Melbourne Cup 2026 final field: all 24 horses, barriers and race time

The 2026 Melbourne Cup field: what is confirmed

The 2026 Melbourne Cup has a declared field of 24 horses following the final barrier draw on Saturday 31 October. The 3200-metre Group 1 race is scheduled for Tuesday 3 November at Flemington, with the Cup traditionally due around 3:00 pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT). Point Of Law drew barrier nine, Trustyourinstinct 18 and James J Braddock the widest gate, 24. The table below reflects the 31 October Racing.com field, not a guarantee that all 24 will start. Veterinary decisions, rider changes and race-day scratchings can still alter the final runners.

All 24 horses, starting barriers and declared weights

The first column is the declared saddlecloth number, not a predicted finishing position. A barrier identifies the starting gate, and the weight is the declared race weight in kilograms. This factual list was checked against Racing.com's 31 October field announcement. Readers should verify Tuesday's final starter list with Racing Victoria or the race-day broadcaster before relying on an older screenshot.

Point Of Law and the significance of barrier nine

Ciaron Maher-trained Point Of Law was assigned 53 kilograms and barrier nine, with Ethan Brown named to ride. Racing.com's 31 October report quoted Maher welcoming that draw because it may help the horse settle early. That is a tactical assessment, not a prediction of victory. The 3200-metre distance, weather, track condition, early pace, stamina and other jockeys' decisions can all outweigh the apparent advantage of a starting gate. This report gives factual field information rather than betting tips.

Which horses have the inside and outside barriers?

Middle Earth has barrier one, Knight's Choice two and Sons And Lovers three. At the other end, James J Braddock drew 24, Wine Dark Sea 23, Vauban 22 and Royal Supremacy 21. An inside gate can make it easier to save ground but may also create traffic behind slower runners. An outside gate can require a patient ride or extra effort early. Neither position guarantees an outcome, and barrier order is not a ranking of horse ability.

International runners and notable riders

Joseph O'Brien's five declared runners are Sons And Lovers, Trustyourinstinct, Goodie Two Shoes, James J Braddock and Kizlyar. Racing.com names James McDonald on Trustyourinstinct, Craig Williams on James J Braddock and Beau Mertens on Kizlyar. Other international connections include Enfjaar with Ray Dawson, Wine Dark Sea with Damian Lane and Hopewell Rock with Zac Lloyd. Their presence adds an international dimension to the race, but a trainer's reputation or a horse's origin does not establish Tuesday's result.

Why Kizlyar made the final field

Kizlyar gained a place after Defiantly was withdrawn following a veterinary examination before the final declaration. The published list assigns Kizlyar barrier 20 and 53.5 kilograms. That illustrates why an early nomination list and the final field are different: eligibility, veterinary checks and withdrawals change the entry order. Even a Saturday declaration requires a Tuesday morning check. Do not assume a horse named on a provisional list is a confirmed starter.

Race time in Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin and Perth

The scheduled 3:00 pm AEDT jump in Melbourne is also 3:00 pm in Sydney, Canberra and Hobart. At the same instant it is 2:30 pm in Adelaide, 2:00 pm in Brisbane, 1:30 pm in Darwin and noon in Perth. These are time-zone conversions, not a live guarantee that the race will begin at the exact minute. The Victoria Racing Club lists gates opening at 9:00 am, the first race at 10:45 am and the last at 5:15 pm. Check the official running order if earlier races are delayed.

Is Melbourne Cup Day a public holiday across Victoria?

Business Victoria confirms Tuesday 3 November 2026 as Melbourne Cup Day, a public holiday across Victoria except where a non-metropolitan council has approved an alternative local holiday. That exception matters for regional readers: not every council necessarily observes the same date. Other Australian states do not automatically have a holiday because the race is nationally watched. Schools, workplaces, medical services and shops may also have their own arrangements, so confirm opening hours with the relevant provider.

Transport Victoria's public-holiday advice

Transport Victoria's 25 October advisory says metropolitan trains will run to a Saturday timetable with extra services. Trams and most metropolitan buses also follow Saturday arrangements, while V/Line trains use a Saturday timetable and coaches can vary. Night Network services will not operate. Under the current temporary half-price-fares scheme, the published public-holiday daily cap is $4 full fare and $2 concession or senior. Check the live journey planner for your departure station, platform and return trip because racecourse service arrangements can change.

What the final field does not prove

The field confirms the declared runners, starting gates and weights. It does not establish which horse will win, whether the track will match a forecast or whether every runner will pass a final veterinary check. Search results often blend horse names, odds and speculation, but the useful factual answer is the declared field and a route to official updates. This article does not report a race result before the race, does not offer gambling recommendations and does not invent late scratchings.

Frequently asked questions

How many horses are declared? Twenty-four as of the 31 October announcement. Which barrier did Point Of Law draw? Nine. Who drew the outside barrier? James J Braddock, 24. Who has barrier one? Middle Earth. Did Kizlyar make the field? Yes, after Defiantly's withdrawal. When is the race? Tuesday 3 November, scheduled for 3:00 pm AEDT at Flemington. Are scratchings still possible? Yes. This article was prepared on Monday 2 November, before the race, and should not be read as a final result or a list of guaranteed starters.

Sources and photo attribution

The declared horses, barriers and weights were checked against Racing.com's 31 October 2026 field report. The Victoria Racing Club confirms the date, venue and race-day schedule; Business Victoria confirms the holiday rule; Transport Victoria supplies the 25 October transport advisory. The photograph shows another race at Flemington during the 2013 Melbourne Cup meeting, not the 2026 race or its runners. Photograph by Chris Phutully (PreciousBytes), Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0. It was cropped to 16:9 and stored by the publisher. Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Race_10_Emirates_Airline_Plate_2013_Melbourne_Cup.jpg ; licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ .