Without A Fight | Jockey: Mark Zahra | Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman
This Melbourne Cup betting guide is designed to give you the ultimate leg-up ahead of the 2024 running of the race that stops a nation, which will be held on Tuesday, November 5. Melbourne Cup betting is open all-year round but ramps up in the week leading up to the 3200m battle for stayers run at Flemington Racecourse. You can navigate our Melbourne Cup betting guide using the links on our page menu, which will advance you to the information you are seeking.
The Melbourne Cup is the pinnacle of racing in Australia and one of the most popular races for punters around the world. Considered to be “the race that stops a nation” the Melbourne Cup is held on the first Tuesday of November and attracts, not only the biggest racing crowd each year, but also the most money bet on one race.
The 2023 running of the Melbourne Cup was taken out by Without A Fight, trained by Anthony & Sam Freedman, under Mark Zahra.
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The 2024 Melbourne Cup will be run on Tuesday, November 5, with bets now being taken by Australia’s top betting sites. Melbourne Cup futures betting opens in the minutes after the running of the race each year, which allows you to place bets well in advance of the next running. This allows you to spot the talented types that can journey over 3200m and bet on them to win the Melbourne Cup, before they have even qualified, usually at extreme odds.
The more popular way to place Melbourne Cup bets is after the fields have been released. The order of entry is evolving throughout the racing season, with the best 24 horses then given a spot in the field. The Melbourne Cup barrier draw then finalises where horses will jump from and betting then really heats up. Now Melbourne Cup betting sites have more knowledge, they can frame extensive markets and begin ramping up their promotions.
In the days leading up to and on race day, you will be able to place all kinds of bet types at online bookmakers, these include win/place bets, trifectas and even things like quaddies, which allows you to bet on who will win four successive races on cup day. We’ll go into more about the bet types available at Melbourne Cup betting sites on this page.
Melbourne Cup betting is also available across mobile devices, with most Australian betting sites also having downloadable betting apps and mobile websites. This means even if you are on course at Flemington, you can take care of all your Melbourne Cup betting needs on the web
Betting on a normal day’s racing isn’t even comparable to those who punt on the Melbourne Cup.
The atmosphere, even sitting at home, is unlike anything else and Australians embrace the day like no other. For adults in Australia its as hotly looked forward to as Christmas Day.
From a punting perspective, there are a large majority of us that just like to have a runner in the office sweepstakes, but there’s nothing better than punting your hard-earned cash on your Melbourne Cup fancy.
There are multiple reasons to have a bet in the Melbourne Cup:
Firstly, the size of the pools are massive — bigger than any other pool for any other race in Australia and around the world.
What does this mean for you? Even if you’re betting only $1 in the Melbourne Cup, that $1 has already increased in value because the bigger the pool, the better your horse will pay with bookmakers.
If the pool was small, there would be less money to divided between the winning bets, but the Melbourne Cup pools exceed into the millions and this is where Melbourne Cup punters take full advantage.
Secondly, because the pools are so high, the possible payouts for players of Quaddies, Trifectas, Quinellas, Trebles and Doubles are very rewarding.
The Quaddie involving the Melbourne Cup gets into the millions and even if all four favourites win, the payouts are still profitable.
Lastly, our recommended bookmakers have a wide range of Melbourne Cup specials and promotions. Unfortunately though sign up bonuses are now banned at Australian online bookmakers following the introduction of the National Gambling Framework on May 26 2019.
They also offer refund specials, so if your selected horse doesn’t win, you can still get your money back, along with plenty more rewarding promotions.
The 2024 Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s major thoroughbred horse race, not only because of the stake money involved, but it’s a day where even those who have never punted in their life have a little flutter with the bookmakers.
The 3200-metre race is one of the longest flat races in Australia and carries a current prize purse of A$8 million with the winner being paid $4.4 million.
The prize money has steadily grown over the past 10 years due to its increase in popularity with punters. It’s punters money that drives the horse racing business and increases have seen its total prize pool shoot from $5 million in 2005 to $8 million in 2020.
The race is run at Flemington (Read: How to travel to the Melbourne Cup), Victoria’s premier race track, and the current sponsor is Lexus which supplies the winning trophies, valued at around $250,000.
