Quick look at the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup contenders

The 33-year-old training maestro has already won two Melbourne Cups having trained Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020) and he will have multiple runners as he’s sent the strongest squad by any overseas trainer to tackle the Lexus Melbourne Cup.

O’Brien can boast of three of the top four in the betting with Group 2 Prix De Kergorlay (3000m) winner, Defiantly, who is current favourite after winning a golden ticket in August at Deauville.

He also has second favourite Trustyourinstinct and James J Braddock who is equal third favourite.

He also has accomplished stayer Sons And Lovers high up in betting markets and last year’s runner-up Goodie Two Shoes.

He has other contenders remaining in the current stage of declarations and he could have up to a record nine runners.

Japan will also be represented by classy stayer Stinger Glass who won the Group 3 Diamond Stakes (3400m) at Tokyo in February.

The English stayers are headed by Caulfield Cup placegetter Enfjaar and emerging prospect Hopewell Rock.

Where does that leave the locals?

Ciaron Maher could match and even usurp O’Brien’s attack on the race as he had 14 horses paid up as second acceptors.

Maher has two of the best local chances in his care with Caulfield Cup runner-up Saint George and Mr Monaco, who won The Lexus Bart Cummings which also carried a golden ticket exemption into the Lexus Melbourne Cup, as well as last year’s third placegetter Middle Earth, Kings Valley, Zahrann and import Point Of Law.

Tough staying mare Shockletz will try to emulate her sire Shocking who won the Melbourne Cup in 2009 after winning the Archer Stakes (Hotham Handicap), which was then run on Victoria Derby Day.

Her win in the Lexus Archer Stakes guaranteed her spot in the Cup. The race moved to Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day in 2024 and was renamed the Archer Stakes.

Chris Waller has eight horses still in the running headed by Aeliana, Pinhole, Birdman and Valiant King.

Astute trainer Grahame Begg will have his first Lexus Melbourne Cup runner with Zakouma, who won his way into the race by winning the golden ticket in the Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m) in May.

The 2024 Cup winner Knight’s Choice is also likely to start and if he does his co-trainer Sheila Laxon will be out to defend her perfect Melbourne Cup record.

As it stands Laxon, who co-trains Knight’s Choice with John Symons, is the only trainer in Melbourne Cup history to have saddled up two runners for two winners as she trained Ethereal to win in 2001.

We take a look at some of the contenders from home and abroad.

Tuesday, 3 November 2026

Race 7 - Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) - 3:00pm

The race that stops a nation®

Group 1. Of $10,200,000. 1st $4,500,000, 2nd $1,110,000, 3rd $560,000, 4th $360,000, 5th $240,000, 6th to 12th $160,000, 13th to 24th $100,000

For 3YO & Upwards Handicap. Apprentices cannot claim. Field limit: 24

2026 Golden Ticket Winners

Eleven golden ticket races grant automatic entry into the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) to the winner, see below results and upcoming golden ticket races;

GOLDEN TICKET #1 - Lexus Roy Higgins (2600m) - WHISKY ON THE HILL (GB) *

GOLDEN TICKET #2 - Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m) - ZAKOUMA

GOLDEN TICKET #3 - Belmont Gold Cup (3219m) - TAWNY PORT (USA) *

GOLDEN TICKET #4 - Ebor Handicap (2787m) - DAIQUIRI BAY (GB) **

GOLDEN TICKET #5 - Prix Kergorlay (3000m) - DEFIANTLY (FR)

GOLDEN TICKET #6 - Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) - SHOCKLETZ (NZ)

GOLDEN TICKET #7 - Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m) - MR MONACO (GB)

GOLDEN TICKET #8 - MRC Caulfield Cup (2400m) - KINGSWOOD (GB) **

2026 Golden Tickets Remaining

GOLDEN TICKET #9 - GRC Geelong Cup (2400m) - October 21

GOLDEN TICKET #10 - MVRC Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) - October 24

GOLDEN TICKET #11 - MVRC W.S. Cox Plate (2040m) - October 24

*  Withdrawn from the Lexus Melbourne Cup
**  Not nominated for the Lexus Melbourne Cup

For more golden ticket information, click here.

For up-to-date ballot order and entry conditions, click here.

Accomplished trainer Grahame Begg should finally get his first Lexus Melbourne Cup runner, and not only that, he’s also in with a winning chance. Zakouma emerged as a staying prospect earlier this year where he put together three impressive wins. He then ran seventh over 2000 metres at Flemington where he gave away too big a start, before winning a golden ticket into the Lexus Melbourne Cup via the Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m) on May 16 at Flemington. His strong finishing burst suggests he’ll the 3200 metres of the Cup. Begg then sent him for a short break and he has since had two starts at Caulfield for a sixth in the Naturalism Stakes (2000m) and then a fifth in the Herbert Power Stakes (2400m). He hasn’t lost any admirers as he has run on strongly each time.

Joseph O’Brien-trained stayer, who received a ballot exemption into the Lexus Melbourne Cup field with his powerful display of stamina to win Group 2 Prix De Kergorlay (3000m) at Deauville. He led throughout, controlling the tempo from the outset, then kicked away to hold his advantage in what was a brilliant ride from young Irish jockey, Dylan Browne McMonagle. He was just as impressive winning the Goodwood Handicap (4100m) where the tempo was on from the outset and he left his rivals in his wake. Defiantly is a half-brother to Buckaroo and Middle Earth and is a classy galloper. He is trained by Joseph O’Brien who has trained Melbourne Cup winners Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020.)

