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FEATURE RACES
Expert analysis and runner-by-runner comments for the upcoming feature race.
AUSTRALIAN RACING
Friday, 30 October 2026
Free tips and racing information across Australia.
<p>The 2016 Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres at Flemington pitted the Caulfield Cup winner Jameka, the local hope, against a large overseas team. Britain's Big Orange, fifth the year before, carried top weight, the Ebor winner Heartbreak City came from Ireland, and Willie Mullins brought the Irish St Leger winner Wicklow Brave.</p><p>Hartnell, Godolphin's Australian-trained stayer, was one of the most fancied runners. Almandin had earned his place by winning the Bart Cummings, and The Metropolitan winner Sir John Hawkwood and the Lexus Stakes winner Oceanographer also made the field.</p>
Almandin won the 2016 Melbourne Cup by a head from Heartbreak City, with Hartnell third.
J: Kerrin Mcevoy
T: Robert Hickmott
| Runner | Comment |
|---|---|
| 1. Big Orange(7) | British stayer for Michael Bell with strong form over 3200 metres in Europe. Fifth in the 2015 Melbourne Cup and carries top weight. Had not raced since July. |
| 2. Our Ivanhowe(6) | Ran in the Caulfield Cup for Lee and Anthony Freedman. Dwayne Dunn rides. |
| 3. Curren Mirotic(18) | Japanese stayer for Osamu Hirata, ridden by Tommy Berry. |
| 4. Bondi Beach(5) | Won his first two starts of the season for Aidan O'Brien but was below his best in the next two. Ryan Moore rides. |
| 5. Exospheric(13) | Ran well in the Caulfield Cup. Damien Oliver rides for Lee and Anthony Freedman. |
Godolphin stayer trained by John O'Shea, one of the leading local chances. James McDonald rides. |
| 7. Who Shot Thebarman(20) | Third in the 2014 Melbourne Cup for Chris Waller. Hugh Bowman rides. |
| 8. Wicklow Brave(24) | Won the Irish St Leger for Willie Mullins, beating Order Of St George. Frankie Dettori rides. |
| 9. Almoonqith(19) | Finished strongly in the Caulfield Cup. Drawn wide in barrier 19. |
| 10. Gallante(2) | Trained by Robert Hickmott and ridden by Blake Shinn. |
| 11. Grand Marshal(9) | Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by Ben Melham. |
| 12. Jameka(3) | Won the Caulfield Cup from the front for Ciaron Maher. Nicholas Hall rides. |
| 13. Heartbreak City(23) | Won the Ebor at York for Irish trainer Tony Martin. Joao Moreira rides. |
| 14. Sir John Hawkwood(14) | Won The Metropolitan at Randwick. |
| 15. Excess Knowledge(21) | Seventh in the 2015 Melbourne Cup. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott. |
| 16. Beautiful Romance(1) | Godolphin mare for Saeed Bin Suroor. Damian Lane rides. |
| 17. Almandin(17) | Won the Bart Cummings to earn his place in the field. Kerrin McEvoy rides for Robert Hickmott. |
| 18. Assign(22) | Won the Herbert Power Stakes. Katelyn Mallyon rides. |
| 19. Grey Lion(16) | Ran in the Geelong Cup for Matt Cumani. Glen Boss rides. |
| 20. Oceanographer(11) | Godolphin stayer who won the Lexus Stakes at Flemington with a strong finish. Chad Schofield rides. |
| 21. Secret Number(10) | Second in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes for Saeed Bin Suroor, lightly raced since. |
| 22. Pentathlon(4) | New Zealand stayer for John Wheeler, placed in the Wellington Cup. |
| 23. Qewy(15) | Godolphin stayer for Charlie Appleby. Craig Williams rides. |
| 24. Rose Of Virginia(8) | Trained by Lee and Shannon Hope and ridden by Ben Thompson. |
