Key facts
- Middle Earth: $17 in the betting at 6:24am AEDT, Friday 30 October 2026.
- Trainer Ciaron Maher; jockey Mark Zahra.
- Weight: 56.5kg.
- Vet: Passed the first mandatory vet inspection on 29 October.
Is Middle Earth running in the 2026 Melbourne Cup?
Middle Earth is in the projected field of 24 for the 2026 Melbourne Cup. Vet status: passed the first mandatory vet inspection on 29 October. The full list of runners and their status is on our Melbourne Cup field page.
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Middle Earth at a glance
| Detail | Middle Earth |
|---|---|
| Status | In the projected field of 24 |
| Order of entry | 11 |
| How he got here | Ballot (order of entry) |
| Sex and age | Gelding, 7 years old (Australian age) |
| Bred in | GB |
| Trainer | Ciaron Maher |
| Jockey | Mark Zahra |
| Weight | 56.5kg |
| Odds | $17 (Ladbrokes fixed odds (all-in market), 6:24am AEDT, Friday 30 October 2026) |
| Vet status | Passed the first mandatory vet inspection on 29 October |
| Breeding | Roaring Lion (USA) out of Roheryn (IRE), by Galileo (IRE) |
| Career record | 26 starts: 6 wins, 2 seconds, 3 thirds |
| Prize money | $1,653,040 |
| At Flemington | 6 starts: 1 win, 1 third |
| At 3200m | 1 start: third (2025 Melbourne Cup) |
What is Middle Earth's recent form?
Middle Earth ran third in last year's Melbourne Cup on 54.5kg. This spring he ran ninth in the Caulfield Cup, where his last 200m of 11.85 seconds was the third-fastest in the race, then eighth in the Cox Plate after settling last and finishing solidly. Jockey Mark Zahra called the Cox Plate run the right preparation for the Cup.
What are Middle Earth's Melbourne Cup chances?
He is a proven Cup horse who has been trained to peak on the first Tuesday in November again, and Mark Zahra has won the race twice (2022 and 2023). He carries 2kg more than last year. He is a half-brother to Defiantly, so two sons of the mare Roheryn could be in the field.
In him favour:
- Third in the 2025 Melbourne Cup
- Mark Zahra has won two of the last four Cups
- Fast closing sectionals in his lead-up runs
Against him:
- Weight up 2kg on last year
How do Middle Earth's odds compare?
At $17, Middle Earth sits in the middle of the market 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 Middle Earth?
Middle Earth is trained by Ciaron Maher.
Who is riding Middle Earth in the Melbourne Cup?
Mark Zahra is booked to ride Middle Earth. Riders must be declared by 4:30pm on Saturday 31 October.
What weight does Middle Earth carry in the Melbourne Cup?
Middle Earth is set to carry 56.5kg.
What are Middle Earth's odds for the Melbourne Cup?
Middle Earth was $17 with Ladbrokes fixed odds (all-in market) at 6:24am AEDT, Friday 30 October 2026. Odds change often, so check before you bet.
Has Middle Earth passed the Melbourne Cup vet checks?
Passed the first mandatory vet inspection on 29 October.
How did Middle Earth get into the Melbourne Cup?
Ballot (order of entry).
What is Middle Earth's breeding?
Middle Earth is by Roaring Lion (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.