The 2026 Lexus Melbourne Cup promises to be a clash for the ages as the locals will try and stave off an unprecedented assault on the event from Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien.
The 33-year-old training maestro has already won two Melbourne Cups having trained Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020) and he will have multiple runners as he’s sent the strongest squad by any overseas trainer to tackle the Lexus Melbourne Cup.
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O’Brien Yard Loaded for Melbourne Cup
O’Brien boasts of three of the top four in the betting for the Cup with Group 2 Prix De Kergorlay (3000m) winner, Defiantly, who is current third favourite after winning a golden ticket in August at Deauville.
He also has second favourite Trustyourinstinct and James J Braddock who is equal third favourite.
Joining them will be accomplished stayer Sons And Lovers and last year’s runner-up Goodie Two Shoes. Geelong Cup placegetters Small Fry and Omni Man look unlikely to get a start but have paid up and could chase a bonus in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Kizlyar is the other O’Brien runner sitting on the cusp of getting a run, 27th in the ballot order after an eleventh-placed finish in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup on Cox Plate Day.
Stinger Glass Top Japan Contender
Japan will also be represented by classy stayer Stinger Glass who won the Group 3 Diamond Stakes (3400m) at Tokyo in February.
The English stayers are headed by Caulfield Cup placegetter Enfjaar and emerging prospect Hopewell Rock.
Where does that leave the locals?
Ciaron Maher could match and even usurp O’Brien’s attack on the race as he has an incredible 10 horses paid up as third acceptors.
Maher has two of the best local chances in his care with Caulfield Cup runner-up Saint George, who also ran eye-catching fifth in the Cox Plate, and Geelong Cup winner Point Of Law who claimed a golden ticket into the Lexus Melbourne Cup which will be only his sixth career start.
Mr Monaco lost no admirers with a strong performance in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup after booking a spot in the Cup with his win in The Lexus Bart Cummings. Maher also last year’s Cup third placegetter Middle Earth, along with Kings Valley, Zahrann, Jennivamoose and Royal Supremacy.
Tough staying mare Shockletz makes up the ten and will try to emulate her sire Shocking who won the Melbourne Cup in 2009 after winning the Archer Stakes (Hotham Handicap), which was then run on Victoria Derby Day.
Her win in the Lexus Archer Stakes guaranteed her spot in the Cup. The race moved to Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day in 2024 and was renamed the Lexus Archer Stakes.
Waller Has Five Contenders
Chris Waller has five horses still in the running headed by Asterix and Soul Of Spain. He also has Pinhole, Valiant King and Soulcombe who are outside the 24 in the ballot order and would need some things to go their way to gain a start.
Astute trainer Grahame Begg will have his first Lexus Melbourne Cup runner with Zakouma, who won his way into the race by winning the golden ticket in the Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m) in May.
The 2024 Cup winner Knight’s Choice is also likely to start and if he does his co-trainer Sheila Laxon will be out to defend her perfect Melbourne Cup record.
As it stands Laxon, who co-trains Knight’s Choice with John Symons, is the only trainer in Melbourne Cup history to have saddled up two runners for two winners as she trained Ethereal to win in 2001.
