Melbourne Cup 2026: barrier draw, full field, start time and what Cup Day means for Melbourne

By The Rundowns News Desk · Published 1 November 2026

The 166th Melbourne Cup jumps at 3pm AEDT on Tuesday 3 November at Flemington. Saturday night's barrier draw handed favourite Point Of Law gate 9, Irish stayer Defiantly was scratched on vet advice, and Tuesday is a public holiday across most of Victoria. Here's everything settled so far.

What happened at the barrier draw

Ciaron Maher-trained favourite Point Of Law (Ethan Brown, 53kg) drew barrier 9, which Maher called "ideal" (Racing.com). The four-year-old won the Geelong Cup on his Australian debut and would be one of the most lightly raced Cup winners of the modern era (ABC News).

Joseph O'Brien's James J Braddock (Craig Williams) got the widest gate, 24, and Maher's Middle Earth, third last year, drew the inside, barrier 1. Leading Irish chance Trustyourinstinct, ridden by James McDonald, drew 18 (Racing.com, ABC News, Racing TV).

Why Defiantly is out

Racing Victoria vets re-examined three international horses, Defiantly, Wine Dark Sea and Enfjaar, on Saturday morning after they weren't cleared at the first inspection. Wine Dark Sea and Enfjaar passed. Defiantly didn't, and stewards withdrew him on veterinary advice. Racing TV reports he had lost a shoe and showed changes in his gait at Thursday's mandatory checks. His stablemate Kizlyar took the 24th and final spot and drew barrier 20 (Racing.com, Racing TV, ABC News).

Ciaron Maher has seven runners in the race and Joseph O'Brien has five (ABC News).

The full field and barriers

This table lists the final 24 by saddlecloth number, as published after the draw. Scratchings can still happen before the race, so check the official form on the day.

Barriers and weights come from the races.com.au published draw and were cross-checked against Racing.com, ABC News and Racing TV for the horses they name. *Sources disagree on Strictly Business's rider: ABC News lists Michael Dee and races.com.au lists Dean Yendall. Check the official form guide on race day.

Storylines worth knowing

• Knight's Choice, the $91 winner in 2024, is back. ABC News notes only Peter Pan (1932 and 1934) has won non-consecutive Cups.
• Jamie Melham, who won last year on Half Yours, rides Future History, which got into the field after other withdrawals (ABC News).
• Mr Monaco's rider Jabez Johnstone, 20, is chasing the first Cup win by an apprentice since Ray Neville on Rimfire in 1948 (ABC News).
• Shockletz carries the bottom weight of 51kg, the same weight her sire Shocking carried to win in 2009, in the same owner's colours (ABC News).
• Three nine-year-olds are running, and ABC News says no nine-year-old has won the race.

Start time where you are

The Cup is Race 7 on a 10-race card (races.com.au, Fox Sports).

• Victoria, NSW, ACT and Tasmania: 3pm AEDT
• South Australia: 2.30pm
• Queensland: 2pm
• Northern Territory: 1.30pm
• Western Australia: 12pm

Going to Flemington

The Victoria Racing Club lists gates opening at 9am, the first race at 10.45am and the last at 5.15pm. Trains leave Flemington Racecourse from 3.10pm. They stop at North Melbourne and Southern Cross before running to Flinders Street, and the last one departs at 9.02pm. The total prize money for the Cup is $10.2 million (Racing.com, races.com.au).

Is Cup Day a public holiday?

Yes. Business Victoria lists Tuesday 3 November as a public holiday across all of Victoria, unless a non-metropolitan council has arranged a different local holiday. If you're in a regional area, check with your council.

What's next

Cup Day is also the last day to get on the roll for the Victorian state election. Enrolment closes at 8pm on Tuesday, and our enrolment explainer covers how to check your details. The ABC's form guide points to a likely rain-affected track, so watch for track-rating updates on race morning. We'll update this page after the race.

This article is general information, not betting advice. If gambling is causing you problems, call Gambler's Help on 1800 858 858.