The Jockey, a role as old as time, as long as there has been horse racing there has been jockeys. But why are they so important and what makes the Melbourne Cup Jockey list so special. Explore the wonderful world of Jockeys and those ride at this years Melbourne Cup here on The Huddle.
Why the Rider Matters
Cup Day isn’t just about horses - the jockey often decides who wins. From the jump, positioning and patience over 3200 m can mean everything. Flemington’s long straight rewards those who time runs late rather than rush early. Riders like James McDonald, Ryan Moore and Damien Oliver have shown how race management beats raw pace.
Before Cup week, check which riders land key mounts on our Markets & Best Bets page.
Cup-Proven Records
History backs experience - jockeys with previous top-five Cup finishes tend to ride smarter early. In 2024, Craig Williams guided Knight’s Choice to victory from Barrier 6 by sitting quietly until the 400 m mark. International riders like Joao Moreira and Ryan Moore regularly feature in Cup placings, showing how global class translates to Flemington.
For updated bookings and pairings, see our Barrier Draw hub.
Styles That Win at Flemington
Patient ride, clean track, late surge. That’s the Cup formula. Aggressive leaders often fade before the clock tower. Jockeys who slot midfield one-off with cover and time their run to the 200 m line win most often.
Tactics & Barriers
Barrier position dictates strategy: low draws can trap riders on rails, while wider gates offer freedom if you can cross early. When the draw drops on Derby Day, watch how riders plan to map their mounts on our Melbourne Cup Tips & Preview article.
Melbourne Cup 2025 Jockeys By Order Of Barrier
1 – Mark Zahra – ALL RIFFA (FR) (trainer Joseph O’Brien) (barrier 19) 59kgs
2 – Craig Williams – BUCKAROO (GB) (Chris Waller) (12) 57kgs
3 – Rachel King – ARAPAHO (FR) (Bjorn Baker) (15) 56.5kgs
4 – Blake Shinn – VAUBAN (FR) (Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott) (2) 56.5kgs
5 – Damian Lane – CHEVALIER ROSE (JPN) (Hisashi Shimizu) (5) 55.5kgs
6 – Stephane Pasquier – PRESAGE NOCTURN (IRE) (Alessandro Botti) (9) 55.5kgs
7 – Ethan Brown – MIDDLE EARTH (GB) (Ciaron Maher) (13) 54.5kg
8 – James McDonald – MEYDAAN (IRE) (Simon & Ed Crisford) (22) 54kgs
9 – Kerrin McEvoy – ABSURDE (FR) (Willie Mullins) (4) 53.5kgs
10 – Thore Hammer-Hansen – FLATTEN THE CURVE (FR) (Henk Grewe) (17) 53.5kgs
11 – Joao Moreira – LAND LEGEND (FR) (Chris Waller) (16) 53.5kgs
12 – Ben Melham – SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) (Ciaron Maher) (11) 53.5kgs
13 – Tim Clark – CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) (Kris Lees) (24) 53kgs
14 – Jamie Melham – HALF YOURS (Tony & Calvin McEvoy) (8) 53kgs
15 – Tommy Berry – MORE FELONS (IRE) (Chris Waller) (23) 53kgs
16 – Harry Coffey – ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA) (Brian Ellison) (6) 53kgs
17 – Michael Dee – FURTHER (IRE) (Andrew Balding) (7) 52kgs
18 – John Velazquez – PARCHMENT PARTY (USA) (Bill Mott) (3) 52kgs
19 – Declan Bates – ATHABASCAN (FR) (John O’Shea/Tom Charlton) (1) 51.5kgs
20 – Wayne Lordan – GOODIE TWO SHOES (IRE) (Joseph O’Brien) (20) 51.5kgs
21 – Beau Mertens – RIVER OF STARS (IRE) (Chris Waller) (14) 51.5kgs
22 – Robbie Dolan – ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) (Ciaron Maher) (21) 51kgs
23 – Celine Gaudray – TORRANZINO (NZ) (Paul Preusker) (18) 51kgs
24 – Jye McNeil – VALIANT KING (GB) (Chris Waller) (10) 51kgs
Now you can put all you learnt into play, when the draw drops on Derby Day, watch how riders plan to map their mounts on our Melbourne Cup Tips & Preview article.