Do single word names win more Melbourne Cups than two word horse names?
Once you have read all the form and listened to every horse racing “expert” sprout their knowledge of the 2023 Melbourne Cup; the most likely outcome is you will thoroughly confused.
So at HorseBetting.com.au, we like to simplify the world once it becomes too noisy. Lets looks at which Melbourne Cup horses win more Melbourne Cup based purely on their names!
What? you must be kidding right? No there is a definitive edge to be gained from looking at the history of the great race.
The vast majority of Melbourne Cup winning horses have had single word names having won 89 of the 162 cups to be raced, including the last single word name winner Rekindling in 2017.
Two word names have won 66 Melbourne Cups with Gold Trip being the last winner in 2022.
Three word horse names have performed the worst in Cups having won just seven times, but have dramatically improved their form in recent cups having wins with Vow And Declare in 2019, and in 2015 with Prince Of Penzance.
Due to letter count restrictions on horse names there has never been a four worded horse name to have won the Melbourne Cup.
So while single word horses have traditionally performed the best, the fact three word horses have won two of the last seven runnings – but only seven of the previous 160 races – suggest they are the rapid improver. We suggest you consider that fact deeply while reading our 2032 Melbourne Cup runner by runner betting preview.
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Flemington - Race 7
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Status: Final
Track Rating: Good4
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Melbourne Cup Runner-by-Runner betting guide & racing tips