Melbourne Cup

The winner of the G2 Sumbe Prix Kergorlay will now be granted automatic entry into the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup as part of a partnership between France Galop and the Victoria Racing Club (VRC). The Prix Kergorlay, which takes place at Deauville in August, joins the GII Belmont Gold Cup in the United States and the Ebor Handicap in Britain as the only Golden Ticket qualifiers for the Melbourne Cup held outside of Australia. In 2010, the Alain de Royer-Dupré-trained Americain (Dynaformer) became the first horse to complete the Prix...

Owner Michael Buckley is dreaming big regarding Flat targets for Constitution Hill (Blue Bresil), after the nine-year-old trotted up an imperious winner at Southwell on Friday. Although Buckley and trainer Nicky Henderson have yet to make a decision on the gelding's Champion Hurdle participation, several big Flat targets are being discussed at the moment. The two-mile G1 Melbourne Cup is under consideration. Buckley told Nick Luck on Racing TV's Luck On Sunday programme, "I did say to Nicky 'can we agree on one thing, whatever we decide about Cheltenham, let's...

Jamie Melham has become the second female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, guiding Half Yours across the line first at Flemington Racecourse. The Australian is also the first woman to claim the Melbourne Cup-Caulfield Cup double. Her win comes 10 years after Michelle Payne created history riding Prince of Penzance. Following the victory, Melham told Australia's Nine Network: "This is why we get up out of bed every morning at 4am... it's tough. It's not all glorious and perfect, as everyone can see sometimes. "I've had an amazing year....

Tuesday, Flemington, Australia, post time: 15:00 (04:00 GMT/23:00 ET {Monday}), LEXUS MELBOURNE CUP-G1, A$10,000,000, 3yo/up, 16fT Field: Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Arapaho (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), Chevalier Rose (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Presage Nocturne (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Middle Earth (GB) (Roaring Lion), Meydaan (Ire) (Frankel {GB}), Absurde (Fr) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}), Flatten The Curve (Fr) (Zarak {Fr}), Land Legend (Fr) (Galileo {Ire}), Smokin' Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines {Aus}), Changingoftheguard (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Half Yours (Aus) (St Jean {Ire}),...

By Kit Gow Pin Oak Stud's Director of Farm Operations and Property, Michael Hardy, says that he is hoping to make his return to Australia a winning one with Parchment Party (Constitution) representing the farm in the Melbourne Cup.  Hardy last set foot in Melbourne during a six-month stint as part of the Godolphin Flying Start and his return Down Under is a significant one given Parchment Party will bid to become the first American-trained winner of the race.  "It's my first time in Australia since the Flying Start," Hardy...

Fully 10,000 miles from their birthplace at Tweenhills Farm and Stud, Qatar Racing homebreds Buckaroo, Middle Earth and Valiant King now face the most important two-mile test of their lives on Tuesday, with a place in history assured should one of them reach its end as a Melbourne Cup winner. From the lush paddocks of Tweenhills to the manicured turf of Flemington, it's been quite the journey, both literally and figuratively. Between them the trio amassed 27 starts in Europe - Buckaroo and Valiant King with Joseph O'Brien, Middle Earth...

A week out from the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup, the Australian Bloodstock team is increasingly confident that it has both the right horse and the right man for the job, having put its faith in the Joseph O'Brien-trained Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett). The syndicate will be seeking a third success in 'the race that stops a nation', having previously lifted the famous trophy after the wins of Andreas Wohler's Protectionist in 2014 and the ex-French runner Gold Trip in 2022. This year the Australian Bloodstock colours will be strongly represented...

Parchment Party (Constitution) is poised to become the first American-trained runner in the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday, November 4, with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez again booked to ride after partnering the 'TDN Rising Star' to a wide-margin victory in June's GII Belmont Gold Cup Stakes. The Bill Mott-trained Parchment Party was one of 120 nominations for the Melbourne Cup published on Tuesday, with his emphatic win at Saratoga earning him an automatic spot in 'the race that stops a nation'. Leigh Jordon, executive general...

Total prize-money for the 2025 edition of the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup has been increased to A$10 million - up from A$8,560,000 in 2024 - with every runner in the race guaranteed to pocket at least A$100,000 just for taking part. In addition, the G3 Geelong Cup and G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup have been added to the list of ballot-exempt races, meaning the winners will earn a guaranteed spot in 'the race that stops a nation'. Last year's Geelong Cup was won by the Brian Ellison-trained Onesmoothoperator. "The Lexus...

On Monday, Racing Victoria announced changes to the original 2021 veterinary protocols for horses competing at the Spring Carnival. "The protocols have served to arrest an alarming trend and been a catalyst for the last four Spring Racing Carnivals and Melbourne Cups being conducted without serious injuries," said Racing Victoria CEO Aaron Morrison. "After each Carnival the protocols are evaluated to consider their application, ongoing suitability and any potential enhancements based on stakeholder feedback, our learnings, data and new technology. What remains unchanged is that every international horse will have...

High-class dual-purpose performer Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}), who landed the Triumph Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2022 for trainer Willie Mullins, is close to making his debut for Australian trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.  Vauban has been well-held in his two attempts at winning the Melbourne Cup for Mullins and owner Rich Ricci. The seven-year-old was snapped up by the Waterhouse and Bott combination for a reported $2 million after he finished 11th--beaten just over five lengths--behind Knight's Choice (Aus) (Extreme Choice {Aus}) in the Melbourne Cup in...

In the lead up to this year's Breeders' and Melbourne Cups, PET and CT units have been at the crux of dashed dreams, with several horses scratched from these contests due to unsatisfactory PET and CT scans. But how do veterinarians decide what's satisfactory and what isn't? It's in the last few years these technologies have emerged at the cutting edge of efforts to determine the root cause of subtle lameness in racehorses. This period has proven a fast learning curve for diagnosticians--just ask Ryan Carpenter, a SoCal-based vet who...