The UK & Ireland go in search of a sixth Melbourne Cup winner on Tuesday.
Of the five so far, it is Ireland who have faired much better than their UK counterparts, accounting for four of those successes. Dermot Weld was the initial trailblazer, saddling Vintage Crop in 1993 before Media Puzzle provided him with a second winner in the Flemington showpiece nine years later.
2017 and 2020 victories for Rekindling and Twilight Payment respectively leave Joseph O'Brien seeking a hat-trick, meaning Charlie Appleby's Cross Counter is the sole UK winner in the race's 165-year history.
We take a glance at the nine runners from the UK & Ireland hoping to make history this week...
Trustyourinstinct
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Jockey: James McDonald
Trustyourinstinct is looking like the most credible overseas winner of the race after a good effort behind five-time Group 1 winner Scandinavia in the Irish St Leger. One of a whole host from the O'Brien yard, he looked to relish the step up to 1m6f last time out and should have no problem whatsoever with two miles around Flemington.
Hopewell Rock
Trainer: George Boughey
Jockey: Zac Lloyd
From nowhere, Hopewell Rock has been catapulted to somewhere near the front of the market for the all-conquering Wathnan Racing team. The rapidly-improving four-year-old won a Goodwood handicap in decent style before being just touched off by Daiquiri Bay in the Ebor.
James J Braddock
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Jockey: Craig Williams
Successful aboard Vow And Declare in 2019, Craig Williams gets the leg up on improving three-year-old James J Braddock. Unexposed at the trip, he has some eye-catching form with the likes of Christmas Day and Pierre Bonnard, finishing third in the Derby.
Enfjaar
Trainer: Roger Varian
Jockey: Ray Dawson
Enfjaar has improved markedly for the step up to 12 furlongs and looks as if the extra distance at Flemington will suit him even more. His Caulfield Cup third was a really good effort and reads even better now Cosmic Crusader -- half-a-length behind him on the day -- has come out and won the Cox Plate in superb style.
Son And Lovers
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle
The HOS syndicate had success in 2024 when Absurde ran fifth in this race and they are represented by Sons And Lovers; a three-time winner at Group level. On a line through James J Braddock, he should have a decent chance, but, at five years old, it's unlikely that he is still on an upwards trajectory.
Goodie Two Shoes
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Jockey: Wayne Lordan
Runner-up last year, Goodie Two Shoes returns with 7lb more to carry this time around. She is a thorough stayer at this trip and her two best performances this season have both come over 1m6f.
Wine Dark Sea
Trainer: Harry Charlton
Jockey: Damian Lane
The further that Wine Dark Sea has been tested over, the better he has looked so far in his career. With just 11 runs under rules, he is fairly unexposed compared to a lot of the field and probably hit the front a little too soon in the Caulfield Cup. Roger Charlton's charge had decent yard sticks in Tabletalk and Dubai Honour behind him in the Geoffrey Freer when landing his first Group victory in August.
Kizlyar
Trainer: Joseph O'Brien
Jockey: Beau Mertens
Kizlyar has already proven that he will have no problem with the gruelling trip by winning a Royal Ascot handicap over four furlongs further than the Melbourne Cup distance. It's form that got a significant boost with runner-up Defiantly striking at Group 2 level subsequently and his second two Queenstown also received a timely boost when Aidan O'Brien's stayer landed the Prix Royal-Oak Saint-Cloud.
