The 2025 Melbourne Cup delivered a race for the ages, with Half Yours emerging as a true champion in a breathtaking display of speed and endurance. But here's where it gets controversial: while Half Yours dominated the race, the real story might be in the unexpected performances of some of the underdogs. Let’s dive into the full finishing order and uncover the moments that had racing fans on the edge of their seats.
On a thrilling Tuesday at Flemington, Half Yours, expertly guided by jockey Jamie Melham and trained by the dynamic duo Tony and Calvin McEvoy, stormed to victory in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m). The win wasn’t just a victory—it was a statement, as Half Yours crossed the line 2¾ lengths ahead of the competition. But was this race as predictable as it seemed? While Half Yours was the clear favorite, the battle for the minor placings revealed some surprising twists.
Goodie Two Shoes put in a valiant effort to secure second place, while Middle Earth delivered a standout performance to claim third. And this is the part most people miss: the gap between the top three and the rest of the field was significant, raising questions about the strategies of the trailing horses. Buckaroo, unfortunately, brought up the rear, finishing a staggering 99 lengths behind the winner—a result that’s sure to spark debate among racing enthusiasts.
Here’s the full finishing order, with a few highlights to keep in mind:
1-24: 2025 MELBOURNE CUP FULL FINISHING ORDER
- HALF YOURS (Ms Jamie Melham) – A dominant performance that left no doubt about their class.
- GOODIE TWO SHOES (IRE) (Wayne Lordan) – 2.75L behind the winner, proving consistency pays off.
- MIDDLE EARTH (GB) (Ethan Brown) – 4.25L back, a solid effort from a horse that flew under the radar.
- RIVER OF STARS (IRE) (Beau Mertens) – 6.75L, showing promise for future races.
- TORRANZINO (NZ) (Ms Celine Gaudray) – 8L, a respectable finish for the Kiwi contender.
- VAUBAN (FR) (Blake Shinn) – 9.25L, a strong showing from the French entry.
- AL RIFFA (FR) (Mark Zahra) – 9.35L, narrowly behind Vauban.
- ABSURDE (FR) (Kerrin McEvoy) – 9.55L, another French horse making its mark.
- CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD (IRE) (Tim Clark) – 9.85L, a steady run from the Irish competitor.
- MEYDAAN (IRE) (James McDonald) – 10.15L, a horse to watch in future races.
- FURTHUR (IRE) (Michael Dee) – 11.15L, a respectable mid-pack finish.
- ARAPAHO (FR) (Ms Rachel King) – 11.9L, holding its own in a tough field.
- FLATTEN THE CURVE (FR) (Thore Hammer Hansen) – 11.96L, just edging out Arapaho.
- SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ) (Ben Melham) – 12.71L, a solid effort from the New Zealand runner.
- ROYAL SUPREMACY (IRE) (Robbie Dolan) – 13.01L, a royal effort but not quite enough.
- DH VALIANT KING (GB) (Jye McNeil) & ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA) (Harry Coffey) – 14.01L, a dead heat that adds to the race’s drama.
- MORE FELONS (IRE) (Tommy Berry) – 16.51L, a surprising drop-off from the leaders.
- PRESAGE NOCTURNE (IRE) (Stephane Pasquier) – 18.01L, a performance that raises questions about race strategy.
- PARCHMENT PARTY (USA) (John Velazquez) – 19.76L, a long way back for the American entry.
- ATHABASCAN (FR) (Declan Bates) – 21.01L, a tough day for the French contender.
- LAND LEGEND (FR) (Joao Moreira) – 23.76L, a result that’s sure to disappoint fans.
- CHEVALIER ROSE (JPN) (Damian Lane) – 28.01L, a rare off day for the Japanese runner.
- BUCKAROO (GB) (Craig Williams) – 99L, a finish that leaves more questions than answers.
Originally published as All of the finishing positions from Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup at Flemington (https://www.racenet.com.au/news/all-of-the-finishing-positions-from-tuesdays-melbourne-cup-at-flemington-20251104).
Thought-provoking question for the audience: What do you think contributed to Buckaroo’s staggering 99-length defeat? Was it a matter of strategy, fitness, or something else entirely? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s keep the debate going!
