Melbourne Cup Horses – Runner-By-Runner Guide
The Melbourne Cup (3200m) is Australia’s most famous race and and we take a look at the 2023 Melbourne Cup horses.
Known as the race that stops the nation, the $8.4 million horse racing event brings together the best of the local and international stayers and has been won by the likes of Phar Lap and Makybe Diva, while recent winners include Gold Trip, Verry Elleegant, Twilight Payment, Vow And Declare and Cross Counter.
The Melbourne Cup Carnival is a four-meeting horse racing spectacle that takes place across two Saturdays, as well as the Tuesday and Thursday in between both Saturdays.
Melbourne Cup Carnival meetings for 2023:
- Derby Day – Saturday, November 4
- Cup Day – Tuesday, November 7
- Oaks Day – Thursday, November 9
- Champions Day – Saturday, November 11
Full List of Melbourne Cup Horses 2023
The full list will be updated when the final field is declared. See last year’s horses below for an example of what to expect in 2023:
2023 Melbourne Cup horses
1. GOLD TRIP
Last years Melbourne Cup winner was brilliant taking out the Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington two starts ago and has since finishing 3rd in the Caulfield Cup (2400m) and 5th in the Cox Plate (2040m), producing the fastest last 200m. Every chance to go back to back and James McDonald is in the saddle this year.
2. ALENQUER
Damien Oliver’s last ride in the Melbourne Cup, the former French galloper came to Australia with some solid credentials but hasn’t quite fired in his five runs over here. Produced the fastest last 200m to run 9th in the recent Moonee Valley Cup (2500m).
3. WITHOUT A FIGHT
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained import was 13th in the Melbourne Cup last year and has won three of four in Australia in 2023, including the Caulfield Cup. The seven-year-old cops a 1kg penalty but will be ridden by last year’s Cup winning jockey, Mark Zahra.
4. BREAKUP
Japanese galloper that was a little plain in the Caulfield Cup when 8th, beaten six lengths. Came over with consistent form in Japan and was 3rd at Group 2 level over the 3000m in his homeland back in March this year.
5. VAUBAN
The race favourite won in easy fashion at Royal Ascot over the 2816m two starts ago by 7.5 lengths and drops 6kg off that run. Has since defeated Valiant King at Naas. The tough six-year-old is likely to race on the speed and draws perfectly in barrier 3.
6. SOULCOMBE
Soulcombe comes in with some solid form, having run 7th in the Caulfield Cup, despite not much going his way after he missed the start, while the Chris Waller-trained galloper was hampered in the straight. He ran 3rd behind Gold Trip in the Turnbull Stakes and draws perfectly in barrier 4 with Joao Moreira to ride.
7. ABSURDE
The stablemate of Vauban comes off a last start win in the Ebor Handicap (2816), gaining an automatic exemption in to the field. Drops in weight for the Cup and ticks boxes from barrier 8 with Zac Purton to ride.
8. RIGHT YOU ARE
One of five in the race for the Maher/Eustace stable, the seven-year-old has been thereabouts in his runs during the spring, sticking on well for 5th in the Caulfield Cup despite being caught wide and going for home a long way out.
9. VOW AND DECLARE
The 2019 Melbourne Cup winner is back for his fourth crack at the race and has been racing in excellent fashion this spring, finishing runner-up behind Alligator Blood in the Might And Power Stakes before filling the exacta behind Cleveland in the Moonee Valley Cup.
10. CLEVELAND
Lloyd Williams will be going for his eighth winner as an owner and has both Cleveland and Serpentine this year. Cleveland comes out of the Moonee Valley Cup, defeating a good field that night. The son of Camelot is sure to get the 3200m but was dealt no favours at the barrier draw and will have to come from out wide.
11. ASHRUN
The lightly raced eight-year-old was 10th in the Melbourne Cup in 2020, beaten just five lengths and missed three years of racing, He returned this spring and has tuned up with a last start runner-up performance behind Amade in the Geelong Cup.
12. DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR
13. OKITA SOUSHI
The lightly raced galloper from Ireland failed to fire in the Caulfield Cup, finishing 12th behind Without A Fight, beaten 10 lengths. Won over the 2400m at Ascot and Dundalk and he is the hands of Joseph O’Brien, who has won the Cup on two occasions.
14. SHERAZ
One of four in the race for Chris Waller, his best performance since coming to Australia came in the Sydney Cup when runner-up behind Knights Order. He was ok when 8th in the recent Moonee Valley Cup but is likely to need to spike to serve it up to some of the others in the market.
15. LASTOTCHKA
The lightly raced French mare lines up in Australia for the first time and she was strong through the line at her most recent start, which was back in early September over the 3100m at Longchamp. Carries the same colours at Protectionist, who won this race in 2014, while she will be ridden by on e of the best local jockeys, Craig Williams.
The Waller mare came over from England and Ireland but hasn’t done too much in her five Australian starts, finishing 6th in the Geelong Cup in the most recent of those when attempting to lead all the way.
17. MILITARY MISSION
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained galloper has won two of his past three starts, including the Group 2 Herbert Power at Caulfield back on October 14 ahead of United Nations. Not quite sure that is the right form for this but he drops 6kg and draws well with the recent Group 1 winning jockey, Rachel King, to ride.
18. SERPENTINE
Another that will be wearing the navy blue and white colours for Lloyd Williams, the former import was wide without cover before running 3rd in the Bart Cummings at Flemington back on October 7. Could only manage 20th in this race last year but his form is better this time around and he drops 7kg.
19. VIRTUOUS CIRCLE
The Australian Derby runner-up will start at big odds and needs to improve on recent runs. The four-year-old did have a couple of excuses when 10th in the Bart Cummings before battling on for 8th in the Geelong Cup.
20. MORE FELONS
The Chris Waller-trained galloper draws barrier 24 in the 24-horse field. He will enjoy the 3200m and did produce a bit of an eye-catcher when coming from well back to finish 5th in the Geelong Cup.
21. FUTURE HISTORY
Gained entry into this race by leading all the way to claim the Bart Cummings at the track on October 7. The six-year-old from the Maher/Eustace stable has since finished 3rd in the Moonee Valley Cup and was forced to make a long and sustained run that night. Will be ridden by Hollie Doyle, who has her first ride in the Cup.
22. INTERPRETATION
The son of Galielo was bought for a crack at the Melbourne Cup last year and battled. Comes in with a win in the recent Bendigo Cup (2400m) and drops 4.5kg off that run to carry just 50kg.
23. KALAPOUR
The Irish bred import has been racing consistently and led all the way to claim the Archer Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, securing a last minute entry into the field. Was placed in two runs in Sydney prior to that and has attracted some support since the barrier draw.
24. TRUE MARVEL
The eight-year-old is best known for finishing runner-up at massive odds in the Sydney Cup this year. Faces a massive class rise and will need to improve big time on recent efforts.
FREE FLEMINGTON BETTING TIPS
Follow the link to find our free Flemington race tips and best bets for each and every meeting. Our Flemington tipster previews each meeting and highlights a Best Bet, Next Best & Best Value.
The Melbourne Cup is one of the most popular horse races in Australia, and it’s no surprise that people are always looking for tips on how to pick a winner. There are a few key things to keep in mind when choosing your Melbourne Cup horse, and our experts have put together their top tips for 2023 Melbourne Cup to help you pick a winner on race day.
At racingbase.com.au, you may also check out our ‘best bets for today‘ section where our expert tipsters pick out the best betting selections from across Australian horse racing.