Melbourne Cup international horses
Several of the top chances in the 2023 Melbourne Cup are international runners, attempting to head down under and win the world-famous 3200m feature at Flemington racecourse. In this article we will take a look at the 2023 Melbourne Cup international horses, plus give you an extensive look at the history of Melbourne Cup international runners and how they have finished in the past.
Melbourne Cup international horses 2023
Absurde
- Age: 5YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Fastnet Rock
- Dam: Incroyable
Absurde
5yo G | T: Willie Mullins | J: Zac Purton (53kg)
Absurde is the first of two Willie Mullins-trained gallopers heading to Australia for the 2023 Melbourne Cup. The son of Fastnet Rock warrants plenty of respect after gaining entry to this event after drawing away convincingly in the Class 2 Ebor Handicap at York on August 26. He was able to hold off all challengers under Frankie Dettori, despite lugging 60.5kg throughout the 2816m journey, and should have no issues staying the Melbourne Cup journey over 3200m. The five-year-old gelding boasts a second-place finish behind the current Melbourne Cup favourite and stablemate, Vauban, holding him in good stead for the first Tuesday of November. Hong Kong’s leading hoop Zac Purton makes his way back to Australia to take the mount, and with only 53kgs on his back, Absurde isn’t going to know himself. Consider him a top four chance.
Vauban
- Age: 5YO
- Color: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Gallway
- Dam: Waldfest
Vauban
5yo | T: Willie Mullins | J: Ryan Moore (55kg)
Vauban is the second Willie Mullins-trained galloper engaged in this year’s Melbourne Cup and has been a long-standing favourite to win the race since claiming back-to-back victories in Europe. His first victory was a demolition of Class 2 rivals at Royal Ascot on June 20, as the son of Gallway made every post a winner to score by 7.5 lengths, giving his stable companion Absurde no chance of chasing him down. Vauban then made his way to Naas on August 7 to solidify his spot in the race that stops the nation, leading all the way in the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes (2414m), striding away with the prize. The five-year-old gelding is well-weighted in this year’s Cup, with 55kgs unlikely to hinder his winning chances. Ryan Moore makes his way down under for the ride, and with his last Melbourne Cup success coming in 2014 aboard Protectionist. Vauban deserves favourtism on recent form and is a must include here.
Lastotchka
- Age: 5YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Mare
- Sire: Myboycharlie
- Dam: Muthia
Lastotchka
4YO M | T: Mick Price & Michael Kent | J: Craig Williams (51kg)
While technically not an international runner in this year’s Melbourne Cup, Lastotchka will make her Australian debut since arriving to the Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) barn. The French import was formerly trained by Jean-Marie Beguigne and had a career record that reads (10:4-2-1). The five-year-old mare was able to peak at her final international start, securing a career highlight in the Group 3 Prix Gladiateur (3100m) at Longchamp on September 3. Lastotchka gains the services of Craig Williams hopping aboard, and although her profile suggests a wet track may suit her best, we can’t dismiss her chances in the 2023 Melbourne Cup.
Okita Soushi
- Age: 6YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Stallion
- Sire: Galileo
- Dam: Amicus
Okita Soushi
Okita Soushi | 5YOH | T: Joseph O’Brien | J: Dylan Gibbons (51.5kg)
Okita Soushi has already had a run since getting off the float for the Joseph O’Brien stable, finishing 10 lengths away in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 21. The colt by Galileo was considered a shade disappointing by many – particularly with his overseas credentials reading quite well prior to that effort. He took out the Class 2 Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (2414m), holding off Hms President by a neck on the wire, pronouncing himself as a Melbourne Cup type, with the ability to outstay his rivals. He must be considered hard to have heading into Tuesday, however, Dylan Gibbons gets his chance to make his mark on Australia’s greatest race with his first-ever ride in a Melbourne Cup. Okita Soushi will need to make massive improvements to be in the finish here.
Breakup
- Age: 5YO
- Color: Chestnut
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Novelist
- Dam: Little Dun
Breakup
Breakup | 5YOH | T: Tatsuya Yoshioka | J: Kohei Matsuyama (55kg)
The only Japanese runner in the 2023 Melbourne Cup comes in the form of Breakup. The Tatsuya Yoshioka-trained five-year-old has already made his presence felt in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), finishing a luckless eighth of the 18 runners. He was poleaxed between runners and lost all momentum under Damian Lane, spelling the end of his chances in that contest. He was clearly very forgivable on that effort, and you only need to peak at his local form to see how talented this son of Novelist can be. He was blown away by the words highest-rated horse, Equinox, in the Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m) at Hanshin, but prior to that was closing on the heals of Justin Palace in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (spring) (3200m) over the Melbourne Cup trip. Kohei Matsuyama makes the trip from Japan to steer home Break Up and will be seeking history, as the first winner from the land of the rising son since Delta Blues in 2006.
