Lexus Melbourne Cup
Group 1 Handicap,
Flemington 04:00 (UK time)
A$ 10,000,000
3yo plus, 2m    
Tuesday 4th November 2025

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The Lexus Melbourne Cup picture has taken on fresh intrigue with Al Riffa, this year’s commanding Irish St Leger winner, handed joint top weight for Flemington on November 4. Joseph O’Brien’s charge, who streaked clear by four lengths over 14 furlongs, has been allotted 59 kilograms (9st 4lb)—a mark he shares with Chris Waller’s Via Sistina, the mare who’s now racked up nine Group One wins in Australia after first making her name in Britain under George Boughey.

O’Brien knows precisely what it takes to land “the race that stops a nation”—he’s done it twice already with Twilight Payment (2020) and Rekindling (2017)—and he’s also got Goodie Two Shoes lurking on 51.5 kg.

Aidan O’Brien has confirmed Scandinavia will not run and will be put away until next season, with the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot pencilled in as his primary objective.

The British and Irish challenge runs deep. Andrew Balding’s Furthur, sixth at Doncaster, is pencilled in on 52 kg. Willie Mullins’ ever-consistent Absurde, seventh and fifth in the last two Cups, has been set 53.5 kg, with stablemate Hipop De Loire on 52 kg. Add to that Epic Poet (54.5 kg), Tabletalk (54 kg), Meydaan (54 kg), Harbour Wind (53 kg) and Onesmoothoperator (52 kg) to complete a formidable northern-hemisphere cast.

Meydaan, trained by Simon and Ed Crisford, also holds a Caulfield Cup entry, and Racing Victoria handicapper David Hegan admitted he posed a puzzle:

“He comes with a high-performance rating but he doesn’t have the wins to back it up. He is probably similar in profile to the stablemate West Wind Blows, who came out here and was given 54 kg in the Caulfield Cup and was narrowly beaten by Without A Fight.

“The difference was West Wind Blows had dual Group Three wins and a Listed win – he was a proven winner – but while Meydaan comes with a similar rating but from running seconds and thirds in listed and Group Three races.

“The traditional Australian way of handicapping is to put more emphasis on wins rather than placings.

“So, there is a very slight discount there for Meydaan and his highest performance run comes off the synthetic surface last start, so whether he can reproduce that on the turf here we’ll have to find out.

“But he is definitely one that could improve his rating and race beyond expectation.”

Last year’s fairy-tale victor Knight’s Choice is back for John Symons and Sheila Laxon, this time saddled with 55 kg after carrying just 51.5 kg in 2024. And for American fans, Bill Mott’s Parchment Party (52 kg) will make the journey, ensuring the international flavour remains as rich as ever.

BoyleSports

Lexus Melbourne Cup (Group 1 Handicap)
A$ 10,000,000
3yo plus, 2m (3200 Metres)
120 entries

Going:

