LEXUS MELBOURNE CUP
Results
Here it is, the 2025 Melbourne Cup. Chris Waller has an outstanding team and the class runner of that lot is BUCKAROO (2) who is coming through the Cox Plate, going down by a nose to champion mare Via Sistina. His run as favourite in the Cup last year was full of merit, tracking very wide and getting a mile back. The draw is much kinder this year and he's going as well as ever while getting conditions to suit. VALIANT KING (24) is flying. He relished a brutal tempo two back to win the G3 Bart Cummings and was the eye-catcher in the Caulfield Cup, finishing better than anything for third. He should lap up 3200m now and also draws well. RIVER OF STARS (21) was a far better run out to 2400m in the Caulfield Cup and will stay the trip strongly up on speed. AL RIFFA (1) is a 3x G1 winner overseas, dominant in the Irish St Leger last time. He's weighted right up to his best but can't be left out. MEYDAAN (8) had excuses but got going again late in the Caulfield Cup, J-Mac on is a huge plus.
Visit TAB.COM.AUHere it is, the 2025 Melbourne Cup. Chris Waller has an outstanding team and the class runner of that lot is BUCKAROO (2) who is coming through the Cox Plate, going down by a nose to champion mare Via Sistina. His run as favourite in the Cup last year was full of merit, tracking very wide and getting a mile back. The draw is much kinder this year and he's going as well as ever while getting conditions to suit. VALIANT KING (24) is flying. He relished a brutal tempo two back to win the G3 Bart Cummings and was the eye-catcher in the Caulfield Cup, finishing better than anything for third. He should lap up 3200m now and also draws well. RIVER OF STARS (21) was a far better run out to 2400m in the Caulfield Cup and will stay the trip strongly up on speed. AL RIFFA (1) is a 3x G1 winner overseas, dominant in the Irish St Leger last time. He's weighted right up to his best but can't be left out. MEYDAAN (8) had excuses but got going again late in the Caulfield Cup, J-Mac on is a huge plus.
Chasing a hat-trick. Comes off a 51 day let-up. Last start ran on strongly from last on the turn and scored a big 4 len win at Curragh G1 Irish St Leger September 14 over 2816m defeating Amiloc with 61.5kg at $4. Before that scored a big 5 len win at Curragh G2 Curragh Cup July 19 over 2816m defeating Shackleton with 62kg at $1.80. Leading chance again.
Form hard to fault. Most recently 2nd of 8 at Moonee Valley in the G1 Cox Plate on October 25 over 2040m, nose behind Via Sistina carrying 59kg at $16. Before that second last in a small field at Caulfield in the G1 Caulfield Stks on October 11 over 2000m, 4 len behind Globe carrying 59kg at $2.70. Narrowly missed last start and is a top chance again.
At the latest run 8th of 14 at Bendigo in the G3 Bdgo Cup on October 29 over 2400m, 6 len behind Sayedaty Sadaty with 61kg at $9.50. The race before that 15th of 18 at Randwick in the G1 The Metrop on October 4 over 2400m, 9 len behind Royal Supremacy carrying 58kg at $21. Others appeal more heading into this.
At the latest run 13th of 18 at Caulfield in the G1 Caul Cup on October 18 over 2400m, 8 len behind Half Yours carrying 58.5kg at $8.50. Before that 5th of 18 at Randwick in the G1 The Metrop on October 4 over 2400m, 1.4 len behind Royal Supremacy carrying 58.5kg at $12. Drawn well but disappointed last time and has failed in this race twice n
Back from a spell. Finished off last preparation 14th of 16 at Sapporo in the G2 Sapporo Kinen on August 17 over 2000m, 10 len behind Top Knife with 58.0kg at $50.40. When resuming last campaign eased back early on 12th of 15 at Nakayama in the G2 Nikkei Sho on March 29 over 2500m, 3 len behind Meiner Emperor with 58.0kg at $9.40. Best form would be competitive but wants dry ground and needs to find best.
Third-up today and placed third-up previously. Resuming 3rd in a small field at Deauville in the G2 Pr Kergorlay on August 24 over 3000m, long-neck behind Double Major carrying 59kg at $4. Second-up 4th of 18 at Caulfield in the G1 Caul Cup on October 18 over 2400m, 1.75 len behind Half Yours with 57.5kg at $61. Excellent Cup trial and his overseas form says 3200m is even better.
Last start 3rd of 9 at Moonee Valley in the G3 Jra Cup on October 25 over 2040m, 1.75 len behind Star Of India with 60kg at $7. Before that 11th of 18 at Caulfield in the G1 Caul Cup on October 18 over 2400m, 6 len behind Half Yours with 56.5kg at $15. Better last time albeit in a weaker race, wouldn't surprise if he relished 3200m.
Last start 9th of 18 at Caulfield in the G1 Caul Cup on October 18 over 2400m, 4.5 len behind Half Yours with 56kg at $15. Before that 3rd in a small field at Kempton Park All Weather in the G3 September Stks on September 6 over 2412m, 2.25 len behind Giavellotto carrying 60.5kg at $17. Kept coming off a wide run last time and gets J-Mac on, can win.
Racing second-up today. Last outing 7th of 18 at Caulfield in the G1 Caul Cup on October 18 over 2400m, 3 len behind Half Yours carrying 55.5kg at $26. At only start last preparation second last in a small field at Curragh in the G3 Irish St Leger on August 16 over 2816m, 6 len behind Leinster carrying 61kg at $3. Nice run last time, rough hope if he can elevate off that.
