International horseracing has been at the forefront of global sporting prominence over the past few days and the feast of world-class racing continues at Flemington today (4/11/2025) with the running of the G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).
Renowned as “The race that stops the nation,” the Melbourne Cup follows the spectacular Breeders’ Cup and G1 Tenno Sho Autumn meetings, where some of the world’s finest horses, trainers and jockeys vied for glory in truly memorable circumstances
Several of the horses involved in those two meetings are entered for the LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (LONGINES HKIR) at Sha Tin on 14 December, including Breeders’ Cup winners NOTABLE SPEECH, ETHICAL DIAMOND and SHISOSPICY and place-getters REBEL’S ROMANCE, THE LION IN WINTER and KHAADEM, and also Tenno Sho Autumn (2000m) victor MASQUERADE BALL and runner-up MUSEUM MILE.
Today, it is Flemington’s turn to take centre stage for the 165th Melbourne Cup which has a distinctly cosmopolitan feel with 10 of the 24 runners trained by overseas horsemen, with nine LONGINES HKIR nominees featuring – AL RIFFA, BUCKAROO, ARAPAHO, LAND LEGEND, VALIANT KING, ONESMOOTHOPERATOR, RIVER OF STARS, FURTHUR and MEYDAAN.
The first of seven races to be simulcast today from Flemington is carded as S4-1 and will be run at 9.40am while the highlight of the meeting is the G1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), which is carded as S4-4 at 12 noon.
Of the 24 Melbourne Cup starters, 21 were bred in the northern hemisphere with Ireland (eight runners), France (seven), Great Britain (three), the United States of America (two) and Japan (one) all represented, while New Zealand (two) and Australia (one) provide the southern hemisphere presence.
Hong Kong is represented by LAND LEGEND, who will be ridden by Joao Moreira, and I extend my best wishes to LAND LEGEND’s owner, Mr Boniface Ho.
The Flemington surface is renowned for its draining capacity but it is worth noting the track has received significant rain over the past 24 hours and more rain is forecast during the Melbourne Cup meeting. The track is currently rated soft.
The pace is expected to be good early with SMOKIN’ ROMANS (Ben Melham), CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (Tim Clark) and RIVER OF STARS (Beau Mertens) all likely to roll forward. VAUBAN (Blake Shinn), LAND LEGEND and ATHABASCAN (Declan Bates) are expected to be prominent.
The G1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) is regarded as a good form reference to the Melbourne Cup with 12 horses completing the double and many others from the Caulfield Cup subsequently running well at Flemington.
HALF YOURS (Jamie Melham) could not have been more impressive in winning the Caulfield Cup and he will carry only 117lb from gate eight. HALF YOURS is drawn to get cover and conserve energy. He also handles rain-affected conditions and is my win and place chance as Jamie attempts to become only the second female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup after Michelle Payne on PRINCE OF PENZANCE in 2015.
AL RIFFA (Mark Zahra) is also proven in the wet for Joseph O’Brien. He easily won the G1 Irish St Leger (2800m) at The Curragh and despite carrying topweight of 130lb is also a win and place chance.
Chris Waller has five runners in the Melbourne Cup and the best appears to be VALIANT KING (Jye McNeil). He finished third in the Caulfield Cup and will carry only 112lb. He is a place chance along with stablemate BUCKAROO (Craig Williams), who almost beat VIA SISTINA in the G1 W. S. Cox Plate (2040m) – which is also a good form reference for the Melbourne Cup.
Apart from AL RIFFA, several other overseas-trained runners have the credentials to contend including France’s PRESAGE NOCTURNE (Stephane Pasquier). With 13 starts on soft or heavy ground, PRESAGE NOCTURNE has four wins and seven minor placings and, if the track deteriorates, he is a place chance.
ABSURDE (Kerrin McEvoy) has finished fifth and seventh in his past two attempts on the Melbourne Cup but he is trained by master horseman Willie Mullins and Kerrin has won the Cup three times already. ABSURDE will also be suited by soft conditions.
In a race of many chances, MEYDAAN (James McDonald), Germany’s FLATTEN THE CURVE (Thore Hammer Hansen), RIVER OF STARS, VAUBAN, ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (Harry Coffey), FURTHUR (Michael Dee) and ROYAL SUPREMACY (Robbie Dolan) have claims.
PARCHMENT PARTY (John Velazquez) is a fascinating contender as the first United States of America-trained runner in the Melbourne Cup. He is a dirt course specialist who prefers dry ground and is yet to win at two miles but he is trained by William Mott, who previously trained the champion CIGAR.
In Hong Kong, Karis Teetan is an inspiration to his peers with a positive ‘can-do’ approach which reflects the attitude of our amazing city.
Karis goes about his profession with unstinting humility and modesty and on Sunday (2 November), he became only the second member of Hong Kong, China’s current jockey roster to reach 300 wins behind Zac Purton (713 wins) with victory on STORM RIDER.
I congratulate Karis on his latest achievement.
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