The all-conquering nature of the two mega-stables of Australian racing has been further underlined in the entry list for the Melbourne Cup, with Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher supplying a third of the nominations for the $10 million race.
Last year's Melbourne Cup winner Knight's Choice is back among the nomination for the 2025 edition. (Photo: Bronwen Healy - The Image Is Everything)
When the deadline for nominations closed on Tuesday, Waller had entered a stable record of 27 horses and Maher 13 for the nation’s most celebrated thoroughbred event.
Their combined 40 entries represent 33 per cent of the 120 nominations lodged with the Victoria Racing Club (VRC).
The overall total is marginally lower than last year’s total of 123.
Waller, who tasted Melbourne Cup success for the first time with Verry Elleegant in 2021, nominated 21 horses last year and his 2025 tally is almost double that of his 2023 entry when he supplied the minor placegetters behind Without A Fight.
Maher has three fewer entries than he did 12 months ago, as he also searches for his second Cup victory following Gold Trip’s triumph in 2022.
Headlining Waller’s nominations are the newly crowned Australian Horse of the Year Via Sistina, last season’s ATC Australian Derby winner Aeliana, 2024 Caulfield Cup placegetter Buckeroo and Yulong’s recent French Group 1 placegetter Trinity College.
Maher’s entry includes last year’s minor placegetter Okita Soushi, and the Godolphin mare Zardozi, a recent stable addition who ran fourth in 2024.
The VRC received 19 overseas entries classified as internationals, including horses attached to the Irish yards of Melbourne Cup-winning trainers Joseph O’Brien and Dermot Weld.
Interest from the northern hemisphere is on par with 2024, with 19 horses among the entries before five took their place in the 23-horse field.
Japan, England, France, Germany and the United States are also represented among eight countries with nominations.
Chris Waller has 27 horses nominated for the Melbourne Cup. (Photo: Getty Images)
VRC chief racing officer Leigh Jordon said he was pleased with the nominations for this year’s Cup.
“The cross-section of international representation is really healthy,” he said.
“The Melbourne Cup continues to capture the imagination of trainers and owners both here in Australia and around the world, and this year’s nominations reflect that global appeal.
“The mix of elite homegrown horses, seasoned internationals and promising newcomers makes this year’s Melbourne Cup an exciting build-up for racing fans.”
Trainer
Nominations
Trainer
Nominations
Chris Waller
27
John O'Shea & Tom Charlton
3
Ciaron Maher
13
Emma-Lee & David Browne
3
Kris Lees
4
Aidan O'Brien
3
Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
4
Joseph O'Brien
2
Annabel & Rob Archibald
4
Bjorn Baker
2
Anthony & Sam Freedman
4
Paul Preusker
2
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
3
Dermot K Weld
2
Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
3
Willie Mullins
2
O’Brien’s two entries are headed by Curragh Cup winner Al Riffa, who will take a familiar Cup path through the Irish St Leger after his recent sale to syndicator Australian Bloodstock.
His father Aidan has three nominations, including Goodwood Cup winner Scandinavia, who is one of the favourites for the English St Leger on September 13.
Fellow Irish trainer, Willie Mullins, has signalled his intention to travel to Australia for the third consecutive year with Absurde and Hipop De Loire.
Willie Mullins (right) has two horses nominated for the Melbourne Cup. (Photo: Bronwen Healy - The Image Is Everything)
In an era of imports dominating the domestic staying ranks, there has been an increase in Australian-bred horses this year, with 26 nominated.
This year’s entry follows a low in 2024, when only 20 locally bred stayers were nominated before the winner Knight’s Choice and Zardozi flew the flag for Australia.
Hopes are high that US Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will be riding in this year’s race, with Parchment Party one of two American entries.
Parchment Party earned an automatic berth to the Melbourne Cup, with his 8 1/2-length victory in the Group 3 Belmont Gold Cup at Saratoga in June.
From the Bill Mott stable, Parchment Party will be the first American-trained horse to compete in the race.
Parchment Party has since won the Birdstone Stakes at Saratoga, with owner Dana Bernhard of Pin Oak Stud confirming a trip to Australia.
"It's our plan - go to the Melbourne Cup, quarantine in England, then go on to Australia for quarantine, and see how he does," she told the New York Racing Association’s media department.
Weights for the Melbourne Cup will be released on September 16.
There will be opportunities for horses to receive ballot exemption for the race in the Group 3 Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on September 13 and the Group 3 Bart Cummings (2500m) at Flemington on October 4.
The Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Geelong Cup also offer direct entry into the Melbourne Cup.
