G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup

Because he doesn't ride regularly in Kentucky, New York or California, Paco Lopez will never get the acclaim that flows so easily when it comes to the likes of the Ortiz brothers, John Velazquez, Flavien Prat. Nor does it help that he has made far too many headlines for the suspensions he has received because he has a problem with overuse of the whip. He can be his own worst enemy. That's why few would rate him a Top Five rider. That's too bad because he's, well, really good. That...

Fully 10,000 miles from their birthplace at Tweenhills Farm and Stud, Qatar Racing homebreds Buckaroo, Middle Earth and Valiant King now face the most important two-mile test of their lives on Tuesday, with a place in history assured should one of them reach its end as a Melbourne Cup winner. From the lush paddocks of Tweenhills to the manicured turf of Flemington, it's been quite the journey, both literally and figuratively. Between them the trio amassed 27 starts in Europe - Buckaroo and Valiant King with Joseph O'Brien, Middle Earth...

A week out from the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup, the Australian Bloodstock team is increasingly confident that it has both the right horse and the right man for the job, having put its faith in the Joseph O'Brien-trained Al Riffa (Wootton Bassett). The syndicate will be seeking a third success in 'the race that stops a nation', having previously lifted the famous trophy after the wins of Andreas Wohler's Protectionist in 2014 and the ex-French runner Gold Trip in 2022. This year the Australian Bloodstock colours will be strongly represented...

Parchment Party (Constitution) is poised to become the first American-trained runner in the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday, November 4, with Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez again booked to ride after partnering the 'TDN Rising Star' to a wide-margin victory in June's GII Belmont Gold Cup Stakes. The Bill Mott-trained Parchment Party was one of 120 nominations for the Melbourne Cup published on Tuesday, with his emphatic win at Saratoga earning him an automatic spot in 'the race that stops a nation'. Leigh Jordon, executive general...

Total prize-money for the 2025 edition of the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup has been increased to A$10 million - up from A$8,560,000 in 2024 - with every runner in the race guaranteed to pocket at least A$100,000 just for taking part. In addition, the G3 Geelong Cup and G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup have been added to the list of ballot-exempt races, meaning the winners will earn a guaranteed spot in 'the race that stops a nation'. Last year's Geelong Cup was won by the Brian Ellison-trained Onesmoothoperator. "The Lexus...

by Kristen Manning/The Thoroughbred Report Extreme Choice (Aus) made history in the 2024 G1 Melbourne Cup by siring the longshot Knight's Choice (Aus), who stunned as Australia's top stayer. For Sheila Laxon, the first official female trainer to win a Melbourne Cup with Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm) in 2001, this victory marked a triumphant return to Flemington with her husband, John Symons. Owners Cameron Bain, Richard and Kaye Waldron watched their A$85,000 purchase become a A$5.8 million champion, realising breeder Norm Bazeley's vision, who originally acquired Knight's Choice's dam, Midnight Pearl...

Brian Ellison's Northumberland Plate winner Onesmoothoperator (Dialed In) put himself in contention for a tilt at the G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup with an emphatic victory in the G3 Geelong Cup on Wednesday. Four horses have completed the Geelong Cup-Melbourne Cup double, with the first being Dunaden (Fr) for Mikel Delzangles in 2011. Onesmoothoperator needed to pick up a penalty at Geelong to be guaranteed a run at Flemington on Tuesday, November 4, but Ellison can now look forward to saddling another runner in 'the race that stops a nation' after...

The weights for the 133 horses still in the running for the Nov. 7 G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup were released on Tuesday and early 4-1 favourite Vauban (Fr) (Galiway {GB}) was assigned 55kg, 3.5kg below highweight and 2022 Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}). The Willie Mullins-trained 5-year-old former hurdler, who won the G3 Ballyroan S. at Naas last month after taking the Listed Copper Horse H. at Royal Ascot in his first flat attempt in June, sits sixteenth on the weights list. Vauban's stablemate and Ballyroan runner-up...