November.

The import has clearly settled into local conditions and shown a liking for Flemington, where trainer [Name] has mapped out a three-run lead-up—all at the Cup’s home track.

He’s expected to kick off his prep in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m), before stretching out to the mile in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes and then stepping up to 2000 metres in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes. A final tune-up is planned in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m).

It’s a proven formula—Vow And Declare (2019), Makybe Diva (2003, 2004), and Doriemus (1995) all followed the Turnbull-Caulfield Cup path on their way to Cup glory.

In an era where imported European stayers dominate the Lexus Melbourne Cup narrative, Basilinna is carving her own path—one built not on hefty price tags or overseas campaigns, but on grit, patience, and promise.

The Kiwi-bred mare has quietly built a compelling case for herself as a legitimate contender for the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup, earning her spot in the $10 million showpiece by way of a golden ticket. While others scramble for qualifying opportunities through the spring, Basilinna’s place is already secure—her emphatic victory in the Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington in May guaranteed her that coveted golden ticket into the race that stops a nation®.

Trained by the husband-and-wife team of Emma-Lee and David Browne, Basilinna’s journey is as unassuming as it is inspiring. Bred from the $500 online broodmare purchase So Royal—by Shinko King, the same sire as the Browne’s much-loved jumper Monarch Chimes—Basilinna is proof that racing’s fairytales still happen.

And now, with Flemington’s famous two miles in her sights, her team can afford to do what so many others cannot: plot a patient, purposeful campaign.

“We’ll work backwards from Cup day,” Emma-Lee Browne said. “It’s obviously a first for us, but something we are very much looking forward to. Getting into the race is so hard to achieve, so knowing this far out that we’ve got a runner—it’s an amazing feeling.”

It’s been a journey of deliberate steps. Basilinna first flagged her staying credentials when she ran a brave third in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) as a three-year-old—an early sign of her staying prowess. But it was her Andrew Ramsden win, powering away on a cold and wet May afternoon at Flemington, that confirmed she could be a player.

Producing a strong turn of foot off a solid tempo, she burst clear at the 400-metre mark to seal the win—jockey Dean Yendall returning to scale with a grin as wide as the grandstand. A natural lightweight, Yendall now looms as the likely Cup partner for the mare.

With her Cup berth secure, Basilinna has been enjoying a well-earned spell. The stable insists her happiness and freshness will be key pillars of her spring preparation, with races like the Group 3 Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m) and Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes (2000m) pencilled in as potential lead-ups.

The second year that a golden ticket was on offer in the USA, the Grade 3 Belmont Gold Cup had to be moved onto the dirt after persistent rain fall negatively affected the turf track. The race which is normally conducted over two miles or 3200 metres, the same distance as the Lexus Melbourne Cup, had to be shorted to a mile and six furlongs, approximately 2816 metres, to accommodate the circuit change and brought the dirt specialists into the picture.

One of those dirt specialists was the William Mott-trained Parchment Party, who has won two from eight on dirt. The son of Florida Derby winner Constitution revelled in the trying conditions to by a wide margin, comfortably accounted for his rivals to record his first Graded stakes-win and claim an automatic entry in the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup.

A perfect ride from champion jockey, Johnny Velazquez Jnr, saw the four-year-old join Yo Daddy at the entry into the straight and race away to post an 8½-length victory, with a further 14½ lengths back to third-placed Padiddle.

Parchment Party hadn’t won in seven outings since making it two from two at Churchill Downs November of 2023. He struck trouble at the back of the field in both of his two starts on turf when unplaced.

With the announcement of $100,000 in prizemoney being on offer from 13th down to 24th for this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup, connections are mulling over the idea of contesting Australia’s great race.

Via Sistina has taken all before her since arriving in Australia and there’s nothing to suggest she can’t continue her dominance of Australian racing. Now trained by champion trainer Chris Waller, Via Sistina began her career in England under Joseph Tuite before moving to George Boughey at Newmarket where it wasn’t long before she recorded her first stakes win in France.

After capturing her first Group 1 victory in the Pretty Polly Stakes (1m 2f) at The Curragh, followed by a trio of Group 1 placings, she caught the eye of Yulong, leading to the purchase of the mare and subsequent transfer to Australia.

She picked up where she left off in Europe, claiming the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill at her first Australian outing, followed by runner-up finish to the tearaway leader, Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) to finish a light autumn campaign.

Her spring of 2024 was something special, recording four Group 1 wins from five starts including surpassing Winx’s course record with an eight-length demolition of her rivals in the W.S Cox Plate (2040m), culminating in an effortless display in the TAB Champions Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

As they led the mare back into the mounting yard following her victory in the TAB Champions Stakes, Yulong general manager Vin Cox relayed James McDonald’s remark: “She would have won the Melbourne Cup by 10 lengths.”

Some thought was given to running the mare in the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup, of which she was a warm favourite, before it was ultimately decided to stick to the 2000m of the TAB Champions Stakes.

More of the same followed in autumn this year, adding another three Group 1 victories to her impressive résumé, setting her up for yet another

Sir Delius, who was previously known as ‘Delius’ during his time racing in France, is a British-bred stayer who was imported to Australia with high expectations. He began his career in France under Jean-Claude Rouget and made an immediate impact, winning his first three starts—including the Group 3 Prix du Lys (2400m), where he accounted for subsequent triple Group 1 winner Sosie.

He placed in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris (2400m) and the Group 2 Prix Niel (2400m) this time behind Sosie, before tackling the world’s best in the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m), finishing eighth behind Bluestocking.

Recognising his potential, Australian connections secured Sir Delius for 1.3 million guineas at the 2024 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale. In March 2025, he joined the powerhouse training partnership of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

The import wasted no time making his presence felt on Australian soil. In May, he produced a brilliant first-up win in the Group 3 Chairman’s Handicap (2000m) at Doomben—an effort that immediately stamped him as a major player for Australia’s premier staying tests.

With eyes firmly set on the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup, the Waterhouse-Bott stable has made no secret of their ambitions. Sir Delius will be campaigned with the Cup as his primary goal, with a program tailored to ensure he qualifies and peaks on the first Tuesday in November.

And if there’s anyone who knows how to turn a northern hemisphere stayer into a Melbourne Cup winner, it’s Gai Waterhouse. She famously struck gold to win the Cup in 2013 with Fiorente, a former Group 2 winner in the UK under Sir Michael Stoute. Now, with Sir Delius, she’s chasing another chapter of Cup glory.

Vauban is no stranger to the Lexus Melbourne Cup, having competed in the last two runnings of the two-mile feature. They were both under the care of master Irish trainer Willie Mullins, who has long sought the right horse to try and win Australia’s great race. Vauban was well in the market at both attempts but could only manage fourteenth and eleventh in 2023 and 2024 respectively.

He was then purchased by Australian Bloodstock in late 2024 for a reported AUD$2 million and transferred to the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable to continue his career in Australia, with the Lexus Melbourne Cup his primary target. In his debut for the new stable, Vauban impressed by winning the Group 3 Sky High Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill, showing adaptability and a strong finishing burst over a distance shorter than he is used to excelling at.

The 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup is the central goal for Vauban’s new connections. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have publicly confirmed their intention to prepare him for a third attempt at the race. His strong debut for the stable and subsequent strong showing behind globetrotter Dubai Honour and Caulfield Cup winner, Duke De Sessa in the Group 1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) has connections optimistic about his future prospects.

His high international rating and Group-level performances mean he is likely to secure a Cup start without needing to qualify through local races.

Vauban has quickly adapted to his new stable, the Australian training conditions and made an immediate impact on the track. With Group wins in both hemispheres and a solid record at two miles, he again is regarded as a leading contender for the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup.

Joseph O’Brien, already a two-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer with Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020), may have another serious contender on his hands in Al Riffa.

He burst onto the scene as a two-year-old, taking out the Group 1 Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (1400m). As a three-year-old, he continued to show promise, including a strong second in the Group 2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano (2000m) at Deauville—just three-quarters of a length behind future Arc winner, Ace Impact.

A trip to the United States proved fruitless when unplaced in the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes (1900m) at Saratoga. But back in Europe, he was beaten just a length by City Of Troy in the Group 1 Eclipse (2000m), underlining his class.

He then produced a dominant five-length win in the Group 1 Grosser Preis von Berlin (2400m), a race famously won by 2014 Melbourne Cup victor Protectionist. However, his Arc bid fell flat, finishing eleventh behind Bluestocking.

Travelling abroad, Al Riffa placed third in the Group 2 Neom Turf Cup (2100m) in Saudi Arabia, then fourth in the Group 1 Prix Ganay (2100m) at Longchamp. At Royal Ascot, he lined up in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes against star Godolphin stayer, Rebel’s Romance, staying on doggedly in the run to the line, going down by a length and a quarter.

Most recently, Al Riffa underlined his staying potential with a commanding five-length win in the Group 2 Curragh Cup (2814m)—a race that has served as a lead-up for both of O’Brien’s Melbourne Cup winners. It was his first try beyond 2400m, and he looked right at home.

Sober is a six-year-old gelding by English and Irish Derby winner, Camelot, currently trained by leading Irish trainer Willie Mullins. He has quickly established himself as a top-class stayer since joining Mullins’ yard, emerging as a serious contender for major staying races, including the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup.

