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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 2018 Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres at Flemington drew a deep international field. Godolphin's Best Solution arrived on a four-race winning run that included the Caulfield Cup, Aidan O'Brien brought the Caulfield Stakes winner The Cliffsofmoher, and Britain sent the Chester Cup winner Magic Circle and the Ebor winner Muntahaa.</p><p>The local challenge came from the Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner Ventura Storm, the Bart Cummings winner Avilius, the Geelong Cup winner Runaway and the 2017 Victoria Derby winner Ace High. Charlie Appleby's three-year-old Cross Counter came in off a win in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.</p>
Cross Counter won the 2018 Melbourne Cup by a length from Marmelo, with Prince Of Arran third.
J: Kerrin Mcevoy
T: Charlie Appleby
| Runner | Comment |
|---|---|
| 1. Best Solution(6) | Godolphin stayer for Saeed Bin Suroor on a four-race winning run, including two Group 1s in Germany over 2400 metres and the Caulfield Cup. Pat Cosgrave rides. |
| 2. The Cliffsofmoher(9) | Won the Caulfield Stakes on his first Australian start, then third in the Caulfield Cup after making ground from the turn. Ryan Moore rides for Aidan O'Brien. |
| 3. Magic Circle(17) | Unbeaten in two runs this year, winning the Chester Cup and the Henry II Stakes, both by six lengths over two miles or more. Corey Brown rides. |
| 4. Chestnut Coat(4) | Japanese stayer who was fifth in the Tenno Sho over 3200 metres three starts back, then 13th in the Caulfield Cup. |
| 5. Muntahaa(13) | Won the Ebor at York carrying 61 kilograms for John Gosden. Jim Crowley rides. |
| 6. Sound(16) | Won the Group 2 Oleander-Rennen over 3200 metres in Germany in May, then 12th in the Caulfield Cup. |
| 7. Who Shot Thebarman(18) | Won the Sydney Cup by the narrowest of margins and was fourth in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. Ben Melham rides for Chris Waller. |
| 8. Ace High(22) | The 2017 Victoria Derby winner. Won the Hill Stakes by two lengths in September but was well beaten in the Caulfield Cup on a soft track. |
| 9. Marmelo(10) | British stayer for Hughie Morrison who won the Prix Kergorlay in 2017 and ran in it again this year. Hugh Bowman rides. |
| 10. Avilius(11) | Won the Bart Cummings, then fourth in the Cox Plate. Trained by James Cummings. |
| 11. Yucatan(23) | Won the Herbert Power Stakes impressively on his first Australian start for Aidan O'Brien. James McDonald rides. |
| 12. Auvray(1) | Best Australian win came in the Sky High Stakes in March. Second in the Newcastle Cup two runs back. |
| 13. Finche(15) | Won the Prix de Reux in France in August, then third in the Geelong Cup under 59 kilograms on his first Australian start. Zac Purton rides. |
| 14. Red Cardinal(5) | Third in the St Leger at Randwick in October, then 11th in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. Damien Oliver rides. |
| 15. Vengeur Masque(2) | A former Geelong Cup winner. Fifth in the Bart Cummings and ninth in the Caulfield Cup this spring. |
| 16. Ventura Storm(7) | Won the Moonee Valley Gold Cup at his latest start. Mark Zahra rides. |
| 17. Prince Of Arran(20) | Won the Lexus Stakes at Flemington three days earlier, and has one win and three placings from five runs over 3200 metres. Michael Walker rides for Charlie Fellowes. |
| 18. Nakeeta(3) | Fifth in the 2017 Melbourne Cup. Struggled in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup in his lead-up. |
| 19. Charles Road(14) | Third in the 2018 Sydney Cup and third in the Bendigo Cup. Dwayne Dunn rides. |
| 20. Zacada(24) | Second in the Sydney Cup and fourth in the Auckland Cup, but out of form in his last four starts. |
| 21. Runaway(12) | Won the Geelong Cup and the VRC St Leger in April, and was third in the South Australian Derby. |
| 22. Youngstar(8) | Won the Queensland Oaks. Seventh in the Caulfield Cup after racing very wide. Craig Williams rides for Chris Waller. |
| 23. Cross Counter(19) | Godolphin three-year-old who won the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood and was second to Old Persian in the Great Voltigeur. Kerrin McEvoy rides. |
| 24. Rostropovich(21) | Beaten half a length by Latrobe in the Irish Derby and won a Group 3 over 2400 metres. Never got into the race in the Cox Plate on his first Australian start. |
