The Racing & Sports UK team run through the likely European candidates for this year’s Flemington showpiece, as part of the new ‘Road To Melbourne Cup’ series…
Ireland
Joseph O'Brien has an exceptional record in the Melbourne Cup for a European trainer, winning twice with Rekindling (2017) and Twilight Payment (2020). His main hope will be Al Riffa, recently purchased by Australian Bloodstock, who had an ideal preparation for the trip to Melbourne with a victory in the 2800m Group 1 Irish St Leger. The five-year-old could be joined by dual-purpose mare Goodie Two Shoes, who continues to improve her flat credentials with a victory in Group company.
Trainer Dermot Weld has also experienced victory in the Melbourne Cup twice (1993/2002) and could be represented by long-term hopeful Harbour Wind. The experienced gelding was part of the nomination process in 2024 and whilst not one of the leading European chances, his best form has come during international travel.
The Melbourne Cup is missing from Aidan O'Brien's impressive international resume, and he has experienced mixed fortunes in the race. A runner in 2025 would be his first representative in five years, having last sent Tiger Moth to finish second in 2020. Improving three-year-old Scandinavia could attempt to enhance O'Brien's record, having recorded top-level victories in both the 3200m Group 1 Goodwood Cup and 2800m Group 1 St Leger on his previous two runs.
Best known for his exploits over jumps, Irish trainer Willie Mullins has been regularly sending runners to Australia for over two decades. He is expected to be double handed with last year's fifth Absurde and Hipop De Loire. The pair boast similar profiles as dual-purpose performers and come into the race with placings in low-level Group staying races.
Britain
Three-year-old European representation could be bolstered by Further who has gone from strength-to-strength through the season before disappointing in the St Leger at Doncaster. Whilst not a familiar visitor to Australia, trainer Andrew Balding previously trained Spanish Mission to finish third in the 2021 renewal of the Melbourne Cup.
Second behind Further in the 2600m Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes, David O'Meara's Epic Poet is an experienced handicap performer, winning the Old Burrough Cup in 2024 before placings in Group company during 2025 and enjoys a moderate weight amongst his European counterparts. Fellow Northern-based trainer Brian Ellison looks to revisit Flemington with last year's twelfth Onesmoothoperator, who will attempt to defend his Geelong Cup crown en-route to Melbourne.
A first Melbourne Cup would be welcomed by Newmarket handler Tom Clover, who could send out flagbearer Tabletalk. A consistent performer, the four-year-old is a familiar face in Stakes company domestically with multiple placings and Flemington would represent his first overseas assignment.
Father and son duo Simon and Ed Crisford could attempt the Melbourne Cup distance with the untested Meydaan, who was deemed a difficult candidate to judge by David Hegan, chief handicapper for Racing Victoria. His third behind Group 1 Hong Kong winner Giavellotto and the
Arc-bound Kalpana in the 2400m Group 3 September Stakes at Kempton represents some of the better European form on offer.
France & Germany
The sole candidate from France, Alessandro & Giuseppe Botti's Presage Nocturne has some useful staying form this season, with a success in the 3000m Group 3 Prix de Barbeville at Longchamp and placings in the 3100m Group 1 Prix Vicomtesse Vigier and the 3000m Group 2 Prix Kergorlay. The Prix Kergorlay is a proven trial with Americain (2010) and Protectionist (2014) completing the Kergorlay and Melbourne Cup double (Dunaden finished ninth in the Prix Kergorlay before winning the 2011 Melbourne Cup).
The German-trained Flatten The Curve is familiar with international travel, having found a new lease of life after being campaigned in the US, winning the marathon 3300m Bowling Green Stakes at Kentucky. Henk Grewe's charge remains undefeated on turf since switching to his new handler in late 2024 and his assigned weight possibly underestimates the six-year-old's new-found enthusiasm.
Absurde – Willie Mullins – 53kg
Al Riffa – Joseph O'Brien – 59kg
Epic Poet – David O'Meara – 54.5kg
Flatten The Curve – Henk Grewe – 53.5kg
Further – Andrew Balding – 54.4kg
Goodie Two Shoes - Joseph O'Brien – 51.5kg
Harbour Wind – Dermot Weld – 53kg
Hipop De Loire – Willie Mullins – 52kg
Meydaan – Simon & Ed Crisford – 54kg
Onesmoothoperator – Brian Ellison – 52kg
Presage Nocturne - Alessandro & Giuseppe Botti – 56.5kg
Scandinavia – Aidan O'Brien – 59kg
Tabletalk – Tom Clover – 54kg