Order Horse (name & origin) Trainer Weight
Exempt as at 16 September: 4
1= DEAKIN (FR) Phillip Stokes 52kg
1= PARCHMENT PARTY (USA) William Mott 52kg
1= REVELARE Robert Hickmott 51.5kg
1- BASILINNA (NZ) Emma-Lee & David Browne 51kg
Passed 2025 1st Ballot clause as at 16 September: 75
5 VIA SISTINA (IRE) Chris Waller 59kg
6 AL RIFFA (FR) Joseph O’Brien 59kg
7 SCANDINAVIA (USA) Aidan O’Brien 55.5kg
8 TREASURETHE MOMENT Matt Laurie 54kg
9 BUCKAROO (GB) Chris Waller 57kg
10 ARAPAHO (FR) Bjorn Baker 56.5kg
11 MOIRA (CAN) Chris Waller 55kg
12 VAUBAN (FR) Waterhouse & Bott 56.5kg
13 AELIANA (NZ) Chris Waller 53kg
14 LA CRIQUE (NZ) Simon Alexander 54.5kg
15 CHEVALIER ROSE (JPN) Hisashi Shimizu 55.5kg
16 PRESAGE NOCTURNE (IRE) Alessandro Botti 55.5kg
17 SIR DELIUS (GB) Waterhouse & Bott 55.5kg
18 KNIGHT’S CHOICE John Symons & Sheila Laxon 55kg
19 FULL COUNT FELICIA (USA) Chris Waller 53.5kg
20 FURTHUR (IRE) Andrew Balding 52kg
21 AUGUSTUS (GER) Ciaron Maher 55kg
22 KOVALICA (NZ) Chris Waller 55kg
23 EPIC POET (IRE) David O’Meara 54.5kg
24 ALALCANCE (GB) Waterhouse & Bott 53kg
25 MIDDLE EARTH (GB) Ciaron Maher 54.5kg
26 ZARDOZI Ciaron Maher 52.5kg
27 TABLETALK (IRE) Tom Clover 54kg
28 MEYDAAN (IRE) Simon & Ed Crisford 54kg
29 LAND LEGEND (FR) Chris Waller 53.5kg
30 SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) Ciaron Maher 53.5kg
31 ABSURDE (FR) Willie Mullins 53.5kg
32 FLATTEN THE CURVE (FR) Henk Grewe 53.5kg
33 OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) Ciaron Maher 53kg
34 RIVER OF STARS (IRE) Chris Waller 51.5kg
35 MORE FELONS (IRE) Chris Waller 53kg
36 GOODIE TWO SHOES (IRE) Joseph O’Brien 51.5kg
37 CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) Kris Lees 53kg
38 HARBOUR WIND (IRE) Dermot K Weld 53kg
39 FEMMINILE Chris Waller 51kg
40 LEICA LUCY (NZ) Chris Waller 51kg
41 SHARP ‘N’ SMART (NZ) Graeme Rogerson 52.5kg
42 ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA) Brian Ellison 52kg
43 HIPOP DE LOIRE (FR) Willie Mullins 52kg
44 ATHABASCAN (FR) John O’Shea & Tom Charlton 51.5kg
45 POINT KING (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman 51.5kg
46 MARK TWAIN (NZ) Roger James & Robert Wellwood 51kg
47 MISTER WOLFGANG (NZ) Peter McKay 51kg
48 BIRDMAN (IRE) Chris Waller 51kg
49 POST IMPRESSIONIST (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman 51kg
50 ASTERIX (NZ) Chris Waller 51kg
51 THE MAP Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray 51kg
52 SCARY (NZ) Emma-Lee & David Browne 51kg
53 TRAV (NZ) Raymond Connors 51kg
54 ETNA ROSSO (IRE) Chris Waller 51kg
55 STATUARIO Emma-Lee & David Browne 51kg
56 TAJANIS (IRE) Chris Waller 51kg
57 THEDOCTOROFLOVE Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 51kg
58 GRAND PIERRO Jason Warren 51kg
59 SWELTERING Chris Waller 51kg
60 HALF YOURS Tony & Calvin McEvoy 51kg
61 ANTRIM COAST (NZ) Steve Richards 51kg
62 DISTRUSTFUL AWARD Peter Luttrell 51kg
63 ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) Ciaron Maher 51kg
64 INTERPRETATION (IRE) Ciaron Maher 51kg
65 OUR GOLD HOPE Robert & Luke Price 51kg
66 KADAVAR (NZ) Chris Waller 51kg
67 DON DIEGO DE VEGA (FR) Annabel & Rob Archibald 51kg
68 STAR VEGA (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman 51kg
69 GOLDEN CENTURY (NZ) Chris Waller 51kg
70 LITZDEEL Danny O’Brien 51kg
71 MORMONA (FR) Annabel & Rob Archibald 51kg
72 NEWLOOK (FR) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 51kg
73 SAYEDATY SADATY (IRE) Ciaron Maher 51kg
74 KINESIOLOGY (GB) Chris Waller 51kg
75 GO DADDY (IRE) Ciaron Maher 51kg
76 VALIANT KING (GB) Chris Waller 51kg
77 FERNAO (IRE) Annabel & Rob Archibald 51kg
78 NIKAU SPUR (NZ) Corey & Kylie Geran 51kg
79 FIRST IMMORTAL Mark & Levi Kavanagh 51kg
Not Passed 2025 first ballot clause as at 16 September: 41
80 ANISETTE (GB) Chris Waller 54kg
81= MILITARIZE (NZ) Chris Waller 53kg
81= GOLDEN SNAP (JPN) Katsunori Tanaka 51.5kg
83 GOLDEN PATH (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 52.5kg
84 ADELAIDE RIVER (IRE) Kris Lees 52kg
85 MOUNT KILIMANJARO (FR) Aidan O’Brien 51kg
86- AFTERMATH (IRE) Aidan O’Brien 51kg
86- AGE OF SAIL (GB) Kris Lees 51kg
86= BELLE DETELLE Chris Waller 51kg
86= BELVEDERE BOYS Matthew Dunn 51kg
86= BRAYDEN STAR (GB) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 51kg
86- BUR DUBAI (GB) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 51kg
86- CHIEF LITTLE ROCK (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman 51kg
86= CLEVELAND (IRE) Kris Lees 51kg
86= COUNTRY’S LIGHT Tetyana Furdetska 51kg
86 DASHING DUCHESS (NZ) Symon Wilde 51kg
86- DURAJI (IRE) Dermot K Weld 51kg
86= ENCODER Michael Freedman 51kg
86 EUPHORIC Greg Eurell 51kg
86= FLYING BANDIT Kerry Parker 51kg
86= GILDED WATER (GB) Ciaron Maher 51kg
86= GOOD BANTER (NZ) John O’Shea & Tom Charlton 51kg
86 HUTCHENCE (GB) Chris Waller 51kg
86= JENNIVAMOOSE (NZ) Ciaron Maher 51kg
86= JUJA KIBO (IRE) Ciaron Maher 51kg
86- KINGS VALLEY (IRE) Ciaron Maher 51kg
86= LASPIRIT DEELER Lee & Cherie Curtis 51kg
86= LASTOTCHKA (FR) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 51kg
86- MUKTAMIL (IRE) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 51kg
86 NAVAL COLLEGE (GB) Annabel & Rob Archibald 51kg
86= NO RUMOURS Paul Preusker 51kg
86= OUR ANCHORAGE (IRE) Bjorn Baker 51kg
86= QUIETNESS (GB) John O’Shea & Tom Charlton 51kg
86= REAL CLASS (NZ) Chris Waller 51kg
86 RED ACES Nick Ryan 51kg
86 SAV ON ICE Darryl Carrison 51kg
86= SO YOU ARE Stirling Osland 51kg
86 STAR OF INDIA (IRE) Chris Waller 51kg
86- TAPILDOODLEDO (NZ) Kerry Taplin 51kg
86- TORRANZINO (NZ) Paul Preusker 51kg
86= WHISKY ON THE HILL (GB) Glen Thompson 51kg

