The all-important barrier draw for Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup has been conducted, and it’s brought mixed fortunes for the international raiders.
Mind you, the forecast may yet have far more bearing on the result than the barrier draw, with up to 35mm rainfall forecast for Monday and somewhere between 1-10mm on Tuesday.
A couple of highly rated visitors have come up with horror gates: Joseph O’Brien’s Al Riffa (19) and Meydaan (22) both landed wide, while O’Brien’s second runner Goodie Two Shoes fared even worse, coming up with gate 20. Flatten The Curve will also need luck early after drawing gate 17.
A number of internationals fared better. The returning Absurde (4) and Japanese galloper Chevalier Rose (5) both appear to have kind draws, as does Furthur, who has gate seven. Channel seven broadcaster Lizzie Jelfs syndicated a share in Furthur, with a few heavy hitters including Billy Brownless and SEN boss Craig Hutchison part of the ownership group. Connections of Presage Nocturne will also be smiling after landing gate nine.
Meanwhile, Caulfield Cup hero Half Yours couldn’t have asked for a better draw, perfectly poised in gate eight as he chases the elusive Cups double.
Get to know the internationals with this terrific resource compiled by the team at Racelab.
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Weight | Barrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AL RIFFA (FR) | Joseph O’Brien | Mark Zahra | 59kg | 19 |
| 2 | BUCKAROO (GB) | Chris Waller | Craig Williams | 57kg | 12 |
| 3 | ARAPAHO (FR) | Bjorn Baker | Ms Rachel King | 56.5kg | 15 |
| 4 | VAUBAN (FR) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Blake Shinn | 56.5kg | 2 |
| 5 | CHEVALIER ROSE (JPN) | Hisashi Shimizu | Damian Lane | 55.5kg | 5 |
| 6 | PRESAGE NOCTURNE (IRE) | Alessandro Botti | Stephane Pasquier | 55.5kg | 9 |
| 7 | MIDDLE EARTH (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Ethan Brown | 54.5kg | 13 |
| 8 | MEYDAAN (IRE) | Simon & Ed Crisford | James McDonald | 54kg | 22 |
| 9 | ABSURDE (FR) | Willie Mullins | Kerrin McEvoy | 53.5kg | 4 |
| 10 | FLATTEN THE CURVE (FR) | Henk Grewe | Thore Hammer Hansen | 53.5kg | 17 |
| 11 | LAND LEGEND (FR) | Chris Waller | Joao Moreira | 53.5kg | 16 |
| 12 | SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher | Ben Melham | 53.5kg | 11 |
| 13 | CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) | Kris Lees | Tim Clark | 53kg | 24 |
| 14 | HALF YOURS | Tony & Calvin McEvoy | Ms Jamie Melham | 53kg | 8 |
| 15 | MORE FELONS (IRE) | Chris Waller | Tommy Berry | 53kg | 23 |
| 16 | ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA) | Brian Ellison | Harry Coffey | 53kg | 6 |
| 17 | FURTHUR (IRE) | Andrew Balding | Michael Dee | 52kg | 7 |
| 18 | PARCHMENT PARTY (USA) | William Mott | John Velazquez | 52kg | 3 |
| 19 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Declan Bates | 51.5kg | 1 |
| 20 | GOODIE TWO SHOES (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | Wayne Lordan | 51.5kg | 20 |
| 21 | RIVER OF STARS (IRE) | Chris Waller | Beau Mertens | 51.5kg | 14 |
| 22 | ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Robbie Dolan | 51kg | 21 |
| 23 | TORRANZINO (NZ) | Paul Preusker | Ms Celine Gaudray | 51kg | 18 |
| 24 | VALIANT KING (GB) | Chris Waller | Jye McNeil | 51kg | 10 |
Matt Welsh takes a look at the key winners and losers from this evening’s barrier draw.
Winners
Half Yours (8)
If Tony and Calvin McEvoy were afforded the opportunity to choose their barrier, gate eight would have been near the top of their wish list. It ensures Jamie Melham can stay off the rail in the run but still have plenty behind as they pass the post the first time. He’s likely to be in the first eight in running, one off the fence, and from there he’ll get his chance if he’s good enough.
Presage Nocturne (9)
One of three greys in this year’s Melbourne Cup, connections will be happy drawing gate nine. He’s likely to settle midfield or just beyond, but shouldn’t have to work too hard early to find a spot. Being drawn next to Half Yours might allow jockey Stephane Pasquier to track Jamie Melham, much like he did in the Caulfield Cup.
Chevalier Rose (5)
Once he gets out to 3000m+ he’s a galloper than can seem to hold a reasonably forward spot from a soft draw. Imagine Damian Lane will be able to have him in the first third of the field, either on the fence or one off – he should get every chance to show his best.
Neutral
Buckaroo (12)
Nothing wrong with a middle pin for Buckaroo. It’s a darn sight better than gate 20 he drew last year. He should blend into the race nicely in a midfield spot, one off the fence – a significant improvement on the run he copped in 2024. The bigger query for him is running out the 3200 metres.
Onesmoothoperator (6)
On paper it looks a good draw, and he should be able to have a few runners behind him. Harry Coffey will just need to ensure he gives the eight-year-old gelding plenty of time and clean air to show his strong turn of foot.
Valiant King (10)
He’s going to get back anyway, so the barrier draw wasn’t as significant, but gate ten is ideal for this horse. Amazing to think he went around 50/1 when winning the Bart Cummings just two starts ago and now there’s every chance he jumps Melbourne Cup favourite come Tuesday.
Losers
Al Riffa (19)
Maybe it’s the handicap Mark Zahra needs to bring him back to the field after a dominant display in the saddle on Derby Day, but he’ll need to be at his brilliant best to find a decent spot by the time they navigate the bottom bend. The task of lugging top weight of 59 kilograms just got tougher, but they’ve got the right man on board to give him his chance.
Meydaan (22)
He drew perfectly in the Caulfield Cup and still ended up three wide without cover under Andrea Atzeni; now he’s drawn the carpark in 22. He’s the sort of galloper who could have comfortably landed midfield, one off, from a good draw, but he’s going to need some J-Mac magic from out there.
