Melbourne Cup
Looking for the best Melbourne Cup betting guide, tips on how to bet on the 2024 Melbourne Cup, Melbourne Cup field updates and more? The expert tipsters at Neds have put together everything you need to know on the race.
Known as ‘the race that stops a nation’, the Melbourne Cup is one of the richest prizes in Australian racing along with the $20 million The Everest and $10 million The Golden Eagle held in Sydney.
Contested over the traditional two-mile Cup distance of 3200m, the Melbourne Cup is run and won on the first Tuesday of November annually at Flemington Racecourse. As of 2022, Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse hosts the Listed $3 million The Big Dance (1600m) on Melbourne Cup Day each year.
The world’s richest handicap race, first run in 1861 with Archer taking out the opening two editions of the event, now offers over $8 million in prize money and trophies and is the jewel race of the Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival.
The Melbourne Cup runs as Flemington Race 7 at 3:00pm (local time) and has been won by many greats of the turf, including a host of international raiders the first of the Northern-hemisphere champions being Vintage Crop (1993).
There has only been one triple Melbourne Cup winner with the mighty mare Makybe Diva securing her hat-trick from 2003-05.
Verry Elleegant made history winning the 2021 Melbourne Cup as a 57kg weighted mare dominating by four lengths as the first winner from barrier 18.
In 2022 Gold Trip (57.5kg) became the latest Melbourne Cup top-weight to win with his upset success at $21.
In 2023 Without A Fight made history as the 12th horse to complete the Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double and the first since Ethereal (2001).
In 2024 Knight’s Choice won the Melbourne Cup as a $91 outsider with Robbie Dolan riding the champion in his first ever ride in the event for Sunshine Coast-based trainers John Symons & Shelia Laxon. Laxon famously won the event back in 2001 with New Zealand mare Ethereal when becoming the first Melbourne Cup winning female trainer.
Find out more about the iconic Melbourne Cup winners throughout history here.
Melbourne Cup 2024 – Quick Information
- Race Day: Tuesday November 5, 2024
- Race Starts: 3 PM (AEST)
- Track Location: Flemington Racecourse
- Track Surface: Turf
- Track Direction: Left-handed
- Race Distance: 3,200 metres
- Weight Conditions: Handicap
- Qualification: Three year olds and over
- Type: Thoroughbred
- Grade: Group 1
- Operator: Victoria Racing Club
- Prize Purse: $8.56 million ($7,750,000 + $810,000 in trophies)
- Inaugural Race: 1861
- 2024 Melbourne Cup Winner: Knight’s Choice
Melbourne cup 2024 RESULTS
The official 2024 Melbourne Cup results will be available below once the race takes place on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 at 3:00pm (local Melbourne time).
- #11 Knight’s Choice
- #4 Warp Speed
- #12 Okita Soushi
- #14 Zardozi
The John Symons & Shelia Laxon-trained Queenslander, Knight’s Choice ($91), flashed home from the back late with Robbie Dolan aboard to score a thrilling upset in the 2024 Melbourne Cup results narrowly denying the Japanese raider Warp Speed in a remarkable finish.
Okita Soushi for Ciaron Maher ran third with the James Cummings-trained mare Zardozi briefly looking the winner before holding for fourth.
Melbourne Cup Betting 2024
There are many different ways to bet on the Melbourne Cup, and we have included some of the most popular options below:
| Bet Type | How To Place This Type Of Bet In This Year’s Melbourne Cup |
|---|---|
| Win Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will take first place in this year’s Melbourne Cup. |
| Place Bet | Place your bet on the horse you think will place in the top three finishers at this year’s Melbourne Cup. Pays less than a win bet, but offers safer odds. |
| Each-Way Bet | If your runner finishes 1st in the Melbourne Cup, you will collect both the Win and the Place dividend. If your horse finishes 2nd or 3rd you will collect the Place dividend. |
| Quinella Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in any order, within the Melbourne Cup, in order to win the Quinella. |
| Exacta Bet | You must select the runners that finish 1st and 2nd in the correct order, within the Melbourne Cup to win the Exacta. |
| Trifecta Bet | You must select runners to finish 1st, 2nd and 3rd in the correct order, within the Melbourne Cup to win the Trifecta. |
| First Four | You must select runners that finish 1st, 2nd ,3rd and 4th in the correct order, within the Melbourne Cup to win the First 4. |
| Quadrella Bet (Quaddie) | You must select the winners of four nominated races to win the Quaddie. This means you would have to select three other races apart from the Melbourne Cup, in order to be eligible to place a Quaddie. |
How To Bet On The Melbourne Cup in 2024
- Log in at neds.com.au
- Make a deposit, using your credit card, PayPal or other safe electronic method
- Make sure to check out form guide, once it’s released
- Decide what kind of bet you’re going to place (Win, Place, Each-Way, Trifecta + more betting options, please read our section on Melbourne Cup Betting above).