Her sire Shocking won the race in 2009 and her trainer Ciaron Maher has also tasted success in the race with Gold Trip in 2022. She secured a spot in the Melbourne Cup by winning the Archer Stakes (2500m) in September at Flemington. In an interesting twist Shocking also won the Archer Stakes which was known as the Hotham Handicap which was run four days to the Melbourne Cup and carried the only win and you’re in tag in those days. That race was renamed The Archer and shifted to the Makybe Diva Stakes program in 2024. Shockletz has won three times over 2500m and she finished strongly at her only defeat at the trip when she finished sixth in the Herbert Power Stakes. Maher is likely to put blinkers back on her when she contests the Melbourne Cup.

Ciaron Maher ensured he had another Lexus Melbourne Cup runner when his stayer Mr Monaco took out The Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington in early October on a suitable rain affected track. The former English galloper has shown glimpses of his staying ability since joining the Maher stable in mid-2025 but has really started to hit his straps this year. He took out the Group 3 N.E. Manion Cup on a soft Rosehill track over 2400 metres in March. Could make his presence felt if the track softens for Cup week.

He is the best credentialled of Joseph O’Brien’s squadron aimed at the Lexus Melbourne Cup having won the Group 2 Prix Maurice de Nieuil (2800m) at Longchamp in July and earlier this year the Group 2 Red Sea Turf Handicap (3000m) at Riyadh in Suadi Arabia. He underlined his class where he finished second in the Group 3 Kilternan Stakes (2414m) at Leopardstown before heading into quarantine for the trip to Melbourne. In that race he took up a spot behind the leaders and toughed it out well with 63.5kg on his back to finish second. He will carry 57.5kg which makes him the highest weighted horse of the international raiders. O’Brien said Sons And Lovers will be suited by 3200 metres at Flemington.

Japanese stayer Stinger Glass, trained by Yasuo Tomomichi, will look to add another successful chapter to their record in the Melbourne Cup. In 2006, Japan quinellaed the Melbourne Cup when Delta Blues defeated stablemate Pop Rock. In 2024, they almost added another when Warp Speed was narrowly beaten by Knight’s Choice. Earlier in 2024, Warp Speed finished third in the Group 3 Diamond Stakes (3400m) at Tokyo, which Stinger Glass won earlier this year. The stallion showed his strong staying attributes, kicking clear early in the straight and never looked like losing. He will be ridden by French jockey Christophe Lemaire who partnered French-trained Dunaden to win the 2011 Melbourne Cup.

Another one of Joseph O’Brien’s attack on the 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup and he has similar credentials to his previous Melbourne Cup winners. Trustyourinstinct won the Group 2 Curragh Cup (2816m) as did O’Brien’s Melbourne Cup winners Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020). He sprinted home from last in a six-horse field to win the race before his last start fourth to Scandinavia in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m), also at The Curragh. O’Brien believes Trustyourinstinct has enjoyed an outstanding year and, as a backmarker, possesses a powerful finishing burst.

English stayer Enfjaar finished third in the Caulfield Cup in a display which suggests the Lexus Melbourne Cup is firmly on the Roger Varian trained stayer’s radar. He raced on speed and looked a great winning chance but was only outsprinted by Kingswood and Saint George. He’s now had two starts over 2400m for a win at Group 3 level at Goodwood and then his Caulfield Cup placing. Caulfield Cup is always a great guide to the Lexus Melbourne Cup so he will be one of the major players, having his first try at 3200 metres.

The Joseph O’Brien-trained eight-year-old mare displayed her staying prowess when she finished second in last year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup to Half Yours carrying 51.5kg. This year, she has been allotted 55kg but, as her trainer pointed out, she has been in career best form this year, as demonstrated by her win in the Group 2 Lillie Langtry Stakes (2816m) at Goodwood in August. O’Brien pointed out that she is a genuine fast ground horse and is “a very obvious contender.”

Hopewell Rock ran a brave second in the prestigious Ebor Handicap (2786m) at York which was enough for his trainer George Boughey to take the lightly raced five-year-old gelding to Australia for the Lexus Melbourne Cup. He narrowly missed out on a ballot exemption finishing second to Daiquiri Bay in the race offering a golden ticket into the Cup. Before that he was also successful in a 2816m handicap at Goodwood. Boughey said after the Ebor that the Melbourne Cup had been on his radar all year and he saw enough to justify the trip.

James J Braddock finished third in the Group 1 English Derby (2420m) where he finished on powerfully in a display which underlined his stamina. Subsequently an Australian-based syndicate, headed by Ozzie Kheir, bought into the horse, with Irish racing commentator Kevin Blake retaining a share in the horse. He has been handicapped at 53.5kg which Blake said was a reasonable weight. Since the Epsom Derby, he has been gelded and Craig Williams has been booked to ride him in the Cup. He is trained by Joseph O’Brien, who already has two Melbourne Cup wins to his credit, having trained Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020). O’Brien could have multiple runners in the Lexus Melbourne Cup and the trainer said he was the best weighted of his contingent.