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First run in 1861, the Melbourne Cup is known as the ‘race that stops a nation’. Much like the Grand National in Britain, it is the one race of the year that fully permeates the national consciousness, and makes an impact beyond the racing world. In fact, even equating it to the Grand National is perhaps underplaying its significance in Australia: there is a public holiday in the state of Victoria.
The Melbourne Cup is no longer Australia’s richest race, with the A$8 million purse dwarfed by the eye-watering A$14 million on offer for the Everest, which was first run in 2017. However, the Melbourne Cup, which is contested over 3200 metres (or roughly two miles), remains the nation’s most sought-after prize.
Melbourne Cup Winners
As you can see from the table below, the Melbourne Cup as it exists today is a truly international affair. Last year 10 of the 24 runners were trained in Britain or Ireland, plus there was a runner from Japan and another from New Zealand. There has been a decline in Australian-trained qualifiers, and an even starker drop-off in Australian-bred competitors. Despite the many entries from the northern hemisphere, only three Irish-trained horses have ever managed to win the Melbourne Cup, while 2018 winner Cross Counter was the first British trained horse to do so.
Winners, past 10 years
|
Year |
Winner |
Jockey |
Trainer |
Timeform Performance Rating |
|
2018 |
Cross Counter (UK) |
Kerrin McEvoy (AUS) |
Charlie Appleby (UK) |
124 |
|
2017 |
Rekindling (UK) |
Corey Brown (AUS) |
Joseph O’Brien (IRE |
123 |
|
2016 |
Almandin (GER) |
Kerrin McEvoy (AUS) |
Robert Hickmott (AUS) |
119 |
|
2015 |
Prince of Penzance (NZ) |
Michelle Payne (AUS) |
Joseph O’Brien (IRE) |
117 |
|
2014 |
Protectionist (GER) |
Ryan Moore (UK) |
Andreas Wöhler (GER) |
128 |
|
2013 |
Fiorente (IRE) |
Damien Oliver (AUS) |
Gai Waterhouse (AUS) |
125 |
|
2012 |
Green Moon (IRE) |
Brett Prebble (AUS) |
Robert Hickmott (AUS) |
124 |
|
2011 |
Dunaden (FR) |
Christophe Lemaire (FR) |
Mikel Delzangles (FRA) |
123 |
|
2010 |
Americain (USA) |
Gérald Mossé (FR) |
Alain de Royer-Dupre (FR) |
126* |
|
2009 |
Shocking (AUS) |
Corey Brown (AUS) |
Mark Kavanagh (AUS) |
117+ |
*Put up an even better performance when fourth under top-weight one year later, recording a Timeform performance rating of 129.
It’s fair to say that the international nature of the modern race hasn’t gone down well with all the locals – perhaps understandably, with a decade having passed since the last winner who was Australian-bred, owned and trained.
However, for all they have faced a greater threat from Europe, there has been no let-up whatsoever in Aussie ambition. And when it comes to the Cup, one man in particular has had great success in taking matters into his own hands.
Who to look out for
Melbourne Cup Owner
Property tycoon and Melbourne local Lloyd Williams has owned six winners of the Melbourne Cup and has won two of the last three renewals. His most recent winner Rekindling (2017) was trained by Joseph O’Brien and brought over specifically for the race.
This year, Williams has three runners, and they are all trained by Joseph O’Brien. He has the 119-rated Latrobe, who won last year’s Irish Derby, the 116-rated Twilight Payment, and the 123-rated Master of Reality, the last-named being of particular interest given he will carry just 1lb more than his teammates. The Frankel colt put in his best performance when finishing third, beaten just over a length, to Stradivarius in the two-and-a-half mile Gold Cup at Ascot.
Melbourne Cup Jockey
Australian jockey Kerrin McEvoy is the reigning champ after winning on Cross Counter last year, and he has also enjoyed wins in 2000 (Brew) and 2016 (Almandin). This year he’ll be partnering Finche, who finished fourth to Cross Counter in 2018 having switched to Australian trainer Chris Waller’s yard from Andre Fabre’s stable in France.
Cross Counter will carry over a stone more this year, second-placed Marmelo has been ruled out by Racing Victoria stewards and third-placed Prince of Arran is 4lb higher in the handicap, so Finche, who runs off the same weight as last year, looks a serious candidate for a podium finish.
Corey Brown has ridden two Melbourne Cup winners in the last ten years having struck with Shocking in 2009 and Rekindling in 2017. Unfortunately Brown is on the sidelines after suffering an injury in the Queensland Derby in June.
Cross Counter - the first British-trained winner of the Lexus Melbourne Cup! @godolphin @FlemingtonVRC pic.twitter.com/gkBJeho7NT
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) November 6, 2018
Melbourne Cup Trainer
Once an unstoppable father-and-son team, Aidan O’Brien and former jockey Joseph O’Brien now maintain rival training operations. Aidan has enjoyed remarkable success around the globe but has yet to win the Melbourne Cup, while Joseph was just 24 when Rekindling struck in 2017, making him the youngest trainer to win the race.
The O’Briens are responsible for seven runners this year– four for Joseph and three for Aidan. There are a further three horses who have recently been transferred from Aidan’s Ballydoyle yard, including Royal Ascot winner Constantinople.
Speaking of great Irish trainers, it was Dermot Weld who was the first European-based trainer to win the race with Vintage Crop in 1993. He followed that up in 2002 with Media Puzzle. Weld doesn’t have any entries this year, despite Search For A Song qualifying automatically by winning the Irish St Leger. She would be an interesting contender for next year’s race should Weld choose to send her. Watch this space.
Melbourne Cup Clues & Trends
In 2016 the Tony Martin-trained Heartbreak City came agonisingly close to winning the Melbourne Cup. He had won York’s Ebor Handicap on his previous start, and this year’s Ebor winner Mustajeer will make the trip to Melbourne. Raymond Tusk also ran in the Ebor and was beaten only two lengths in fourth despite conceding 3lb to the winner.
The Geelong Cup has arguably the best recent record as a warm-up for the big fixture. Americain and Dunaden won both, in consecutive years in 2010 and 2011, while Finche was third in the Geelong Cup last year before finishing fourth in the Melbourne Cup. Prince of Arran won the Geelong Cup this year.
Melbourne Cup Tips and Runners
Looking for expert tips on the Melbourne Cup? Every day, you can find Timeform’s Australian racing selections under the Tips section of our site, which on October 5th will include our Analyst’s best bets at Flemington.
Even better, you’ll be able to catch our full Melbourne Cup preview. Our expert will be looking at the 2019 race in detail, identifying the best horses on form and giving a verdict on who might be best suited to the demands this year’s race may present. Want more on the best of the UK and Irish horses heading over? Find out which are our expert’s top five European runners, discussing their chances and adding video highlights of their best races.
Melbourne Cup Free Bets
The Melbourne Cup is a huge event in the racing calendar internationally and, despite its start time of 4am GMT, is well worth getting up to watch. Don’t forget to check out our Betting Offers page for free Melbourne bets before you put your money down, and make your stake go further.
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