Jockeys headline Kiwi hopes in 2025 Melbourne Cup
TAB • November 2nd, 2025 2:27 PM • 3 min read
Kiwi-bred jockey James McDonald is hitting form at the right time ahead of the 165th Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday.
McDonald, a two-time winner of the world’s best jockey title, won two of the big feature races at Randwick in Sydney on Saturday, and will head to Flemington seeking his second Melbourne Cup victory after winning with Verry Elleegant in 2021.
The 33-year-old will be aboard Meydaan, who was seventh favourite at time of writing, for English father-and-son trainers Simon and Ed Crisford.
Former Hawke’s Bay jockey Michael Dee teams up with another British contender, Furthur, who is having his first start in Australia on Tuesday.
One TAB customer will be more interested in the ride of Australian jockey Craig Williams, as he stands to win more than $730,000 from a $7.41 bet if Buckaroo can run in the top three placings in the great race.
The Auckland customer, who wishes to remain anonymous — “I’m buying enough beers if this wins already without anyone else (knowing)” — placed a 12-leg racing multi-bet back on 31 January, with the first nine legs being run the next day (1 February).
He also added three more legs on feature racing events much later in 2025 – The Everest on 18 October at Randwick in Sydney, the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on 25 October, and Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.
After Ka Ying Rising won The Everest on 18 October, and Via Sistina defended her Cox Plate title on 25 October, he now needs Buckaroo to do his part in the Melbourne Cup – although Buckaroo almost ruined the bet when he just about caught Via Sistina in the Cox Plate, going down by a nose.
“I needed it to run well to get a start (in the Melbourne Cup) but I didn't need it to run that well,” the punter said.
Bets that include “future” events are not subject to a cash-out offer from the TAB, but the customer said he was always going to let the bet ride.
"We're not cashing out, mate. Even if we could.”
The 3200-metre race starts at 5pm New Zealand time on Tuesday.
What you need to know:
• Build-up to the race will be broadcast via both Trackside channels, free to air on Freeview, and on trackside.co.nz.
• The Melbourne Cup field is available at tab.co.nz. Extra markets such as Top 5, Winning Trainer, and Winning Barrier are available at tab.co.nz/racing/extras.
• Further information about the race can be found at TAB’s Punters Lounge.
New Zealand-bred horses:
#12 – Smokin’ Romans (Ghibellines (sire) - Inferno (dam), bred by Brian and Lorraine Anderton)
#23 – Torranzino (Tarzino - Goldilicious, bred by Payne Family Racing Pty Ltd)
Jockeys with New Zealand links:
#8 Meydaan - James McDonald
#17 Furthur - Michael Dee