Melbourne Cup Internatonal horses – the history
The Melbourne Cup is one of the true international horse races of the Australian racing calendar.
Since Vintage Crop’s breakthrough win in 1993, the Melbourne Cup field is perpetually dominated by overseas runners. Just two Melbourne Cup winners (Prince Of Penzance in 2015 and Vow And Declare in 2019) in the period between 2010-2020 were bred in Australia or New Zealand, highlighting just how dominant the international raiders have been.
It may be hard to believe for punters these days, but the Melbourne Cup was once an exclusively Australian and New Zealand affair in terms of winners.
That all changed in 1993 when the Dermot Weld-trained Irish superstar Vintage Crop came over and stunned the locals.
The win changed the course of the Melbourne Cup forever.
Weld would return just shy of 10 years later to guide Media Puzzle to a win in 2002, while Delta Blues became the first-ever Japanese-trained Melbourne Cup winner four years later.
From then on it is more often than not that an overseas horse takes out the Melbourne Cup, with these well-placed imports generally Melbourne Cup favourites for the race that stops a nation.
Americain (2010), Dunaden (2011), Green Moon (2012) Fiorente (2013), Protectionist (2014) and Almandin (2016) were all overseas raiders or horses purchased by Australian trainers that were bred internationally for staying success.
In 2017, Rekindling became the first UK-trained winner of the Melbourne Cup. Trained by Joseph O’Brien, the three-year-old was heavily supported in the betting and after getting a good run along the inside of the pack, it was able to run down Johannes Vermeer.
The Brits went even better in 2018. Not only did Cross Counter win it for trainer Charlie Appleby, but Marmelo, Prince Of Arran and Finche rounded out an all-UK first four – the first time that has ever happened at the Melbourne Cup.
While the Australian scored a win back for the locals in 2019 with Vow And Declare, the internationals were right back stealing our greatest race in 2020 with Twilight Payment winning for Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien.
In 2021 though, Australasia struck back with New Zealand-bred and Australian owned mare Verry Elleegant for Australia trainer Chris Waller.
The race that stops a nation has had winners from all parts of Europe and even Japan, further solidifying its status as a true international event.
2023 Melbourne Cup Horses
The Horsebetting.com.au team will update this page when the final field is announced on Saturday, November 4, 2023, ahead of the November 7 Melbourne Cup.
Why do international horses dominate the Melbourne Cup?
The answer to this is simple: European horses and bred to stay whereas Australian breeders are more interested in horses that sprint.
In Australia the lack of quality staying races throughout the year means there are is a lack of local options. Unless you are running a huge operation, or are prepared to just focus on the Sydney and Melbourne Cups, the true two-mile tests are few and far between.
In contrast, the UK has a number of group staying races all year round. It’s the consistent schedule which has lead to the British, Irish and French horses begin to take control of our cup as the year’s progress.
Will we see Australian-bred horses challenging for the Melbourne Cup anytime soon? Unless there are distinct changes to the racing calendar in the country we believe local winners in our staying tests will be a thing of the past.
International horses that have won the Melbourne Cup
Internationals have dominated the Melbourne Cup results in recent years. With Australia’s fascination still firmly on breeding for early two year olds and speed, that overseas domination of our greatest staying race looks set to continue for some time to come. Some of the most notable Melbourne Cup replays won by overseas horses are below:
1993 – Vintage Crop (Ireland)
1994 – Jeune (England)
2002 – Media Puzzle (Ireland)
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2006 – Delta Blues (Japan)
2010 – Americain (France)
2011 – Dunaden (France)
2012 – Green Moon (bred in Ireland)
2013 – Fiorente (bred in Ireland)
2014 – Protectonist (Germany)
2016 – Almandin (Germany)
2017 – Rekindling (Great Britain)
2018 – Cross Counter (Great Britain)
2020 – Twilight Payment (Ireland)
Past Melbourne Cup International Horses
In this section of our International Melbourne Cup runners, we take a look at the raiders that came to Australia in an attempt to win the race that stops a nation.
