Zakouma Lines Up for Melbourne Cup Tuesday
The six-year-old gelding, trained by Grahame Begg and ridden by William Pike, runs in the 3200m race at Flemington on Tuesday.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Equestrian
Zakouma, a six-year-old gelding owned by a Perth-based owner, will contest the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday 3 November 2026. The horse qualified by winning over 2800m and currently sits at $31 in the betting market.
Why it matters
Zakouma's qualification and form profile make it a notable contender in Australia's most famous race, which is run over 3200m. Its last start, an unplaced run over 1600m, leaves open how it will handle the staying test.
Zakouma is a six-year-old gelding quoted at $31 for the Melbourne Cup, having qualified with a win over 2800m. Its most recent start over 1600m was unplaced, and soft ground is forecast for the 3200m race.
The players
Grahame Begg
Grahame Begg is a racehorse trainer who prepared Zakouma for the Melbourne Cup.
William Pike
William Pike is a jockey who will ride Zakouma in the Melbourne Cup.
The details
Trainer Grahame Begg has set Zakouma specifically for the Melbourne Cup, lightly raced and conditioned to finish powerfully over 3200m. The Wizard is expected to give Zakouma an energy-saving run, and the horse is tipped to relish the extra 400m.
Timeline
Last Saturday week: Zakouma ran unplaced over 1600m.
Tuesday 3 November 2026: Melbourne Cup 3200m race at Flemington.
Season Trajectory
The Melbourne Cup, first run at Flemington in 1861, remains the centrepiece of the Australian racing calendar, and Zakouma's entry continues that tradition. Its bid comes after a lightly raced campaign built around the 3200m test.
Punters weighing a Melbourne Cup bet can compare Zakouma's $31 quote against its qualifying win over 2800m and its unplaced 1600m run. Those planning to follow the race should note the forecast soft track, which may affect how the staying test unfolds.
The takeaway
Zakouma's price and form suggest a genuine but unproven contender, so the Melbourne Cup result will depend heavily on how the horse handles the 3200m distance on soft ground.
What happens next
The Melbourne Cup 3200m race runs at Flemington on Tuesday 3 November 2026.
Further reading
Explore more Equestrian coverage for context on the horse racing scene.
