Best Melbourne Cup guide 2024

Melbourne Cup

Group One 2024 Betting Guide
Date: Tuesday, November 5, 2024
Time: 3pm AEDT
Location: Flemington Racecourse
Prize Money: $8,000,000
Distance: 3200m
2023 Winner: Without A Fight | Jockey: Mark Zahra | Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman

This Melbourne Cup betting guide is designed to give you the ultimate leg-up ahead of the 2024 running of the race that stops a nation, which will be held on Tuesday, November 5. Melbourne Cup betting is open all-year round but ramps up in the week leading up to the 3200m battle for stayers run at Flemington Racecourse. You can navigate our Melbourne Cup betting guide using the links on our page menu, which will advance you to the information you are seeking.

The Melbourne Cup is the pinnacle of racing in Australia and one of the most popular races for punters around the world. Considered to be “the race that stops a nation” the Melbourne Cup is held on the first Tuesday of November and attracts, not only the biggest racing crowd each year, but also the most money bet on one race.

The 2023 running of the Melbourne Cup was taken out by Without A Fight, trained by Anthony & Sam Freedman, under Mark Zahra.


2023 Melbourne Cup Final Field

Gold Trip Silks

1. Gold Trip (2)

Alenquer Silks

2. Alenquer (9)

Without A Fight Silks

3. Without A Fight (16)

Breakup Silks

4. Breakup (18)

Vauban Silks

5. Vauban (3)

  • T: Willie Mullins
  • J: Ryan Moore
  • W: 55kg
  • F: 34211x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Color: Chestnut
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Gallway (GB)
  • Dam: Waldfest (IRE)
Soulcombe Silks

6. Soulcombe (4)

  • T: Chris Waller
  • J: Joao Moreira
  • W: 53.5kg
  • F: 2×1437
  • Age: 5YO
  • Color: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Frankel (GB)
  • Dam: Ribbons (GER)
Absurde Silks

7. Absurde (8)

  • T: Willie Mullins
  • J: Zac Purton
  • W: 53kg
  • F: 7×1261
  • Age: 6YO
  • Color: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Fastnet Rock (AUS)
  • Dam: Incroyable (IRE)
Right You Are Silks

8. Right You Are (15)

Vow and Declare Silks

9. Vow And Declare (19)

  • T: Danny O’Brien
  • J: Billy Egan
  • W: 53kg
  • F: 60×022
  • Age: 8YO
  • Color: Chestnut
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Declaration Of War (USA)
  • Dam: Geblitzt (NZ)
Cleveland Silks

10. Cleveland (23)

  • T: Kris Lees
  • J: Michael Dee
  • W: 52kg
  • F: x49621
  • Age: 6YO
  • Color: Bay
  • Sex: Horse
  • Sire: Camelot (GB)
  • Dam: Venus de Milo (IRE)
Ashrun Silks

11. Ashrun (11)

Daqiansweet Junior Silks

12. Daqiansweet Junior (12)

Okita Soushi Silks

13. Okita Soushi (20)

Sheraz Silks

14. Sheraz (22)

  • T: Chris Waller
  • J: Beau Mertens
  • W: 51.5kg
  • F: 1×2341
  • Age: 7YO
  • Color: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE)
  • Dam: Shemiyla (IRE)
Lastotchka Silks

15. Lastotchka (21)

Magical Lagoon Silks

16. Magical Lagoon (7)

Military Mission Silks

17. Military Mission (5)

Serpentine Silks

18. Serpentine (1)

Virtuous Circle Silks

19. Virtuous Circle (6)

  • T: Liam Howley
  • J: Craig Newitt
  • W: 51kg
  • F: 2×0908
  • Age: 4YO
  • Color: Bay
  • Sex: Horse
  • Sire: Almanzor (FR)
  • Dam: She Is Stryking
More Felons Silks

20. More Felons (24)

  • T: Chris Waller
  • J: Jamie Kah
  • W: 50.5kg
  • F: 657285
  • Age: 5YO
  • Color: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Churchill (IRE)
  • Dam: Pivotalia (IRE)
Future History Silks

21. Future History (13)

Interpretation Silks

22. Interpretation (17)

Kalapour Silks

23. Kalapour (14)

  • T: Kris Lees
  • J: Zac Lloyd
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 3L7331
  • Age: 7YO
  • Color: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: War Command (IRE)
  • Dam: Daldiyna (FR)
True Marvel Silks

24. True Marvel (10)

  • T: Matthew Smith
  • J: Ben Thompson
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 138080
  • Age: 8YO
  • Color: Brown
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Masked Marvel (GB)
  • Dam: Anecdotique (GB)

2023 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw

No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Odds
1 Silks
Gold Trip
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
James McDonald
2
58.5kg
+340
2 Silks
Alenquer
Michael Moroney
Damien Oliver
9
56.5kg
+5000
3 Silks
Without A Fight
Anthony & Sam Freedman
Mark Zahra
16
56.5kg
+600
4 Silks
Breakup
Tatsuya Yoshioka
Kohei Matsuyama
18
55kg
+1700
5 Silks
Vauban
Willie Mullins
Ryan Moore
3
55kg
+240
6 Silks
Soulcombe
Chris Waller
Joao Moreira
4
53.5kg
+1000
7 Silks
Absurde
Willie Mullins
Zac Purton
8
53kg
+2200
8 Silks
Right You Are
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
John Allen
15
53kg
+7000
9 Silks
Vow And Declare
Danny O’Brien
Billy Egan
19
53kg
+3000
10 Silks
Cleveland
Kris Lees
Michael Dee
23
52kg
+2600
11 Silks
Ashrun
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Kerrin McEvoy
11
51.5kg
+4000
12 Silks
Daqiansweet Junior
Phillip Stokes
Daniel Stackhouse
12
51.5kg
+9000
13 Silks
Okita Soushi
Joseph O’Brien
Dylan Gibbons
20
51.5kg
+7000
14 Silks
Sheraz
Chris Waller
Beau Mertens
22
51.5kg
+12500
15 Silks
Lastotchka
Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
Craig Williams
21
51kg
+2500
16 Silks
Magical Lagoon
Chris Waller
Mark Du Plessis
7
51kg
+9000
17 Silks
Military Mission
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Rachel King
5
51kg
+4500
18 Silks
Serpentine
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Jye McNeil
1
51kg
+6000
19 Silks
Virtuous Circle
Liam Howley
Craig Newitt
6
51kg
+9000
20 Silks
More Felons
Chris Waller
Jamie Kah
24
50.5kg
+3000
21 Silks
Future History
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Hollie Doyle
13
50kg
+2600
22 Silks
Interpretation
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Teo Nugent
17
50kg
+6000
23 Silks
Kalapour
Kris Lees
Zac Lloyd
14
50kg
+5000
24 Silks
True Marvel
Matthew Smith
Ben Thompson
10
50kg
+15000

2023 Melbourne Cup odds

Who will etch their name into equine immortality alongside Gold Trip in the 2023 Melbourne Cup? (Photo by Scott Barbour/Racing Photos)
Flemington - Race 7
Lexus Melbourne Cup
Status: Final
Track Rating: Good4
Weather: Overcast
AUS
3200m03:00pm - Tue 7th Nov
1. Gold Trip
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Best odds atNeds
2. Alenquer
Michael Moroney
Best odds atNeds
3. Without A Fight
A & S Freedman
Best odds atNeds
4. Breakup
Tatsuya Yoshioka
Best odds atNeds
5. Vauban
Willie Mullins
Best odds atNeds
6. Soulcombe
Chris Waller
Best odds atNeds
7. Absurde
Willie Mullins
Best odds atNeds
8. Right You Are
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Best odds atNeds
9. Vow And Declare
Danny O'brien
Best odds atNeds
10. Cleveland
Kris Lees
Best odds atNeds
11. Ashrun
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Best odds atNeds
12. Daqiansweet Junior
Phillip Stokes
Best odds atNeds
13. Okita Soushi
Joseph O'brien
Best odds atNeds
14. Sheraz
Chris Waller
Best odds atNeds
15. Lastotchka
Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Best odds atNeds
16. Magical Lagoon
Chris Waller
Best odds atNeds
17. Military Mission
G Waterhouse & A Bott
Best odds atNeds
18. Serpentine
G Waterhouse & A Bott
Best odds atNeds
19. Virtuous Circle
Liam Howley
Best odds atNeds
20. More Felons
Chris Waller
Best odds atNeds
21. Future History
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Best odds atNeds
22. Interpretation
Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Best odds atNeds
23. Kalapour
Kris Lees
Best odds atNeds
24. True Marvel
Matthew Smith
Best odds atNeds

Melbourne Cup betting 2024

United States Best Melbourne Cup Bookmakers

Best Melbourne Cup Bookmakers

The 2024 Melbourne Cup will be run on Tuesday, November 5, with bets now being taken by Australia’s top betting sites. Melbourne Cup futures betting opens in the minutes after the running of the race each year, which allows you to place bets well in advance of the next running. This allows you to spot the talented types that can journey over 3200m and bet on them to win the Melbourne Cup, before they have even qualified, usually at extreme odds.

