Melbourne Cup favourites
Melbourne Cup favourites are anointed in the hours after the running of the 3200m feature each year. As time progresses and more staying races are run, the form is assessed and the Melbourne Cup favourite might be changed. Read on to learn about the Melbourne Cup favourites for 2024 and the historical results of the bookies pick in the race that stops a nation.
2023 Melbourne Cup favourite
Following the money is one of the smartest thing Melbourne Cup punters can do, with connections confidence often backed by their big wallets. Other keen form watchers run big betting syndicates and can also have a huge impact on the 2023 Melbourne Cup favourite.
The 2023 Melbourne Cup favourite is Vauban, priced at $3.80 with Melbourne Cup betting Sites.
View the full Melbourne Cup betting market at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Betting on Melbourne Cup favourites
THE Melbourne Cup is the one time of the year that the casual fan opens up the wallet and has a flutter.
Naturally the average punter is going to turn to the horses that feature towards the top of the market, and if there’s an outright favourite that horse is going to see the majority of the once-a-year money.
We’ve taken a look at how the favourites have fared in recent Melbourne Cup history to see if the short price is justified.
Who is the 2023 Melbourne Cup favourite?
The $3.80 favourite with online bookmaker Ladbrokes for the 2023 Melbourne Cup is the Willie Mullins-trained Vauban.
The six-year-old gelding brings superb form from the UK to a race like the Melbourne Cup and his form over hurdles and on the flat is some of the best that we have seen from any International galloper in some time.
Vauban has won multiple Group 1 hurdle contests over similar distance to the Melbourne Cup, while he has won his last two starts in Europe, including a massive 7.5-length victory over his stablemate and Ebor Handicap winner, Absurde.
2022 Melbourne Cup Field
No. | Silks | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Odds |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gold Trip | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Mark Zahra | 14 | 57.5kg | $13 | |
2 | Duais | Edward Cummings | Hugh Bowman | 10 | 55.5kg | $21 | |
3 | Knights Order | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Tim Clark | 24 | 55.5kg | $21 | |
4 | Montefilia | David Payne | Jason Collett | 11 | 55.5kg | $11 | |
5 | Numerian | Annabel Neasham | Tommy Berry | 7 | 55.5kg | $61 | |
6 | Without A Fight | Simon & Ed Crisford | William Buick | 18 | 55.5kg | $11 | |
7 | Camorra | Ben & JD Hayes | Ben Melham | 17 | 55kg | $41 | |
8 | Deauville Legend | James Ferguson | Kerrin McEvoy | 9 | 55kg | $3.80 | |
9 | Stockman | Joseph Pride | Sam Clipperton | 2 | 54kg | $34 | |
10 | Vow And Declare | Danny O’Brien | Blake Shinn | 4 | 54kg | $18 | |
11 | Young Werther | Danny O’Brien | Damian Lane | 21 | 54kg | $26 | |
12 | Hoo Ya Mal | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Craig Williams | 15 | 53.5kg | $21 | |
13 | Serpentine | Robert Hickmott | John Allen | 23 | 53.5kg | $61 | |
14 | Daqiansweet Junior | Phillip Stokes | Daniel Moor | 13 | 53kg | $51 | |
15 | Grand Promenade | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Harry Coffey | 1 | 53kg | $61 | |
16 | Arapaho | Bjorn Baker | Rachel King | 19 | 52.5kg | $101 | |
17 | Emissary | Mike Moroney | Patrick Moloney | 3 | 51.5kg | $21 | |
18 | Lunar Flare | Grahame Begg | Michael Dee | 12 | 51.5kg | $21 | |
19 | Smokin’ Romans | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Jamie Kah | 16 | 51.5kg | $21 | |
20 | Tralee Rose | Symon Wilde | Dean Yendall | 22 | 51kg | $101 | |
21 | Point Nepean | Robert Hickmott | Wayne Lordan | 20 | 51kg | $71 | |
22 | High Emocean | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Teo Nugent | 8 | 50kg | $51 | |
23 | Interpretation | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Craig Newitt | 6 | 50kg | $41 | |
24 | Realm Of Flowers | Anthony & Sam Freedman | Damien Thornton | 5 | 50kg | $15 |
2022 Melbourne Cup Odds
Flemington - Race 7
Lexus Melbourne Cup
Status: Open
Track Rating: Soft7
Weather: Rain
AUS
How have the most recent Melbourne Cup favourites fared?
It may be surprising to punters to find out that just one horse in the last 10 years has registered a win as the favourite in the Melbourne Cup.
Fiorente all the way back in 2013 as a $7 favourite at Ladbrokes was the only time this decade a top elect has got the win, with Incentivise (2021) next best with a second place finish and Hartnell (2015) and So You Think (2010) having third-placed finishes.
How often do favourites win the Melbourne Cup?
As of 2021, the starting favourite has won 34 of 161 Melbourne Cups, which works out to be just under a 1/4 shot.
