The 24 runners in the race that stops the nation are being determined over the coming days ahead of the 2026 Melbourne Cup.

There will be at least one major change to the Order of Entry, which determines who qualifies for the field, after the tragic death of Ohope Wins following the Caulfield Cup.

Watch live coverage of the 2026 Spring Racing Carnival events with Racing.com available on Kayo Sports

The Chris Waller-trained Kiwi horse was 22nd on the Order of Entry after the second declarations deadline of October 13.

The third declarations stage is Monday October 26.

Jye McNeil riding Ohope Wins before race 9, the Sportsbet Caulfield Cup during Melbourne Racing at Caulfield Racecourse on October 17, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

$51 INTO $11: BIG MOVERS IN MELBOURNE CUP BETTING REVEALED

Gilbert Gardiner, Punters.com.au

Caulfield Cup runner-up Saint George has surged into Melbourne Cup calculations with an eye-catching effort behind Kingswood on Saturday.

Bookmakers reacted swiftly, with Saint George crunched from $51 into $11 for the prized major on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington.

UK raider Enfjaar, a gallant third in the Caulfield Cup after riding the speed, halved in price to $15.

Cox Plate candidate Cosmic Crusader, who placed fourth in the Caulfield Cup as favourite, eased from $11 to $13 for Australia’s best race at Flemington on Saturday.

Saint George, trained by Ciaron Maher, enjoyed a cosy ride midfield the fence under champion jockey Craig Williams and poked through late to grab second.

“The horse ran his heart out, got a very uncomplicated run from the barrier, very economical,” Williams said.

“But my thoughts, most importantly, are with the horses and riders that fell.”

Tempted overhauls Ka Ying Rising | 00:35

UK-based Irish jockey Ray Dawson enjoyed a dream Australian race riding debut on Enfjaar, tucked in behind the speed from barrier one and strong to the post.

“I couldn’t have dreamed for a better run around,” Dawson said.

“I thought I was going to win turning in but he hasn’t run for a while and I think he just felt the pinch inside the last 100 metres.

“Very proud of him and he’ll go to the Melbourne Cup now.”

Pike also “got my hopes up” turning for home on Cosmic Crusader but the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes winner peaked on the effort.

Meanwhile, Racing Victoria stewards earlier on Saturday fined Maher and a stable employee for race day treatment of Caulfield Cup third emergency Point Of Law.

Point Of Law, a prized Frankel colt, was “negligently” administered Gastropell prior to officially being scratched from the Caulfield Cup.

Under Australian Rules of Racing it is illegal to administer any treatment on race day without the permission of stewards.

Stewards fined Maher $2000 for the breach, while the employee copped a $1000 penalty for conduct towards an integrity official.

Race day treatment penalties range from a fine, suspension and disqualification.

Stewards issued a fine for the administrative oversight as Point Of Law remained third emergency without any Caulfield Cup scratchings at the time of the treatment.

Reigning Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Jamie Melham, who rode in Sydney on Saturday, was also suspended for interference caused in the Sydney Stakes.

Melham, booked to ride Blind Raise in the Cox Plate next Saturday, has deferred the penalty – the cost of which is missing Victoria Derby Day at Flemington.

This article was originally published at Punters.com.au and was republished with permission.

‘Tempted’ trainer speaks on Everest win | 01:10

HOW DOES THE MELBOURNE CUP ORDER OF ENTRY WORK?

The Melbourne Cup Order of Entry dictates which horses make the field for the Flemington event.

Of the 24 Melbourne Cup entrants who make the cut, 10 are winners of the Ballot Exemption or Golden Ticket races (like the Geelong Cup) while the remaining 14 are determined by weight.

Those weights can change based on performances between September and October 31 and are determined by Racing Victoria’s chief handicapper.

The final field will be announced at around 4:30pm on Saturday October 31, with the barrier draw at 5:30pm, before the Melbourne Cup runs at 3pm on Tuesday November 3.

Melbourne Cup declarations schedule (All times AEDT)

Third Declarations: 10am Monday October 26

Final Declarations and Field: 4:30pm Saturday October 31

Barrier draw: 5:30pm Saturday October 31

Ballot exempt races

The Bart Cummings, Caulfield Cup, Andrew Ramsden, Cox Plate, Lexus Archer Stakes, Roy Higgins Quality, Geelong Cup, Moonee Valley Gold Cup, Ebor Handicap and Belmont Gold Cup

International races where winner is invited

The Arlington Million, the San Juan Capistrano Handicap in the USA, the Doncaster Cup in the UK, the Irish St. Leger, the Tenno Sho and Sankei Sho in Japan

Any placegetter from a golden ticket race, or any Group 1 held over 2000m or further, will pass the first ballot.