2022 Melbourne Cup international horses
The 2022 Melbourne Cup saw one of the lightest international raider representations in the race for some time, with just four true internationals making the trek, with this year still impacted by covid-19 restrictions.
Without A Fight, Camorra, Deauville Legend and Hoo Ya Mal are all yet to start in Australia.
Two of the four internationals are now Australian trained and/or majority Australian owned but qualify as international horses as they are yet to start in Australia.
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 European International Melbourne Cup Horses
All four 2022 Melbourne Cup runners are European internationals.
- Without A Fight is Irish-bred, and trained by UK trained Simon and Ed Crisford for Dubai owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum.
- Camorra is Irish bred, but is now Australian owned and trained from Lindsay Park by Ben and JD Hayes. He was purchased earlier this year by an Australian ownership group, although some of his former UK owners have stayed in the horse. He qualifies as an international by never having raced in Australia previously.
- Deauville Legend is Ireland-bred and trained in the UK by Newmarket trainer James Ferguson. The horse is owned by prolific Hong Kong owner Bon Ho who is well known to Australians as the owner of 2020 Everest winner Classique Legend and Hong Kong star Southern Legend
- Hoo Ya Mal is Great Britain-bred and Australian owned by managing syndicate owner Indian-born Kiwi Sir Owen Glenn’s Australian bloodstock company Go Bloodstock. Hoo Ya Mal is trained by Australian trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott but is yet to start in Australia.
As is often the case with most Australian feature staying races, the majority of the field were not bred here in Australia.
European-bred horses dominate this years race but don’t qualify as international horses having raced extensively in Australia.
Topweight Gold Trip and Arapaho were bred in France.
Knights Order, Numerian, Serpentine and Interpretation were bred in Ireland.
Grand Promenade and Emmisary were bred in Great Brittain.
Without A Fight
T: Simon & Ed CrisfordJ: William Buick- Age: 5YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Teofilo (IRE)
- Dam: Khor Sheed (IRE)
6. Without A Fight (18)
5yo G | T: Simon & Ed Crisford | J: William Buick (55.5kg)
Without A Fight is the first of the international runners in the Melbourne Cup field and on exposed form, he is hard to knock. He won comfortably over 2800m at York earlier in the year on firmer ground, but has the runs on the board in terms of wins on rain-affected tracks to be prominent in this. This is obviously his first start on these shores and if we somehow get an improving track, his chances further increase. He has two wins and two minor placings on Heavy ground earlier in his career, but there looks to be a handful of other runners who will appreciated the expected Heavy 9/10 track come the running of the Cup. From barrier 18, look for William Buick to have this bloke up on speed with cover from the tricky draw and as long as he handles the occasion, Without A Fight is a key trifecta/first four player.Camorra
T: Ben & JD HayesJ: Ben Melham- Age: 5YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Zoffany (IRE)
- Dam: Mauralakana (GB)
7. Camorra (17)
5yo G | T: Ben & JD Hayes | J: Ben Melham (55kg)
Ben & JD Hayes will have their second ever Melbourne Cup starter as the reigning Curragh Cup champion Camorra makes his Australian debut. The five-year-old gelding brings elite level formlines throughout the Curragh Cup and has shown in his career that he can sustain a long-sustained run which he may have to do having drawn out in barrier 17. He will need a tonne of luck from the draw as he has never won a race when not settling in the first four and with plenty of key speed influencers drawn further out than he, we’re happy to let Camorra go around without our hard-earned on.Deauville Legend
T: James FergusonJ: Kerrin McEvoy- Age: 3YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE)
- Dam: Soho Rose (FR)
8. Deauville Legend (9)
3yo G | T: James Ferguson | J: Kerrin McEvoy (55kg)
The 2022 Melbourne Cup favourite Deauville Legend drew perfectly in the barrier draw and from gate nine, Kerrin McEvoy will have a plethora of options at his disposal as to where to go with this import. The James Ferguson-trained northern hemisphere three-year-old is a proven stayer and brings a similar profile to what Cross Counter bought to the race when he won it in 2018 and has a devastating turn of foot for a stayer. The massive concern is that he has not seen a rain-affected track in his short seven-start career, but on class alone he has to be included in every exotic/tip for this year’s Melbourne Cup. The unknown on rain-affected ground has us taking him on, but with 3x Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy on board, Deauville Legend has to be seriously respected and is a deserving favourite.Hoo Ya Mal
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian BottJ: Craig Williams- Age: 3YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Colt
- Sire: Territories (IRE)
- Dam: Sensationally (IRE)
12. Hoo Ya Mal (15)
3yo C | T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | J: Craig Williams (53.5kg)
Despite now being Australian owned and trained Hoo Ya Mal qualifies as an international by having never started in Australia yet. Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott have been confident a long way out from the Melbourne Cup that Hoo Ya Mal will stack up perfectly in the race that stops the nation. He brings the right form to a race like this and managed to finish within a half-length of Deauville Legend when they met in the Gordon Stakes at Goodwood on July 28. We are getting a much bigger price with the top Melbourne Cup betting sites for this runner, despite the fact he also is a query on soft-heavy going. His run in the St Leger at Doncaster on September 11 was just awful and with the added query on heavy ground, we are happy to let this bloke go around without our hard-earned despite the booking of the in-form Craig Williams.
