Key facts
- Defiantly: $11 in the betting at 6:24am AEDT, Friday 30 October 2026.
- Trainer Joseph O'Brien (Ireland); jockey Dylan Browne McMonagle.
- Weight: 56.5kg.
- Vet: Re-examination on Saturday morning after presenting without a right hind shoe and with a change in gait.
Is Defiantly running in the 2026 Melbourne Cup?
Defiantly is in the projected field of 24 for the 2026 Melbourne Cup. Vet status: re-examination on Saturday morning after presenting without a right hind shoe and with a change in gait. The full list of runners and their status is on our Melbourne Cup field page.
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Defiantly at a glance
| Detail | Defiantly |
|---|---|
| Status | In the projected field of 24 |
| Order of entry | 1= (ballot-exempt) |
| How he got here | Won the Prix Kergorlay (G2, 3000m) at Deauville on 23 August, a golden ticket race from 2026 |
| Sex and age | Gelding, 5 years old (Australian age) |
| Bred in | FR |
| Trainer | Joseph O'Brien (Ireland) |
| Jockey | Dylan Browne McMonagle |
| Weight | 56.5kg |
| Odds | $11 (Ladbrokes fixed odds (all-in market), 6:24am AEDT, Friday 30 October 2026) |
| Vet status | Re-examination on Saturday morning after presenting without a right hind shoe and with a change in gait |
| Breeding | Kameko (USA) out of Roheryn (IRE), by Galileo (IRE) |
| Career record | 9 starts: 3 wins, 1 second, 1 third |
| Prize money | $329,110 |
| At Flemington | No starts |
| At 3200m | No starts |
What is Defiantly's recent form?
Defiantly won his way into the Cup by leading all the way in the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay (3000m) at Deauville under Dylan Browne McMonagle. He was just as convincing in the Goodwood Handicap over 4100m, where the pace was on from the start. He is a half-brother to Middle Earth, who ran third in last year's Cup, and to Buckaroo.
What are Defiantly's Melbourne Cup chances?
He opened as the TAB favourite at $8 on 5 October and has drifted to $11 since. The bigger question this week is fitness. At the first vet inspection on 29 October he presented without a right hind shoe and showed a change in gait, so he must pass a re-examination on Saturday morning after being re-shod. If he passes, he is a proven stayer at 56.5kg who likes to control the race from the front.
In him favour:
- Proven staying form at 3000m and 4100m
- Can lead and set his own tempo
- Trained by two-time Cup winner Joseph O'Brien
Against him:
- Must pass a vet re-examination on Saturday
- Drifted in the market since early October
How do Defiantly's odds compare?
At $11, Defiantly sits among the leading chances in the betting. Prices move quickly in Cup week, especially after the barrier draw on Saturday night and the track rating on Tuesday morning. Every runner's price is on our Melbourne Cup odds table.
Frequently asked questions
Who trains Defiantly?
Defiantly is trained by Joseph O'Brien (Ireland).
Who is riding Defiantly in the Melbourne Cup?
Dylan Browne McMonagle is booked to ride Defiantly. Riders must be declared by 4:30pm on Saturday 31 October.
What weight does Defiantly carry in the Melbourne Cup?
Defiantly is set to carry 56.5kg.
What are Defiantly's odds for the Melbourne Cup?
Defiantly was $11 with Ladbrokes fixed odds (all-in market) at 6:24am AEDT, Friday 30 October 2026. Odds change often, so check before you bet.
Has Defiantly passed the Melbourne Cup vet checks?
Re-examination on Saturday morning after presenting without a right hind shoe and with a change in gait.
How did Defiantly get into the Melbourne Cup?
Won the Prix Kergorlay (G2, 3000m) at Deauville on 23 August, a golden ticket race from 2026.
What is Defiantly's breeding?
Defiantly is by Kameko (USA) out of Roheryn (IRE), by Galileo (IRE).
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Sources
Who wrote and checked this page
Alexander Korsager
Alexander Korsager is our editor-in-chief. He has spent more than ten years in online gambling and iGaming, including senior leadership roles. He writes every Melbourne Cup guide on this site from official VRC and Racing Victoria sources.
Mark D'Andrea
Mark D'Andrea is a Senior Regulatory Consultant at Gaming Associates, an independent testing and certification laboratory for the gambling industry. He fact-checks our race guides, betting rules and safer gambling information.