Melbourne Cup Tips 2022

Melbourne Cup Tips

Michael Kruse
2 November 2025
30 Views

Melbourne Cup Tips 2026

Cup Day is around the corner; find our tips & analysis below in the lead-up, which will be updated weekly so be sure to check back in.

The Melbourne Cup – Race 7

The day’s finally here – Cup Day!

The weather gods are giving us a soft track, so expect a real test of stamina.

Who gets it done in the 2026 Melbourne Cup?

Our pick: #21 River Of Stars

Our Top 4:

  • #21 RIVER OF STARS
  • #1 AL RIFFA
  • #6 PRESAGE NOCTURNE
  • #10 FLATTEN THE CURVE

 

Exotics:

  • #2 BUCKAROO
  • #9 ABSURDE
  • #3 ARAPAHO
  • #4 VAUBAN
  • #22 ROYAL SUPREMACY

 

Melbourne Cup Field Preview 

Below you’ll see our comments on every runner, ranked from A to D.

1
Al Riffa – Mark Zahra
Barrier 19
A+
Why: Class horse, rider, trainer, handles wet
Why not: Wide gate, big weight.

2
Buckaroo – Craig Williams
Barrier 12
A
Why: Class horse, rider, trainer, great lead-up runs, handles wet
Why not: Could be unsuited/flat off the short break

3
Arapaho – Rachel King
Barrier 15
B+
Why: Can roll forward, distance, swims in the wet, huge odds.
Why not: Below best this prep, needs it wet.

4
Vauban – Blake Shinn
Barrier 2
A
Why: Class horse, rider, trainer, handles wet, distance.
Why not: Sticky gate, needs luck at the right time.

5
Chevalier Rose – Damian Lane
Barrier 5
D
Why: Class rider, distance tick.
Why not: Unknown on wet track, sticky map, needs luck.

6
Presage Nocturne – Stephane Pasquier
Barrier 9
A
Why: Great lead-up run, handles wet and the distance, barrier tick.
Why not: an international jockey who may not get it right.

7
Middle Earth – Ethan Brown
Barrier 13
B
Why: Class trainer, good jockey, handles the wet & distance.
Why not: Can be slow away, gets back and will need luck.

8
Meydaan – James McDonald
Barrier 22
C
Why: Class horse and rider with a nice lead-up run
Why not: Unknown on the wet, wide draw, could work early.

9
Absurde – Kerrin McEvoy
Barrier 4
B+
Why: Class horse, rider, trainer. Ran well last year, handles wet.
Why not: Could find traffic from low draw and will need luck.

10
Flatten The Curve – Thore Hammer-Hansen
Barrier 17
A
Why: Has the runs on the board at the distance and handles the wet.
Why not: Unknown jockey who could get back from the wide gate.

11
Land Legend – Joao Moreira
Barrier 16
C
Why: Class trainer, rider, runs at the distance, handles wet.
Why not: Tricky horse who will need everything to go right.

12
Smokin’ Romans – Ben Melham
Barrier 11
D
Why: Class trainer with a good jockey. Handles the wet.
Why not: Old horse that’s past his best. Pacemaker.

13
Changingoftheguard – Tim Clark
Barrier 24
D
Why: Couldnt give you an honest reason.
Why not: Lacks class, average lead-up runs and is drawn wide.

14
Half Yours – Jamie Melham
Barrier 8
B+
Why: Class horse, trainer, rider. Handles the wet. Good gate.
Why not: Distance query, an afterthought after the Caulfield Cup.

15
More Felons – Tommy Berry
Barrier 23
B
Why: Class trainer and good rider, distance, nice lead-up runs.
Why not: Will need luck from the wide draw, lacks class.

16
Onesmoothoperator – Harry Coffey
Barrier 6
C
Why: Class rider, great lead-up run, good barrier, distance.
Why not: Unknown in the wet, gets back and will need luck.

17
Furthur – Michael Dee
Barrier 7
B
Why: Class rider, lightly raced, handles the wet.
Why not: Distance query and will need luck going back.

18
Parchment Party – John Velazquez
Barrier 3
C
Why: Lightly raced horse who has been running well in the states.
Why not: Unknown on the turf, unknown international rider.

19
Athabascan – Declan Bates
Barrier 1
D
Why: Good trainer, runs on the board at the distance, nice lead-up.
Why not: Lacks class, query in the wet.

20
Goodie Two Shoes – Wayne Lordan
Barrier 20
B
Why: Class trainer, handles the wet, distance tick
Why not: International jockey, back from the wide gate.

21
River of Stars – Beau Mertens
Barrier 14
A+
Why: Class horse, rider, trainer. Great lead-up, set for this. handles wet & distance.
Why not: May need to work early for position, vulnerable late.

22
Royal Supremacy – Robbie Dolan
Barrier 21
B+
Why: Class horse, trainer. Solid lead-up run. Handles wet.
Why not: Distance query, will need luck from the wide draw.

23
Torranzino – Celine Gaudray
Barrier 18
C
Why: Handles the wet
Why not: Lacks class and will need it really wet. Distance query.

24
Valiant King – Jye McNeil
Barrier 10
C
Why: Class horse, rider, trainer. Running really well in lead ups.
Why not: Query in the wet, could find traffic from 1
Be sure to check back in on this post race morning as we update selections pending weather.

Latest Cup Odds

[kz_odds event=”MELB_CUP_2025″]

 

Finding the Melbourne Cup Winner (Simple)

  • Weight 51–55kg is sweet.
  • Stays 2400–3200m. Turn of foot.
  • Map: cover + clean run from good gates 5–12.
  • Lead-ups: Caulfield/Geelong Cups/Cox Plate.

Melbourne Cup Sweep

Grab the free printable sweep. Easy for office or BBQ.

Download the 2026 Sweep

18+ only. Gamble responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. BetStop.

 

Author Michael Kruse

Michael founded KRUZEY after 15+ years betting on Australian racing - most of it learning expensive lessons the hard way. He's obsessive about form analysis and has a soft spot for finding value in the quaddie markets everyone else ignores. At KRUZEY, Michael covers racing tips, bookmaker reviews, and anything involving crunching numbers to find an edge. He's up before dawn most race days studying the fields, and reckons a well-constructed quaddie is one of life's simple pleasures. Connect on LinkedIn Email Contact

Related Posts