Chris Waller's Cox Plate placegetter Aeliana is the big name missing after third acceptances, with 39 horses still chasing a start in next Tuesday's Melbourne Cup.
The Melbourne Cup field has been trimmed again. Third acceptances closed on Monday morning, and 39 horses remain in contention for the 3200m Group 1 at Flemington next Tuesday, 3 November. Fifteen were taken out.
Aeliana won't run
The biggest name to go was Chris Waller's mare Aeliana. She ran a strong third in the Cox Plate on Saturday, but Waller wasn't keen to ask her to run two miles with 58kg on her back. The Champions Stakes on the last day of the carnival has been floated as a possible alternative.
Stablemate Birdman was also scratched and is expected to go for a spell, although connections haven't completely ruled out a Champions Stakes run.
Williams picks up a European ride
Craig Williams, who won the 2019 Cup on Vow And Declare, has been booked for Joseph O'Brien's four-year-old James J Braddock. The gelding was third in the Epsom Derby and sixth in the Irish Derby, and he's set to carry just 53.5kg. In an unusual twist, Williams won't sit on him until race day.
O'Brien has won the Cup twice before, with Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020, and he again has a strong team still in the race.
The market leaders
Ciaron Maher's Geelong Cup winner Point Of Law has been at the top of the betting, with O'Brien's pair Trustyourinstinct and Defiantly close behind. Maher's Caulfield Cup runner-up Saint George and Archer Stakes winner Shockletz are also well found in the market.
Six horses already have ballot exemptions:
- Defiantly (Joseph O'Brien)
- Point Of Law (Ciaron Maher)
- Mr Monaco (Ciaron Maher)
- Shockletz (Ciaron Maher)
- Zakouma (Grahame Begg)
- Juja Kibo (Ciaron Maher) – picked up a 1.5kg penalty, to 55kg, for winning the Moonee Valley Gold Cup
Maher has the biggest local team still in the hunt and is a chance to set a record for the most runners by one trainer in a single Cup.
The punting angle
With 39 horses still in and only 24 getting a start, the next job is working out who actually makes the field. Until final acceptances and the barrier draw are done, be careful about taking short prices on horses that could still miss out. Also keep an eye on how the field shapes up for pace, because a big team from one stable can change how the race is run. You can follow the contenders on our Melbourne Cup horses page.
FREE: The 2026 Melbourne Cup Guide – the clues that find Cup winners, our betting plan and the horses to watch.