For Australians, the Melbourne Cup is a public holiday which saves them from making an excuse at work. It is also a popular race in New Zealand, Europe and Asia as those three contingents usually have runners in the Melbourne Cup itself.
Having won just one race in his 15 career starts, the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Gold Trip bought up his second win on the grandest stage of them all, the Melbourne Cup. Having jumped at around $20 with most bookies, the five-year-old was aided by a peach of a steer from Mark Zahra and once he hit the front in the home straight, he hardly looked like getting gunned down. Geelong Cup winner Emissary and Bendigo Cup winner High Omecean filled the minor placings, whilst race favourite Deauville Legend finished fourth.
2022 Melbourne Cup results & dividends
Place
No.
Colours
Horse
Trainer
Jockey
Win
Place
1st
1
Gold Trip
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Mark Zahra
$19.40
$5.80
2nd
17
Emissary
Mike Moroney
Patrick Moloney
$7.40
3rd
3
High Emocean
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Teo Nugent
$9.00
4th
22
Deauville Legend
James Ferguson
Kerrin McEvoy
Quinella
$251.30
Trifecta
$16494.00
First Four
$102,785.00
2022 Melbourne Cup replay
2022 Melbourne Cup Finishing Order
2021 Melbourne Cup finishing order
Place
Silks
No.
Horse
Trainer
Jockey
Margin
Barrier
Weight
Odds
1st
1
Gold Trip
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Mark Zahra
–
14
57.5kg
$21
2nd
17
Emissary
Mike Moroney
Patrick Moloney
2L
3
51.5kg
$26
3rd
22
High Emocean
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Teo Nugent
3.25L
8
50kg
$41
4th
8
Deauville Legend
James Ferguson
Kerrin McEvoy
5L
9
55kg
$4.40F
5th
24
Realm Of Flowers
Anthony & Sam Freedman
Damien Thornton
6L
5
50kg
$8
6th
14
Daqiansweet Junior
Phillip Stokes
Daniel Moor
7.25L
12
53kg
$61
7th
19
Smokin’ Romans
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Jamie Kah
7.65L
15
51.5kg
$17
8th
9
Stockman
Joseph Pride
Sam Clipperton
7.85L
2
54kg
$16
9th
3
Knights Order
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Tim Clark
8.6L
22
55.5kg
$18
10th
10
Vow And Declare
Danny O’Brien
Blake Shinn
8.7L
4
54kg
$21
11th
16
Arapaho
Bjorn Baker
Rachel King
10.95L
18
52.5kg
$61
12th
12
Hoo Ya Mal
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Craig Williams
20.95L
14
53.5kg
$13
13th
6
Without A Fight
Simon & Ed Crisford
William Buick
21.15L
17
55.5kg
$12
14th
15
Grand Promenade
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Harry Coffey
21.35L
1
53kg
$71
15th
11
Young Werther
Danny O’Brien
Damian Lane
22.85L
19
54kg
$31
16th
4
Montefilia
David Payne
Jason Collett
23.05L
11
55.5kg
$9.50
17th
20
Tralee Rose
Symon Wilde
Dean Yendall
30.05L
20
51.5kg
$51
18th
2
Duais
Edward Cummings
Hugh Bowman
38.05L
10
55.5kg
$21
19th
5
Numerian
Annabel Neasham
Tommy Berry
73.05L
7
55.5kg
$61
20th
13
Serpentine
Robert Hickmott
John Allen
99L
21
53.5kg
$31
21st
7
Camorra
Ben & JD Hayes
Ben Melham
99L
16
55kg
$41
FF
23
Interpretation
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Craig Newitt
N/A
6
50kg
$51
🚫
18
Lunar Flare
Grahame Begg
Michael Dee
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
🚫
21
Point Nepean
Robert Hickmott
Wayne Lordan
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Incentivise came into the 2021 Melbourne Cup as one of the best-backed favourites in the race’s history, but he could only manage second place as Verry Elleegant saluted with a terrific run from midfield. It was the first Melbourne Cup win for both jockey James McDonald and trainer Chris Waller, with the great mare bringing up her 10th Group 1 victory. International chance Spanish Mission ran third, while Floating Artist filled out the top four.
2021 Melbourne Cup results & dividends
Place
No.
