Key facts
- Caulfield Cup: Enfjaar ran third at his Australian debut; Middle Earth ran the third-fastest last 200m.
- Geelong Cup: Point Of Law beat Small Fry and Omni Man at his first Australian start.
- Moonee Valley Gold Cup: Juja Kibo led a Maher trifecta ahead of Kings Valley and Mr Monaco.
- Bendigo Cup: So You Are won his fourth stakes race in a row.
- Overseas: Trustyourinstinct (Curragh Cup), Defiantly (Prix Kergorlay), Hopewell Rock (second in the Ebor).
How do you read the Melbourne Cup form guide?
You read the Melbourne Cup form guide by looking for three things in each horse's recent runs: the class of race, the distance and the finishing margin. A close fourth in a Group 1 over 2400m can be better Cup form than a win over 2000m in a lower grade. Weight matters too, because the Cup is a handicap. Every horse's latest form is also on its own profile, linked from the Melbourne Cup field page.
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What happened in the Caulfield Cup?
The Caulfield Cup (G1, 2400m) on Saturday 17 October was won by Kingswood, who started at long odds from barrier 17 and beat Saint George by half a length, with Enfjaar another half length back in third. It was the 150th Caulfield Cup. The race was marred by a fall near the 300m: Half Yours fell and later walked from the track, and Ohope Wins was brought down and could not be saved.
| Place | Horse (barrier) | Jockey | Weight | Melbourne Cup status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kingswood (17) | John Allen | 55kg | Not nominated |
| 2 | Saint George (2) | Craig Williams | 53.5kg | Ruled out (scans) |
| 3 | Enfjaar (1) | Ray Dawson | 54.5kg | Projected runner, vet re-check Saturday |
| 4 | Cosmic Crusader (14) | William Pike | 56kg | Not nominated |
| 5 | Kings Valley (10) | Jabez Johnstone | 51kg | Outside the 24 |
| 6 | Zahrann (3) | Ethan Brown | 53kg | Projected runner |
| 8 | Soul Of Spain (11) | Tyler Schiller | 53kg | Projected runner |
| 9 | Middle Earth (9) | Thomas Stockdale | 55kg | Projected runner |
| 11 | Wine Dark Sea (16) | Damian Lane | 54.5kg | Projected runner, vet re-check Saturday |
| 12 | Asterix (8) | Beau Mertens | 53.5kg | Projected runner |
| 14 | Knight's Choice (18) | Robbie Dolan | 55kg | Projected runner |
| 15 | Royal Supremacy (7) | Jamie Spencer | 54.5kg | Projected runner |
What happened in the Geelong Cup?
The Geelong Cup (2400m) on Wednesday 21 October went to Point Of Law at his first start in Australia and only the fifth of his career. He fought out an early speed battle with The Euphrates, kicked clear early in the straight and held off the Joseph O'Brien pair Small Fry and Omni Man. The win earned the ninth golden ticket and a 2kg penalty, and it made him Cup favourite. Our Melbourne Cup tips weigh up whether that price is justified.
What happened on Cox Plate Day?
Cox Plate Day on Saturday 24 October was run at Flemington for the first time and produced two key Cup trials:
- Cox Plate (G1, 2040m): Cosmic Crusader beat Birdman and Aeliana. Saint George ran fifth and Middle Earth, settling last, finished eighth.
- Moonee Valley Gold Cup (G2, 2500m): Juja Kibo won by half a length from Kings Valley and Mr Monaco, coming off a slow pace with a sharp turn of foot. He earned the last golden ticket and a 1.5kg penalty.
- Tesio Stakes (2000m): Shockletz, with blinkers back on, ran a fast-finishing second, clocking 11.87 seconds for her last 200m.
What happened in the Bendigo Cup?
The Bendigo Cup (G3, 2400m) on Wednesday 28 October was the last chance for horses outside the 24. So You Are, the $3.60 favourite, won from barrier one under Rachel King carrying 58.5kg, beating Berkeley Square by three-quarters of a length with Litzdeel third. Kings Valley was fourth, and The Euphrates finished tenth. The 1kg penalty lifted So You Are into the field.
What is the key overseas form?
The overseas form for the 2026 Cup comes mostly from Ireland, England, France and Japan:
| Horse | Key run | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Trustyourinstinct | Curragh Cup (G2, 2816m) | Won |
| Trustyourinstinct | Irish St Leger (G1, 2816m) | 4th, beaten 4.5 lengths |
| Defiantly | Prix Kergorlay (G2, 3000m, Deauville) | Won, led throughout |
| Sons And Lovers | Prix Maurice de Nieuil (G2, 2800m) | Won |
| Goodie Two Shoes | Lillie Langtry Stakes (G2, 2816m) | Won |
| Hopewell Rock | Ebor Handicap (2786m, York) | 2nd |
| James J Braddock | Epsom Derby (G1, 2420m) | 3rd |
| Stinger Glass | Diamond Stakes (G3, 3400m, Tokyo) | Won |
| Point Of Law | Bahrain Trophy (G3, 2615m, Newmarket) | Won |
What should you look for in the final form guide?
When the final form guide is published after the barrier draw, check these in order:
- Barrier. Very wide draws make a horse cover extra ground, although Cup winners have come from both inside and wide gates.
- Weight change. Compare each horse's Cup weight with its last start.
- Distance. Has the horse run 3200m, or at least 2800m, before?
- Track. Check each horse's record on soft ground if rain is forecast.
- Jockey. Seven riders in the projected field have won the Cup before.
Frequently asked questions
Which lead-up race is the best guide to the Melbourne Cup?
The Caulfield Cup has the strongest record as a guide, and published trends show four of the last seven Cup winners ran first or second there at their previous start. Overseas staying races such as the Curragh Cup and the Ebor are also strong pointers.
Who won the 2026 Caulfield Cup?
Kingswood won the 2026 Caulfield Cup for trainer Gavin Bedggood and jockey John Allen, beating Saint George by half a length with Enfjaar third. Kingswood is not nominated for the Melbourne Cup.
Who won the 2026 Cox Plate?
Cosmic Crusader won the 2026 Cox Plate, the first ever run at Flemington, from Birdman and Aeliana. None of the three is running in the Melbourne Cup.
Who won the 2026 Geelong Cup?
Point Of Law won the 2026 Geelong Cup on 21 October, ahead of Small Fry and Omni Man, earning a golden ticket into the Melbourne Cup.
Who won the 2026 Moonee Valley Gold Cup?
Juja Kibo won the 2026 Moonee Valley Gold Cup, run at Flemington on 24 October, leading home stablemates Kings Valley and Mr Monaco for trainer Ciaron Maher.
When is the full Melbourne Cup form guide available?
The full race card, with barriers and confirmed jockeys, is available after final acceptances and the barrier draw on Saturday 31 October. We add it here that night.
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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.