The more popular way to place Melbourne Cup bets is after the fields have been released. The order of entry is evolving throughout the racing season, with the best 24 horses then given a spot in the field. The Melbourne Cup barrier draw then finalises where horses will jump from and betting then really heats up. Now Melbourne Cup betting sites have more knowledge, they can frame extensive markets and begin ramping up their promotions.

In the days leading up to and on race day, you will be able to place all kinds of bet types at online bookmakers, these include win/place bets, trifectas and even things like quaddies, which allows you to bet on who will win four successive races on cup day. We’ll go into more about the bet types available at Melbourne Cup betting sites on this page.

Melbourne Cup betting is also available across mobile devices, with most Australian betting sites also having downloadable betting apps and mobile websites. This means even if you are on course at Flemington, you can take care of all your Melbourne Cup betting needs on the web

  • Betting on a normal day’s racing isn’t even comparable to those who punt on the Melbourne Cup.

    The atmosphere, even sitting at home, is unlike anything else and Australians embrace the day like no other. For adults in Australia its as hotly looked forward to as Christmas Day.

    From a punting perspective, there are a large majority of us that just like to have a runner in the office sweepstakes, but there’s nothing better than punting your hard-earned cash on your Melbourne Cup fancy.

    There are multiple reasons to have a bet in the Melbourne Cup:

    Firstly, the size of the pools are massive — bigger than any other pool for any other race in Australia and around the world.

    What does this mean for you? Even if you’re betting only $1 in the Melbourne Cup, that $1 has already increased in value because the bigger the pool, the better your horse will pay with bookmakers.

    If the pool was small, there would be less money to divided between the winning bets, but the Melbourne Cup pools exceed into the millions and this is where Melbourne Cup punters take full advantage.

    Secondly, because the pools are so high, the possible payouts for players of Quaddies, Trifectas, Quinellas, Trebles and Doubles are very rewarding.

    The Quaddie involving the Melbourne Cup gets into the millions and even if all four favourites win, the payouts are still profitable.

    Lastly, our recommended bookmakers have a wide range of Melbourne Cup specials and promotions. Unfortunately though sign up bonuses are now banned at Australian online bookmakers following the introduction of the National Gambling Framework on May 26 2019.

    They also offer refund specials, so if your selected horse doesn’t win, you can still get your money back, along with plenty more rewarding promotions.


The 2024 Melbourne Cup

The Melbourne Cup is Australia’s major thoroughbred horse race, not only because of the stake money involved, but it’s a day where even those who have never punted in their life have a little flutter with the bookmakers.

The 3200-metre race is one of the longest flat races in Australia and carries a current prize purse of A$8 million with the winner being paid $4.4 million.

The prize money has steadily grown over the past 10 years due to its increase in popularity with punters. It’s punters money that drives the horse racing business and increases have seen its total prize pool shoot from $5 million in 2005 to $8 million in 2020.

The race is run at Flemington (Read: How to travel to the Melbourne Cup), Victoria’s premier race track, and the current sponsor is Lexus which supplies the winning trophies, valued at around $250,000.

Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne Cup
Flemington Racecourse

For Australians, the Melbourne Cup is a public holiday which saves them from making an excuse at work. It is also a popular race in New Zealand, Europe and Asia as those three contingents usually have runners in the Melbourne Cup itself.


Recent results of the Melbourne Cup

2023: Without A Fight Without A Fight silk

Without A Fight

  • Trainer Anthony & Sam Freedman
  • Jockey Mark Zahra

2022: Gold Trip Gold Trip silk

Gold Trip

  • Trainer Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
  • Jockey Mark Zahra

2021: Verry Elleegant Very Elleegant silk

Verry Elleegant

  • Trainer Chris Waller
  • Jockey James McDonald

2020: Twilight Payment Twilight Payment silk

Twilight Payment

  • Trainer Joseph O’Brien
  • Jockey Jye McNeil

2019: Vow And Declare Vow And Declare silk

Vow And Declare

  • Trainer Danny O’Brien
  • Jockey Craig Williams

2018: Cross Counter Cross Counter silk

Cross Counter

  • Trainer Charlie Appleby
  • Jockey Kerrin McEvoy

2017: Rekindling Rekindling silk

Rekindling

  • Trainer Joseph O’Brien
  • Jockey Corey Brown

2016: Almandin Almandin silk

Almandin

  • Trainer Robert Hickmott
  • Jockey Kerrin McEvoy

2015 Prince Of Penzance