Can Without A Fight win the 2023 Melbourne Cup?
The reigning Caulfield Cup champion Without A Fight will be looking to become the first horse since Ethereal in 2001 to complete the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double.
Trained by Anthony & Sam Freedman, the former European is back for a second run in the Melbourne Cup, having finished 13th in the race on his Australian debut in 2022.
Since then, Without A Fight has gone on to become one of Australia’s best staying horses, winning the Q22 (2200m) in Queensland during the winter, before coming out and winning the Caulfield Cup (2400m) at his last start before running in the Melbourne Cup.
Having partnered Gold Trip to victory in the 2022 Melbourne Cup, Mark Zahra will partner Without A Fight in the 2023 Melbourne Cup.
When will Without A Fight run in the Melbourne Cup?
The Melbourne Cup will be run on Tuesday, November 7 at Flemington Racecourse.
The one thing that hasn’t changed about the 2023 Melbourne Cup is the horses.
Once again The Cup has brought together an elite field of Melbourne Cup horses to contest the two mile race for $8 million.
Without A Fight (16)
- Age: 7YO
- Color: Brown
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Teofilo (IRE)
- Dam: Khor Sheed (GB)
Career stats for Without A Fight
- Career: 22: 10-3-4
- Flemington: 1: 0-0-0
- Distance: 1: 0-0-0
- Wet: 6: 2-0-2
- Good: 16: 8-3-2
- Group 1: 4: 1-0-0
- Win %: 45%
- Place %: 77%
Melbourne Cup results for Without A Fight
| Year | Placing | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Odds | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 13/22 | Simon & Ed Crisford | William Buick | 18 | 55.5kg | $11 | 21.15L |
Recent Form for Without A Fight
| Date | Race | Track | Distance | Placing | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Odds | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 21 | Caulfield Cup | Caulfield | 2400m | 1/18 | Mark Zahra | 7 | 55.5kg | $8.50 | – |
| Sep 23 | Underwood Stakes | Caulfield | 1800m | 6/15 | Mark Zahra | 10 | 59kg | $4.60 | 2.25L |
| June 10 | Q22 | Eagle Farm | 2200m | 1/14 | Mark Zahra | 11 | 59kg | $2.80 | – |
| May 27 | Lord Mayors Cup | Eagle Farm | 1800m | 1/11 | Mark Zahra | 10 | 58kg | $9 | – |
Can Without A Fight win the 2023 Melbourne Cup?
Can Without A Fight defy history and become the first horse since Ethereal in 2001 to complete the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double? We think he can. The Anthony & Sam Freedman-trained runner arrived in time to claim West Wind Blows in the shadows of the winning post to etch his name into Caulfield Cup folklore. He was only second-up in the Caulfield Cup and in the Melbourne Cup can go to another level third-up. His third-up record is bombproof, winning twice and placing in three goes. This is obviously his hardest test in terms of being a winning chance in a big race, considering he finished 13th, beaten 21.15 lengths in this race last year. Firmer going is more his go and since being under the care of Anthony & Sam Freedman, he is a different galloper. From barrier 16, Mark Zahra will go back towards the rear of the field, but if he can gain a tow into the race, we have no doubt he will stay the trip and finish over the top of his rivals once again.
Watch Without A Fight win the 2023 Caulfield Cup
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