The all-important 2026 Melbourne Cup barrier draw will be held on Saturday afternoon, shortly after the 24-horse field is confirmed for this year’s race.

It’s expected the draw will be held around 5.40pm, soon after the conclusion of the Derby Day program at Flemington. Return here for all the barriers as they are drawn, with live coverage also available on Racing.com via Kayo Sports and Foxtel.

MELBOURNE CUP ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know

ORDER OF ENTRY: Latest in the race for Cup spots

Gallen v Asofa-Solomona | Friday November 6 from 7pm AEDT | Australian sporting icon and crossover boxing king Paul Gallen returns to the ring to face his biggest opponent yet, Nelson ‘Big Nasty’ Asofa-Solomona. | Order now on Kayo Sports.

While the barrier draw is just one of many factors that can determine the race, history says there are certain gates Cup hopefuls will want to avoid.

MOST SUCCESSFUL MELBOURNE CUP BARRIERS

Barrier 11 – 9 wins (last win Americain in 2010)

Barrier 5 – 9 wins (last win Knight’s Choice in 2024)

Barrier 10 – 6 wins (last win Protectionist in 2014)

Barrier 14 – 6 wins (last win Makybe Diva in 2005)

Barrier 8 – 6 wins (last win Half Yours in 2025)

LEAST SUCCESSFUL MELBOURNE CUP BARRIERS

Barriers 7, 15 and 18 have each yielded just one win each.

Barrier 18 was the only gate to have never produced a winner, until Verry Elleegant finally broke that hoodoo in 2021.

POSSIBLE 2026 MELBOURNE CUP FIELD (will be confirmed on Saturday)

Number – Name – Weight – Trainer – Jockey

1 Sons And Lovers (GB) 57.5kg Joseph O’Brien Ryan Moore

2 Stinger Glass (JPN) 57kg Yasuo Tomomichi Christophe Lemaire

3 Trustyourinstinct (IRE) 57kg Joseph O’Brien James McDonald

4 Defiantly (FR) 56.5kg Joseph O’Brien Dylan Browne McMonagle

5 Middle Earth (GB) 56.5kg Ciaron Maher Mark Zahra

6 Vauban (FR) 56.5kg Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott TBC

7 Knight’s Choice 56.5kg John Symons & Sheila Laxon Robbie Dolan

8 Royal Supremacy (IRE) 56kg Ciaron Maher TBC

9 Enfjaar (IRE) 56kg Roger Varian Ray Dawson (unconfirmed)

10 Wine Dark Sea (GB) 56kg Harry Charlton TBC

11 Juja Kibo (IRE) 55kg Ciaron Maher Sam Clipperton

12 Asterix (NZ) 55kg Chris Waller TBC

13 Goodie Two Shoes (IRE) 55kg Joseph O’Brien Wayne Lordan

14 Soul Of Spain (IRE) 54.5kg Chris Waller Tommy Berry

15 Onesmoothoperator (USA) 54.5kg Tim Fitzsimmons Declan Bates

16 Zahrann (IRE) 54.5kg Ciaron Maher Ben Melham

17 Hopewell Rock (IRE) 54.5kg George Boughey Zac Lloyd

18 So You Are 54kg Bjorn Baker Rachel King

19 James J Braddock (IRE) 53.5kg Joseph O’Brien Craig Williams

20 Point Of Law (GB) 53kg Ciaron Maher Ethan Brown

21 Strictly Business 53kg Thomas Carberry TBC

22 Mr Monaco (GB) 52.5kg Ciaron Maher Jabez Johnstone (a)

23 Zakouma 52kg Grahame Begg William Pike

24 Shockletz (NZ) 51kg Ciaron Maher Harry Coffey

BARRIER DRAW LIVE (if the feed does not appear, click here)



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