- Select the horse(s) for the race.
Melbourne Cup 2025 Odds
Early market betting odds on the 2025 Melbourne Cup will be displayed below once available. Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live markets, please visit neds.com.au.
Melbourne Cup 2024 Form Guide
The final form guide will be available the week prior to the race following the final acceptances for the Melbourne Cup on Derby Day. You can check below for a link to our full 2024 Melbourne Cup Form Guide following final acceptances.
CLICK HERE FOR OUR FULL 2024 MELBOURNE CUP FORM GUIDE
Melbourne Cup 2024 Tips
Our insider Melbourne Cup 2024 betting tips will be provided right here the week of the race and a full Melbourne Cup tipping preview available on the Neds Blog.
To Win: #13 Onesmoothoperator ($8 at time of publish) – BET NOW
To Challenge: #2 Buckaroo ($6 at time of publish) – BET NOW
To Feature: #12 Okita Soushi ($20 at time of publish) – BET NOW
To Improve: #4 Warp Seed ($27 at time of publish) – BET NOW
To Surprise: #8 Land Legend ($20 at time of publish) – BET NOW
CLICK HERE FOR OUR COMPLETE 2024 MELBOURNE CUP PREVIEW & TIPS
Melbourne Cup 2024 Acceptance Dates
- 2024 Melbourne Cup Nominations: Closed on Tuesday September 3, 2024 @ 12:00pm (Melbourne time) – drew 123 entries including 20 international raiders.
- 2024 Melbourne Cup Late Entries: Closed on Tuesday September 10, 2024 @ 12:00pm (Melbourne time)
- 2024 Melbourne Cup First Declarations: Closed on Tuesday October 1 , 2024 @ 12:00pm (Melbourne time) – drew 72 entries including 6 international hopefuls.
- 2024 Melbourne Cup Handicaps: Weights were declared Tuesday September 17, 2024 – Without A Fight 58.5kg top-weight.
- 2024 Melbourne Cup Second Declarations: Closed on Tuesday October 15, 2024 @ 12:00pm – drew 55 entries including 6 international raiders.
- 2024 Melbourne Cup Third Declarations: Closed on Monday October 28, 2024 @ 12:00pm (Melbourne time) – attracted 35 hopefuls including 6 internationals.
- 2024 Melbourne Cup Final Field: Announced Saturday November 2, 2024 at 4:30pm (Melbourne time) on Victoria Derby Day.
- 2024 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw: Took place on Saturday November 2, 2024 at 6:30pm (Melbourne time) following the Derby Day racing.
Melbourne Cup Field 2024
The official Melbourne Cup 2024 field of final acceptances is announced by the VRC on the Saturday prior to the race following the action of Victoria Derby Day, Saturday November 2, 2024 live from Flemington Racecourse and will be published in full below.
The Melbourne Cup has a field limit of 24 starters and there are no emergency runners.
The 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup final field and barriers are now out with Chris Waller to saddle-up five runners including the widely-drawn favourite Buckaroo from gate 21 (into 20).
- Update: No. 10 Athabascan (John O’Shea & Tom Charlton) has been scratched from the 2024 Melbourne Cup field on Monday afternoon after being found to be suffering from cardiac arrhythmia in his mandatory final check by RV vets.
