“The race that stops the nation,” Australia’s Melbourne Cup, packs history and international repute into its two-mile journey when 24 runners battle for $5.3 million. It’s Race 7 on the card at Flemington Racecourse with a post time of 11 pm ET in the US.
1/ST BET and Xpressbet players can earn 20X 1/ST Rewards Points when they play any of the races from Flemington on the Melbourne Cup Day program.
Let’s meet the contenders for the prestigious Melbourne Cup:
#1-Gold Trip (9-2)
Defending champion of the Melbourne Cup has earned $4.7 million and has danced the nation’s big dances in 2003, including the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate, but does his best running here at Flemington. Trainers Claron Maher & David Eustace seek back-to-back success in the Cup after Gold Trip won last year. Lee Freedman (2004-’05) was the last to train consecutive Melbourne Cup champs. Jockey James McDonald won the 2021 Cup.
#2-Alenquer (65-1)
French-bred has missed the mark in 8 straight off-the-board finishes since his last win in May 2022. Legendary Aussie jockey Damien Olivier has won the Cup 3 times, most recently in 2013. Trainer Mike Moroney has a 2000 Cup to his trophy case.
#3-Without a Fight (9-2)
Hero of the Caulfield Cup looks to improve on last year’s 13th-place finish in this race, and brings improved form to the fight. Jockey Mark Zahra goes for back-to-back Melbourne Cup wins after piloting Gold Trip to victory a year ago, but changes seats this year. No rider has won consecutive editions since Glen Boss’ three-peat that ended in 2005.
#4-Breakup (12-1)
Japanese stayer stretches out in trip after a return eighth in the Caulfield Cup while making first Australian start. No match for superstar Equinox in his homeland, but few have been. Japan found glory in the Melbourne Cup in 2006 with Delta Blues.
#5-Vauban (9-2)
International riding superstar Ryan Moore won the Breeders’ Cup Turf on Saturday aboard Auguste Rodin and has a 2014 Melbourne Cup to his credit. Two-mile specialist over the hurdles exits back-to-back flat wins over shorter trips at UK’s Ascot and Naas in preparation for this.
#6-Soulcombe (17-2)
Third in the Turnbull at Flemington behind return rival Gold Trip and seventh most recently in the Caulfield Cup, the Melbourne Cup’s distance will be the challenge for the son of the great Frankel. Jockey Joao Moreira seeks his first Melbourne Cup in a career steeped in international success. Trainer Chris Waller goes for a second Cup victory in three years, having won in 2021.
#7-Absurde (22-1)
UK raider has been away since an August victory at York and makes the southern venture alongside Willie Mullins yardmate Vauban. No match for that one when they met at Ascot.
#8-Right You Are (39-1)
Off the board in all 3 recent Group 1 bids, unable to keep pace with return rivals Gold Trip, Without a Fight and others. Trainers Claron Maher & David Eustace seek back-to-back success in the Cup after Gold Trip won last year. Lee Freedman (2004-’05) was the last to train consecutive Melbourne Cup champs.
#9-Vow and Declare (25-1)
The 2019 Melbourne Cup winner is the senior member of this field at age 8, and note only three 8-year-olds have won this race all-time (Twilight Payment in 2020 the first since 1938). Trainer Danny O’Brien looks for his second career Cup with this $4.5 million earner whose recent form puts him right in the mix.
#10-Cleveland (25-1)
Irish export has been an Aussie mainstay this year and exits victory in the Moonee Valley Cup. Has failed to land a Group 1, however, and was 16th over the 2-mile trip at Randwick in April’s Sydney Cup.
#11-Ashrun (25-1)
Tenth here a year ago at 26-1 odds, the 7-year-old returns off a similar local prep, but a far lighter seasonal campaign totally just three starts. Jockey Kerrin McEvoy seeks a fourth Melbourne Cup, having won in 2000, 2016 and 2018. Trainers Claron Maher & David Eustace seek back-to-back success in the Cup after Gold Trip won last year. Lee Freedman (2004-’05) was the last to train consecutive Melbourne Cup champs.
