If you’re Australian, the Lexus Melbourne Cup is equivalent to the Grand National, Derby and Royal Ascot all rolled into one. It’s billed as the race that stops a nation and it’s been an increasing magnet for runners from the UK, Ireland – who had the 1-2-3 last year – and France in recent years. Winx may be the mare that’s captured all the headlines in the racing world Down Under this year but the winner of this Group 1 handicap at Flemington will also become an instant hero or heroine and pocket more than £2.3million into the bargain.
Melbourne Cup History and Trends
While a Tuesday is an unusual day on which to run the biggest race in a country’s horse racing calendar, it’s a Melboune Cup tradition that dates back to 1875, and Australians have never been slaves to conformity.
The famous ‘Fashion on the Field’, which is now an integral part of the big day for many racegoers, is more of a modern phenomenon but that has been a regular feature for more than 50 years. Four horses have won the Melbourne Cup twice but only one – Makybe Diva in 2003, 2004 and 2005 – has won it three times. Only one woman jockey has ever been successful – Michelle Payne on board Prince Of Penzance three years ago.
Recent Melbourne Cup Winners
| Year | Winner | Draw | Age | Weight | Jockey | Trainer |
| 2017 | Rekindling 16/1 | 22 | 4 | 8-0 | C Brown | J O’Brien |
| 2016 | Almandin 10/1 | 17 | 6 | 8-3 | K McEvoy | R Hickmott |
| 2015 | Prince Of Penzance 100/1 | 1 | 6 | 8-5 | M Payne | D Weir |
| 2014 | Protectionist 7/1 | 11 | 4 | 8-13 | R Moore | A Wohler |
| 2013 | Fiorente – 6/1F | 5 | 5 | 8-9 | D Oliver | G Waterhouse |
| 2012 | Green Moon – 19/1 | 5 | 5 | 8-6 | B Pebble | R Hickmott |
| 2011 | Dunaden – 17/2 | 13 | 5 | 8-8 | C Lemaire | M Delzangles |
| 2010 | Americain – 12/1 | 12 | 5 | 8-8 | G Mosse | A De Royer-Dupre |
| 2009 | Shocking – 9/1 | 21 | 4 | 8-0 | C Brown | M Kavanagh |
| 2008 | Viewed – 40/1 | 9 | 5 | 8-5 | B Shinn | B Cummings |
| 2007 | Efficient – 16/1 | 10 | 4 | 8-9 | M Rodd | G Rogerson |
| 2006 | Delta Blues – 17/1 | 11 | 5 | 8-11 | Y Iwata | K Sumii |
| 2005 | Makybe Diva – 17/5f | 14 | 7 | 9-2 | G Boss | L Freedman |
| 2004 | Makybe Diva – 13/5f | 7 | 6 | 8-11 | G Boss | L Freedman |
| 2003 | Makybe Diva – 7/1 | 15 | 5 | 8-0 | G Boss | D Hall |
| 2002 | Media Puzzle – 11/2 | 3 | 5 | 8-4 | D Oliver | D Weld |
| 2001 | Ethereal – 9/1 | 13 | 4 | 8-2 | S Seamer | S Laxon |
| 2000 | Brew – 14/1 | 24 | 6 | 7-10 | K McEvoy | M Moroney |
| 1999 | Rogan Josh – 5/1 | 21 | 7 | 7-12 | J Marshall | B Cummings |
- No horse starting from stall 18 has ever won the race, which doesn’t bode well for Who Shot Thebarman, the oldest runner in this year’s line-up
- The draw is an important factor to consider. Other barriers, or stalls, not to have fared well since 1990 include six, 12, 15, 18 and 19. The outside berths – 23 and 24- have also been ‘coffin’ boxes.
- No mare has won the race since Makyebe Diva and she was also the last to carry more than 9st to victory
- Two six-year-olds have won the race in the last 10 years but four and five-year-olds have the best record in the modern era. No three-year-old has won the race since 1941
Despite that shocking record, Godolphin have high hopes for the three-year-old Cross Counter, who won the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood before finishing second in the Great Voltigeur at York but he is only a best 8/1.
Ireland had the first three last year but only Aidan O’Brien has made the journey to the other side of the world this year. He also runs a three-year – Rostropovich – who was second in the Irish Derby in the summer and can be backed at 25/1. Ryan Moore rides Cliffs Of Moher (14/1 with 888sport) but Yucatan is the ante-post favourite (a general 5/1), despite having been no favours by the draw.
Chester Cup winner Magic Circle (8/1 with 888sport) is one of six UK-based entries and has been deliberately kept back to challenge for the massive prize money on offer in Australia’s biggest race of the year. He’ll need luck in-running but that can be said of all 24 runners on the sweeping Flemington circuit.
Muntahaa (10/1 with BetVictor) won the Ebor in August and is another that has been lightly campaigned this year – last year’s Ebor winner Nakeeta was fifth in this last year. A Prince Of Arran (a best 18/1) won at Flemington on Saturday to guarantee his place in the line-up but a second hard race in three days may be too much for Charlie Fellowes’s raider. Hughie Morrison has booked the vastly-experienced Hugh Bowman to ride Marmelo (16/1 with 888sport) but he possibly has too much weight.
VENTURA STORM is 28/1 with BetVictor and he arrives in much better form than 12 months ago when weakening off the home turn. David Hayes has trained more than 50 Group 1 winners and knows what it takes to win the Melbourne Cup. His five-year-old looks well drawn and won a Group 2 at Moonee Valley only 10 days ago. He was second in the 2016 St Leger when trained by Richard Hannon so we know he stays 2m and he should give supporters a run for their money under Mark Zahra.
Melbourne Cup Current Best Odds
Yucatan 5/1, Magic Circle and Cross Counter 8/1, Muntahaa 10/1, Best Solution 11/1, Avilius 12/1, Cliffs Of Moher 14/1, Marmelo and Youngstar 16/1, A Prince Of Arran 18/1, Finche and Rostropovich 25/1, Ventura Storm 28/1, Sound Check 33/1, Chestnut Coat, Nakeeta and Runaway 50/1, Red Cardinal and Who Shot Thebarman 66/1, Ace High 80/1, Vengeur Masque, Auvray and Sir Charles Road 100/1, Zacada 250/1
(Odds Correct at 4.30pm November 4)