2024 melbourne cup news & Field Updates
Stay tuned for the breaking news on the horses and jockeys that are in and out of the Melbourne Cup 2024 field this spring.
- No. 10 Athabascan (John O’Shea & Tom Charlton) has been scratched from the 2024 Melbourne Cup field on Monday afternoon after being found to be suffering from cardiac arrhythmia in his mandatory final check by RV vets.
- Mahrajaan (USA) (Shaune Ritchie & Tom Charlton) was set to be ridden by Declan Bates but was ruled out on Saturday morning after a failed scan. Manzoice (Chris Waller) now gets a start moving inside the Top 24 on the order of entry.
- Via Sistina (Chris Waller) was to have been ridden by James McDonald with the 56kg topweight but the Cox Plate winning mare will not contest the 3200m event leaving J Mac without a ride.
- Jan Brueghel (Aidan O’Brien) was set to be ridden by Ryan Moore but the European raider was ruled out of the Melbourne Cup on October 29 by Racing Victoria vets.
- Eliyass (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott) was to be ridden by Tim Clark but connections have confirmed the horse will miss the Melbourne Cup in favour of a drop back in distance to target the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) on November 9.
- Point King (Anthony & Sam Freedman) was to be ridden by Jamie Kah but connections confirmed the horse would be a non-acceptor in the Melbourne Cup.
- Jamie Kah picked up a subsequent ride on Okita Soushi (Ciaron Maher).
- Muramasa (Truent Busuttin & Natlie Young) has been officially withdrawn on vet’s advice after a CT scan revealed he was at a “heightened risk of injury” should he run. Tyler Schiller is now without a ride.
- Mission Of Love (John Symons & Shelia Laxon) who was to be ridden by Nikita Beriman has failed her inspection on Friday and has been withdrawn on veterinary advice.
melbourne cup JOCKEYS 2024
Robbie Dolan is the latest Melbourne Cup winning jockey aboard Knight’s Choice in 2024.
Mark Zahra won in 2023 with Without A Fight and Gold Trip in 2022. He became the first since four-time winner Harry White for his last two victories in 1978 and 1979 to go back-to-back in the race on different horses.
The official 2024 Melbourne Cup jockeys must be declared by 4:30pm (Melbourne time) on Saturday the 2nd of November, 2024 and will be updated in our above Melbourne Cup Field section.
Stay up to date below to see what jockeys have confirmed rides in the Melbourne Cup 2024 field.
Confirmed 2024 Melbourne Cup Jockeys:
- Vauban (FR) (Willie Mullins) to be ridden by William Buick (55.5kg) from barrier 11
- Buckaroo (GB) (Chris Waller) to be ridden by Joao Moreira (54.5kg) from barrier 21
- Circle Of Fire (GB) (Ciaron Maher) to be ridden by Mark Zahra (54.5kg) from barrier 24
- Warp Speed (JPN) (Noboru Takagi) to be ridden by Akira Sugawara (54.5kg) from barrier 3
- Kovalica (NZ) (Chris Waller) to be ridden by Damian Lane (53.5kg) from barrier 17
- Sharp ‘n’ Smart (NZ) (Graeme & Deborah Rogerson) to be ridden by Michael Dee (53.5kg) from barrier 15
- Just Fine (IRE) (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott) to be ridden by Jye McNeil (53kg -includes 0.5kg penalty) from barrier 13
- Land Legend (FR) (Chris Waller) to be ridden by Zac Purton (53kg – includes 1.0kg penalty) from barrier 18
- Absurde (FR) (Willie Mullins) to be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy (52.5kg) from barrier 7
Athabascan (FR) (John O’Shea & Tom Charlton) to be ridden by Zac Lloyd (a) (52kg) from barrier 2- Knight’s Choice (John Symons & Sheila Laxon) to be ridden by Robbie Dolan (51.5kg) from barrier 6
- Okita Soushi (IRE) (Ciaron Maher) to be ridden by Jamie Kah (51kg – includes 1.0kg penalty) from barrier 10
- Onesmoothoperator (USA) (Brian Ellison) to be ridden by Craig Williams (51kg – includes 1.0kg penalty) from barrier 12