Colours
Horse
Trainer
Jockey
Win
Place
1st
4
Verry Elleegant
Chris Waller
James McDonald
$16.50
$4.50
2nd
2
Incentivise
Peter Moody
Brett Prebble
$2
3rd
3
Spanish Mission
Andrew Balding
Craig Williams
$3.30
4th
22
Floating Artist
C Maher & D Eustace
Teo Nugent
Quinella
$18.60
Trifecta
$356.10
First Four
$4829.70
2021 Melbourne Cup Finishing Order
2021 Melbourne Cup finishing order
Place
Silks
No.
Horse
Trainer
Jockey
Margin
Barrier
Weight
Odds
1st
4
Verry Elleegant
Chris Waller
James McDonald
–
18
57kg
$16
2nd
2
Incentivise
Peter Moody
Brett Prebble
4L
15
57kg
$2.80
3rd
3
Spanish Mission
Andrew Balding
Craig Williams
4.4L
14
57kg
$10
4th
22
Floating Agent
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Teo Nugent
4.6L
10
50kg
$11
5th
6
The Chosen One
Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman
Damian Lane
10.6L
5
54kg
$31
6th
16
Grand Promenade
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Kerrin McEvoy
12.6L
20
52kg
$15
7th
7
Delphi
Anthony & Sam Freedman
Damien Oliver
13.35L
3
53.5kg
$18
8th
23
Selino
Chris Waller
Ron Stewart
13.45L
23
53.5kg
$81
9th
21
Tralee Rose
Symon Wilde
Dean Holland
16.7L
12
51kg
$23
10th
19
She’s Ideel
Bjorn Baker
Craig Newitt
17.2L
19
52kg
$126
11th
1
Twilight Payment
Joseph O’Brien
Jye McNeil
19.45L
2
58kg
$14
12th
17
Miami Bound
Danny O’Brien
Patrick Moloney
21.45L
16
52kg
$126
13th
23
Great House
Chris Waller
Michael Dee
21.85L
7
50kg
$26
14th
24
Sir Lucan
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Glen Boss
21.95L
18
50kg
$26
15th
5
Explosive Jack
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
John Allen
23.2L
4
54kg
$51
16th
14
Master Of Wine
Team Hawkes
Fred Kersley
24.2L
6
52.5kg
$101
17th
15
Pondus
Robert Hickmott
Rachel King
24.6L
1
52.5kg
$20
18th
13
Carif
Peter & Paul Snowden
Blaike McDougall
25.35L
8
52.5kg
$101
19th
11
Knights Order
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Daniel Stackhouse
25.65L
9
53kg
$81
20th
12
Persan
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Luke Currie
28.9L
11
53kg
$34
21st
18
Port Guillaume
Ben & JD Hayes
Harry Coffey
33.15L
23
52kg
$126
22nd
10
Johnny Get Angry
Denis Pagan
Lachlan King
41.15L
22
53kg
$91
23rd
8
Ocean Billy
Chris Waller
Damien Thornton
53.15L
13
53.5kg
$31
🚫
14
Future Score
Matt Cumani
Dean Yendall
15
51.5kg
2021 Melbourne Cup replay
Twilight Payment took out the 2020 Melbourne Cup in impressive fashion for Joseph O’Brien, with his father, Aidan O’Brien, training the second-placed Tiger Moth. Twilight Payment, which had finished 11th the year before, was guided by Jye McNeil and took the lead almost immediately. Prince Of Arran finished third for a third successive year, while The Chosen One finished fourth.
2020 Melbourne Cup Results & Dividends
Place
No.
Colours
Horse
Trainer
Jockey
Win
Place
1st
6
Twilight Payment
Jospeh O’Brien
Jye McNeil
$27.20
$8.10
2nd
21
Tiger Moth
Aidan O’Brien
Kerrin McEvoy
$2.90
3rd
12
Prince Of Arran
Charlie Fellowes
Jamie Kah
$3.20
4th
17
The Chosen One
M Baker & A Forsman
Daniel Stackhouse
Quinella
$97.20
Trifecta
$1,806.900
First Four
$38,939.00
2020 Melbourne Cup Replay
2020 Melbourne Cup Finishing Order
2020 Melbourne Cup finishing order
Place
Silks
No.
