Melbourne Cup international assault grows despite nominations drop

The Victoria Racing Club has received 101 nominations for the 166th running of the Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 3.

While the overall nomination number is down on recent years, there has been increased interest from international connections with 23 individual horses entered from four countries, England, Ireland, Japan and USA.

In 2025, the overall number was 120, of which 19 were from overseas. In 2024 it was 123/20, in 2023 132/15.

In 2022 186 overall nominations were received with 43 from overseas, but entries were taken a month earlier.

Entered to defend his title is last year’s winner Half Yours who gave father-and-son training duo Tony and Calvin McEvoy their biggest success.

Besides Half Yours, who is schedule to get his Cup campaign started at Flemington on Saturday week in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington, the McEvoy’s also have Nearco Frod and Yellow Jersey entered.

Ciaron Maher has 14 horses entered as he chases a second Cup win while Chris Waller, who won the Cup with Verry Elleegant in 2021, has 12 horses entered for the first Tuesday in November including Aeliana, River Of Stars and Soulcombe, who last Saturday had his first start since running second to Without A Fight in the 2023 Cup.

Two-time winner Joseph O’Brien has the most entries from the international brigade with 11 horses, including last year’s runner-up Goodie Two Shoes and Defiantly, who earned a ballot exemption courtesy of his win in the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville.

O’Brien’s father Aidan is after a first victory in the Cup which he first started chasing in 2006 when Yeats finished seventh in the ‘race that stops a nation’.

Epsom Derby winner Christmas Day headlines O’Brien’s list as he looks to improve on the runner-up finishes of Johnannes Vermeer (2017) and Tiger Moth (2020) who were beaten by Joseph’s winners Rekindling and Twilight Payment.

The 2024 winner Knight’s Choice is entered having missed the race last year due to a bout of strangles, while Middle Earth, placed last year, and Okita Soushi, placed in 2024, are entered for another shot this year.

One of the more interesting nominations is champion UK hurdler turned flat performer Constitution Hill for Nicky Henderson.

He will take another step towards a trip to Melbourne when he competes in the Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton Park over 2400m.

VRC Chief Racing Officer Leigh Jordon said the depth of nominations once again highlights the Melbourne Cup’s global appeal.

“From the reigning champion Half Yours and some of Australia’s leading trainers, to a strong international contingent and the return of a Japanese-trained horse for the 20th anniversary of Delta Blues’ historic victory in 2006, there are plenty of compelling stories already emerging ahead of the first Tuesday in November,” Jordon said.

Further opportunities for horses to receive ballot exemption at Flemington include the Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m) on September 12, the Group 3 Bart Cummings (2500m) on October 3, the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and the Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m), on October 24.

Other ballot exempt races on offer include of the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m), both next month.

Horses among the nominations that have secured their spot through winning a golden ticket include Zakouma, Tawny Port and Defiantly.

Late entries close on September 8 with weights to be released on September 17.