New Zealand Melbourne Cup Horses
While this year’s 2022 Melbourne Cup will list Stockman, Young Werther, Daqiansweet Junior, Smokin’ Romans, Tralee Rose and High Emocean as New Zealand-bred Melbourne Cup horses; none are true internationals as they are all Australian trained and owned, and have raced extensively, if not exclusively; in Australia.
American Melbourne Cup Horses
There no American bred, owned or trained horses racing in the 2022 Melbourne Cup.
Japanese Melbourne Cup Horses
There no Japanese bred, owned or trained horses racing in the 2022 Melbourne Cup.
History is certainly on their side, especially over the past decade, so there is no reason why an international horse cannot win the Melbourne Cup this year.
Deauville Legend looks to be the best of the four international chances and the Melbourne Cup odds suggest that is the case with the Hong Kong-owned and United Kingdom-trained galloper and firm favourite for the race. The biggest concern for Deauville legend is an unknown quantity on soft and rain affected tracks having never started on any race track rated less than Good.
Without A Fight is clear second pick in the betting market for UK trainers Simon and Ed Crisford.
Hoo Ya Mal is currently sitting sixth in order of betting for Australian trainers Waterhouse and Bott after being backed in from $21.00.
Camorra has been friendless in betting having drifted from $41.00 in early markets out to $61.00.
2021 Melbourne Cup international horses
Verry Elleegant eventually won the race for trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald, with the horse NZ bred.
2021 Melbourne Cup Horses
No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Odds 1 Twilight Payment Joseph O’Brien Jye McNeil 2 58kg $11 2 Incentivise Peter Moody Brett Prebble 16 57kg $2.50 3 Spanish Mission Andrew Balding Craig Williams 14 57kg $9 4 Verry Elleegant Chris Waller James McDonald 19 57kg $15 5 Explosive Jack C Maher & D Eustace John Allen 4 54kg $51 6 The Chosen One M Baker & A Forsman Damian Lane 5 54kg $61 7 Delphi A & S Freedman Damien Oliver 3 53.5kg $41 8 Ocean Billy Chris Waller Damian Thornton 13 53.5kg $101 9 Selino Chris Waller Ron Stewart 24 53.5kg $151 10 Johnny Get Angry Denis Pagan Lachlan King 22 53kg $101 11 Knights Order G Waterhouse & A Bott Daniel Stackhouse 9 53kg $201 12 Persan C Maher & D Eustace Luke Currie 11 53kg $31 13 Carif P & P Snowden Blaike McDougall 8 52.5kg $201 14 Master Of Wine Team Hawkes Fred Kersley 6 52.5kg $101 15 Pondus Robert Hickmott Rachel King 1 52.5kg $41 16 Grand Promenade C Maher & D Eustace Kerrin McEvoy 21 52kg $21 17 Miami Bound Danny O’Brien Patrick Moloney 17 52kg $151 18 Port Guillaume Ben & JD Hayes Harry Coffey 23 52kg $151 19 She’s Ideel Bjorn Baker Craig Newitt 20 52kg $101 20 Future Score Matt Cumani Dean Yendall 15 51.5kg $301 21 Tralee Rose Symon Wilde Dean Holland 12 51kg $17 22 Floating Artist C Maher & D Eustace Teo Nugent 10 50kg $18 23 Great House Chris Waller Michael Dee 7 50kg $31 24 Sir Lucan G Waterhouse & A Bott Glen Boss 18 50kg $26
International Horses In The 2021 Melbourne Cup
European horses
Twilight Payment
T: Joseph O’BrienJ: Jye McNeil- Age: 9YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Teofilo
- Dam: Dream On Buddy
1. Twilight Payment (2)
Last year’s winner, Twilight Payment, will be looking to make it back-to-back wins for the Irish on Tuesday as he lines up in his third Melbourne Cup. The now nine-year-old son of Teofilo led all of the way in 2020 and will be attempting to do so again under the top weight of 58kg. The Joseph O’Brien-trained gelding has had five starts since last year’s Cup success, winning just the once and placing on three occasions. Twilight Payment won the Irish St Leger Trial over 2800m in August and then went on to finish runner-up in the Irish St Leger to Sonnyboyliston at Group 1 level. A repeat effort will have him in the finish.
