Derby Day marks the start of the bumper Melbourne Cup Carnival at Flemington. It’s also the day the all-important barrier draw for the race that stops the nation is conducted.
Barriers will be determined not long after the final race has been run and won on Saturday afternoon.
This year, horses will cross the line in Race 9 at roughly 5:45pm AEDT. It’s expected the barrier draw will be undertaken around 30 minutes later at 6:15pm AEDT.
There aren’t many races in the world where the barrier draw is as crucial as the Melbourne Cup, considering the size of the field (24 horses) and the 3200-metre distance.
History suggests that the hopes are dashed for whichever horse draws 18, given no horse has ever won a Melbourne Cup from that gate.
Barrier 5 has been the most successful barrier, with eight horses winning when jumping from that gate, although the most recent winner was Fiorente in 2013.
MOST SUCCESSFUL CUP BARRIERS
Barrier 5 – 8 wins, last in 2013
Barrier 11 – 7 wins, last in 2010
Barrier 14 – 7 wins, last in 2022
Barrier 10 – 7 wins, last 2023
Barrier 8 – 5 wins, last in 2008
LEAST SUCCESSFUL CUP BARRIERS
Barrier 18 – 0 wins
Barrier 7 – 2 wins, in 1924 and 2015
Barrier 15 – 1 win, in 1973
At this stage, 28 horses remain in the Melbourne Cup Order of Entry.
1. Just Fine (IRE) 53kg Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
2. The Map 50kg Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray
3. Vauban (FR) 55.5kg Willie Mullins
4. Circle Of Fire (GB) 54.5kg Ciaron Maher
5. Buckaroo (GB) 54.5kg Chris Waller
6. Warp Speed (JPN) 54.5kg Noboru Takagi
7. Zardozi 51.5kg James Cummings
8. Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) 53.5kg Graeme & Deborah Rogerson
9. Kovalica (NZ) 53.5kg Chris Waller
10. Land Legend (FR) 53kg Chris Waller
11. Absurde (FR) 52.5kg Willie Mullins
12. Athabascan (FR) 52kg John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
13. Mahrajaan (USA) 52kg Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray
14. Knight’s Choice 51.5kg John Symons & Sheila Laxon
15. Okita Soushi (IRE) 51kg Ciaron Maher
16. Onesmoothoperator (USA) 51kg Brian Ellison
17. Sea King 50 kgs H Eustace
18. Valiant King (GB) 50.5kg Chris Waller
19. Interpretation (IRE) 50kg Ciaron Maher
20. Fancy Man (IRE) 50kg Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
21. Mostly Cloudy (IRE) 50kg Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
22. Positivity (NZ) 50kg Andrew Forsman
23. Trust In You (NZ) 50kg Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley
24. Saint George (GB) 50kg Ciaron Maher
25. Manzoice 50kg Chris Waller
26. Kinesiology (GB) 50kg Jessica Harrington
27. Francesco Guardi 52 kgs Chris Waller
28. Waltham 50 kgs Matthew Smith
FOLLOW THE MELBOURNE CUP BARRIER DRAW IN THE LIVE BLOG BELOW!
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