Complete Melbourne Cup guide: The only horses that can win the race
Everything you need to know to have a flutter on the race that stops a nation, designed especially for the once-a-year punter.
Here it is for 2023, the ultimate mug punters guide on every runner in Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup — the perfect explainer for the once-a-year punter.
1. GOLD TRIP
Who’s riding it? James McDonald
Who trains it? Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
What barrier is it in? 2
What weight will it carry? 58.5kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/Yes
Has it won in the wet? Yes
What odds is it? $5.50
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? Yes
Can it win? Yes
2. ALENQUER
Who’s riding it? Damien Oliver
Who trains it? Michael Moroney
What barrier is it in? 9
What weight will it carry? 56.5kg
Has it raced/won over the distance?
Has it won in the wet? Yes
What odds is it? $51
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? No/No
Can it win? No
3. WITHOUT A FIGHT
Who’s riding it? Mark Zahra
Who trains it? Anthony & Sam Freedman
What barrier is it in? 16
What weight will it carry? 56.5kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/No
Has it won in the wet? No
What odds is it? $6.50
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? Yes
Can it win? Yes
4. BREAKUP
Who’s riding it? Kohei Matsuyama
Who trains it? Tatsuya Yoshioka
What barrier is it in? 18
What weight will it carry? 55kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/No
Has it won in the wet? No
What odds is it? $18
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? Yes
Can it win? Yes
5. VAUBAN
Who’s riding it? Ryan Moore
Who trains it? Willie Mullins
What barrier is it in? 3
What weight will it carry? 55kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/Yes
Has it won in the wet? Yes
What odds is it? $3.70
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? Yes
Can it win? Yes
6. SOULCOMBE
Who’s riding it? Joao Moreira
Who trains it? Chris Waller
What barrier is it in? 4
What weight will it carry? 53.5kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? No/No
Has it won in the wet? No
What odds is it? $10
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? Yes
Can it win? Yes
7. ABSURDE
Who’s riding it? Zac Purton
Who trains it? Willie Mullins
What barrier is it in? 8
What weight will it carry? 53kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/Yes
Has it won in the wet? No
What odds is it? $15
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? yes
Can it win? No
8. RIGHT YOU ARE
Who’s riding it? John Allen
Who trains it? Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
What barrier is it in? 15
What weight will it carry? 53kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? No/No
Has it won in the wet? No
What odds is it? $51
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? no
Can it win? No
9. VOW AND DECLARE
Who’s riding it? Billy Egan
Who trains it? Danny O‘Brien
What barrier is it in? 19
What weight will it carry? 53kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/Yes
Has it won in the wet? No
What odds is it? $23
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? yes
Can it win? No
10. CLEVELAND **SCRATCHED**
Who’s riding it? Michael Dee
Who trains it? Kris Lees
What barrier is it in? 23
What weight will it carry? 52kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/Yes
Has it won in the wet? Yes
What odds is it? $41
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? Yes
Can it win? No
11. ASHRUN
Who’s riding it? Kerrin McEvoy
Who trains it? Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
What barrier is it in? 11
What weight will it carry? 51.5kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/No
Has it won in the wet? No
What odds is it? $41
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? no
Can it win? No
12. DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR
Who’s riding it? Daniel Stackhouse
Who trains it? Phillip Stokes
What barrier is it in? 12
What weight will it carry? 51.5kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/Yes
Has it won in the wet? No
What odds is it? $81
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? Yes
Can it win? No
13. OKITA SOUSHI
Who’s riding it? Dylan Gibbons
Who trains it? Joseph O‘Brien
What barrier is it in? 20
What weight will it carry? 51.5kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/Yes
Has it won in the wet? No
What odds is it? $101
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? No
Can it win? No
14. SHERAZ
Who’s riding it? Beau Mertens
Who trains it? Chris Waller
What barrier is it in? 22
What weight will it carry? 51.5kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/Yes
Has it won in the wet? Yes
What odds is it? $101
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? No
Can it win? No
15. LASTOTCHKA
Who’s riding it? Craig Williams
Who trains it? Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
What barrier is it in? 21
What weight will it carry? 51kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/Yes
Has it won in the wet? Yes
What odds is it? $23
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? Yes
Can it win? No
16. MAGICAL LAGOON
Who’s riding it? Mark Du Plessis
Who trains it? Chris Waller
What barrier is it in? 7
What weight will it carry? 51kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? No/No
Has it won in the wet? No
What odds is it? $126
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? No
Can it win? No
17. MILITARY MISSION
Who’s riding it? Rachel King
Who trains it? Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
What barrier is it in? 5
What weight will it carry? 51kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? No/No
Has it won in the wet? Yes
What odds is it? $31
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? No
Can it win? No
18. SERPENTINE
Who’s riding it? Jye McNeil
Who trains it? Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
What barrier is it in? 1
What weight will it carry? 51kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/No
Has it won in the wet? No
What odds is it? $51
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? No
Can it win? No
19. VIRTUOUS CIRCLE
Who’s riding it? Craig Newitt
Who trains it? Liam Howley
What barrier is it in? 6
What weight will it carry? 51kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? No/No
Has it won in the wet? Yes
What odds is it? $126
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? No
Can it win? No
20. MORE FELONS
Who’s riding it? Jamie Kah
Who trains it? Chris Waller
What barrier is it in? 24
What weight will it carry? 50.5kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/Yes
Has it won in the wet? No
What odds is it? $34
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? Yes
Can it win? No
21. FUTURE HISTORY
Who’s riding it? Hollie Doyle
Who trains it? Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
What barrier is it in? 13
What weight will it carry? 50kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? No/No
Has it won in the wet? No
What odds is it? $26
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? Yes
Can it win? Yes
22. INTERPRETATION
Who’s riding it? Teo Nugent
Who trains it? Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
What barrier is it in? 17
What weight will it carry? 50kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/No
Has it won in the wet? No
What odds is it? $81
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? No
Can it win? No
23. KALAPOUR
Who’s riding it? Zac Lloyd
Who trains it? Kris Lees
What barrier is it in? 14
What weight will it carry? 50kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/No
Has it won in the wet? Yes
What odds is it? $41
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? No
Can it win? No
24. TRUE MARVEL
Who’s riding it? Ben Thompson
Who trains it? Matthew Smith
What barrier is it in? 10
What weight will it carry? 50kg
Has it raced/won over the distance? Yes/Yes
Has it won in the wet? Yes
What odds is it? $101
Should I put it in my trifecta and first four? No
Can it win? No
TIPS:
1st: Soulcombe
2nd: Vauban
3rd: Breakup
More Coverage
4th: Gold Trip
Roughie: Future History
*TAB odds as of November 5, 10pm
Originally published as Complete Melbourne Cup guide: The only horses that can win the race
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