The Ebor winner Sonnyboyliston claims the Group 1 @comerhomesgroup International Irish St. Leger!
A superb top staying race double landed by @JohnnyMurtagh and @BenCoen2 #LICW21 pic.twitter.com/aNOBQ6gsPY
— The Curragh Racecourse (@curraghrace) September 12, 2021
Spanish Mission
T: Andrew BaldingJ: Craig Williams- Age: 6YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Stallion
- Sire: Noble Mission
- Dam: Street Cry
3. Spanish Mission (14)
Spanish Mission is relatively lightly raced, with only 18 starts under the six-year-old’s belt. The Andrew Balding-trained son of Noble Mission has won six of those 18, including wins in both the Doncaster Cup and Yorkshire Cup over the past 18 months. The gelding’s most recent race start was over 3270m at York in the Lonsdale Cup, where he finished a narrow second to the world’s best stayer, Stradivarius. He has the runs on the board around some of the world’s best, but he is none from three over two miles.
When Spanish Mission took it to Stradivarius… Is he your Melbourne Cup pick?pic.twitter.com/KyHboVJCnV
— TAB (@tabcomau) October 28, 2021
Delphi
T: Anthony & Sam FreedmanJ: Damien Oliver- Age: 5YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Stallion
- Sire: Galileo
- Dam: Bye Bye Birdie
7. Delphi (3)
Delphi made his Australian debut at Eagle Farm in June, which brought an end to his winning streak. The son of Galileo had previously only raced five times, winning four straight races in Europe – including the 2020 Irish St Leger Trial, where he defeated Master Of Reality. While Delphi is now based on our shores, his winning form in Ireland in the first half of his career is still enough to don him as an international, at least for this year’s race. Since coming to Australia, Delphi has won just the once, taking out the Herbert Power Stakes over 2400m at Caulfield two starts ago. The Melbourne Cup will be Delphi’s first race at Flemington and his first start beyond 2800m.
Next stop, the Caulfield Cup.
Delphi wins easily in the Herbert Power. pic.twitter.com/wrcC2I0aVO
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 9, 2021
Pondus
T: Robert HickmottJ: Rachel King- Age: 6YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Sea The Moon
- Dam: Diablerette
15. Pondus (1)
Pondus is one horse we have seen in Australia a little bit, with the Lloyd Williams-owned gelding coming down under for the second time. Last year, Pondus finished runner-up in both the Bendigo Cup and Queen Elizabeth Stakes during the Melbourne Spring Carnival but missed out on a Melbourne Cup start. The son of Sea The Moon returned home with Joseph O’Brien and raced three times in Ireland, finishing seventh when first-up and then runner-up in his next two starts in June, before returning to Australia and resuming in the Bart Cummings at Flemington over 2500m.
Pondus @JosephOBrien2 @NCW717 @Tattersalls1766 @StroudColeman @CDi_Iorio gives his Melb Cup prospects a boost with victory in the Lenebane Stakes at @RoscommonRaces SW8 for Sea The Moon @Lanwades 1/2 bro to Lord Belvedere @RacingHighclere #MelbourneCup pic.twitter.com/wbOE9hWulf
— Pedigree Update (@pedigreeupdate) July 7, 2020
Port Guillaume
T: Ben & JD HayesJ: Harry Coffey- Age: 5YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Le Havre
- Dam: Keira
18. Port Guillaume (21)
Port Guillaume came to Australia with four wins from six starts, including a Group 2 win over 2500m at Deauville. The son of Le Havre has had four Australian starts now for Ben & JD Hayes and hasn’t troubled the winner on any occasion, with his best result being a 3.5-length sixth in the Naturalism Stakes in his second start here. The five-year-old finished off well in the Caulfield Cup when 10th, but he would need to improve lengths to be competitive on Tuesday.