Horse
Trainer
Jockey
Margin
Barrier
Weight
Odds
1st
6
Twilight Payment
Joseph O’Brien
Jye McNeil
12
55.5kg
$26
2nd
21
Tiger Moth
Aidan O’Brien
Kerrin McEvoy
0.4L
22
54kg
$6.50
3rd
12
Prince Of Arran
Charlie Fellowes
Jamie Kah
0.6L
1
54.5kg
$9.50
4th
17
The Chosen One
Muuray Baker & Andrew Forsman
Daniel Stackhouse
2.35L
5
53kg
$41
5th
24
Persan
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Michael Dee
2.45L
19
51kg
$41
6th
5
Sir Dragonet
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Glen Boss
3.45L
14
55.5kg
$14
7th
7
Verry Elleegant
Chris Waller
Mark Zahra
3.85L
15
55.5kg
$10
8th
15
Russian Camelot
Danny O’Brien
Damien Oliver
3.95L
16
53.5kg
$13
9th
11
Finche
Chris Waller
James McDonald
4.7L
6
54.5kg
$21
10th
18
Ashrun
Andreas Wohler
Declan Bates
4.8L
23
53kg
$26
11th
22
Oceanex
Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
Dean Yendall
5.55L
17
51.5kg
$81
12th
19
Warning
Anthony & Sam Freedman
Luke Currie
6.8L
8
53kg
$41
13th
13
Surprise Baby
Paul Preusker
Craig Williams
8.8L
7
54.5kg
$6.50
14th
23
Miami Bound
Danny O’Brien
Ben Melham
10.55L
13
51kg
$41
15th
4
Master Of Reality
Joseph O’Brien
Ben Melham
10.75L
11
51kg
$41
16th
16
Raymond Tusk
Anthony & Sam Freedman
William Pike
10.95L
20
53.5kg
$31
17th
20
Etah James
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Billy Egan
12.7L
21
52.5kg
$101
18th
3
Vow And Declare
Danny O’Brien
Jamie Mott
13.95L
4
55kg
$61
19th
8
Mustajeer
C Maher & D Eustace
Michael Rodd
14.95L
2
55kg
$101
20th
9
Stratum Albion
Willie Mullins
Jordan Childs
17.95L
9
55kg
$31
21st
10
Dashing Willoughby
Andrew Balding
Michael Walker
19.2L
18
54.5kg
$101
22nd
2
Avilius
James Cummings
John Allen
20.95L
10
57kg
$61
Last
1
Anthony Van Dyck
Aidan O’Brien
Hugh Bowman
DNF
3
58.5kg
$10
🚫
14
King Of Leogrance
Danny O’Brien
Damian Lane
16
55kg
2019 Melbourne Cup – Vow And Declare wins one back for the Aussies
The 2019 will be marked in history as the cup where one of only two Australian horses held off the international invasion, aided by one of the greatest rides in Melbourne Cup history by Craig Williams.
Vow And Declare, trained by Danny O’Brien on the comeback trail after winning an appeal against a four year disqualification for cobalt; defied Prince Of Arran, the very unlucky Il Paradiso and Master Of Reality in one of the slowest run Melbourne Cups in recent history.
Aided by a masterful ride from Craig Williams to get Vow And Declare over from barrier 23 and on the rail, the leading division throttled the pace and gave nothing from the back a chance of hitting the line. Williams gave Vow And Declare one of his greatest ever rides to hug the rail, and it proved the winning move as runners outside him shifted in and out in the final stages allowing Vow And Declare to maintain momentum and score the narrowest of Melbourne Cup victories. Just under half a length separated the first four horses over the line, and less the one and a half lengths covered the first eight home.
Frankie Dettori was second over the line on Master Of Reality but was relegated to fourth after Il Paradiso successfully protested against the second place getter due to the interference suffered in the shadows of the post that almost certainly cost Il Paradiso the win.
2019 Melbourne Cup Results & Dividends
Place
No.
Colours
Horse
Trainer
Jockey
Win
Place
1st
23
Vow And Declare
Danny O’Brien
Craig Williams
$11.70
$3.90
2nd
12
Prince Of Arran
Charlie Fellowes
Michael Walker
$4.60
3rd
20
Il Paradiso
Aidan O’Brien
Wayne Lordan
$6.80
4th
3
Master Of Reality
Joseph O’Brien
Frankie Dettori
Quinella
$82.40
Trifecta
$2,953.40
First Four
$79,381.00
*Across the line 23,3,12,20. Protest 4th vs 2nd due to intererference in the last 100m upheld.
