2023 PB Lawrence Stakes Results: Cox Plate Hope Mr Brightside Salutes First-Up
Betting | Horse Racing Today | News | Race Results | Spring Racing | Winter Racing |The Ben, Will & JD Hayes-trained Cox...
Can Gold Trip Go Back-To-Back in the Melbourne Cup Results 2023?
Gold Trip was huge scoring an impressive upset in the ‘race that stops a nation’ last year, but can the classy galloper go back-to-back with a successful title defence in the 2023 Melbourne Cup results?
Gold Trip is out to make history when he defends his title in the 2023 Melbourne Cup field at 3:00pm (AEDT) on Tuesday. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
Five horses have won multiple editions of Australia’s most famous race with dual champions Archer (1861, 1862); Peter Pan (1932, 1934); Rain Lover (1968, 1969); Think Big (1974, 1975); and the event’s only three-time hero to date Makybe Diva (2003, 2004, 2005).
On Tuesday the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained import Gold Trip is out to be the next and he comes into the 163rd running via the same form line as last spring.
In 2022 the son of Outstrip ran fifth in the Turnbull Stakes, second in the Caulfield Cup, ninth in the Cox Plate run on a Heavy (8), and then put two lengths on his closest rival Emissary winning the Melbourne Cup in style as a $21 outsider with the 57.5kg top-weight.
This year, deservingly so, he will carry the heftiest kilos again going up to 58.5kg.
He has been tremendous in the lead-up winning the Turnbull, running third in the Caulfield Cup, and then finishing a slashing fifth only 1.4 lengths beaten in the Cox Plate in his final preparatory run that impressed co-trainer Maher.
“I thought it was a huge run, he’s come through it pretty well,” Maher told Racing.com last week.
“I thought he looked amazing on the day, probably the best he’s looked I reckon.
“Just the track firming up – when Mark (Zahra) really asked him, he just sort of wanted to lay in a fraction and he doesn’t sort of do that when there is that little bit of give in the track.”
Mark Zahra surprisingly has opted to come off the defending Melbourne Cup champ after the Cox Plate in favour of this year’s Caulfield Cup winner Without A Fight.
In his place is a very good replacement in Cox Plate winning hoop James McDonald.
“I thought he (Zahra) might have went that way anyway, just with Gold Trip’s weight, but hopefully he (Gold Trip) can whizz past him,” Maher added.
So, did Zahra make the right call or will he be licking his wounds come 3:00pm (AEDT) on Tuesday afternoon at Flemington?
Click here to bet on Gold Trip in the Melbourne Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Barrier: 2
Weight: 58.5kg
Jockey: James McDonald
Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Owner/s: Australian Bloodstock, Mr J W Woodbridge, Whitegate Pastoral, Roth Brogan, Gold Trip, Surf Coast Racing, Mr S J Pellegrino, Mr B G Taylor, Mr M Belford, Mr J Garvey, Mr N A Greenhalgh, Mrs M T Greenhalgh, Mr C H Madden, Mystery Downs, Mrs C M Cook, Mr B J Nally, Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Mr L Caminiti, Mr J M Simmons
Age: 7YO
Gender: Horse
Breeding: by OUTSTRIP (GB) from SARVANA (FR)
Career: 24-3:5-5
Win: 12.5%
Place: 54.17%
Last 10: x2570x4135
Prize Money: $7,342,739
Track: 3:2-0-0
Distance: 2:1-0-0
Current 2021 Melbourne Cup Odds*: $4.80 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
*Note: 2023 Melbourne Cup odds are correct at time of publish, provided by Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change without notice.
THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.