The 2018 Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres at Flemington drew a deep international field. Godolphin's Best Solution arrived on a four-race winning run that included the Caulfield Cup, Aidan O'Brien brought the Caulfield Stakes winner The Cliffsofmoher, and Britain sent the Chester Cup winner Magic Circle and the Ebor winner Muntahaa.
The local challenge came from the Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner Ventura Storm, the Bart Cummings winner Avilius, the Geelong Cup winner Runaway and the 2017 Victoria Derby winner Ace High. Charlie Appleby's three-year-old Cross Counter came in off a win in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood.
