Last year it was Gold Trip, ridden by jockey Mark Zahra, that went on to win the Melbourne Cup from barrier 14 — becoming the seventh horse in history to do so from that position.
This year, Gold Trip will have an even more favourable barrier in No.2 as one of the big winners of Saturday’s barrier draw at Flemington Racecourse.
Meanwhile, the favourite also went home happy with Vauban drawn alongside in barrier No.3.
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EARLY MELBOURNE CUP FORM GUIDE: Every runner rated
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Now, realistically it is possible to win the race from any barrier although the odds are very much against the horse who jumps from gate 18, taken by Breakup.
That barrier is yet to produce a winner in the entire 161 years of running the race. In contrast, barrier five has yielded the most success with eight wins.
Oliver prepares for emotional farewell | 01:04
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 – 6 wins, last 2014
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
MELBOURNE CUP 2023 ORDER OF ENTRY AND BARRIERS
Ballot Order – Horse (barrier) – Trainer – Weight
1 – GOLD TRIP (2) – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – James McDonald – TBA – 58.5kg
2 – ALENQUER (9) – Michael Moroney – Damien Oliver – TBA – 56.5kg
3 – WITHOUT A FIGHT (16) – Anthony & Sam Freedman – Mark Zahra – TBA – 56.5kg
4 – BREAKUP (18) – Tatsuya Yoshioka – Kohei Matsuyama – TBA – 55kg
5 – VAUBAN (3) – Willie Mullins – Ryan Moore – TBSA – 55kg
6 – SOULCOMBE (4) – Chris Waller – Joao Moreira – TBA – 53.5kg
7 – ABSURDE (8) – Willie Mullins – Zac Purton – TBA – 53kg
8 – RIGHT YOU ARE (15) – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – John Allen – TBA – 53kg
9 – VOW AND DECLARE (19) – Danny O‘Brien – Billy Egan – TBA – 53kg
10 – CLEVELAND (23) – Kris Lees – Michael Dee – TBA – 52kg
11 – ASHRUN (11) – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – Kerrin McEvoy – TBA – 51.5kg
12 – DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR (12) – Phillip Stokes – Daniel Stackhouse – TBA – 51.5kg
13 – OKITA SOUSHI (20) – Joseph O‘Brien – Dylan Gibbons (a) – TBA – 51.5kg
14 – SHERAZ (22) – Chris Waller – Beau Mertens – TBA – 51.5kg
15 – LASTOTCHKA (21) – Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) – Craig Williams – TBA – 51kg
16 – MAGICAL LAGOON (7) – Chris Waller – Mark du Plessis – TBA – 51kg
17 – MILITARY MISSION (5) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Rachel King – TBA – 51kg
18 – SERPENTINE (1) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Jye McNeil – TBA – 51kg
19 – VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (6) – Liam Howley – Craig Newitt – TBA – 51kg
20 – MORE FELONS (24) – Chris Waller – Jamie Kah – TBA – 50.5kg
21 – FUTURE HISTORY (13) – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – Hollie Doyle – TBA – 50kg
22 – INTERPRETATION (17) – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – Teo Nugent – TBA – 50kg
23 – KALAPOUR (14) – Kris Lees – Zac Lloyd (a) – 50kg
24 – TRUE MARVEL (10) – Matthew Smith – Ben Thompson – TBA – 50kg
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