First held in 1957, the Melbourne International Three-Day Event has since developed into the ultimate annual proving ground for some of Australia’s top riders and horses. Each June, over the King’s Birthday long weekend, the nation’s finest riders descend on the picturesque Werribee Park precinct to compete in Victoria’s premier eventing competition.
This year’s event features an 18-strong field in the headline Pryde’s EasiFeed CCI4*L, where seasoned campaigners and rising stars will be aiming to put their best hoof forward in pursuit of the prestigious title.
This class is set to be hotly contested, featuring recent Adelaide CCI4*S winners Jess Somerfield and APH New Sensation; five-star combinations David Middleton and WEC In The Breeze, and Samantha Cesnik with Graftango, the latter fresh from a European campaign; last year’s MI3DE CCI3*L winners from Western Australia, Charlee Morton-Sharp and SV Supermaxi; as well as perennial favourite and former MI3DE CCI4*L winner Andrew Cooper, who will make the trip from Queensland with leading contenders Ocean Eight and Omega Star. The Equestrian Australia CCI4*S returns with 11 entries, ranging from Olympian Shane Rose and Holy Moses to rising young talents such as Sam Jeffree with the in-form Santoro, and Lamoza Velisha aboard the imported Call Me Cooley.
The CCI3*L boasts a competitive start list of 24 combinations. Sophia Hill – who recently rode her Thoroughbred Humble Glory to a top ten finish at Kentucky Three-Day Event – saddles up Bluebell Mystery for the gelding’s first long-format three-star. Sophia will go head-to-head with several other well-known riders on up-and-coming horses, including Adelaide CCI5*L winner Oliver Barrett, Gemma Tinney, Yona Lloyd and Emma Bishop – with Andrew Cooper and Shane Rose also in the saddle again for this class.
The Off The Track CCI2*L class is another set to be hotly contested, with 42 entries, alongside a further 19 combinations in the Young Rider/Junior division. Jade Findlay, who won the MI3DE CCI4*L (then CCI3*) in 2018 with Oaks Cordelia, will debut Bloomers Dancing Dager at long-format two-star level. She will be joined by Olympian Megan Jones aboard Grandview Halo, as well as Luke Jones — best known as the architect behind much of Boneo Park’s infrastructure — highlighting how MI3DE attracts both high-level amateur riders and top professionals alike.
Olympian Shenae Lowings will ride Sandhills Shiver in the CCI2*L, and also partner with top contender Zaaki – a former Group 1 champion racehorse and last year’s MI3DE Yulong Rising Stars winner with Annabel Archibald in the saddle – in the Off The Track CCN1*L.
Designed specifically for off-the-track Thoroughbreds, the CCN1*L has expanded to a record 42 entries this year, offering an exciting glimpse of potential stars of the future.
Watch live and on-demand with Horse & Country
Horse & Country will once again livestream the action from both the cross-country and show jumping phases, allowing equestrian fans to watch live as it unfolds or catch up on demand at their convenience.
Sunday 7 June: Cross country day
In 2026 the cross-country course winds its way past the Werribee Park Open Range Zoo, the beautiful Mansion Hotel and Spa, through the stunning State Rose Garden, through the main competition arena, across the Werribee Park Polo fields and the National Equestrian Centre.
All times are AEST.
8.30am: Off The Track CCN1*L
9.50am: Off The Track CCI2*L, followed by the CCIYJ2*L
12.30pm: CCI3*L
1.50pm: Equestrian Australia CCI4*L
3.15pm: Pryde’s EasiFeed CCI4*S
Monday 8 June: Show jumping day
All times are AEST.
9.00am: Off The Track CCI2*L, followed by the CCIYJ2*
12.00pm: CCI3*L
1.30pm: Pryde’s EasiFeed CCI4*L
Time TBC following second horse inspection: Equestrian Australia CCI4*S
2.25pm: Off The Track CCN1*L
Sign up to watch Melbourne International Three-Day Event via H&C+ here.
This article was written in conjunction with Horse & Country.