Before joining Willie Mullins, Sober was a dual Group 2 winner in France and placed in the prestigious Prix Royal-Oak in 2022. Previously trained by André Fabre, Sober made his debut for Mullins over hurdles at Killarney, winning over two mile, four furlongs (4023m) and showing strong staying ability.

The marathon distance of the Queen Alexandra Stakes, two mile, 5.5 furlongs (4325m) at Royal Ascot is one of the stiff staying tests during Royal Ascot week, and past winners of the race have ventured to Flemington for the greatest staying event in Australia. Sober was a warm favourite (4/5 or $1,80) to take out the contest and under a perfect ride from world-class jockey Ryan Moore, cleared out over the concluding stages to win by five lengths.

Willie Mullins has long been targeting the Lexus Melbourne Cup, was quick to declare Sober’s next major target.

“We bought this horse and he has surprised us; he’s improved a lot more than I thought he would. We will aim for the Melbourne Cup – this was stage one. There are a lot of hoops to jump through, but we’ll get them done.” Mullins stated.

Sober is owned by the Australian-based OTI Racing, who have already claimed a golden ticket into the 2025 Lexus Melbourne Cup with Deakin, after he claimed the Lexus Roy Higgins (2600m) on Australian Cup Day.

Ethical Diamond began his racing career on the flat in Ireland with Michael O’Meara, showing steady improvement over three starts before being purchased by Willie Mullins for 320,000 guineas at the Tattersalls July Sale in 2023.

Mullins targeted him as a dual-purpose prospect, capable of competing at a high level both over hurdles and on the flat, with long-term ambitions to possibly target the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

Under Mullins, Ethical Diamond has continued to progress, notably winning a maiden hurdle at Punchestown and, more recently, capturing the Duke of Edinburgh Handicap (2414m) at Royal Ascot in June 2025 under Ryan Moore—his trainer’s 11th Royal Ascot winner. He also finished fourth in the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, highlighting his versatility and class.

Has Willie got another @FlemingtonVRC Melbourne Cup contender with ETHICAL DIAMOND❓ #RoyalAscot | @WillieMullinsNH

pic.twitter.com/0Tf8Y4eliV

— World Horse Racing (@WHR) June 20, 2025

After his Royal Ascot triumph, Mullins stated, “We’ll give him a little break and look at York; that’s normally where we go from here. The Ebor would be possible and we’d love to go to Melbourne. If we can get him qualified, that’d be wonderful”.

The Victoria Racing Club has confirmed ongoing discussions with Mullins, who has expressed strong interest in bringing both Ethical Diamond and stablemate Sober to Flemington for the Cup.

However, as of late July 2025, Ethical Diamond is yet to pass the ballot conditions for the Lexus Melbourne Cup and may need to boost his rating or secure a golden ticket with victory in the Ebor Handicap (2816m) at York, which would guarantee the horse a start in this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup.

Bred by the esteemed Northern Farm in Hokkaido and trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, Admire Terra is shaping as one of Japan’s most promising staying prospects. With five wins from just nine career starts, the grey colt has made a rapid rise through the ranks since scoring on debut at Kyoto as a two-year-old over 2000 metres.

While he initially struck a flat patch with two unplaced runs at the same distance, a pivotal switch to 2600 metres in the Akanko Tokubetsu at Sapporo proved telling. Despite being badly held up in the straight, Admire Terra flashed late to narrowly miss, confirming his aptitude for the longer distance races. With that effort, plans were set in motion to target loftier goals — including a tilt at the final leg of Japan’s Triple Crown, the 3000-metre Kikuka Sho.

A confidence-boosting win at Chukyo over 2200 metres followed, setting the stage for a major step up to Group 1 company. Champion jockey Yutaka Take, a legend of Japanese racing, was booked to take the reins for the Kikuka Sho, and his experience would prove vital.

Drawn wide and settling at the rear, Take made a bold mid-race move to get his mount into contention turning for home. Though he couldn’t match the finishing burst of second favourite Urban Chic, the colt’s strong performance underlined his staying credentials.

Returning as a four-year-old in 2025, Admire Terra has raced with more tactical versatility, settling closer to the speed. The shift in style has paid dividends, with consecutive wins at Hanshin over 2600 metres and in the Group 2 Meguro Kinen (2500m) at Chukyo, both again under the ageless Take.

Importantly, Meguro Kinen winners have produced past Cup runners, Fame Game and 2006 second-placed Melbourne Cup finisher, Pop Rock, who was narrowly beaten by stablemate, Delta Blues.

Admire Terra is quickly emerging as one to follow and looks destined to be a stayer to keep a close eye on.