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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 2019 Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres at Flemington, worth $8 million, had a strong international look. The defending champion Cross Counter returned for Godolphin, Japan's Mer De Glace arrived after a powerful Caulfield Cup win, and the Ebor winner Mustajeer lined up for Kris Lees.</p><p>Aidan and Joseph O'Brien had six runners between them, among them Master Of Reality, who had finished close to Stradivarius in the Ascot Gold Cup. The local hopes included Danny O'Brien's Vow And Declare, runner-up in the Caulfield Cup, and Chris Waller's Finche.</p>
Vow And Declare won the 2019 Melbourne Cup by a head from Prince Of Arran, with Il Paradiso third.
J: Craig Williams
T: D T O'brien
| Runner | Comment |
|---|---|
| 1. Cross Counter(5) | The 2018 Melbourne Cup winner, who followed it with the Dubai Gold Cup. Back for Charlie Appleby with William Buick. |
| 2. Mer De Glace(2) | Japanese stayer who won the Caulfield Cup from a wide run, finishing strongly. Has won on firm ground in Japan. Damian Lane rides. |
| 3. Master Of Reality(1) | Joseph O'Brien's stayer, beaten only about a length by Stradivarius in the Ascot Gold Cup over 4000 metres. Frankie Dettori rides. |
| 4. Mirage Dancer(13) | Formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute, for whom he was third in the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot and second in the Princess of Wales's Stakes. |
| 5. Southern France(14) | Formerly with Aidan O'Brien, for whom he was second in the Queen's Vase and won the Irish St Leger Trial. Now with Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. |
| 6. Hunting Horn(11) | Aidan O'Brien runner, ridden by Seamie Heffernan. |
| 7. Latrobe(22) | Joseph O'Brien's runner, ridden by James McDonald. |
| 8. Mustajeer(6) | Won the Ebor at York, then ran sixth in the Caulfield Cup on his Australian debut without a clear run. Damien Oliver rides. |
| 9. Rostropovich(12) | Formerly with Aidan O'Brien, for whom he was second in the Irish Derby and the King Edward VII Stakes. Fifth in the Cox Plate and ran in the 2018 Melbourne Cup. |
| 10. Twilight Payment(19) | Joseph O'Brien's runner, ridden by Hugh Bowman. |
| 11. Finche(4) | French Group 2 winner who was fourth in the 2018 Melbourne Cup. Won the Kingston Town Stakes, was second by a short head in the Turnbull Stakes and fourth in the Caulfield Cup. Kerrin McEvoy rides. |
| 12. Prince Of Arran(8) | Third in the 2018 Melbourne Cup, then won the Geelong Cup this spring. Back for Charlie Fellowes with a lighter weight. |
| 13. Raymond Tusk(3) | Fourth in the Ebor at York. Has his first Australian start with headgear fitted for the first time. Jamie Spencer rides. |
| 14. Downdraft(15) | Joseph O'Brien's runner, ridden by John Allen. |
| 15. Magic Wand(24) | Aidan O'Brien's Group 1-winning mare, ridden by Ryan Moore. |
| 16. Neufbosc(23) | Trained by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig and ridden by Luke Nolen. |
| 17. Sound(10) | Trained by Michael Moroney and ridden by James Winks. |
| 18. Surprise Baby(20) | Son of the 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking. Won the Group 3 Bart Cummings after a fourth in the Feehan Stakes. Jordan Childs rides. |
| 19. Constantinople(7) | Formerly with Aidan O'Brien, runner-up in the King George V Stakes, Gordon Stakes and Great Voltigeur. Ran on strongly in the Caulfield Cup after traffic trouble. Joao Moreira rides. |
| 20. Il Paradiso(17) | Aidan O'Brien's runner, ridden by Wayne Lordan. |
| 21. Steel Prince(16) | Trained by Anthony Freedman and ridden by Brett Prebble. |
| 22. The Chosen One(18) | New Zealand stayer for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman. |
| 23. Vow And Declare(21) | Second in the Queensland Derby in June, then fourth in the Turnbull Stakes and second to Mer De Glace in the Caulfield Cup, beaten about a length. Craig Williams rides. |
| 24. Youngstar(9) | Sixth in the 2018 Melbourne Cup for Chris Waller. Tommy Berry rides. |
