Melbourne Cup Tips 2025
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 2025 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
Al Riffa — Mark Zahra
Barrier 19
A+
A+
Why: Class horse, rider, trainer, handles wet
Why not: Wide gate, big weight.
2
Buckaroo — Craig Williams
Buckaroo — Craig Williams
Barrier 12
A
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
Arapaho — Rachel King
Barrier 15
B+
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
Vauban — Blake Shinn
Barrier 2
A
A
Why: Class horse, rider, trainer, handles wet, distance.
Why not: Sticky gate, needs luck at the right time.
5
Chevalier Rose — Damian Lane
Chevalier Rose — Damian Lane
Barrier 5
D
D
Why: Class rider, distance tick.
Why not: Unknown on wet track, sticky map, needs luck.
6
Presage Nocturne — Stephane Pasquier
Presage Nocturne — Stephane Pasquier
Barrier 9
A
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
Middle Earth — Ethan Brown
Barrier 13
B
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
Meydaan — James McDonald
Barrier 22
C
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
Absurde — Kerrin McEvoy
Barrier 4
B+
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
Flatten The Curve — Thore Hammer-Hansen
Barrier 17
A
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
Land Legend — Joao Moreira
Barrier 16
C
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
Smokin’ Romans — Ben Melham
Barrier 11
D
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
Changingoftheguard — Tim Clark
Barrier 24
D
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
Half Yours — Jamie Melham
Barrier 8
B+
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
More Felons — Tommy Berry
Barrier 23
B
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
Onesmoothoperator — Harry Coffey
Barrier 6
C
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
Furthur — Michael Dee
Barrier 7
B
B
Why: Class rider, lightly raced, handles the wet.
Why not: Distance query and will need luck going back.
18
Parchment Party — John Velazquez
Parchment Party — John Velazquez
Barrier 3
C
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
Athabascan — Declan Bates
Barrier 1
D
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
Goodie Two Shoes — Wayne Lordan
Barrier 20
B
B
Why: Class trainer, handles the wet, distance tick
Why not: International jockey, back from the wide gate.
21
River of Stars — Beau Mertens
River of Stars — Beau Mertens
Barrier 14
A+
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
Royal Supremacy — Robbie Dolan
Barrier 21
B+
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
Torranzino — Celine Gaudray
Barrier 18
C
C
Why: Handles the wet
Why not: Lacks class and will need it really wet. Distance query.
24
Valiant King — Jye McNeil
Valiant King — Jye McNeil
Barrier 10
C
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
Loading odds... Updates every minute
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.
18+ only. Gamble responsibly. Imagine what you could be buying instead. BetStop.
