The 2014 Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres at Flemington was led into by Japan's Admire Rakti, who had won the Caulfield Cup on his Australian debut and carried top weight. Red Cadeaux returned for a fourth Cup, and Europe sent the Ebor winner Mutual Regard, the Long Distance Cup winner Royal Diamond and the German stayer Protectionist.
The best of the locals included Fawkner, second in the Cox Plate, the Metropolitan winner Junoob, the Turnbull Stakes winner Lucia Valentina, and Who Shot Thebarman, the Auckland Cup and Bart Cummings winner.
