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Get your Melbourne Cup kitBetfair's 2025 Melbourne Cup preview
Betfair • November 3rd, 2025 9:39 pm
First run in 1861 and commonly known as “the race that stops a nation”, the Melbourne Cup is Australia’s most revered and prestigious horse race, with Victorians granted an annual public holiday to attend or watch the spectacle.
Betfair's Bella Anderson has provided her analysis of the great race in the form of a runner-by-runner guide.
HALF YOURS
Horse – 14. Half Yours
Trainer – Tony & Calvin McEvoy
Jockey – Jamie Melham
Barrier – 8
Half Yours is the only horse in the 2025 Melbourne Cup born in Australia. The McEvoy’s purchased him in November 2024 on an Inglis Online sale for $305,000 and his record since is 9:5-2-0, including winning the Group 1 Caulfield Cup last start. This training performance is beyond sensational, and what they have managed to achieve is extraordinary. Meanwhile, Jamie Melham, is trying to become the second female to win the Melbourne Cup, a decade after Michelle Payne. With maiden Melbourne Cup wins the target for all, Half Yours does everything right in the yard and is such an easy horse to like. He has an exceptionally loose stride, is so relaxed and professional and has the perfect staying frame, all meaning he should see out the two miles. His fitness levels have improved nicely with each race, and other than still being a touch wintery last start, he was picture perfect and will be once again come the first Tuesday of November.
ONESMOOTHOPERATOR
Horse – 16. Onesmoothoperator (USA)
Trainer – Brian Ellison (GB)
Jockey – Harry Coffey
Barrier - 6
The American born, British trained gelding is having his second crack at winning the Melbourne Cup, after finishing 12th last year. He has impressively won both Australian lead up races; the 2024 Geelong Cup and the 2025 Moonee Valley Gold Cup. Having now seen him twice, at Flemington and The Valley, he is another import that gets above himself in the yard. Both parades have been tense and toey, getting slightly warm, but nothing over the top or majorly concerning. Not relaxed but not alarming either. Similar to Vauban, I think this gelding will really suit staying in Australia, and I believe he will only improve the longer he gets to acclimatise and settle down into his new home with Tim Fitzsimmons. So with time, I hope to see a more relaxed horse. But on Tuesday, I don’t want to see him too worked up, or too sweaty. Physically, I think his fitness will tighten up a fair bit from The Valley, he was a touch soft with 9 weeks between runs.
PARCHMENT PARTY
Horse – 18. Parchment Party (USA)
Trainer – William Mott (USA)
Jockey – John Velazquez
Barrier – 3
Parchment Party will be the first ever American trained horse to compete in the Melbourne Cup. The entire was awarded a golden ticket into the first Tuesday of November after winning the Group 2 Belmont Gold Cup in June. He won in unfavourable conditions for most, and racing on grass is his main concern. It is normal for him to race in bandages.
TORRANZINO
Horse – 23. Torranzino (NZ)
Trainer – Paul Preusker
Jockey – Celine Gaudray
Barrier – 18
The New Zealand bred son of Tarzino is the local Aussie battlers horse for 2025. Similar to pavlova, us Aussies are claiming him. This will be the Horsham-based trainers third attempt at winning the Cup and from a yard point of view he will be spot on. Torranzino returned in sensational physical condition this prep and has looked to be thriving. He can get warm, but is always relaxed, which is key, sweating up while being relaxed is ok.
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