Typically any horse in a 24-horse field is going to jump at long odds, but these odds shorten considerably when the once-a-year backers place their bets on whatever is on top of the betting market.
Fiorente in 2013 was the last time a favourite saluted in the Melbourne Cup, which means we’re overdue for another top elect to win in the race that stops a nation.
Recent Melbourne Cup favourites & their finishing order
Horse | Year | Finished | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Deauville Legend | 2022 | 4th | $4.40 |
Incentivise | 2021 | 2nd | $2.50 |
Surprise Baby | 2020 | 13th | $6 |
Finche | 2019 | 7th | $8.50 |
Yucatan | 2018 | 11th | $7 |
Marmelo | 2017 | 9th | $8.50 |
Hartnell | 2016 | 3rd | $5.50 |
Fame Game | 2015 | 13th | $5 |
Admire Ratki | 2014 | Retired | $5.50 |
Fiorente | 2013 | 1st | $7 |
Dunaden | 2012 | 14th | $7 |
Americain | 2011 | 5th | $5 |
So You Think | 2010 | 3rd | $3 |
Alcopop | 2009 | 6th | $4.80 |
Mad Rush | 2008 | 7th | $5.50 |
Shortest Melbourne Cup Favourites by Odds
Year | Favourite(s) | Place |
---|---|---|
1930 | Phar Lap (8/11, $1.70) | 1ST |
1929 | Phar Lap (Evens, $2) | 3rd |
1912 | Duke Foote (6/4, $2.50) | Unplaced |
1901 | Revenue (7/4, $2.70) | 1ST |
1917 | Lanius (7/4, $2.70) | 6th |
1925 | Manfred (7/4, $2.70) | 2nd |
1940 | Beau Vite (7/4, $2.70) | 4th |
1948 | Howe (7/4, $2.70) | 5th |
1956 | Redcraze (7/4, $2.70) | 2nd |
1971 | Gay Icarus (7/4, $2.70) | 9th |
2021 | Incentivise ($2.90) | 2nd |
1862 | Archer (2/1, $3) | 1ST |
1863 | Musidora (2/1ef, $3) & Rose of Denmark (2/1ef, $3) | 2nd & 3rd |
1869 | Circassian (2/1, $3) | Unplaced |
1874 | Goldsborough (2/1, $3) | 7th |
1955 | Rising Fast (2/1, $3) | 2nd |
1969 | Tails (2/1, $3) | 7th |
2010 | So You Think ($3) | 3rd |
1908 | Alawa (9/4, $3.20) | 5th |
1924 | Spearfelt (9/4, $3.20) | 3rd |
1926 | Pantheon (9/4, $3.20) | 3rd |
1928 | Strephon (9/4, $3.20) | 2nd |
1958 | Yeman (9/4, $3.20) | 4th |
1963 | Summer Regent (9/4, $3.20) | 22nd |
1970 | Voleur (9/4, $3.20) | 6th |
1992 | Veandercross (9/4, $3.20) | 2nd |
Melbourne Cup Favourites Under $5 since 1960
Year | Favourite(s) | Place |
---|---|---|
2022 | Deauville Legend ($4.40) | 4th |
2021 | Incentivise ($2.90) | 2nd |
2010 | So You Think ($3) | 3rd |
2009 | Alcopop ($4.80) | 6th |
2007 | Master O’Reilly ($3.80) | 8th |
2005 | Makybe Diva ($4.40) | 1ST |
2004 | Makybe Diva ($3.60) | 1ST |
1999 | Sky Heights (7/2, $4.50) | 17th |
1997 | Might And Power (7/2, $4.50) | 1ST |
1995 | Double Trigger (7/2, $4.50) | 17th |
1992 | Veandercross (9/4, $3.20) | 2nd |
1991 | Let’s Elope (3/1, $4) | 1ST |
1980 | Hyperno (3/1, $4) | 7th |
1979 | Dulcify (3/1, $4) | FTF |
1977 | Gold and Black (7/2, $4.50) | 1ST |
1975 | Suleiman (11/4, $3.70) | 4th |
1974 | Leilani (7/2, $4.50) | 2nd |
1973 | Glengowan (5/2, $3.50) | 2nd |
1972 | Magnifique (7/2, $4.50) | 2nd |
1971 | Gay Icarus (7/4, $2.70) | 9th |
1970 | Voleur (9/4, $3.20) | 6th |
1969 | Tails (2/1, $3) | 7th |
1964 | Sir Dane (3/1, $4) | 24th |
1963 | Summer Regent (9/4, $3.20) | 22nd |
1962 | Even Stevens (3/1, $4) | 1ST |
1960 | Tulloch (3/1, $4) | 7th |
Melbourne Cup Guides
- Melbourne Cup Odds Comparison
- Melbourne Cup Finishing Order
- Melbourne Cup Betting Guide
- Melbourne Cup Order of Entry
- Melbourne Cup Betting Tips