The Melbourne Cup — the race that stops the nation — is here again with a field of 24 local and international horses racing over 3200m for a whopping $8 million in prizemoney.
Here are the key things you need to know ahead of the 163rd running of the great race.
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CUP DAY LIVE: Follow all the build-up, and the big race
EARLY MELBOURNE CUP FORM GUIDE: Every runner rated
MELBOURNE CUP FORM GUIDE: Trevor Marshallsea’s verdict on every runner and predicted first four
TWO-TIME WINNER’S GUIDE: Legend Jim Cassidy runs eyes over every horse and gives tips
LEAD-UP RUNS: The pre-Cup runs you need to see, including Vauban’s jaw-dropping Royal Ascot win
CUP LATE MAIL: Latest on scratchings, changes ahead of the race
BARRIER DRAW: Full results and reaction including who got lucky
LATEST ODDS: Caulfield Cup winner firms into second favourite
CHEAT SHEET: Why every horse can – and can’t – win the lot
Vauban draws barrier 3 for Melbourne Cup | 00:45
START TIME: WHEN IS IT ON?
As always, the first Tuesday in November — this year falling on the latest possible date of the 7th. This year’s race will start at 3pm AEDT.
So that’s 3pm for Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra and Hobart. The race begins at 1.30pm if you’re in Darwin, 2pm in Brisbane and 2.30pm in Adelaide.
HOW CAN I WATCH THE MELBOURNE CUP?
Channel 10 broadcasts the Melbourne Cup Carnival including the feature race itself.
You can also live stream the race, Saturday’s barrier draw, and much more via Racing.com on Kayo, or watch via the racing channels on Foxtel.
WHO IS IN THE FIELD?
That was locked in on Saturday afternoon.
Horse (barrier) – Trainer – Jockey — Weight
1 – GOLD TRIP (2) – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – James McDonald – 58.5kg
2 – ALENQUER (9) – Michael Moroney – Damien Oliver – 56.5kg
3 – WITHOUT A FIGHT (16) – Anthony & Sam Freedman – Mark Zahra – 56.5kg
4 – BREAKUP (18) – Tatsuya Yoshioka – Kohei Matsuyama – 55kg
5 – VAUBAN (3) – Willie Mullins – Ryan Moore – 55kg
6 – SOULCOMBE (4) – Chris Waller – Joao Moreira – 53.5kg
7 – ABSURDE (8) – Willie Mullins – Zac Purton – 53kg
8 – RIGHT YOU ARE (15) – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – John Allen – 53kg
9 – VOW AND DECLARE (19) – Danny O‘Brien – Billy Egan – 53kg
SCRATCHED 10 – CLEVELAND (23) – Kris Lees – Michael Dee – 52kg
11 – ASHRUN (11) – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – Kerrin McEvoy – 51.5kg
12 – DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR (12) – Phillip Stokes – Daniel Stackhouse – 51.5kg
13 – OKITA SOUSHI (20) – Joseph O‘Brien – Dylan Gibbons (a) – 51.5kg
14 – SHERAZ (22) – Chris Waller – Beau Mertens – 51.5kg
15 – LASTOTCHKA (21) – Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) – Craig Williams – 51kg
16 – MAGICAL LAGOON (7) – Chris Waller – Mark du Plessis – 51kg
17 – MILITARY MISSION (5) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Rachel King – 51kg
18 – SERPENTINE (1) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott – Jye McNeil – 51kg
19 – VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (6) – Liam Howley – Craig Newitt – 51kg
20 – MORE FELONS (24) – Chris Waller – Jamie Kah – 50.5kg
21 – FUTURE HISTORY (13) – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – Hollie Doyle – 50kg
22 – INTERPRETATION (17) – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace – Teo Nugent – 50kg
23 – KALAPOUR (14) – Kris Lees – Zac Lloyd (a) – 50kg
24 – TRUE MARVEL (10) – Matthew Smith – Ben Thompson – 50kg
WHAT PRIZEMONEY IS ON OFFER?
A total of $8 million, the same as last year. It’s broken down as follows:
1st $4.4 million, 2nd: $1.1 million, 3rd: $550,000, 4th: $350,000, 5th: $230,000, 6th-12th: $160,000
The physical cup itself is valued at around $250,000.
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WHO WON IT LAST YEAR?
Top weight Gold Tripwon a thrilling 2022 Melbourne Cup with a powerful finish to claim just the second win of its racing career.
Ridden by Mark Zahra, the UK horse — trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace — finished powerfully and streaked away to win ahead of Geelong Cup winner Emissary, with High Emocean charging home to finish third ahead of race favourite Deauville Legend who was fourth.
It was an unbelievable moment for Zahra, who finished second in both the Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup. Zahra was denied a ride on 2021 Melbourne Cup winner Verry Elleegant because of suspension.
Gold Trip will get the chance to go back-to-back this year, although Zahra has opted to instead ride Caulfield Cup winner Without a Fight in an intriguing twist.
WHO ARE THE FAVOURITES THIS YEAR?
English import Vauban ($4.40) has been a firming favourite, turning heads with an impressive gallop at Flemington earlier this week. The Willie Mullins-trained stayer got in as short as $3.50 but has eased slightly in the past 24 hours.
It won the battle for favouritism ahead of reigning champion Gold Trip ($7.50) who won last month’s Turnbull Stakes, produced excellent runs in Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate. Without a Fight has been the big firmer among the main contenders, in to $8 ahead of UK raider Absurdewho shortened dramatically to $12. Soulcombe($11) who also impressed in the Caulfield Cup, is the fifth favourite.
LATEST ODDS (via BlueBet)
Vauban $4.40
Gold Trip $7.50
Without a Fight $8
Absurde $10
Soulcombe $11
Breakup $18
Future History $19
Lastotchka $21
Military Mission $21
Ashrun $26
Vow and Declare $26
More Felons $29
Right You Are $29
Serpentine $41
Alenquer $41
Okita Soushi $61
Kalapour $61
Daqiansweet Junior $67
Interpretation $81
Virtuous Circle $91
True Marvel $91
Sheraz $101
Magical Lagoon $101
Scratched: Cleveland
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