CURRENT MELBOURNE CUP ORDER OF ENTRY

As of October 13, weights subject to change

Ballot Order – Horse – Trainer/s – Weight

=1 – Defiantly (FR) – Joseph O’Brien – 56.5kg

=1 – Mr Monaco (GB) – Ciaron Maher – 52.5kg

=1 – Zakouma – Grahame Begg – 52kg

=1 – Shockletz (NZ) – Ciaron Maher – 51kg

5 – Aeliana (NZ) – Chris Waller – 58kg

6 – Half Yours – Tony & Calvin McEvoy – 59kg

7 – Treasurethe Moment – Matt Laurie – 57kg

8 – Birdman (IRE) – Chris Waller – 58kg

9 – Sons and Lovers (GB) – Joseph O’Brien – 57.5kg

10 – Green Spaces – Bjorn Baker – 56kg

11 – Stinger Glass (JPN) – Yasuo Tomomichi – 57kg

12 – Trustyourinstinct (IRE) – Joseph O’Brien – 57kg

13 – Goodie Too Shoes (IRE) – Joseph O’Brien – 55kg

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 – Strictly Business – Thomas Carberry – 53kg

19 – Royal Supremacy (IRE) – Ciaron Maher – 56kg

20 – Enfjarr (IRE) – Roger Varian – 56kg

21 – Wine Dark Sea (GB) – Harry Charlton – 56kg

22 – Ohope Wins (NZ) – Chris Waller – 52.5kg

23 – Asterix (NZ) – Chris Waller – 55kg

24 – Soul of Spain (IRE) – Chris Waller – 54.5kg

25 – Onesmoothoperator (USA) – Tim Fitzsimmons – 54.5kg

26 – Hopewell Rock (IRE) – George Boughey – 54.5kg

27 – Zahrann (IRE) – Ciaron Maher – 54.5kg

28 – Land Legend (FR) – Ciaron Maher – 54kg

29 – The Euphrates (GB) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – 54kg

30 – Juja Kibo (IRE) – Ciaron Maher – 53.5kg

31 – Point of Law (GB) – Ciaron Maher – 51kg

32 – Future History (GB) – Gregory Hickman – 53.5kg

33 – Kizlyar (IRE) – Joseph O’Brien – 53.5kg

34 – Deakin (FR) – Phillip & Tommy Stokes – 53kg

35 – Pinhole (GB) – Chris Waller – 53kg

36 – Valiant King (GB) – Chris Waller – 52.5kg

37 – Torranzino (NZ) – Paul Preusker – 52.5kg

38 – So You Are – Bjorn Baker – 52.5kg

39 – Piggyback – Ciaron Maher – 51kg

40 – Thebudgiesmugla (NZ) – Bjorn Baker – 52kg

41 – Athabascan (FR) – John O’Shea & Tom Charlton – 52kg

42 – King Pedro (NZ) – John O’Shea & Tom Charlton – 52kg

43 – Litzdeel – Danny O’Brien – 51kg

44 – Newlook (FR) – Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young – 51kg

45 – Manzor Blue (NZ) – Lisa Latta – 51kg

46 – Kings Valley (IRE) – Ciaron Maher – 51kg

47 – Jennivamoose (NZ) – Ciaron Maher – 51kg

48 – Aethelwulf – Matthew Smith – 51kg

49 – Bella Montagna (NZ) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – 51kg

=50 – Saint George (GB) – Ciaron Maher – 55kg

=50 – Soulcombe (GB) – Chris Waller – 55kg

=50 – Wootton Verni (FR) – Chris Waller – 55kg

54 – Klondike (GB) – John O’Shea & Tom Charlton – 53.5kg

55 – Small Fry (IRE) – Joseph O’Brien – 51.5kg

56 – Omni Man (IRE) – Joseph O’Brien – 51kg

=57 – Sam Hawkens (IRE) – John O’Shea & Tom Charlton – 51kg

=57 – Sapphire Siren – Bill Papazhararoudakis – 51kg



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