The spring carnival welcomes another wave of international contenders, and the Racelab Performance Ratings provide a clear, standardised lens through which to assess them.
With every race and every horse measured on the same scale, the ratings help identify genuine Group-class performers and those who may be a few lengths short.
Matt Collum from Racelab has provided ratings for each horse along with a comment. Betsy’s Will Elford has also provided a form comment for each winner.
To learn more about Racelab, please click here.
NOTE: JTD stands for ‘Job To Do’ – is the figure Racelab predict the horse will need to run to with the weight allotted.
Melbourne Cup (November 4)
Those that haven’t yet raced here this spring…
Al Riffa
6yo H 15-5:5:1
Best rating: 114.1 19/9/25 2816m
Last 5 ratings: 114, 114, 106, 108, 104
Melbourne Cup 59kg JTD: 113+
Racelab comment: High profile runner coming off two strong wins at Curragh over 2800m. He brings the highest ratings from all of the international hopes and has to be highly respected.
Will’s comment: Al Riffa brings the strongest international numbers of any Cup entrant. Consecutive 114s at the Curragh mark him as a genuine Group 1 stayer, sitting at the upper end of the Racelab Group Race scale. Despite the top weight, he sets the benchmark for the internationals and deserves his position at the forefront of betting markets.
WATCH: Al Riffa win the Irish St Leger
Absolute demolition job 👊
Al Riffa turned on the class in the Irish St Leger at the Curragh, storming home to score a dominant victory 💥 pic.twitter.com/pWjX44Qetq
— Australian Bloodstock Updates (@ausbloodstock2) September 14, 2025
Goodie Two Shoes
7yo M 18-7:0:5
Best rating: 105.1 07/05/25 Gowran Park 2816m
Last 5 ratings: 103, 104, 103, 105, 101
Melbourne Cup 51.5kg JTD: 105+
Racelab comment: She’s a mare in form with some handy ratings over two miles. Certainly a good chance on ratings and nicely weighted.
Will’s comment: A consistent mare who brings solid staying credentials and is well-weighted. Her ceiling sits just below Group 2 level, but she’s capable of running a strong figure around 105 and could sneak into the money with the right run.
Chevalier Rose
8yo H 35-5:5:2
Best rating: 107.3 30/11/24 Nakayama 3600m
Last 5 ratings: 91, 96, 100, 102, 107
Melbourne Cup 55.5kg JTD: 110+
Racelab comment: Chevalier Rose’s recent ratings are well below his best so he’s clearly struggling. It’s not the ideal profile for winning a Melbourne Cup.
Will’s comment: His numbers are trending in the wrong direction. While his historical best is sound, recent efforts show regression, making him a risky Cup prospect. Needs a resurgence to figure.
Furthur
4yo H 8-2:2:0
Best rating: 103.9 16/8/25 Newbury 2670m
Last 5 ratings: 103, 104, 86, 100, 92
Melbourne Cup 52kg JTD: 106+
Racelab comment: Furthur has been racing well this preparation and has plenty of upside with only eight career starts. He showed a nice turn of foot when winning the Geoffrey Freer Stakes and has the ability to improve over more ground.
Will’s comment: Lightly raced and still developing, Furthur is an emerging stayer with genuine upside. His Geoffrey Freer Stakes win showed real speed, and his profile suggests further improvement once he stretches beyond 2800m.
Watch: Furthur’s dominant first up win this campaign at Newbury
Flatten The Curve
7yo G 41-8:9:4
Best rating: 109 30/8/25 Kentucky Downs 3319m
Last 5 ratings: 109, 108, 89, 108, 109
Melbourne Cup 53.5kg JTD: 107+
Racelab comment: Henk Grewe has got this horse to a new level winning six out of the last seven starts. His only recent defeat was on a dirt track at Saratoga after the turf meeting was transferred. He has to measure up against a strong field however the distance is ideal and on ratings alone, he’s a winning chance at big odds!
Will’s comment: The big improver among the internationals. His last five runs include multiple 109s, placing him among genuine Group-class stayers. Trainer Henk Grewe has him thriving, and if he reproduces that Kentucky Downs peak, he’s right in the mix for a Cup upset.
Parchment Party
5yo H 11-4:1:1
Best rating: 110.6 06/6/25 Saratoga 2816m
Last 5 ratings: 103, 111, 96, 99, 97
Melbourne Cup 52kg JTD: 106+
Racelab comment: Parchment Party hit a new peak of 110.6 when winning the Belmont Gold Cup on a dirt track. He would need a wet track to be seriously considered.
Will’s comment: An intriguing type whose best came on a heavy track at Saratoga. His 110.6 peak puts him among the stronger international raiders, but he’ll need to transfer his form on dirt to turf.
WATCH: Parchment Party win his Golden Ticket into the Melbourne Cup
And those that have had a start here this Carnival…
Absurde
8yo G 28-7:7:5
Best rating 105.4 18/10/25 Caulfield Cup 2400m
Last 5 ratings: 105, 102, 100, 102, 99
Melbourne Cup 53.5kg JTD: 107+
Racelab comment: Absurde ran a new peak of 105.4 last start in the Caulfield Cup. He did enjoy a lovely run throughout from barrier 1 settling next to the winner Half Yours. He will have to improve again to be competitive which is hard to achieve as an 8yo.
Golden Snap
6yo M 17-4:6:1
Best rating 106.4 06/01/25 Chukyo 3000m
Last 5 ratings: 96, 102, 98, 106, 102
Melbourne Cup 51.5kg JTD: 105+
Racelab comment: Golden Snap is a promising stayer who has proven herself over 2400m and 3000m. She was disappointing in the Caulfield Cup rating down to a 96 but the jockey said she may have found the track too firm. Doesn’t look to be going well enough to threaten these.
Meydaan
5yo G 14-2:2:2
Best rating: 103.8 8/10/25 Caulfield Cup 2400m
Last 5 ratings: 104, 103, 103, 96, 93
Melbourne Cup 54kg JTD: 108+
Racelab comment: Meydan is a lightly raced 5yo with an improving ratings profile. He’s very fit and ran a strong 104 in the Caulfield Cup (running the third fastest last 200m section in the race) after sitting wide on an unsuitable tight track. The step up to 3200 should suit and gains the services of James McDonald. With a solid ratings base of 103’s he looks ready to run a new peak rating in the Melbourne Cup. Expect a bold run!
Presage Nocturne
6yo H 17-5:5:3
Best rating: 109.3 18/10/25 Caulfield Cup 2400m
Last 5 ratings 109, 106, 109, 106, 102
Melbourne Cup 55.5kg JTD: 110+
Racelab comment: Another promising stayer who ran a new ratings peak of 109.3 in the Caulfield Cup (with the fastest last 200m sectional in the race as well). He has certainly put his hand up as a genuine chance after that run and is looming as a big danger.
Onesmoothoperator
8yo G 46-6:11:6
Best rating: 106.2 21/2/25 Meydan 2816m
Last 5 ratings: 105, 87, 102, 99 102
Melbourne Cup 53kg JTD: 107+
Racelab comment: Was right in the Melbourne Cup market last year when hitting peak form at the right time. Looks to be in the same boat again after running a 105 first up when winning the Moonee Valley Cup and running the second fastest last 200 of the day! Any potential wet weather is a concern and his ratings profile has produced the best figures when kept fresh. Cops a small penalty of 1kg which raises the bar slightly.
WATCH: Onesmoothoperator win last year’s Geelong Cup
Go on @BERacingLtd!
Onesmoothoperator cruised to victory in the Geelong Cup to spark dreams of Melbourne Cup glory! pic.twitter.com/Zxalr0fUYQ
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 23, 2024
Keep an eye out for Betsy’s weekly Racelab feature race previews and check out the team’s website for more information