2019 Melbourne Cup Replay
2019 Melbourne Cup finishing order
2019 Melbourne Cup finishing order
Place
Silks
No.
Horse
Trainer
Jockey
Margin
Barrier
Weight
Odds
1st
23
Vow And Declare
Danny O’Brien
Craig Williams
23
52kg
$12
2nd
12
Prince Of Arran
Charlie Fellowes
Michael Walker
0.2L
8
54kg
$17
3rd
20
Il Paradiso
Aidan O’Brien
Wayne Lordan
0.3L
17
52.5kg
$15
4th
3
Master Of Reality
Joseph O’Brien
Frankie Detorri
0.4L
1
55.5kg
$26
5th
18
Surprise Baby
Paul Preusker
Jordan Childs
0.9L
20
52.5kg
$12
6th
2
Mer De Glace
Hisashi Shimizu
Damian Lane
1.2L
2
56kg
$9.50
7th
11
Finche
Chris Waller
Kerrin McEvoy
1.4L
4
54kg
$8.50
8th
1
Cross Counter
Charlie Appleby
William Buick
1.6L
5
57.5kg
$13
9th
21
Steel Prince
Anthony Freedman
Brett Prebblk
2.1L
16
52.5kg
$61
10th
15
Magic Wand
Aidan O’Brien
Ryan Moore
3.6L
24
53.5kg
$26
11th
10
Twilight Money
Joseph O’Brien
Hugh Bowman
3.8L
19
55kg
$41
12th
17
Sound
Mike Moroney
James Winks
3.9L
10
53.5kg
$91
13th
19
Constantinople
D & B Hayes & T Dabernig
Joao Moreira
4.1L
7
52.5kg
$9.50
14th
4
Mirage Dancer
T Busuttin & N Young
Ben Melham
4.3L
13
55.5kg
$51
15th
6
Hunting Horn
Aidan O’Brien
Seamie Heffernan
4.5L
11
55kg
$51
16th
13
Raymond Tusk
Richard Hannon
Jamie Spencer
5L
3
54kg
$21
17th
22
The Chosen One
M Baker & A Forsman
Tim Clark
5.2L
18
52kg
$31
18th
7
Latrobe
Joseph O’Brien
James McDonald
6.45L
22
55kg
$21
19th
5
Southern France
C Maher & D Eustace
Mark Zahra
6.55L
14
55.5kg
$26
20th
24
Youngstar
Chris Waller
Tommy Berry
7.3L
9
52kg
$31
21st
16
Neufbosc
D & B Hayes & T Dabernig
Luke Nolen
8.3L
23
53.5kg
$101
22nd
14
Downdraft
Joseph O’Brien
John Allen
8.6L
15
53.5kg
$21
23rd
8
Mustajeeer
Kris Lees
Damien Oliver
10.85L
6
55kg
$19
Last
9
Rostropovich
D & B Hayes & T Dabernig
Dwayne Dunn
40.85
12
55kg
$41
2019 Melbourne Cup odds
After the call of the card on Monday, Finche has taken over as Melbourne Cup 2019 favourite; ahead of Japanese Caulfield Cup winner Mer De Glace.
Online bookmaker Ladbrokes has the latest winner as the $15 favourite to go back-to-back in the race that stops a nation.
2018 will forever be remembered as the year Great Britain came to the Melbourne Cup party.
Cross Counter helped the mother country win its first Cup, while Marmelo and Prince of Arran (also trained in England) filled out the first three positions, while Finche, also trained in Great Britain, was fourth and Rostropovich (Irish) placed fifth.
The highest-placed Aussie was Chris Waller-trained Youngstar, which finished sixth.
Pre-race favourites Magic Circle (16th), Avilius (22nd) and Best Solution (8th) failed to make an impression.
2017: Who would have thought an O’Brien-trained Melbourne Cup win would have the name Joseph rather than Aiden? The 2017 Melbourne Cup was an all family affair heading into the straight as Lloyd Williams-owned pair Rekindling and Johannes Vermeer pulled away in the latter stages of the race. It was the 24-year-old O’Brien who toppled his father with Rekindling, becoming the first father and son team to train the winner and second placed runner in the Cup.
