Melbourne Cup 2025 order of entry: Likely final field, list of horses, entry list, when are final declarations, barrier draw, weights.

By Sportshistori.com | Published: Oct 22, 2025, Updated: 27 Oct.

Australia’s most iconic horse race, the Melbourne Cup 2025, returns on Tuesday 4 November 2025, bringing together world-class stayers, global trainers and millions of racing fans. Known as “the race that stops a nation,” the $10 million Group 1 classic will again be staged over 3200 metres at Flemington Racecourse.

The Cup is more than a sporting contest — it’s a national spectacle of racing, fashion and music. Last year’s surprise winner, Knight’s Choice, raised the stakes and added fresh intrigue to Cup week; now the focus shifts to the new generation of challengers and the international raiders arriving for Flemington.

With futures markets already active and entertainment line-ups locked in, anticipation is building across Australia and New Zealand, with UK and US fans tuning in via international broadcast partners.

Sportshistori.com Brings here is your complete guide to Melbourne Cup 2025 — from date and start time to the field, how to watch, odds, tips.

What Date Is the Melbourne Cup in 2025?

The Melbourne Cup 2025 will be run on Tuesday, 4 November 2025 — the traditional first Tuesday of November. This fixed date anchors Cup week and the broader Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington Racecourse.

What Time Does the Melbourne Cup Start?

The Melbourne Cup main event race is scheduled for 3:00 PM AEDT at Flemington. Expect full broadcast coverage to begin several hours earlier with undercard races and pre-race analysis. (For UK viewers this is 4:00 AM GMT; for US East Coast it will be 11:00 PM ET the previous day.)

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Where Will the Melbourne Cup Race Be Held?

The Cup is staged at Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne — home of the Melbourne Cup since its inception in 1861. Managed by the Victoria Racing Club (VRC), Flemington’s long home straight and two-lap 3200m course provide the classic Cup challenge.

What is the Prize Money of the Melbourne Cup 2025? Full breakdown

The total prize pool for Melbourne Cup 2025 is AUD $10,000,000. The winner’s share is approximately $4.4 million, with significant payouts to the placed finishers — making the Cup one of the world’s richest staying handicaps.

When will the Melbourne Cup horses, field be declared, full schedule to barrier draw?

Third declarations: 12pm Monday October 27 - done

Final Declarations and Field: 4:30pm Saturday November 1

Barrier draw: 5:30pm Saturday November 1

How does the Melbourne Cup Order of Entry, Barrier draw works?

The Melbourne Cup Order of Entry determines which horses qualify for the iconic Flemington race.

Of the 24 horses that make the final field, 10 gain automatic entry by winning Ballot Exemption or Golden Ticket races—such as the Geelong Cup—while the remaining 14 spots are allocated based on handicap weights.

These weights, which can fluctuate according to each horse’s performances between September and November 1, are set by Racing Victoria’s Chief Handicapper.

The final field will be confirmed at around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 1, ahead of the Melbourne Cup, which takes place at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4.

Melbourne Cup 2025 Final Field: Full Order of Entry, List, Horses, Barrier Draw, Weights

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

53 horses remain in the hunt for the race and Chris Waller leads the way with nine runners in the mix, including Bart Cummings winner Valiant King, as well as Birdman, Buckaroo, Land Legend and River Of Stars, among others.

The final Melbourne Cup field will be made public on the Saturday, November 1.

The list of 2025 Melbourne Cup hopefuls is now at 40 Horses after third declarations. As of October 27

Horse - Sex - Age - Trainer - Ballot - Weight - Hcp Rating

1 HALF YOURS G 5 Tony & Calvin McEvoy 1= 53kg 6.5

2 ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA) G 8 Brian Ellison 1= 53kg 6.5

3 PARCHMENT PARTY (USA) H 5 William Mott 1= 52kg 7.5

4 TORRANZINO (NZ) G 6 Paul Preusker 1= 51kg 8.5

5 VALIANT KING (GB) G 6 Chris Waller 1= 51kg 9.5

6 AL RIFFA (FR) H 6 Joseph O'Brien 6 59kg .5

7 BUCKAROO (GB) G 7 Chris Waller 7 57kg 2.5

8 ARAPAHO (FR) G 9 Bjorn Baker 8 56.5kg 3

9 VAUBAN (FR) G 8 Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 9 56.5kg 3

10 CHEVALIER ROSE (JPN) H 8 Hisashi Shimizu 10 55.5kg 4

11 PRESAGE NOCTURNE (IRE) H 6 Alessandro Botti 11 55.5kg 4

12 FURTHUR (IRE) H 4 Andrew Balding 12 52kg 4.5

13 MIDDLE EARTH (GB) G 6 Ciaron Maher 13 54.5kg 5

14 MEYDAAN (IRE) G 5 Simon & Ed Crisford 14 54kg 5.5

15 LAND LEGEND (FR) G 6 Chris Waller 15 53.5kg 6

16 SMOKIN' ROMANS (NZ) G 9 Ciaron Maher 16 53.5kg 6

17 ABSURDE (FR) G 8 Willie Mullins 17 53.5kg 6

18 FLATTEN THE CURVE (FR) G 7 Henk Grewe 18 53.5kg 6

19 RIVER OF STARS (IRE) M 7 Chris Waller 19 51.5kg 6.5

20 MORE FELONS (IRE) G 7 Chris Waller 20 53kg 6.5

21 GOODIE TWO SHOES (IRE) M 7 Joseph O'Brien 21 51.5kg 6.5

22 CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) G 7 Kris Lees 22 53kg 6.5

23 ATHABASCAN (FR) G 7 John O'Shea & Tom Charlton 23 51.5kg 8

24 ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) G 5 Ciaron Maher 24 51kg 9

25 MARK TWAIN (NZ) G 6 Roger James & Robert Wellwood 25 51kg 9

26 BIRDMAN (IRE) G 5 Chris Waller 26 51kg 9

27 POST IMPRESSIONIST (IRE) G 7 Anthony & Sam Freedman 27 51kg 9

28 SCARY (NZ) H 4 Emma-Lee & David Browne 28 51kg 9.5

29 TRAV (NZ) G 6 Raymond Connors 29 51kg 9.5

30 ETNA ROSSO (IRE) G 6 Chris Waller 30 51kg 9.5

31 GRAND PIERRO G 6 Jason Warren 31 51kg 9.5

32 WHISKY ON THE HILL (GB) G 6 Glen Thompson 32 51kg 9.5

33 INTERPRETATION (IRE) G 8 Ciaron Maher 33 51kg 9.5

34 DON DIEGO DE VEGA (FR) G 6 Annabel & Rob Archibald 34 51kg 9.5

35 SAYEDATY SADATY (IRE) G 5 Ciaron Maher 35 51kg 9.5

36 FERNAO (IRE) G 7 Annabel & Rob Archibald 36 51kg 9.5

37 GOLDEN SNAP (JPN) M 6 Katsunori Tanaka 37 51.5kg 6.5

38 QUIETNESS (GB) M 6 John O'Shea & Tom Charlton 38= 51kg 9.5

39 SO YOU ARE G 4 Stirling Osland 38= 51kg 9.5

40 STAR OF INDIA (IRE) G 7 Chris Waller 38= 51kg 9.5

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

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