- Zardozi (James Cummings) to be ridden by Andrea Atzeni (51kg) from barrier 4
- Sea King (GB) (Harry Eustace) to be ridden by Hollie Doyle (50.5 includes 0.5 penalty kg) from barrier 1
- Valiant King (GB) (Chris Waller) to be ridden by Craig Newitt (50.5kg) from barrier 22
- Fancy Man (IRE) (Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald) to be ridden by Ron Stewart (50kg) from barrier 19
- Interpretation (IRE) (Ciaron Maher) to be ridden by Teo Nugent (50kg) from barrier 14
- Manzoice (Chris Waller) to be ridden by Declan Bates (50kg) from barrier 8
- Mostly Cloudy (IRE) (Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young) to be ridden by Karis Teetan (50kg) from barrier 16
- Positivity (NZ) (Andrew Forsman) to be ridden by Winona Costin (50kg) from barrier 20
- Saint George (GB) (Ciaron Maher) to be ridden by Tyler Schiller (50kg) from barrier 9
- The Map (Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillvray) to be ridden by Rachel King (50kg) from barrier 23
- Trust In You (NZ) (Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley) to be ridden by Mark Du Plessis (50kg) from barrier 5
Which Horse Will Win The Melbourne Cup in 2024
The best way to pick which horse will win the Melbourne Cup in 2024 is to take into account their lead-up spring racing form, assess the Melbourne Cup barriers, consider the Melbourne Cup weights, and look for the proven stayers in the field.
Additional factors to consider when selecting the Melbourne Cup winner include:
- Favourites – The favourites in Melbourne Cup betting have a poor record overall in the event.
- Barrier Hoodoo – Verry Elleegant (2021) became history’s first Melbourne Cup winner from barrier 18, while barrier 11 is considered the luckiest Melbourne Cup gate.
- Internationals Rule – Since the race opened up to contenders outside of Australia and New Zealand, the internationals from the Northern Hemisphere have dominated the Melbourne Cup results including in 2020 when three ran the trifecta: Twilight Payment (1st), Tiger Moth (2nd) and Prince Of Arran (3rd).
- Six Is It – Six-year-olds have the best recent record in the Melbourne Cup with Zed mare Verry Elleegant (2021) followed by the imported Gold Trip (2022) the last six-year-old Melbourne Cup winners.
Melbourne Cup Last Place
If you want to place bet on which horse will place last in this year’s Melbourne Cup results, then the table below will be of interest to you, displaying who took last place in the past ten years. Often Melbourne Cup sweeps pay out for the last placegetter, so keeping on the unlucky horse at the tail end of the field is popular.
| Melbourne Cup Race Year | Last Finishing Horse | Trainer/s | Jockey |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Just Fine | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Jye McNeil |
| 2023* | Magical Lagoon | Chris Waller | Mark Du Plessis |
| 2022* | Camorra | Ben & JD Hayes | Craig Newitt |
| 2021 | Ocean Billy | Chris Waller | Damien Thornton |
| 2020* | Avilius | James Cummings | John Allen |
| 2019 | Rostropovich | David Hayes | Dwayne Dunn |
| 2018* | Red Cardinal | Darren Weir | Damien Oliver |
| 2017 | Gallante | Robert Hickmott | Michael Dee |
| 2016 | Rose Of Virginia | Lee & Shannon Hope | Ben E Thompson |
| 2015 | Snow Sky | Ed Dunlop | Gérald Mossé |
| 2014 | Admire Rakti | Tomoyuki Umeda | Zac Purton |
| 2013 | Verema | Alain de Royer-Dupré | Christophe Lemaire |
| 2012 | Ethiopia | Pat Carey | Rhys McLeod |
| 2011 | Modun | Saeed Bin Suroor | Kieran McEvoy |
| 2010 | Zavite | Anthony Cummings | Michael Walker |
| 2009 | Warringah | Chris Waller | Damien Oliver |
| 2008 | Honolulu | Aidan O’Brien | Colm O’Donoghue |
*Notes:
- 2023 Right You Are failed to finish the Melbourne Cup, subsequently found to be lame in the behind after suffering heat stress but cleared of any serious injury.