2016: Almandin offered punters plenty of value despite getting plenty of attention in the days leading up to the Cup. Trained by Robert Hickmott, a former Melbourne footballer, and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the six year old gelding sat midfield for most of the race before joining a wall of challengers. Pre-race favourite Hartnell hit the front on the straight, but Almandin powered home to beat Irish stayer Heartbreak City. Read a full report here.
2016 Melbourne Cup result & dividends
Place
Colours
Horse
Trainer
Jockey
Win
Place
1st
Almandin
Robert Hickmott
Kerrin McEvoy
$11.80
$4.40
2nd
Heartbreak City
Tony Martin
Joao Moreira
$6.20
3rd
Hartnell
John O’Shea
James McDonald
$2.80
4th
Qewy
Charlie Appelby
Craig Williams
Quinella
$119.80
Trifecta
$1,232.70
First Four
$26,487.10
2016 Melbourne Cup finishing order
Place
Silks
No.
Horse
Trainer
Jockey
Margin
Barrier
Weight
Odds
1
17
Almandin (GER)
Robert Hickmott
Kerrin McEvoy
17
52kg
$11
2
13
Heartbreak City (FR)
Tony Martin
Joao Moreira
0.2L
23
54kg
$19
3
6
Hartnell (GB)
John O’Shea
James McDonald
4.45L
12
56kg
$5.50F
4
23
Qewy (IRE)
Charlie Appleby
Craig Williams
6.7L
15
51.5kg
$21
5
7
Who Shot Thebarman (NZ)
Chris Waller
Hugh Bowman
6.8L
20
56kg
$26
6
9
Almoonqith (USA)
David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
Michael Walker
6.9L
19
54.5kg
$31
7
16
Beautiful Romance (GB)
Saeed Bin Suroor
Damian Lane
7.9L
1
52.5kg
$71
8
5
Exospheric (GB)
Lee & Anthony Freedman
Damien Oliver
8.65L
13
56kg
$21
9
22
Pentathlon (NZ)
John Wheeler
Mark Du Plessis
9.4L
4
51.5kg
$81
10
1
Big Orange (GB)
Michael Bell
James Spencer
9.5L
7
57kg
$14
11
11
Grand Marshal (GB)
Chris Waller
Ben Melham
9.8L
9
54.5kg
$31
12
20
Oceanographer (GB)
Charlie Appleby
Chad Schofield
10L
11
52kg
$9
13
4
Bondi Beach (IRE)
Aidan O’Brien
Ryan Moore
10.75L
5
56kg
$13
14
19
Grey Lion (IRE)
Matt Cumani
Glen Boss
13.75L
16
52kg
$41
15
12
Jameka
Ciaron Maher
Nicholas Hall
13.95L
3
54.5kg
$8.50
16
15
Excess Knowledge(GB)
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Vlad Duric
15.7L
21
53.5kg
$61
17
2
Our Ivanhowe (GER)
Lee & Anthony Freedman
Dwayne Dunn
15.8L
6
57kg
$51
18
14
Sir John Hawkwood (IRE)
John P Thompson
Blake Spriggs
20.8L
14
54kg
$81
19
18
Assign (IRE)
Robert Hickmott
Ms Katelyn Mallyon
20.9L
22
52kg
$51
20
10
Gallante (IRE)
Robert Hickmott
Blake Shinn
22.15L
2
54.5kg
$51
21
21
Secret Number (GB)
Saeed Bin Suroor
Stephen Baster
22.35L
10
52kg
$31
22
8
Wicklow Brave (GB)
William Mullins
Frankie Dettori
24.35L
24
56kg
$16
23
3
Curren Mirotic (JPN)
Osamu Hirata
Tommy Berry
27.35L
18
56.5kg
$51
24
24
Rose Of Virginia (NZ)
Lee & Shannon Hope
Ben E Thompson (a)
99.9L
8
51kg
$61
2015: Michelle Payne became the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup, when she guided Prince of Penzance to a historic victory. The win catapulted Payne into international stardom and highlighted just how unpredictable the world’s best staying race can be. The $101 outsider, which was trained by a stunned Darren Weir, beat home English stayer Max Dynamite ($13) and weight-for-age ace Criterion ($19). Remarkably Prince Of Penzance was the longest priced winner, ever, of the Melbourne Cup. The race was also notable as the last for grand old stayer Red Cadeux, who pulled up distressed, and was eventually euthanised.
