The Melbourne Cup is widely recognised as one of the most prestigious horse racing events in the world, and the Melbourne Cup horses that line-up in the world’s richest handicap are the best in the business.
Many Australian trainers go through their entire career with the hope of someday having a horse good enough to enter the $6 million race on the first Tuesday of November, and more and more we are seeing imported Melbourne Cup horses bred to stay the testing two mile distance.
2017 Melbourne Cup Results
- 1st: TBD
- 2nd: TBD
- 3rd: TBD
It is also becoming very common place to find a strong international charge with Northern Hemisphere-trained Melbourne Cup horses making a raid for the ‘Loving Trophy’.
With only the very best stayers from around the globe being granted the honour of a start in the capacity 24-horse Melbourne Cup field, you can be assured that each year’s race will possess an incredible amount of talent and staying ability.
See below for the full details on the Melbourne Cup Horses complete with Melbourne Cup jockey silks.
For more details on all horses in this year’s race read the complete 2016 Melbourne Cup Form Guide.
Melbourne Cup Horses 2016
1. Big Orange
Big Orange ran an excellent race in last year’s Melbourne Cup and there is no doubt that he has gone to another level this season. He is one of the leading chances and he is excellent betting value at his current double-figure odds.
- Trainer: Michael Bell
- Jockey: Jamie Spencer
- Barrier: 7
- Weight: 57kg
- Last 10 Form: 7x5x23x11x
- Jockey Silks: Yellow, Black Striped Sleeves, White Cap
- Bet on Big Orange
2. Our Ivanhowe
Big Orange ran an excellent race in last year’s Melbourne Cup and there is no doubt that he has gone to another level this season. He is one of the leading chances and he is excellent betting value at his current double-figure odds.
- Trainer: Lee & Anthony Freedman
- Jockey: Dwayne Dunn
- Barrier: 6
- Weight: 57kg
- Last 10 Form: 0x5501x586
- Jockey Silks: Red, Purple Sash, White Sleeves, Purple Cap
- Bet on Our Ivanhowe
3. Curren Mirotic
Japanese stayers have run extremely well in our big staying races before and Curren Mirotic has talent, but is a very inconsistent performer. His best form is definitely good enough to feature in this race, but he will need everything to go his way.
- Trainer: Osamu Hirata
- Jockey: Tommy Berry
- Barrier: 18
- Weight: 56.5kg
- Last 10 Form: x300x620x9
- Jockey Silks: Black, White Stripes, Red Armbands, Black And White Striped Cap, Red Pom Pom
- Bet on Curren Mirotic
4. Bondi Beach
Bondi Beach was unable to get into the race in the Melbourne Cup last year, but co-owner Lloyd Williams is confident that he has improved over the past 12 months. You have to respect the trio of Lloyd Williams, Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore, but it is tough to get Bondi Beach as short as his current Melbourne Cup odds.
- Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- Jockey: Ryan Moore
- Barrier: 5
- Weight: 56kg
- Last 10 Form: 1220x11x33
- Jockey Silks: Navy Blue, White Armbands And Cap
- Bet on Bondi Beach
5. Exospheric
Exospheric made his Australian racing debut with a more than credible third behind Jameka in the Caulfield Cup and should progress from that performance. He is another inconsistent stayer that is tough to analyse, but on his best form he would be more than competitive in a race of this quality.
- Trainer: Lee & Anthony Freedman
- Jockey: Damien Oliver
- Barrier: 13
- Weight: 56kg
- Last 10 Form: 1413×18353
- Jockey Silks: Red, Purple Sash, White Sleeves And Cap
- Bet on Exospheric
6. Hartnell
Hartnell is currently a clear favourite in the 2016 Melbourne Cup betting market with Ladbrokes and he is deserving of that status. He has a similar profile to recent Melbourne Cup winners Green Moon and Fiorente and he can bounce back from his defeat at the hands of Winx in the Cox Plate.
- Trainer: John O’Shea
- Jockey: James McDonald
- Barrier: 12
- Weight: 56kg
- Last 10 Form: 50x5x21112
- Jockey Silks: Royal Blue
- Bet on Hartnell
7. Who Shot Thebarman
Who Shot Thebarman is back for a third tilt at the Melbourne Cup after a second place finish in the Moonee Valley Cup. He will have no problems running out the trip strongly, but winning a Melbourne Cup will be a tough task at this stage of his racing career.