- 2022 Interpretation failed to finish the Melbourne Cup, but was subsequently cleared of any injury with his failure put down to a wind issue.
- 2020 Anthony Van Dyck was pulled-up 350m out from the line and subsequently euthanised due to fracturing his fetlock.
- 2018 The Cliffsofmoher failed to finish after fracturing a shoulder and sadly having to be subsequently euthanised post-race.
Melbourne Cup Favourites 2024
Early favourites in Melbourne Cup 2024 betting include the Chris Waller-trained Buckaroo drawn out in gate 21 (into 20) but coming off a good Caulfield Cup second, Willie Mullins’ Irish raider Vauban out to atone for his unplaced run as the beaten favourite last year, and the Brian Ellison-trained European Onesmoothoperator coming off a blistering Ladbrokes Geelong Cup victory.
Fiorente ($7 in 2013) was the last Melbourne Cup favourite to win.
The 2021 Melbourne Cup favourite Incentivise ($2.90) finished second to Verry Elleegant ($18).
In 2022 the Melbourne Cup favourite was the James Ferguson-trained Deauville Legend ($4.40) who was in a gun position fourth at the top of the straight before being running down by the Aussies to finish fourth.
The 2023 Melbourne Cup favourite was the Willie Mullins-trained Irish raider Vauban ($5.50) who ran a disappointing 14th over 13 lengths beaten.
In 2024 the Melbourne Cup favourite Buckaroo ($6) finished ninth with the race won by $91 outside Knight’s Choice!
Melbourne Cup Race Day 2024
Race day takes place on Tuesday the 5th of November 2024. Melbourne Cup Day 2024 is the second of the four-day Melbourne Cup Carnival.
It follows on from Victoria Derby Day and runs on the first Tuesday of November annually.
After Cup Day the Carnival continues with VRC Oaks Day on the Thursday and comes to a close with Mackinnon Stakes Day on the Saturday.
The key support races on the 2024 Melbourne Cup Day Race Card are the:
- Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m), and the
- Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m).
Melbourne Cup Race Time 2024
The Melbourne Cup race is scheduled to start at 3 PM Australian Eastern Daylight time. Melbourne Cup start times for various states appear in the table below.
| State | Start Time |
|---|---|
| Western Australia | 12:00 PM |
| Queensland | 2:00 PM |
| Australian Capital Territory | 3:00 PM |
| Tasmania | 3:00 PM |
| Victoria | 3:00 PM |
| New South Wales | 3:00 PM |
| Northern Territory | 1.30 pm |
| South Australia | 2.30 pm |
Melbourne Cup 2024 Barrier Draw
The official 2024 Melbourne Cup barrier draw will be released to the public on Saturday November 2, 2024 at 7.30 pm following the VRC Derby Day racing action at Flemington Racecourse and published in full in our above Melbourne Cup Field section.
Melbourne Cup 2024 Nominations
The 2024 Melbourne Cup nominations close on Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at 12:00pm (Melbourne time).
The Lexus Melbourne Cup 2024 nominations attracted 123 stayers including 20 international visitors looking to upset the locals with all-in betting led by Ciaron Maher’s Sydney Cup champ Circle Of Fire.
You can view the full list of nominations on our Melbourne Cup Nominations page.
Melbourne Cup 2024 first acceptances
You can view the full list of first declarations on our Melbourne Cup Nominations page.
Melbourne Cup 2024 second acceptances
You can view the full list of second declarations on our Melbourne Cup Nominations page.
Melbourne Cup 2024 third acceptances
Melbourne Cup Weights 2024
Handicap conditions apply to this race. The early 2024 Melbourne Cup weights on the nominated horses are announced in September and will be detailed here.
Gold Trip (57.5kg in 2022) was the last Melbourne Cup top-weight to salute.
Gold Trip carried the 58.5kg top weight in 2023 running 17th in his failed title defence.
