Tweenhills-bred Middle Earth 3rd in Melbourne Cup

Three Tweenhills-born, raised and grazed horses lined up in the 2025 Gr.1 Melbourne Cup, namely half-brothers Buckaroo and Middle Earth, and Valiant King. Middle Earth ran a stormer to finish 3^rd at Flemington, collecting AU$560,000 for his connections. 

Middle Earth was born at Tweenhills on March 20^th 2020, the product of a mating between our stallion Roaring Lion and Listed-winning Galileo mare Roheryn. Roheryn has also produced Buckaroo – who unfortunately finish last in this year’s Melbourne Cup – whilst Middle Earth shares his sire with Valiant King. 

Middle Earth was one of the slowest from the stalls but soon found his way into midfield under Ethan Brown. In order to avoid being caught too wide, Brown then moved Middle Earth up a few places, so he sat in 9^th after 400m. 

Brown began to ask Middle Earth for his effort 500m out, ended up posted wide but travelling powerfully and having eventual runner-up Goodie Two Shoes in his sights. It briefly looked like Middle Earth would hit the front 300m out but he could only get to Goodie Two Shoes’ quarters, and she was then passed by Half Yours who would win by 2¾ lengths. 

Brown said: “He ran great. This is obviously his trip, he showed his true colours today, he’s going to be a much better horse next prep, that’ll toughen him up but he couldn’t have run much better.”

Middle Earth is trained by Ciaron Maher, whilst Gr.1 Cox Plate runner-up Buckaroo and Gr.3 Bart Cummings winner Valiant King race for Chris Waller. We are so proud to have bred and raised them at Tweenhills.