There are few races in the world that have the ability to pause the entire country. However, one of the races on the international calendar that can do just that is the Melbourne Cup. The prestigious race is held annually on the first Tuesday in November, and it is commonly known among racing lovers in Australia, as the ‘Race that Stops the nation’.
It has been the richest two-mile race on the flat in the world for a number of years, and it is also one of the most lucrative races of any description to take place annually. You can find out more about the history of the race, and the likely contenders for 2023 here.
Entry
In order to line up in the prestigious race, there are a number of entry requirements that runners must pass. All horses involved must be aged three or older, and the weight that each runner will carry in the race is determined by the success that they have achieved on the track. The lowest weight available to carry is 50kg, while the top-weighted horse cannot carry any more than 57kg.
After making declarations, horses that win listed handicaps worth at least A$55,000 will be given additional penalties. Those wishing to run a horse in the Melbourne Cup will need to pay an initial fee of $600 per horse. However, in the final acceptance phase, this fee rises to $45,375. International horses must also stay in quarantine for 14 days before and after traveling to Australia.
Records
No horse springs to mind when it comes to the Melbourne Cup more so than Makybe Diva. The legendary horse won three straight editions of the race between 2003 and 2005, making her the only horse to have won the great race on three occasions. Four previous winners of the race have landed two victories, including Think Big, Archer, and Peter Pan.
Two jockeys are tied for the most wins in the race, with both Bobbie Lewis and Harry White claiming four victories apiece throughout their career. The most recent dominant jockey is Kerrin McEvoy, whose 2018 victory saw them move on three wins in the race.
Bart Cummings is the leading trainer in the Melbourne Cup by a commanding margin, as the Australian has landed 12 victories to date. His most recent success came in 2008 with Viewed.
2022 Melbourne Cup
A field of 22 runners lined up for the 2022 Melbourne Cup last November, with the race taking place just before the Breeders’ Cup got underway in the United States. It was a thrilling renewal of the race, but it recorded the slowest finishing time since 2019. French-bred Gold Trip landed a historic win in the race carrying top weight.
The contender was priced up at 20/1 to win the race after finishing in the placings in both the Caulfield Cup and Naturalism Stakes. Emissary finished in second for trainer Michael Moroney, while the third-place finisher was High Emocean for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
Who Could Run In the 2023 Melbourne Cup?
Before the final field for the Flemington race is set, it promises to be another exciting racing season. The betting for the Melbourne Cup 2023 has already begun at the top Australian Sports betting Sites. Soulcombe appears to be a highly fascinating top-of-the-market decision after being purchased by Australian owners in November. On his last start in the United Kingdom, he was a listed stakes winner at York. He immediately excelled on his first start in Australia, winning the G3 Queen’s Cup at Flemington in November.
White Marlin may also be a contender to watch in 2023, as the five-year-old was purchased by Australian connections in September 2022 after winning a pair of starts on the all-weather at Dundalk. He has made two winning appearances since making his debut at Rosehill in September. The latest of those was a fine one-length success in a handicap company at Caulfield in October.
An Exciting Year Ahead
The road to the Melbourne Cup in 2023 is only just getting underway, but it looks set to be an exciting calendar year of racing in Australia. However, all eyes will already be set on Flemington in November, as bettors look to pinpoint the biggest contenders for the Melbourne Cup. Gold Trip is likely to return in a bid to win back-to-back honors, but could there be a solid contender that stops the reigning champion from defending his title?
Suzanne Ashton, Founder of Everything Horse (Est, 2012), has a BA Hons in Marketing Management and a Diploma in Equine Science. Suzanne has ridden and owned horses all her life and has twelve years of experience in marketing, writing, design, SEO, and website creation.