2024 Melbourne Cup Top-Weight:
- #1 Vauban (55.5kg)
The 2024 Melbourne Cup weights (handicaps) were declared on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 with last year’s champion, Without A Fight, allocated the 58.5kg topweight after carrying 56kg to victory last year.
Without A Fight was a non-acceptor at first declaration stage making the Chris Waller-trained Via Sistina (56.5kg) the new Melbourne Cup 2024 topweight.
You can view the official 2024 Melbourne Cup weights on our Melbourne Cup Nominations page.
Melbourne Cup 2024 Scratchings
2024 Melbourne Cup scratchings close at 7:30 AM on Tuesday the 5th of November 2024.
- #10 Athabascan (2)
Melbourne Cup Prize Money 2024
The 2024 Melbourne Cup prize purse is worth $7,750,000 in prize money plus $810,000 in trophies, distributed from places first through to twelfth including $4.4 million going to the Melbourne Cup winner in 2024.
| Place | Prize Money |
|---|---|
| 1st | $4,400,000 + trophies |
| 2nd | $1,100,000 |
| 3rd | $550,000 |
| 4th | $350,000 |
| 5th | $230,000 |
| 6th | $160,000 |
| 7th | $160,000 |
| 8th | $160,000 |
| 9th | $160,000 |
| 10th | $160,000 |
| 11th | $160,000 |
| 12th | $160,000 |
Melbourne Cup Race Number 2024
The 2024 Melbourne Cup runs as Flemington Race 7 on Tuesday the 5th of November 2024 as part of Lexus Melbourne Cup Day 2024, the second race day event of the Melbourne Cup Carnival. There are ten races in total that day at Flemington Racecourse.
Melbourne Cup Live 2024
You can watch or listen to the 2024 Melbourne Cup live, across the following mediums.
Telecast: Channel 9
Pay television: Sky Racing 1 (channel 526 on Foxtel)
Radio: Radio Sport National
Streaming: Racing.com
Mobile: Neds App
Melbourne Cup Sweep
All around the country, workplaces participate in putting together a Melbourne Cup sweep, allotting a horse (usually at random) to each person that decides to join the sweep. Please note that sweeps are a casual gambling environment organised among peers. You can learn more about sweeps here.
Melbourne Cup Tickets 2024
Tickets for the Melbourne Cup Carnival are available through Ticketek.
Melbourne Cup Carnival 2024
The 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival is from Saturday the 2nd of November 2024 until Saturday the 9th of November 2024.
The first race day is the Victoria Derby Day on Saturday the 2nd of November, followed by the Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday the 5th of November. The next race meet is Kennedy Oaks Day on the Thursday the 7th of November, followed by the final race meet for the carnival, VRCChampion Stakes Day held on Saturday the the 9th of November 2024.
Australian Horses In The Melbourne Cup
Australian horses dominated the Melbourne Cup 2021 field with COVID-19 restrictions and the early withdrawal of a number of internationals.
Vow And Declare in 2019 beat out a host of international fancies to salute as an Australian born and bred stayer.
New Zealand-bred Verry Elleegant (1st) prepared in Sydney by Chris Waller defeated the Queensland-bred Incentivise (2nd) who is trained in Victoria by Peter Moody defeated the UK raider Spanish Mission (3rd) in the 2021 Melbourne Cup results.
French-bred expat Gold Trip won the 2022 Melbourne Cup prepared in Australia by Ciaron Maher & David Eustace. The first three over the line in the Melbourne Cup 2022 results were Australian trained with Deauville Legend (4th) the best of the internationals.
In 2023 the Melbourne Cup winner was the Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained Without A Fight who is prepared in Australia but was an international import last year.
In 2024 Knight’s Choice scored an upset win at 90/1 to become the latest Australian bred and trained Melbourne Cup winner!
International Horses In The Melbourne Cup
International horses dominate the Melbourne Cup field each year. From 2010 – 2024 six internationally-trained raiders prepared from outside of Australian / New Zealand saluted in the Melbourne Cup most recently Cross Counter (2018) for Godolphin followed in 2020 by Twilight Payment (Joseph O’Brien) who beat fellow internationals Tiger Moth (2nd) and Prince Of Arran (3rd).