Recent Melbourne Cup Winners

Year Winner Second Third Time
2024 Knight's Choice Warp Speed Okita Soushi 3:19.53
2023 Without A Fight Soulcombe Sheraz 3:18.37
2022 Gold Trip Emissary High Emocean 3:24.04
2021 Verry Elleegant Incentivise Spanish Mission 3:17.43
2020 Twilight Payment Tiger Moth Prince Of Arran 3:17.34
2019 Vow And Declare Prince Of Arran Il Paradiso 3:24.76
2018 Cross Counter Marmelo Prince Of Arran 3:21.17
2017 Rekindling Johannes Vermeer Max Dynamite 3:21.19
2016 Almandin Heartbreak City Hartnell 3:20.58
2015 Prince Of Penzance Max Dynamite Criterion 3:22.15
2014 Protectionist Red Cadeaux Who Shot Thebarman 3:17.71
2013 Fiorente Red Cadeaux Mount Athos 3:20.30
2012 Green Moon Fiorente Jakkalberry 3:20.45
2011 Dunaden Red Cadeaux Lucas Cranach 3:20.84
2010 Americain Maluckyday So You Think 3:26.87
2009 Shocking Crime Scene Mourilyan 3:23.87
2008 Viewed Bauer C’est La Guerre 3:20.40
2007 Efficient Purple Moon Mahler 3:23.34
2006 Delta Blues Pop Rock Maybe Better 3:21.50
2005 Makybe Diva On A Jeune Xcellent 3:19.17
2004 Makybe Diva Vinnie Roe Zazzman 3:28.55
2003 Makybe Diva She’s Archie Jardine’s Lookout 3:19.90
2002 Media Puzzle Mr Prudent Beekeeper 3:16.97
2001 Ethereal Give The Slip Persian Punch 3:21.08
2000 Brew Yippyio Second Coming 3:18.68
1999 Rogan Josh Central Park Lahar 3:19.64
1998 Jezabeel Champagne Persian Punch 3:18.59
1997 Might And Power Doriemus Markham 3:18.33
1996 Saintly Count Chivas Skybeau 3:18.80
1995 Doriemus Nothin’ Leica Dane Vintage Crop 3:27.60
1994 Jeune Paris Lane Oompala 3:19.80
1993 Vintage Crop Te Akau Nick Mercator 3:23.40
1992 Subzero Veandercross Castletown 3:24.70
1991 Let’s Elope Shiva’s Revenge Magnolia Hall 3:18.90
1990 Kingston Rule The Phantom Mr Brooker 3:16.30
1989 Tawrrific Super Impose Kudz 3:17.10
1988 Empire Rose Natksi Na Botto 3:18.90
1987 Kensei Empire Rose Rosedale 3:22.00
1986 At Talaq Rising Fear Sea Legend 3:21.70
1985 What A Nuisance Koiro Corrie May Tripsacum 3:23.00
1984 Black Night Chagemar Mapperley Heights 3:18.90
1983 Kiwi Noble Comment Mr Jazz 3:18.90
1982 Gurner’s Lane Kingston Town Noble Comment 3:21.20
1981 Just A Dash El Laurena Flashing Light 3:21.20
1980 Beldale Ball My Blue Denim Lover Bandit 3:19.80
1979 Hyperno Salamander Red Nose 3:21.80
1978 Arwon Dandaleith Karu 3:24.30
1977 Gold And Black Reckless Hyperno 3:18.40
1976 Van Der Hum Gold And Black Kythera 3:34.10
1975 Think Big Holiday Waggon Medici 3:29.60
1974 Think Big Leilani Captain Peri 3:23.10
1973 Gala Supreme Glengowan Daneson 3:19.50
1972 Piping Lane Magnifique Gunsynd 3:19.30
1971 Silver Knight Igloo Tails 3:19.50
1970 Baghdad Note Vansittart Clear Prince 3:19.70