#12-Daqiansweet Junior (49-1)
Outran 61-1 odds in this race last year to finish credible sixth, but has not finished in the money over his last 9 starts, dating back to the 2022 Sydney Cup over this 2-mile trip. New Zealand-bred arguably at his best over the Cup distance.
#13-Okita Soushi (99-1)
No-match 12th at 26-1 in the Caulfield Cup, this 5-year-old son of international star sire Galileo has yet to win at the group stakes level. Trainer Joseph O’Brien has enjoyed Melbourne Cup success in 2017 and 2020.
#14-Sheraz (79-1)
Six-year-old season has not gone to plan with four off-the-board finishes at lesser levels. The 2022 Sydney Cup runner-up over 2 miles hasn’t been the same since. Trainer Chris Waller goes for a second Cup victory in three years, having won in 2021.
#15-Lastotchka (20-1)
French 4-year-old filly makes his first Australian foray having won a Group 3 at Longchamp just a shade under the Melbourne Cup distance last time out. Multiple Group 2-placed in her native land. Jockey Craig Williams won this race in 2019.
#16-Magical Lagoon (79-1)
The 2022 Group 1 Irish Oaks winner by Galileo has made her new home all season in Australia with little success. She’s been off the board in all five starts this year. Trainer Chris Waller goes for a second Cup victory in three years, having won in 2021.
#17-Military Mission (39-1)
Legendary Aussie trainer Gai Waterhouse won her first and only Melbourne Cup in 2013 with Fiorente. Mastercraftsman gelding has won two of his last three and was competitive at the Group 1 level at Randwick in September. English-born jockey Rachel King scored success in the 2-mile Sydney Cup last year over this trip and also won last month’s Group 1 Metropolitan.
#18-Serpentine (39-1)
The 2020 Group 1 Epsom Derby winner looks to get back on the world stage at age 6. This Galileo gelding raced for Aidan O’Brien until being sold in his 5-year-old season, relocating to Australia where he’s 1-for-12 since. A second chance in this race for legendary Aussie trainer Gai Waterhouse, who won her first and only Melbourne Cup in 2013 with Fiorente. Jockey Jye McNeil scored the Melbourne Cup in 2020.
#19-Virtuous Circle (79-1)
New Zealand-bred has lost 10 straight and is just 2-for-13 lifetime. Runner-up in April over 1-1/2 miles in Group 1 company at Randwick, but majority of his career has been at 10 furlongs or shorter.
#20-More Felons (25-1)
Son of English and Irish Two Thousand Guineas winner Churchill got his initial spin in Australia last out when fifth in the Geelong Cup. He was a true, 2-mile stayer type over the hurdles to start his career. Trainer Chris Waller goes for a second Cup victory in three years, having won in 2021.
#21-Future History (20-1)
Third to return rival Cleveland most recently in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup. Holly Doyle, perhaps the most acclaimed female jockey in the world, seeks her first Melbourne Cup victory. Trainers Claron Maher & David Eustace seek back-to-back success in the Cup after Gold Trip won last year. Lee Freedman (2004-’05) was the last to train consecutive Melbourne Cup champs.
#22-Interpretation (22-1)
British-bred raced in France prior to an Australian move this year that’s resulted in two wins, two seconds and a third from six starts – most recently third in the Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup. This will be the class and distance test. Trainers Claron Maher & David Eustace seek back-to-back success in the Cup after Gold Trip won last year. Lee Freedman (2004-’05) was the last to train consecutive Melbourne Cup champs.
#23-Kalapour (49-1)
Six-year-old was a Flemington winner Saturday and comes back on three days’ rest while adding an additional seven-sixteenths of a mile in distance. Third in September’s Group 1 Metropolitan over 1-1/2 miles adds to his current form. Loses recent jockeys Damien Oliver and Kerrin McEvoy to other Melbourne Cup rivals.
#24-True Marvel (79-1)
Has lost eight straight since a win over the jumps in May. Uncompetitive 10th in his last two attempts at the group stakes level, going off triple-digit odds in three of his last 4 starts.
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