There were just two internationally-trained horses in the 2021 Melbourne Cup field from outside of Australia and New Zealand: Twilight Payment (Joseph O’Brien) and Spanish Mission (Andrew Balding). They finished 11th and 3rd respectively.
The 2022 Melbourne Cup field featured two official internationally-trained raiders with Deauville Legend (James Ferguson) running fourth as the beaten favourite and Without A Fight (Simon & Ed Crisford) a disappointing 13th.
The 2023 Melbourne Cup final field featured four international horses from outside of Australia or New Zealand with No. 4 Breakup (Japan), No. 5 Vauban (Ireland), No. 7 Absurde (Ireland), and No. 13 Okita Soushi (Ireland).
The 2024 Melbourne Cup final field featured five international horses from outside of Australia or New Zealand with No. 1 Vauban, No. 4 Warp Speed, No. 9 Absurde, No. 13 Onesmoothoperator, and No. 15 Sea King. The best finish was by Absurde (5th).
Grey Horse In The Melbourne Cup
Grey horses which have seen success in the Melbourne Cup include Subzero (first place in 1992), Gunsynd (third place in 1972) Manighar (fifth place in 2010). A total of six grey horses have won the Melbourne Cup throughout history.
Melbourne Cup Winners
Winners of the Melbourne Cup going back to 1999 displayed in the table below. If you would like to view the full list of Melbourne Cup winners, going all the way back to 1861, please visit our Melbourne Cup Winners page.
| Year | Winner | Trainer/s | Jockey | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Knight’s Choice | John Symons & Shelia Laxon | Robbie Dolan | 3:19.53 |
| 2023 | Without A Fight | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Mark Zahra | 3:18.37 |
| 2022 | Gold Trip | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Mark Zahra | 3:24.04 |
| 2021 | Verry Elleegant | Chris Waller | James McDonald | 3:17.43 |
| 2020 | Twilight Payment | Joseph O’Brien | Jye McNeil | 3:17.34 |
| 2019 | Vow And Declare | Danny O’Brien | Craig Williams | 3:24.76 |
| 2018 | Cross Counter | Charlie Appleby | Kerrin McEvoy | 3:21.17 |
| 2017 | Rekindling | Joseph O’Brien | Corey Brown | 3:21.19 |
| 2016 | Almandin | Robert Hickmott | Kerrin McEvoy | 3:20.58 |
| 2015 | Prince Of Penzance | Darren Weir | Michelle Payne | 3:23.15 |
| 2014 | Protectionist | Andreas Wohler | Ryan Moore | 3:17.71 |
| 2013 | Fiorente | Gai Waterhouse | Damien Oliver | 3:20.30 |
| 2012 | Green Moon | Robert Hickmott | Brett Prebble | 3:20.45 |
| 2011 | Dunaden | Mikel Delzangles | Christophe Lemaire | 3:20.84 |
| 2010 | Americain | Alain de Royer Dupre | Gerald Mosse | 3:26.87 |
| 2009 | Shocking | Mark Kavanagh | Corey Brown | 3:23.87 |
| 2008 | Viewed | Bart Cummings | Blake Shinn | 3:20.40 |
| 2007 | Efficient | Graeme Rogerson | Michael Rodd | 3:23.34 |
| 2006 | Delta Blues | Katsuhiko Sumii | Yasunari Iwata | 3:21.42 |
| 2005 | Makybe Diva | Lee Freedman | Glen Boss | 3:19.79 |
| 2004 | Makybe Diva | Lee Freedman | Glen Boss | 3:28.55 |
| 2003 | Makybe Diva | David Hall | Glen Boss | 3:19.90 |
| 2002 | Media Puzzle | Dermot K Weld | Damien Oliver | 3:16.97 |
| 2001 | Ethereal | Sheila Laxon | Scott Seamer | 3:21.08 |
| 2000 | Brew | Michael Moroney | Kerrin McEvoy | 3:18.68 |
| 1999 | Rogan Josh | Bart Cummings | John Marshall | 3:19.64 |