2014: Protectionist claimed this year’s Melbourne Cup for Germany, with the Andreas Wohler trained star streeting a tired field to win by three lengths. Jockey Ryan Moore put on a masterclass, settling the horse nicely before avoiding traffic and eventually timing a run to perfection. The race was marred by the death of two horses with pre-race favourite Admire Rakti perishing in his stalls after the race, while Araldo was euthanised after breaking a leg. Remarkably Red Cadeaux finished second for a third time after hitting the lead in the straight. Who Shot Thebarman ran third while Signoff came in fourth.
Fiorente gave the Queen Of The Turf Gai Waterhouse her first Melbourne Cup victory, in the process becoming the first female to train a Cup winner. Red Cadeaux finished second, a second time, after a runner up in 2011. Mount Athos ran third. But it was all about Waterhouse, jockey Damien Oliver and the marvellous Fiorente. It was Olly’s third Melbourne Cup and put to bed a horror 18 months where he was found guilty and ultimately suspended for betting on a rival horse.
2012: Green Moon
Trainer Robert Hickmott
Jockey Brett Prebble
2011: Dunaden
Trainer Mikel Delzangles
Jockey Christophe Lemaire
2010: Americain
Trainer Alain de Royer Dupre
Jockey Gerarld Mosse
2009: Shocking
Trainer Mark Kavanagh
Jockey Corey Brown
Famous owner Lloyd Williams won his fourth Melbourne Cup in 2012, when Green Moon saluted, paying $20. Williams had imported the horse specifically from England to win a Melbourne Cup and his decisions paid of in spades, with Brett Prebble expertly steering it home ahead of Fiorente ($31) and Jakkalberry ($81). All three of the placings were imported horses. The winner was trained by former AFL footballer Robert Hickmott. Pre-race favourite Dunaden found trouble early and never got into the race.
Dunaden saluted in one of the most thrilling Melbourne Cup’s in recent history, with the French horse, the second favourite at $8.20, beating out English horse Red Cadeaux, who was to go on and create a remarkable bit of history in the great race in later years, by a whisker. After a pulsating finish, German horse Lucas Cranach rounded out the placings, consigning Australian horses to the scrap heap.
It would have been more fitting if an Australian-horse won the 150th Cup, but it was not to be, with USA-bred and French trained Americain saluting. One of the top elects, powered home with a nice turn of speed to win ahead of light weight Maluckyday and favourite So You think. The six-year-old was ridden by Gerald Mosse and trained by Alain de Royer-Dupre had solid lead up form, winning the Geelong Cup several weeks before.
Melbourne Cup history
The Melbourne Cup was first run in 1861 when it was won by Archer. The six-year-old trained by Etienne de Mestre came back the following year and won it again. Unfortunately, Archer was scratched in the 1863 Melbourne Cup due to a technicality when its acceptance papers didn’t arrive in time.
Archer was unable to complete the hat-trick and was retired and returned to its owners where it had been foaled, but this horse will forever be remembered in Melbourne Cup history.
Archer set the standard for Melbourne Cup horses and there have been a couple that have won consecutive Melbourne Cups (Think Big 1974/75 and Rain Lover 1968/69), but not even the great Phar Lap was able to achieve what Archer had done.
There has been one horse in recent history that has surpassed what Archer paved the way for back in the late 1900s, and that was when the feel-good story Makybe Diva won three consecutive Melbourne Cups, starting in 2003 and ending in 2005.
The Lee Freedman-trained mare was ridden by Glen Boss in all three starts and it gave the group of owners, in which the horse was named after, a great thrill. In winning three consecutive Melbourne Cups, Makybe Diva elapsed New Zealand’s Sunline as the highest grossing horse in Australian racing history.
Melbourne Cup timeline
There have been plenty of changes over the course of history in the Melbourne Cup carnival. Listed below are the majors changes which have shaped the race we all love a punt on.
1869: Four day Spring Racing carnival was introduced (encompassing Derby Day, Oaks, Emirate Stakes and Melbourne Cup).
1876: Peter St. Albans was the youngest jockey to win the Cup (12 years, 11 months and 23 days.)
