Who are the internationals in the 2023 Melbourne Cup?
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.
Every year international raiders flock to Australian shores to try to win our greatest race.
In 2023, despite Melbourne Cup Internationals having to satisfy very strict criteria to join the field in the race that stops the nation; four international horses remain in contention to win The Cup.
2023 Melbourne Cup Horses
2023 Melbourne Cup International Horses
. The 2023 Melbourne Cup will see one of the lightest international raider representations in The Cup for some time, with just four true internationals vying to win our greatest race.
Breakup, Vauban, Absurde, Okita Soushi are all yet to start in Australia.
For a full breakdown on the international horse chances in the race that stops the nation, see our full feature race guides:
Breakup (4)
- Age: 6YO
- Color: Chestnut
- Sex: Horse
- Sire: Novelist (IRE)
- Dam: Little Dun (USA)
Career stats for Breakup
- Career: 22: 5-3-4
- Flemington: 0: 0-0-0
- Distance: 1: 0-0-0
- Soft: 1: 1-0-0
- Good: 21: 4-3-4
- Heavy: 0: 0-0-0
- Group 1: 4: 0-0-0
- Win %: 23%
- Place %: 55%
Can Breakup win the 2023 Melbourne Cup?
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 world’s 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 Breakup and will be seeking history, as the first winner from the land of the rising sun since Delta Blues in 2006. He is a first four hope.
Okita Soushi (20)
- Age: 6YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Stallion
- Sire: Galileo (IRE)
- Dam: Amicus (UNR)
Career stats for Okita Soushi
- Career: 13: 4-2-3
- Flemington: 0: 0-0-0
- Distance: 1: 1-0-0
- Good: 11: 4-1-3
- Wet: 2: 0-1-0
- Group 1: 1: 0-0-0
- Win %: 31%
- Place %: 69%
Can Okita Soushi win the 2023 Melbourne Cup?
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.
Absurde (8)
- Age: 5YO
- Color: Bay
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Fastnet Rock (AUS)
- Dam: Incroyable (IRE)
Career stats for Absurde
- Career: 15: 4-6-2
- Flemington: 0: 0-0-0
- Distance: 0: 0-0-0
- Good: 7: 3-4-0
- Wet: 4: 1-0-0
- Group 1: 0: 0-0-1
- Win %: 27%
- Place %: 80%
Can Absurde win the 2023 Melbourne Cup?
Absurde is the second 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 genuine winning chance, despite the price.
Vauban (3)
- Age: 5YO
- Color: Chestnut
- Sex: Gelding
- Sire: Gallway (GB)
- Dam: Waldfest (IRE)
Career stats for Vauban
- Career: 14: 7-3-1
- Flemington: 0: 0-0-0
- Distance: 5: 2-2-1
- Soft: 11: 6-2-1
- Good: 9: 2-1-0
- Heavy: 1: 0-1-0
- Group 1: 7: 3-2-1
- Win %: 50%
- Place %: 79%
Can Vauban win the 2023 Melbourne Cup?
Vauban is the first of Willie Mullins-trained gallopers 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, with his last Melbourne Cup success coming in 2019 aboard Magic Wand. Vauban deserves favourtism on recent form and is a must include in every exotic bet.