- Trainer: Chris Waller
- Jockey: Hugh Bowman
- Barrier: 20
- Weight: 56kg
- Last 10 Form: 0324×65272
- Jockey Silks: Tangerine, White Spots, Armbands And Cap
- Bet on Who Shot Thebarman
8. Wicklow Brave
Wicklow Brave takes very strong form into the 2016 Melbourne Cup after winning the Irish St Leger. He has drawn a wide barrier, but that should not be an issue and he has caught the eye of on-lookers in his track work in quarantine at Werribee.
- Trainer: Willie Mullins
- Jockey: Willie Mullins
- Barrier: 14
- Weight: 56kg
- Last 10 Form: 3333×26431
- Jockey Silks: Purple And Orange Seams, Star Cap
- Bet on Wicklow Brave
9. Almoonqith
Almoonqith returned to a semblance of his best form with a fast-finishing effort in the Caulfield Cup. He was unable to get into the race in the Melbourne Cup last year, but he does have form over 3200 metres and he is a talented horse on his day.
- Trainer: David & B Hayes & T Dabernig
- Jockey: Michael Walker
- Barrier: 19
- Weight: 54.5kg
- Last 10 Form: x9065x8084
- Jockey Silks: Royal Blue, White Epaulettes, Striped Cap
- Bet on Almoonqith
10. Gallante
History is against Gallante as Makybe Diva is the only horse to complete the Sydney Cup/Melbourne Cup double in the last century. He was disappointing in the Moonee Valley Cup, but his first-up effort behind Jameka in the Naturalism Stakes was excellent.
- Trainer: Robert Hickmott
- Jockey: Blake Shinn
- Barrier: 2
- Weight: 54.5kg
- Last 10 Form: 069x031x27
- Jockey Silks: Navy Blue, White Armbands And Navy Blue Cap
- Bet on Gallante
11. Grand Marshal
Grand Marshal returned to winning form with a strong staying performance in the Moonee Valley Cup and he will relish the 3200 metres of the Melbourne Cup. He was almost knocked over in the Melbourne Cup last year and he has the chance to atone in 2016.
- Trainer: Chris Waller
- Jockey: Ben Melham
- Barrier: 9
- Weight: 54.5kg
- Last 10 Form: 8533×72691
- Jockey Silks: Red, Yellow Side Panels, Yellow Sleeves And Cap
- Bet on Grand Marshal
12. Jameka
Jameka has gone to another level this preparation and she was nothing short of outstanding in the Caulfield Cup. She maps to get a dream run from barrier three and she has every possible chance to become the first horse since Ethereal in 2001 to complete the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double.
- Trainer: Ciaron Maher
- Jockey: Nick Hall
- Barrier: 3
- Weight: 54.5kg
- Last 10 Form: 5324×47121
- Jockey Silks: Royal Blue, Lime Hoops, Hooped Cap
- Bet on Jameka
13. Heartbreak City
Heartbreak City stamped himself as a genuine Melbourne Cup contender with his dominant victory in the Ebor Handicap. He has the benefit of Joao Moreira in the saddle and he is another horse that will have no problem running out the trip strongly.
- Trainer: Tony Martin
- Jockey: Joao Moreira
- Barrier: 23
- Weight: 54kg
- Last 10 Form: 00x101x11x
- Jockey Silks: Fluorescent Yellow, Navy Seams
- Bet on Heartbreak City
14. Sir John Hawkwood
Sir John Hawkwood won The Metropolitan in impressive fashion before he had no luck whatsoever in the Caulfield Cup. He does possess a turn-of-foot and it would not surprise to see him run a better race than his current Melbourne Cup odds suggest.
- Trainer: John Thompson
- Jockey: Blake Spriggs
- Barrier: 14
- Weight: 54kg
- Last 10 Form: 2x1322x210
- Jockey Silks: White, Red Waratah, Diagonal Halved Sleeves, White Cap, Red Waratah
- Bet on Sir John Hawkwood
15. Excess Knowledge
Excess Knowledge is back for another crack at the Melbourne Cup following his seventh place finish in 2015. He will put himself right in the race on the speed, but he will likely need to improve to replicate his finish from last year.
- Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
- Jockey: Vlad Duric
- Barrier: 21
- Weight: 53.5kg
- Last 10 Form: 17x20x9834
- Jockey Silks: Black, Gold RTR Logo, Collar, Cap And Pom Pom
- Bet on Excess Knowledge
16. Beautiful Romance
Beautiful Romance raced in fillies company in Europe this season and was generally found wanting at the highest level. Her form suggests that she would be outclassed in this level of race, but Godolphin generally select the right style of horse for the Melbourne Cup.
- Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor
- Jockey: Damian Lane
- Barrier: 1
- Weight: 52.5kg
- Last 10 Form: x6153x1553
- Jockey Silks: Royal Blue, White Cap
- Bet on Beautiful Romance
17. Almandin
Almandin received Melbourne Cup ballot exemption following his victory in The Bart Cummings. He has been racing very well this preparation and he is one of the best-weighted horses in the race, while Kerrin McEvoy is riding in outstanding form.
- Trainer: Robert Hickmott
- Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
- Barrier: 17
- Weight: 52kg
- Last 10 Form: x221x66511
- Jockey Silks: Navy Blue, White Armbands And Red Cap
- Bet on Almandin
18. Assign
Assign is the fourth Lloyd Williams-owned horse in the Melbourne Cup field. He has not been seen at the races since his narrow victory in the Herbert Power Stakes and the form coming out of that race has not been particularly strong.
- Trainer: Robert Hickmott
- Jockey: Katelyn Mallyon
- Barrier: 22
- Weight: 52kg
- Last 10 Form: 8x1153x921
- Jockey Silks: Navy Blue, White Armbands, Royal Blue Cap
- Bet on Assign
19. Grey Lion
Grey Lion heads into the Melbourne Cup on the back of a tough second place finish in the Geelong Cup. He is another horse that will likely press forward in the early stages and it would not surprise to see Glen Boss turn the racing into a genuine staying test.
- Trainer: Matt Cumani
- Jockey: Glen Boss
- Barrier: 16
- Weight: 52kg
- Last 10 Form: 32x1837x82
- Jockey Silks: Navy Blue And Gold Hoops, White Sleeves And Cap
- Bet on Grey Lion
20. Oceanographer
Oceanographer launched himself into Melbourne Cup calculations with a simply outstanding performance in the Lexus Stakes at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day. He has an explosive turn-of-foot and he is sure to be flying home late.
- Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- Jockey: Chad Schofield
- Barrier: 11
- Weight: 52kg
- Last 10 Form: 11x4017x31
- Jockey Silks: Royal Blue, Red Cap
- Bet on Oceanographer
21. Secret Number
Secret Number was set for this race 12 months ago after he finished second behind Dandino in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He has only had one race start since, but he is the right type of horse for the Melbourne Cup and he is one of the best roughies in the field.
- Trainer: Secret Number
- Jockey: Stephen Baster
- Barrier: 10
- Weight: 52kg
- Last 10 Form: 361x2x12x1
- Jockey Silks: Royal Blue, Black Cap
- Bet on Secret Number
22. Pentathlon
Pentathlon ran fairly in the Moonee Valley Cup, but he was a touch disappointing in the Lexus Stakes on Victoria Derby Day. The Melbourne Cup looks beyond him and it would be a surprise to see him finish in the top ten.
- Trainer: John Wheeler
- Jockey: Mark Du Plessisr
- Barrier: 4
- Weight: 51.5kg
- Last 10 Form: 3254×06737
- Jockey Silks: Claret, Gold Diamonds Band, Royal Blue And Gold Armbands, Claret And Royal Blue Quartered Cap
- Bet on Pentathlon
23. Qewy
Qewy recorded a very tough victory in the Geelong Cup and he is a horse that will stay all day. He is likely to ensure that there is a genuine tempo in the Melbourne Cup this year and he will be in the race for a very long way.
- Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- Jockey: Craig Williams
- Barrier: 15
- Weight: 51.5kg
- Last 10 Form: 22x0Fx22x1
- Jockey Silks: Royal Blue, Yellow Cap
- Bet on Qewy
24. Rose Of Virginia
Rose Of Virginia was not competitive in the Lexus Stakes and the fact that she was allowed to take her place in the Melbourne Cup is somewhat controversial. She was placed over 3200 metres in the Auckland Cup earlier this year, but she hasn’t shown that type of form in Australia.
- Trainer: Lee & Shannon Hope
- Jockey: Ben Thompson
- Barrier: 8
- Weight: 51kg
- Last 10 Form: 62102×0940
- Jockey Silks: White, Fluorescent Yellow And Hot Pink Diagonal Stripes, Hooped Cap
- Bet on Rose Of Virginia