1882:The first bookmakers were licensed at Flemington. (Now punters can bet either at Flemington, or in the comfort of their own home with the many off-course bookmakers we recommend).
1896: The Melbourne Cup was first filmed. The race was won by Newhaven.
1958: The first Cup to be run using starting stalls
1987: First female jockey to ride in the Cup was Maree Lyndon.
1990: Kingston Town sets the existing race record.
1993: Vintage Crop becomes the first ‘international raider’ to win the Melbourne Cup.
2003: First Australian female rider to ride was Clair Lindop aboard Debben.
2005: Makybe Diva become the first horse to win it three times.
2010: Americain became the first French-trained horse to win.
2015: Michelle Payne becomes the first female jockey to win the great race, guiding Prince of Penzance home at huge odds.
2017: Joseph O’Brien at the age of 24 becomes the youngest trainer in history to win the Melbourne Cup with the Lloyd Williams-owned Rekindling.
2018: After 30 years and millions of dollars invested, Cross Counter finally lands a Melbourne Cup for team Godolphin.
2019: Vow And Declare, one of only two Australian horses in the race; wins the Melbourne Cup for trainer Danny O’Brien who is on the comeback trail after winning appeals against a four year disqualification stemming from the Cobalt inquiries.
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Melbourne Cup statistics and records
Listed below are some of the credited records and results over the years for the Melbourne Cup. These feature most wins, winning time and the longest odds paid by a winner. To get the complete picture read our full Melbourne Cup Statistics guide which includes a plethora or facts and figures from the races inception right through to today.
3 – Makybe Diva (2003, 2004, 2005)
2 – Think Big (1974, 1975)
2 – Rain Lover (1968, 1969)
2 – Peter Pan (1932, 1934)
2 – Archer (1861, 1862)
4 – Bobby Lewis (1902, 1915, 1919, 1927)
4 – Harry White (1974, 1975, 1978, 1979)
Bart Cummings is the godfather of Australian Cups racing with 12 Melbourne Cup wins. Starting with Light Fingers ridden by the great Roy Higgins in 1965, Cummings has made the Melbourne Cup his own.
His most recent win came with outsider Viewed which paid a massive price of $41, but his most memorable wins came with Saintly (1996), Let’s Elope (1991) and Think Big’s back-to-back victories in the mid-70s.
5 – Etienne de Mestre (1861, 1862, 1867, 1877, 1878)
5 – Lee Freedman (1989, 1992, 1995, 2004, 2005) – David Hall trained Makybe Diva for its 2003 Melbourne Cup win.
6 – Lloyd Williams
4 – John Tait
4 – Eitenne de Mestre
4 – Dato Tan Chin Nam (most notably with Saintly in 1996 and Viewed in 2008)
Lloyd Williams is a perennial Melbourne Cup supporter and there’s rarely a Melbourne Cup run without one of his horses lining up.
His first success came in 1981 with Just a Dash which was trained by the legendary T J Smith (Gai Waterhouse’s father). He didn’t wait long for this second success which came in 1985 with What A Nuisance.
Twenty-two years later Williams was back in winning action at Flemington when the Graeme Rogerson-trained Efficient scored the win as a four-year-old.
Just five years later, the now retired Green Moon scored as a six-year-old with Brett Prebble in the saddle.
Williams scored his fifth Melbourne Cup win in 2016 with European import Almandin. That gave the famous owner the Melbourne Cup record of most wins by an owner. Just one year later Williams took his Melbourne Cup tally to six after Rekindled saluted for young gun trainer Joseph O’Brien.
Record winning time: 3.16.30 Kingston Rule (1990) Widest winning margin: eight lengths by Archer in 1862 and Rain Lover in 1968 Heaviest weight carried by winner Carbine (66kg) and Makybe Diva holds the record for a mare with 58kg in 2005. Phar Lap carried the heaviest weight of all time in 1931 where it finished eighth. That now equates to 68kg. Longest odds winners Four horses have won paying $100. The Pearl (1871), Wotan (1936), Old Rowley (1940) and Prince Of Penzance in 2015. Shortest odds winners Phar Lap at 8/11 ($1.73) in 1930. Fewest runners 7 (1863) Most runners 39 (1890). Fields are now limited to a maximum of 24 runners for safety concerns.
GETON is not a bonus code and does not grant access to additional offers. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. New customers only. #ad
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