Renowned trainer Chris Waller has made strategic moves ahead of the Melbourne Cup on November 7, cutting his team from 14 horses down to eight. Among the notable omissions are Group 1 mares Montefilia and Duais.
The international presence in the race remains robust, with five standout international entrants. Willie Mullins’ duo, Vauban, an early favourite, and the last-start Ebor winner, Absurde, are expected to make waves. They’ll face competition from Breakup, hailing from Japan, and the Northern Hemisphere three-year-olds, Valiant King and Okita Soushi.
Within Waller’s refined team, Medatsu stands out as a contender to watch. Fresh off a win on September 23, this former Kiwi galloper has quickly made a name for himself.
In a separate update, due to strict welfare protocols, West Wind Blows has been confirmed as not competing in the Cup.
Melbourne Cup First Declarations
| Horse | Trainer | Ballot | Weight | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GOLDMAN (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 1 | 52kg |
| 2 | LUNAR FLARE | Grahame Begg | 2 | 51.5kg |
| 3 | ABSURDE (FR) | Willie Mullins | 3 | 53kg |
| 4 | GOLD TRIP (FR) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 4 | 58.5kg |
| 5 | ALENQUER (FR) | Michael Moroney | 5 | 56.5kg |
| 6 | EL BODEGON (IRE) | Chris Waller | 6 | 55.5kg |
| 7 | WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) | Anthony & Sam Freedman | 7 | 55.5kg |
| 8 | SPANISH MISSION (USA) | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 8 | 55.5kg |
| 9 | BREAKUP (JPN) | Tatsuya Yoshioka | 9 | 55kg |
| 10 | VAUBAN (FR) | Willie Mullins | 10 | 55kg |
| 11 | MAJOR BEEL (NZ) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 11 | 53kg |
| 12 | KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 12 | 54kg |
| 13 | FRANCESCO GUARDI (IRE) | Chris Waller | 13 | 54kg |
| 14 | SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 14 | 54kg |
| 15 | SOULCOMBE (GB) | Chris Waller | 15 | 53.5kg |
| 16 | HOO YA MAL (GB) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 16 | 53kg |
| 17 | VOW AND DECLARE | Danny O’Brien | 17 | 53kg |
| 18 | JUST FINE (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 18 | 53kg |
| 19 | RIGHT YOU ARE | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 19 | 53kg |
| 20 | DUKE DE SESSA (IRE) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 20 | 53kg |
| 21 | MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) | Chris Waller | 21 | 51kg |
| 22 | VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) | Liam Howley | 22 | 51kg |
| 23 | LASTOTCHKA (FR) | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) | 23 | 51kg |
| 24 | FAME | Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman | 24 | 51kg |
| 25 | EMISSARY (GB) | Michael Moroney | 25 | 52kg |
| 26 | HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 26 | 50kg |
| 27 | EL PATRONESS | Danny O’Brien | 27 | 50kg |
| 28 | SHERAZ (FR) | Chris Waller | 28 | 51.5kg |
| 29 | DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR (NZ) | Phillip Stokes | 29 | 51.5kg |
| 30 | CLEVELAND (IRE) | Kris Lees | 30 | 51.5kg |
| 31 | VALIANT KING (GB) | Joseph O’Brien | 31 | 50kg |
| 32 | OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | 32 | 51.5kg |
| 33 | BENAUD | John O’Shea | 33 | 51kg |
| 34 | KING FRANKEL (IRE) | Annabel Neasham | 34 | 51kg |
| 35 | SERPENTINE (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 35 | 51kg |
| 36 | MILITARY MISSION (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 36 | 50.5kg |
| 37 | SCRIPTWRITER (IRE) | Chris Waller | 37 | 50.5kg |
| 38 | HOSIER (IRE) | Mark Minervini | 38 | 50.5kg |
| 39 | TRUE MARVEL (FR) | Matthew Smith | 39 | 50kg |
| 40 | MOUNT POPA (IRE) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 40 | 50kg |
| 41 | ATHABASCAN (FR) | John O’Shea | 41 | 50kg |
| 42 | ALASKAN GOD | Daniel Morton | 42 | 50kg |
| 43 | REBEL RACER | Amy & Ash Yargi | 43 | 50kg |
| 44 | HASTA LA WAR | Sue Murphy | 44 | 50kg |
| 45 | STAFFORD’S LAD | Daniel Morton | 45 | 50kg |
| 46 | KALAPOUR (IRE) | Kris Lees | 46 | 50kg |
| 47 | UNITED NATIONS (IRE) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 47 | 50kg |
| 48 | INTERPRETATION (IRE) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 48 | 50kg |
| 49 | LADIES MAN (NZ) | Allan Sharrock | 49 | 50kg |
| 50 | RAGING BULL | Mark Minervini | 50 | 50kg |
| 51 | AMADE (IRE) | Phillip Stokes | 51 | 50kg |
| 52 | FANCY MAN (IRE) | Annabel Neasham | 52 | 50kg |
| 53 | SIR LUCAN (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 53 | 50kg |
| 54 | PROTAGONIST (FR) | Kris Lees | 54= | 52kg |
| 55 | UNCLE BRYN (GB) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 54= | 52kg |
| 56 | ASHRUN (FR) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 56= | 51.5kg |
| 57 | BANK MAUR | Richard Laming | 56= | 50kg |
| 58 | BERKELEY SQUARE | Dan O’Sullivan | 56= | 50kg |
| 59 | BRAYDEN STAR (GB) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 59= | 50kg |
| 60 | CARINI (FR) | Danny O’Brien | 59= | 50kg |
| 61 | DENY KNOWLEDGE (IRE) | Michael Kent | 59= | 50kg |
| 62 | FERAGO | Patrick F Ryan Jnr | 59= | 50kg |
| 63 | FIRST IMMORTAL | Mark & Levi Kavanagh | 59= | 50kg |
| 64 | FOREIGN RAIDER | John Sadler | 59= | 50kg |
| 65 | FUTURE HISTORY (GB) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 59= | 50kg |
| 66 | GREGOLIMO (FR) | Michael Moroney | 59= | 50kg |
| 67 | MOSTLY CLOUDY (IRE) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 59= | 50kg |
| 68 | MR WATERVILLE (IRE) | Chris Waller | 59= | 50kg |
| 69 | PESTO (GB) | Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes | 59= | 50kg |
| 70 | SHAIYHAR (IRE) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | 59= | 50kg |
| 71 | THE MAP | Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray | 59= | 50kg |
| 72 | MEDATSU (NZ) | Chris Waller | 59= | 49kg |