Arc contender? Port Guillaume justified his trainer's confidence with a dominant display today! pic.twitter.com/nJHowD1zCd
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) August 8, 2020
Sir Lucan
T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian BottJ: Glen Boss- Age: 4YO
- Color:Bay
- Sex:Horse
- Sire:Camelot (GB)
- Dam:Sparrow (IRE)
24. Sir Lucan (18)
Sir Lucan will be looking to replicate the likes of Cross Counter, Rekindling, Tiger Moth and Il Paradiso as a Northern Hemisphere three-year-old to run well in the Melbourne Cup. The son of Camelot has only had eight career starts, profiling similarly to last year’s runner-up, Tiger Moth. Trained by Cup winner Gai Waterhouse and her co-trainer, Adrian Bott, this two-time race winner gets in very light with just 50kg on his back. Sir Lucan is a Listed winner over 2600m at Navan and was not beaten far by Yibir in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at York in August, while in his most recent run he was beaten 13 lengths by Hurricane Lane, who is a six-time winner. The 3200m trip is the only query. He is also a full brother to last year’s Cox Plate winner, Sir Dragonet.
Melbourne Cup fancy Sir Lucan will contest the Group 1 St Leger (2921m) at Doncaster on September 11 before heading to Melbourne.
The horse will be trained by Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott in Australia
He finished fourth in last week’s Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes (2385m) at York. pic.twitter.com/nomn7xxcG8— Nick Quinn (@Quinny_1) August 24, 2021
New Zealand horses
The Chosen One
T: Murray Baker & Andrew ForsmanJ: Damian Lane- Age: 6YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Stallion
- Sire: Savabeel
- Dam: The Glitzy One
6. The Chosen One (5)
The Chosen One has always been somewhat underrated, despite running third in last year’s Caulfield Cup and then finishing fourth in the Melbourne Cup. The son of Savabeel is trained by the powerhouse Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman stable, and while he is based in New Zealand, we are used to seeing him here in Australia, with the six-year-old entire starting in his homeland only twice since the 2019 Melbourne Cup. His run in the Caulfield Cup a fortnight ago was lacklustre, so he will need to improve if he is to run like he did 12 months ago, but he will stay the trip and is a Flemington winner.
In the end it was a dominant victory for THE CHOSEN ONE ☝🏼 @WaikatoStud @ForsmanAndrew @aleishalegg pic.twitter.com/ra6hyV9xGP
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 12, 2020
Ocean Billy
T: Chris WallerJ: Damien Thornton- Age: 6YO
- Color: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Ocean Park
- Dam: Cool Storm
8. Ocean Billy (13)
Ocean Billy has only had one Australian start since arriving at Chris Waller’s stable, and it was a modest ninth in the Caulfield Cup behind Incentivise. The six-year-old son of Ocean Park has won seven races in his career, including the Group 1 Auckland Cup in March this year over 3200m in dominant style. We know that the gelding will stay the trip, and unlike a lot of Kiwi horses, he will prefer racing on a dry track at Flemington on Tuesday. The Melbourne Cup has eluded Waller in the past, but he has a solid team this year and Ocean Billy will only add to his chances.
Ocean Billy and Johnathan Parkes run away with it in the Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup!
The five-year-old holds out the flying Charles Road and Australian raider Sound to secure Group 1 glory for Rotorua trainer Bill Pomare pic.twitter.com/GiNyCTlOzL
— TAB Racing (@TAB_Racing) March 13, 2021
CAN AN INTERNATIONAL WIN THE 2021 MELBOURNE CUP?
History is certainly on their side, especially over the past decade, so there is no reason why an international horse cannot win the Melbourne Cup this year. Spanish Mission ($8.50) and Twilight Payment ($11) sit on the second and third line of betting in a market dominated by $2.30 favourite Incentivise, so there is a bit of support for them. Sir Lucan comes over as a Northern Hemisphere three-year-old, which has been the mould for Cup success recently too, while the likes of Port Guillaume, Pondus and Ocean Billy are going to relish 3200m. This bunch of internationals would need to improve lengths to beat Incentivise if he replicates his Caulfield Cup win, but there is no doubt that they have the wood over most of our locally trained horses with the exception of two or three.
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Never Ordinary
Never Ordinary
GETON is not a bonus code and does not grant access to additional offers. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of bets to value of qualifying deposit. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. New customers only. #ad Full T's and C's.
Next Gen Racing Betting
Top 4 Betting. Extra Place. Every Race.
18+ Gamble Responsibly. What are you really gambling with?
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