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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 2023 Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres at Flemington brought together the defending champion Gold Trip, the Caulfield Cup winner Without A Fight and a strong Irish team led by Willie Mullins' pair Vauban and Absurde.</p><p>Without A Fight, trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, came in off a dominant Caulfield Cup win with Mark Zahra, who had won the race a year earlier on Gold Trip. Gold Trip returned with James McDonald after a Turnbull Stakes win, while Vauban had been set for the race since winning at Royal Ascot. Japan was represented by Breakup, and the Cup was Damien Oliver's final ride in the race, on Alenquer.</p>
Without A Fight won the 2023 Melbourne Cup by 2¼ lengths from Soulcombe, with Sheraz third.
J: Mark Zahra
T: A & S Freedman
| Runner | Comment |
|---|---|
| 1. Gold Trip(2) | Last year's winner. Won the Turnbull Stakes earlier in the spring, one of his best performances, and James McDonald takes the ride. |
| 2. Alenquer(9) | Won the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup in Ireland for William Haggas in 2022 and was second in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup 11 days before. Damien Oliver's last Melbourne Cup ride. |
| 3. Without A Fight(16) | Arrives off a commanding Caulfield Cup win for Anthony and Sam Freedman. Has improved since coming to Australia and keeps Mark Zahra in the saddle. |
| 4. Breakup(18) | Japanese Grade 2 winner over 2500 metres, with form in some of Japan's top staying races. Ran in the Caulfield Cup first-up after a 118-day break. |
| 5. Vauban(3) | Group 1-winning hurdler for Willie Mullins who won a staying handicap at Royal Ascot and a Group 3 at Naas. Has been set for this race, with Ryan Moore riding. |
| 6. Soulcombe(4) | Former William Haggas stayer who won over 2800 metres in Britain before joining Chris Waller. Blinkers come off and Joao Moreira rides for the first time. |
| 7. Absurde(8) | Willie Mullins' second runner. Won the Ebor at York from a wide draw after running second to Vauban over 2800 metres in June. Zac Purton rides. |
| 8. Right You Are(15) | Has won 10 of his 26 starts, including both of his Listed runs, and has a good record at Flemington. Ran in the Caulfield Cup. |
| 9. Vow And Declare(19) | The 2019 Melbourne Cup winner. Has gone better since cheekpieces were added, and his last two runs were among the best of his career. |
| 10. Cleveland | Withdrawn from the race. |
| 11. Ashrun(11) | Ran in the 2020 Melbourne Cup, then returned from an injury layoff in September. Second in the Geelong Cup and lightly raced for a seven-year-old. |
| 12. Daqiansweet Junior(12) | Sixth in last year's Melbourne Cup, carrying more weight then than now. Ran well behind Military Mission in the Herbert Power Stakes three weeks earlier. |
| 13. Okita Soushi(20) | Irish stayer for Joseph O'Brien whose best runs came at Royal Ascot. Has won over 3200 metres and is best on firm ground. |
| 14. Sheraz(22) | Well-bred French stayer for Chris Waller, without a win yet in Australia. |
| 15. Lastotchka(21) | Talented French stayer for Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr. Her best win came in the Group 3 Prix Gladiateur over about 3100 metres, and she carries a light weight. |
| 16. Magical Lagoon(7) | Won the 2022 Irish Oaks. Took time to settle in Australia but ran solidly in the Geelong Cup 13 days earlier for Chris Waller. |
| 17. Military Mission(5) | Rose from handicaps to Group class and won the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes in his latest run. Has raced over 2400 metres in his last three starts. Rachel King rides. |
| 18. Serpentine(1) | The 2020 Epsom Derby winner, whose form fell away after he came to Australia. Showing signs of revival for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, with the tongue-tie back on. |
| 19. Virtuous Circle(6) | Second in the Australian Derby on heavy ground over 2400 metres, but has never won beyond 1500 metres. |
| 20. More Felons(23) | Formerly raced in Britain as Scriptwriter, where he was a smart hurdler and ran eighth in the Ebor. Was beaten only half a length in the Geelong Cup on his Australian debut. Jamie Kah rides. |
| 21. Future History(13) | Showed smart form in France around 2000 metres, then won the Bart Cummings over 2500 metres at Flemington in October and finished close up in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup. |
| 22. Interpretation(17) | Fourth in the 2021 St Leger and pulled up in last year's Melbourne Cup. Won a Group 3 handicap at Bendigo by a short head this spring. |
| 23. Kalapour(14) | Third in The Metropolitan over 2400 metres in September, then led all the way to win the Archer Stakes at Flemington three days before the Cup. |
| 24. True Marvel(10) | Second in the Sydney Cup in April. Has not yet won at Listed or Group level. |
