Which letters win more Melbourne Cups?

Melbourne Cup
The Flemington crowd cheers as the horses head to the track for the Melbourne Cup.

If we’re going to get right down in to the facts, figures, statistics and form of the 2023 Melbourne Cup, we need to look at which alphabetical letter gives our punters the best chance of Cup success.

The most successful Melbourne Cup letter is “T” having won the cup 17 times; not only did the Letter “T” take out the 2020 Melbourne Cup with Twilight Payment crossing the line in first but also had Tiger Moth come in second place. In something of a rarity, only True Marvel will attempt to make it win number 18 for “T” in 2023.

The letter “P” is the second most successful Melbourne Cup letter having won two of the past nine Melbourne Cup with Protectionist in 2014, and Prince Of Penzance in 2015; and has won 14 of the 162 Melbourne Cups. But you have to go way back to 1972 to find the previous “P” winner, Piping Lane. In 2023 there will no one to carry the hopes of “P”.

“M’ and “S” are next most successful letters for Melbourne Cup winning horses with 12 wins each, although “M” hasn’t won since 2005 with the last of Makybe Diva’s three Melbourne Cup wins. “M” won the cup four years in a row between Makybe Diva and Media Puzzle in 2002. Shocking was the last “S” winner in 2009.

Okita Soushi will carry the torch for “O” to win The Cup this year. He will look to break a losing run of outs for “O” that has continued unabated since 1940 when Old Rowley won the race.

Horses starting with the letters “I”, “Q”, “”U”, “X” and “Y” have never won the Melbourne Cup. Only Interpretation can have any impact on that statistic this year.

Notably “V” has won five Melbourne Cup two out of the last four years with Vow And Declare in 2019 and Verry Elleegant in 2021. In 2023, Vow And Declare, Vauban and Virtuous Circle will carry the hopes of “V” backers.

Useful stats to remember while you consider you best picks and tips for this years race while reading our 2023 Melbourne Cup betting guide.


Bet on the 2023 Melbourne Cup


Melbourne Cup Winners By Letters

Starting Initial Wins Last
A 11 2016
B 11 2000
C 9 2018
D 9 2011
E 5 2007
F 2 2013
G 11 2022
H 5 1979
I 0
J 3 1998
K 5 1990
L 6 1991
M 12 2005
N 4 1929
O 1 1940
P 14 2015
Q 0
R 10 2017
S 12 2009
T 18 2020
U 0
V 5 2021
W 8 1985
X 0
Y 0
Z 1 1881

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

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
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