First-up. Finished off last campaign post a big 5.5 len win. Kentucky LR Bowling Green G August 30 over 3319m defeating Tawny Port carrying 57kg at $3.10. Previous preparation first-up won by 3 len Hoppegarten LR April 20 over 2800m defeating Waldadler carrying 60kg at $2.90. Stays well but this is a much sterner test than his overseas form.
Most recently ran last of 18 at Caulfield in the G1 Caul Cup on October 18 over 2400m, 18 len behind Half Yours with 55.5kg at $61. Before that ran last of 14 at this track in the G1 Turnbull on October 4 over 2000m, 6 len behind Sir Delius with 58kg at $101. Awful his past two and hard to make a case off those.
Most recently 8th of 11 at Moonee Valley in the G2 Mv Cup on October 24 over 2500m, 4.5 len behind Onesmoothoperator with 56.5kg at $4.40. The run before that 4th of 11 at Caulfield in the G2 Herbert Power on October 11 over 2400m, 1.75 len behind Brayden Star with 59kg at $12. Not going well enough and 3200m looks a bridge too far.
Most recently sat on the speed and boxed on steadily 6th of 8 at Geelong in the G3 Geel Cup on October 23 over 2400m, slow going 4 len behind Torranzino carrying 60kg at $10. The start before that ran last of 18 at Randwick in the G1 The Metrop on October 4 over 2400m, 56 len behind Royal Supremacy with 54.5kg at $10. Can't see him improving.
Racing well recently. Most recently favourite; ran on from midfield and won by 0.5 len at Caulfield G1 Caul Cup October 18 over 2400m defeating River Of Stars with 52.5kg at $2.50. The race before that 4th of 14 at this track in the G1 Turnbull on October 4 over 2000m, 2.75 len behind Sir Delius carrying 56kg at $10. Impossible to knock and can't see the trip being an issue.
Last start 4th of 10 at Randwick in the G3 St Leger on October 18 over 2600m, 1.2 len behind Travolta with 55.5kg at $3.70. Before that came home strongly from last on the turn; 4th of 18 at Randwick in the G1 The Metrop on October 4 over 2400m, 1.3 len behind Royal Supremacy carrying 55kg at $151. Could beat a few home late but likely outclassed.
Most recently favourite; was well back until straightening; raced back then made ground from the turn; won by 0.8 len at Moonee Valley G2 Mv Cup October 24 over 2500m defeating Athabascan with 57kg at $4.20. The start before that 19th of 22 at York Ebor Handicap on August 23 over 2816m, 13 len behind Ethical Diamond with 61kg at $41. Strong win fresh and was well backed last year, wouldn't shock.
Comes off a 52 day let-up. Most recently second last of 7 at Doncaster in the G1 St Leger on September 13 over 2921m, slow going 4.5 len behind Scandinavia carrying 58.5kg at $19. Before that won by 3 len at Newbury G3 Geoffrey Freer August 16 over 2715m defeating Epic Poet with 56kg at $7.50. Lightly raced and ticks a few boxes but does still need to improve.
First-up. Finished off last campaign by 1.0 len Saratoga LR Birdstone Stks August 6 over 2816m defeating Digital Ops carrying 56kg at $1.90. First up last campaign fifth of 10 at Tampa Bay Downs February 15 over 1710m, 5.5 len behind Card Trick with 54kg at $5.30. Been winning, but on dirt tracks and his turf form is poor.
At the latest run 2nd of 11 at Moonee Valley in the G2 Mv Cup on October 24 over 2500m, 0.8 len behind Onesmoothoperator carrying 55kg at $20. The race before that 14th of 18 at Randwick in the G1 The Metrop on October 4 over 2400m, 6 len behind Royal Supremacy with 53kg at $71. Made headway last time. Better last time but this is much harder again.
Resuming. Finished off last campaign third of 8 at Goodwood in the G2 Lillie Langtry August 2 over 2816m, 5 len behind Waardah carrying 61kg at $5. Previously first up; third of 7 at Thurles March 15 over 3621m, 16 len behind A Law Of Her Own carrying 73kg at $15. Former chaser progressing well on the flat recently, could be a knockout hope.
Most recently 2nd of 18 at Caulfield in the G1 Caul Cup on October 18 over 2400m, 0.5 len behind Half Yours with 53.5kg at $91. The start before that 12th of 14 at this track in the G1 Turnbull on October 4 over 2000m, 6 len behind Sir Delius with 53kg at $151. Much better effort last time and should stay the 3200m strongly.
At the latest run 5th of 18 at Caulfield in the G1 Caul Cup on October 18 over 2400m, 2.5 len behind Half Yours carrying 52.5kg at $8.50. Before that won by 0.8 len at Randwick G1 The Metrop October 4 over 2400m defeating Soul Of Spain with 50kg at $7.50. Going well. Continues to race well, just needs to run the trip to be an exotics hope.
Most recently tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 0.5 len at Geelong G3 Geel Cup October 23 over 2400m on a soft track defeating Gilded Water with 56kg at $10. Before that held ground to the line 2nd of 16 at this track in the G3 Bart Cummings on October 4 over 2520m, 2.75 len behind Valiant King with 56.5kg at $71. Flying, deserves his chance and is a first four hope.
Form hard to fault. Last start took up a position near the tail 3rd of 18 at Caulfield in the G1 Caul Cup on October 18 over 2400m, 1.5 len behind Half Yours with 52kg at $26. Before that won by 2.75 len at this track G3 Bart Cummings October 4 over 2520m defeating Torranzino carrying 55kg at $61. Last two runs have been huge, very hard to hold out.