Melbourne Cup 2023 Order of Entry: Final field almost locked in

The final field for the running of the 2023 Melbourne Cup is taking shape with one promising youngster scoring a dream debut.

Damien Oliver and Zac Lloyd ahead of the 2023 Cox Plate. (Photo by Vince Caligiuri/Getty Images)

The 2023 Melbourne Cup is almost ready to bring the nation to a standstill with the final field to be revealed on Saturday (November 4).

The order of entry is determined by the weights assigned to each runner by a handicapper. The bigger the weight, the more likely the horse is to make the final field.

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29 horses remain in the running for a spot in the final field of 24 with Bendigo Cup winner Interpretation moving up the order into 24th spot.

The top 24 horses that are still in the ballot after final declarations on November 4 will make up the Melbourne Cup field.

For promising young jockey Zac Lloyd, he’s secured himself a dream Melbourne Cup debut with a ride on UK horse Valiant King.

The 20-year-old has proven he has what it takes in recent seasons and currently sits fifth on the NSW Metro Jockey Premiership standings.

Valiant King finished sixth in the Caulfield Cup in what was the raider’s first ride on Australian soil.

Valiant King is set and ready for the Cup. (Reg Ryan/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

Horses will be withdrawn from the biggest race Down Under in the coming days, but those who pay the final declaration fee on November 4 are all but signalling their intent to run in the Cup.

The winner of this Saturday’s Lexus Archer Stakes will be automatically guaranteed a start in the Cup.

Ladies Man (25th), Athabascan (26th), United Nations (27th) and Kalapour (28th) are all horses currently outside the top 24 that will likely have a final throw at the stumps in the Archer.

Without A Fight (left) ridden by Mark Zahra wins the Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos via Getty Images)

Order of Entry for the 2023 Melbourne Cup

Ballot Order – Horse – Trainer – Weight

1= WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) Anthony & Sam Freedman 56.5kg

1= ABSURDE (FR) Willie Mullins 53kg

1= FUTURE HISTORY (GB) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg

4 GOLD TRIP (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 58.5kg

5 ALENQUER (FR) Michael Moroney 56.5kg

6 BREAKUP (JPN) Tatsuya Yoshioka 55kg

7 VAUBAN (FR) Willie Mullins 55kg

8 SOULCOMBE (GB) Chris Waller 53.5kg

9 VOW AND DECLARE Danny O’Brien 53kg

10 RIGHT YOU ARE Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 53kg

11 MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE) Chris Waller 51kg

12 VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ) Liam Howley 51kg

13 LASTOTCHKA (FR) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 51kg

14 CLEVELAND (IRE) Kris Lees 51.5kg

15 SHERAZ (FR) Chris Waller 51.5kg

16 DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR (NZ) Phillip Stokes 51.5kg

17 VALIANT KING (GB) Joseph O’Brien 50kg

18 ASHRUN (FR) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 51.5kg

19 OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) Joseph O’Brien 51.5kg

20 MILITARY MISSION (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 51kg

21 SERPENTINE (IRE) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott 51kg

22 MORE FELONS (IRE) Chris Waller 50.5kg

23 TRUE MARVEL (FR) Matthew Smith 50kg

24 INTERPRETATION (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg

*****

25 LADIES MAN (NZ) Allan Sharrock 50kg

26 ATHABASCAN (FR) John O’Shea 50kg

27 UNITED NATIONS (IRE) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 50kg

28 KALAPOUR (IRE) Kris Lees 50kg

29 MOSTLY CLOUDY (IRE) Trent Busultin & Natalie Young 50kg (Not passed)