Melbourne Cup Nominations Revealed for 2026

Reigning Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours headlines the nominations as the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained gelding prepares to defend his crown at Flemington on Tuesday, November 3.

Ciaron Maher has the largest representation of any stable with 14 nominations, including Middle Earth, Saint George, Royal Supremacy, Zahrann, Light Infantry Man, Land Legend, Kings Valley and Juja Kibo.

Chris Waller has assembled a team of 12 headed by Aeliana, Birdman, Ohope Wins, Soul Of Spain, Soulcombe and River Of Stars, while Golden Century, Pinhole, Valiant King and Wootton Verni are also among his entries.

Half Yours is joined among the prominent locally-trained nominations by Green Spaces, Treasurethe Moment, King Pedro, She's A Hustler, The Euphrates, Vauban, Yellow Jersey and 2024 Melbourne Cup winner Knight's Choice.

International interest is again significant, with two-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Joseph O'Brien responsible for 11 of the 23 overseas-trained nominations.

O'Brien's team includes Prix Kergorlay winner Defiantly, who has already secured a ballot exemption for the Melbourne Cup, along with 2025 runner-up Goodie Two Shoes, Highwayman, James J Braddock, Kizlyar, Nil Bua Gan Dua, Omni Man, Small Fry, Sons And Lovers, Starford and Trustyourinstinct.

Aidan O'Brien has five entries, headed by 2026 Epsom Derby winner Christmas Day, along with Amelia Earhart, Causeway, Piazza San Marco and Pierre Bonnard.

Champion jumper Constitution Hill has also been entered by Nicky Henderson, while Roger Varian's Enfjaar, George Boughey's Hopewell Rock, Yasuo Tomomichi's Japanese contender Stinger Glass, Miguel Clement's Tawny Port, Emmet Mullins' Winday and Harry Charlton's Wine Dark Sea add further international depth.

Three horses among this year's nominations have already booked their place in the Melbourne Cup through ballot-exempt races.

Zakouma secured a golden ticket by winning the Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m), Tawny Port earned his exemption through the Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup, while Defiantly guaranteed his position with victory in the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay (3000m).

Further opportunities to secure ballot exemption will be available throughout the spring, including the Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, September 12 and the Group 3 Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m) on Saturday, October 3.

The Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) and Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m), both to be staged at Flemington this year, will also carry ballot exemption when run on Saturday, October 24.

Away from Flemington, the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) will provide further chances for Melbourne Cup hopefuls to secure their place in the field.

The $10.2 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup will be staged over 3200m at Flemington on Tuesday, November 3.