Aidan Rodley: Melbourne Cup truly a global spectacle
Aidan Rodley • November 4th, 2025 8:44 AM
There are those who have decried the internationalisation of the Melbourne Cup.
It's true the days when Kiwi stayers would plunder Flemington riches from the first Tuesday in November with raids that would leave the Aussies fuming are far behind us.
It's 24 years since Sheila Laxon prepared Ethereal for Cup success from the Vela brothers' Maungatautari farm.
But for those who have embraced the global appeal the great race now has achieved, the 2025 edition is one for the ages.
Unfortunately, no New Zealand-trained runner, but two Kiwi-bred stayers, Torranzino and Smokin' Romans, flying the flag in a race that has reached new levels of cosmopolitanism.
For the first time, there's an American-trained runner: Bill Mott's Parchment Party, to be ridden by United States Hall of Fame jockey Johnny Velazquez.
From Germany, there's Hank Grewe's Flatten The Curve, to be ridden by Thore Hammer-Hansen, a jockey who embraces the notion that his name insinuates he's either a Hollywood superhero or a Norse god.
For Ireland, there's Al Riffa and Goodie Two Shoes from the stable of two-time Melbourne Cup-winning trainer Joseph O'Brien, while the irrepressible Willie Mullins is back for another shot with Absurde, fifth in last year's Cup.
Japanese trainer Hisashi Shimizu will produce Chevalier Rose, while the English have the likes of Meydaan, Furthur and Onesmoothoperator and France has Presage Nocturne, prepared by Italian-born trainer Alessandro Botti.
Among the raft of Australian-trained Cup hopes are Arapaho for Sydney-based Kiwi trainer Bjorn Baker and five for Sydney-based New Zealand Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller: Buckaroo, Valiant King, River Of Stars, Land Legend and More Felons.
Among the jockeys are Australian-based Kiwis, Michael Dee on Furthur and Melbourne Cup-winning New Zealand Hall of Fame jockey James McDonald on Meydaan.
Joining jockeys from Australia, France, Germany and England is Brazilian hoop Joao Moreira, who rides Land Legend.
Global enough?
Critics will say it makes the Melbourne Cup that much harder pick -- and that's undoubtedly true.
But it also gives the race international credibility and brings back that certain romance that inspired Banjo Patterson and Mark Twain to wax lyrical about the Melbourne Cup all those years ago.
So, to trying to find a winner.
Ignoring the obscure international form that's too difficult to try to understand, River Of Stars produced a terrific trial in the Caulfield Cup. She stuck so gamely for second in a race that was run to favour the swoopers -- and she gets a 2.5kg weight over winner Half Yours.
Half Yours was excellent in winning, while Valiant King, Presage Nocture and Royal Supremacy all produced mighty efforts behind him.
Al Riffa is a three-time Group One winner in Europe, winning the Gr.2 Curragh Cup and Gr.1 Irish St Leger at his last two starts, scoring by five and four lengths respectively, carrying 62kg and 61.5kg respectively. Top-notch form.
Before his Caulfield Cup placing Valiant King had won the Bart Cummings, a key leadup, beating Torranzino, whose effort was meritorious, while Buckaroo was second to 11-time Group One winner Via Sistina in a Gr.1 Cox Plate so must be respected.
Aidan Rodley selects:
