If you are looking for a guide on Melbourne Cup tips, you have come to the right place. Being one of the Melbourne Cup winners is a prestigious achievement as this event is the pinnacle of Australian horse racing and one of the most competitive races in the world. Everyone wants to be crowned the victor at Flemington. With the stakes so high, it truly lives up to its reputation of being the “race that stops a nation.” Click here to have more information about how to bet on the Melbourne Cup.
Melbourne Cup 2023: Latest Odds
While knowing the best tips helps you pick which runners and jockeys you want to bet on, keeping an eye on the Melbourne Cup odds offered by the main bookmakers can also come in handy too. Whether you’ve already decided who you think is going to be the winner and want to get the best bang for your buck, or if you want to play it “safe” and follow the herd, you’ll want to check out the odds below.
| Melbourne Cup Horses | Trainer | Melbourne Cup Odds | Bet with |
|---|---|---|---|
White Marlin | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 10.00 | 18+, T&Cs Apply |
Goldman | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | 13.00 | 18+, T&Cs Apply |
Francesco Guardi | Chris Waller | 16.00 | 18+, T&Cs Apply |
Soulcombe | Chris Waller | 19.00 | 18+, T&Cs Apply |
Gold Trip | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 21.00 | 18+, T&Cs Apply |
Deaville Legend | James Ferguson | 21.00 | 18+, T&Cs Apply |
Sonnyboyliston | Johnny Murtagh | 21.00 | 18+, T&Cs Apply |
Silver Sonic | Yasutoshi Ikee | 21.00 | 18+, T&Cs Apply |
Titleholder | Toru Kurita | 21.00 | 18+, T&Cs Apply |
Loft | Marcel Weiss | 26.00 | 18+, T&Cs Apply |
Odds correct at time of publishing and may be subject to change.
Melbourne Cup 2023 Betting Tips & Predictions
Anything can happen when it comes to horse racing, and this is especially true here when both Melbourne Cup winners and Melbourne Cup results are concerned. We’ll be able to offer you more specific Melbourne Cup betting tips for the high-stakes 2023 competition as the event draws nearer. However, there are some general tips you can take into consideration in the meantime.
For example, while it may seem counter-intuitive, racing history suggests that betting on the favourite is not always the best option if you want to bet on the Melbourne Cup winner. In fact, only one racing favourite has won the Melbourne Cup in the last ten years. The table below shows previous Melbourne Cup favourites and their finishing positions.
| Melbourne Cup Year | Melbourne Cup Favourite | Final Place |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Cup 2022 | Deauville Legend | 4th |
| Melbourne Cup 2021 | Icentivise | 2nd |
| Melbourne Cup 2020 | Surprise Baby | 13th |
| Melbourne Cup 2019 | Finche | 7th |
| Melbourne Cup 2018 | Yucatan | 11th |
| Melbourne Cup 2017 | Marmelo | 9th |
| Melbourne Cup 2016 | Hartnell | 3rd |
| Melbourne Cup 2015 | Fame Game | 13th |
| Melbourne Cup 2014 | Admire Rakti | 22nd |
| Melbourne Cup 2013 | Fiorente | 1st |
| Melbourne Cup 2012 | Dunaden | 14th |
| Melbourne Cup 2011 | Americain | 5th |
Melbourne Cup Betting Types
Although this pinnacle of horse racing is very popular around the world, it is unsurprising that it is incredibly popular in Australia – it has even become a bank holiday for residents of Victoria, Australia. Not only do millions of people watch the Melbourne Cup horse race each year, but this high-stakes event is also the most wagered race in Australia. On one hand, there are runners competing for their share in the prize money amounting to $7.3 million. On the other, there are bettors hoping to win their share in this epic race, as well. It’s a high-stakes racing event for all involved.
Before trying your luck at betting on the Melbourne Cup, or even horse racing in general, you should know that there are different types of bet you can place on this event. This is one of the most useful Melbourne Cup tips, yet some people just jump straight into betting on the winner. Keep on reading to find out more about the different types of bets you can place. We have covered all the crucial Melbourne Cup betting types from simple win bets to quinellas and exacts, etc.
Win Bet
This is the simplest and most popular bet. As the name says, you bet on the horse you think is going to win the Cup.
Place Bet
With place bet, you pick which horse(s) will finish among the top three runners
Quadrella Bet
This bet, also known as a quaddie, involves selecting the winners of four races during the same day, including the Melbourne Cup. You can select as many horses as you want, but your return will be greater the fewer you have.
Each-way Bet
An each-way bet is a combination of the previous two bets. Half your stake is placed on the winner and the other half is placed on the place. This means that if your horse wins, you’ll receive both the win and the place part of the bet. However, if the horse you placed your bet on comes second (third, fourth, etc.), you’ll receive the dividend for that place.
Live Betting
Without a doubt, the most exciting betting type is live betting. You can place your bets after the race has started and while it is still happening. As horses change positions and so do the odds, so you need to keep checking them regularly as the race rarely lasts longer than 3:25.0.
Please note that due to the Interactive Gambling Act in Australia, any form of live betting cannot be conducted online.
Head-to-Head
A head-to-head bet allows you to choose two horses participating in the Melbourne Cup and bet on which one of them will finish the race before the other. One of the best Melbourne Cup tips for this bet is to do research on the two runners of your choice, see how they compare across different categories, and pick the one you feel would perform better.
First Four
This type of bet is certainly one of the most difficult ones, which also means that odds work in your favour if you manage to win. You choose the four horses you believe are going to finish in first, second, third, and fourth place. A variation of this bet is box first four, by which you choose four or more horses that can finish in any order but need to be in the top four.
Exacta Bet
This bet is similar to quinella – you pick two horses you think will finish the race first and second, but now it has to be in that order. You can also select a horse you think will win, and a selection of others you believe can finish the race in second place. You can also place a box exacta, which means that you get to select a number of horses that will finish first and second. Beware that this bet will cost more, which also means the return will be greater if successful.
Trifecta Bet
With a trifecta bet, you pick which three horses will finish the race first, second, and third in that exact order. One of the most useful Melbourne Cup tips is that for this bet you can box your selection. This means that you leave the possibility of your chosen horses winning in any order, as long as they are still in the top three.
Who has won the Melbourne Cup in the past?
If you are looking for the Melbourne Cup tips, you might be interested to see the Melbourne Cup results for the past ten years. Take a look at the table below to find out more about them and all the legendary Melbourne Cup winners who managed to achieve them.
| Year | Melbourne Cup Winner | Race Time | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Cup 2022 | Gold Trip | N/A | 21/1 |
| Melbourne Cup 2021 | Verry Elleegant | 3:17:43 | 18/1 |
| Melbourne Cup 2020 | Twilight Payment | 3:17.34 | 25/1 |
| Melbourne Cup 2019 | Vow and Declare | 3:24.76 | 1/1 |
| Melbourne Cup 2018 | Cross Counter | 3:21.17 | 11/1 |
| Melbourne Cup 2017 | Rekindling | 3:21.19 | 15/1 |
| Melbourne Cup 2016 | Almandin | 3:20.58 | 10/1 |
| Melbourne Cup 2015 | Prince of Penzance | 3:23.15 | 100/1 |
| Melbourne Cup 2014 | Protectionist | 3:17.71 | 7/1 |
| Melbourne Cup 2013 | Fiorente | 3:20.30 | 13/2f |
| Melbourne Cup 2012 | Green Moon | 3:20.45 | 19/1 |
| Melbourne Cup 2011 | Dunaden | 3:20.84 | 15/2 |
| Melbourne Cup 2010 | Americain | 3:26.87 | 12/1 |
| Melbourne Cup 2009 | Shocking | 3:23.87 | 9/1 |
By looking at these Melbourne Cup results, you can see that the best time in the past ten years was achieved by Protectionist in 2014 – 3:17.71. The best recorded time was achieved in 1990 by Kingston Rule – 3:16.3, and it is still more than a second shy of the best time recorded in the last decade. As we can see, not many Melbourne Cup winners have managed to run under the 3:20.0 mark. This is why we hope this year brings more exciting Melbourne Cup results, perhaps even a new record.
Melbourne Cup Jockeys and Trainers
While most of the focus is normally on the horses during this high-stakes, Australian horse racing event, it’s important to keep each horses’ jockey and trainer(s) in mind when placing your bets. Successful trainers such as Joseph and Danny O’Brien have had many of their horses go on to be crowned this race’s champion – for example, Joseph O’Brien trained 2020 winner Twilight Payment.
Additionally, a jockey’s racing history, weight and level of experience can also be contributing factors to the wagers bettors end up placing.
These two pieces of information are known before horses’ performances in the run-up to the competition, meaning you should consider these carefully if you want to place an early bet.
What’s the best barrier in the Melbourne Cup?
Although there’s no magic barrier that will guarantee a win for the horses and jockeys who are placed there, some bettors prefer to bet on runners whose barriers are positioned in a certain part of the field, once the draw has happened.
If you wish to use this information to help you pick who to bet on for this high-stakes race, you’ll find the list of Melbourne Cup winners over the last decade, as well as their barrier.
| Melbourne Cup Year | Horse | Trainer | Barrier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Cup 2022 | Gold Trip | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | 13 |
| Melbourne Cup 2021 | Verry Elleegant | Chris Walter | 18 |
| Melbourne Cup 2020 | Twilight Payment | Joseph O’Brien | 12 |
| Melbourne Cup 2019 | Vow and Declare | Danny O’Brien | 21 |
| Melbourne Cup 2018 | Cross Counter | Charlie Appleby | 23 |
| Melbourne Cup 2017 | Rekindling | David Wachman & Joseph O’Brien | 4 |
| Melbourne Cup 2016 | Almandin | Liam Howley | 17 |
| Melbourne Cup 2015 | Prince of Penzance | Darren Weir | 1 |
| Melbourne Cup 2014 | Protectionist | Andreas Wohler | 11 |
| Melbourne Cup 2013 | Fiorente | Gai Waterhouse | 5 |
| Melbourne Cup 2012 | Green Moon | Robert Hickmott | 5 |
| Melbourne Cup 2011 | Dunaden | Mikel Delzangles | 13 |
Melbourne Cup Betting Tips FAQ
Unfortunately, there is no set winning formula that guarantees racing fans will win big when betting on this high-stakes racing event. However, following tips, such as those in our free guide, can certainly help.
We’ll have a better idea of who will win this high-stakes race, closer to the big day at Flemington, once the final contenders have been released.
This year, the Melbourne Cup starts at 3pm AEDT on Tuesday 1st November at Flemington Racecourse.
Yes, just like the Melbourne Cup, racing fans will also be able to bet on the Caulfield Cup come race day.
For more information on how to bet on the Melbourne Cup you can have a look at the following pages:
