2023 Melbourne Cup Betting Tips: Who to Back by the Facts

2023 Melbourne Cup Betting Tips: Who to Back by the Facts

Kerrin McEvoy chases a record-equalling fourth win in the 2023 Melbourne Cup on Ashrun. Photo: Steve Hart.

One of Australia’s oldest and most revered races, the history on the ‘Race That Stops a Nation’ gives punters plenty of historical trends and statistical facts to take into account when doing the Melbourne Cup 2023 tips for Tuesday’s big event.

The world-famous Flemington Race 7 jumps at 3:00pm (AEDT) on the first Tuesday of November annually and there are 23 stayers in the mix for this season’s Group 1 $8.41 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) following Monday night’s scratching of Cleveland.

The Melbourne Cup betting market at Ladbrokes.com.au tells the story of the defending champion Gold Trip chasing home gun international Irish champion Vauban with the likes of Caulfield Cup hero Without A Fight and Japan’s Breakup following them across the line.

Other perceived threats to take out the 163^rd edition of the world’s richest handicap include the Chris Waller-trained Soulcombe to be ridden by Brazil’s ‘The Magic Man’ Joao Moreira and the favourite’s stablemate Absurde who is the big market mover since final acceptances.

That’s the way the bookies have the Melbourne Cup 2023 results playing out, but what do the Melbourne Cup historical facts and betting statistics on the two-mile classic uncover about which contenders are the genuine winning hopes?

Melbourne Cup Facts Say to Back….

Joseph O’Brien-Trained Horses: Star young Irish horseman Joseph O’Brien is the only trainer with a runner in this year’s Melbourne Cup field to have won the event more than once. In his short but glittering career he has already won the iconic two-mile showdown on two occasions with Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020. He may have lost Valiant King to lameness earlier in the week but he is still here with a shot at a third trophy saddling-up Okita Soushi.

Back: No. 13 Okita Soushi ($101)

Lloyd Williams-Owned Horses: Prolific businessman Lloyd Williams holds the ownership record with an incredible seven Melbourne Cup victories and counting. He is back with leading the ownership groups the rails-drawn Serpentine out to atoned for his failed 20^th in the race last year. He lost Cleveland on Monday night with the horse scratched due to an elevated temperature.

Back: No. 18 Serpentine ($41)

Kerrin McEvoy-Ridden Horse: McEvoy has ridden three past Melbourne Cup winners with Cross Counter (2018), Almandin (2016) and Brew (2000). He ran fourth last year on the beaten favourite Deauville Legend and is back for atonement in 2023 chasing a record-equalling fourth victory this year aboard the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained Ashrun.

Back: No. 11 Ashrun ($41)

Damien Oliver-Ridden Horse: Oliver, who retires at the end of the spring, is the other jockey chasing a fourth Melbourne Cup winning ride in 2023. Oliver’s previous Melbourne Cup victories were aboard Doriemus (1995), Media Puzzle (2002), and most recently Fiorente (2013). His mount, the Michael Moroney-trained Alenquer, passed a final vet check on Melbourne Cup Day morning and will line-up.

Back: No. 2 Alenquer ($41)

The Runner in Barrier 5: History shows barrier five has produced more Melbourne Cup winners than any other with eight previous champions jumping from the gate, most recently Fiorente (2013), since barriers were introduced. This year barrier five belongs the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained lightweight Military Mission coming off a Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes win, to be ridden by last Saturday’s Coolmore Stud Stakes winning jockey Rachel King.

Back: No. 17 Military Mission ($26)

The Horses Starting with T: Horses with a name starting with the Letter ‘T’ have won 16 times in Melbourne Cup history, more than any other. Most recently Twilight Payment (2020).

Back: No. 24 True Marvel ($151)

The Stallions in the Race: Entires have dominated Melbourne Cup Results with entires (horses) aged 4+ saluting 72 times, most recently in 2022 with Gold Trip.

Back: No. 1 Gold Trip ($7), No. 4 Breakup ($20), No. 13 Okita Soushi ($91), No. 19 Virtuous Circle ($201)

Four-Year-Olds in the Field: 4YOs (46) hold the advantage over any other age group when it comes to number of Melbourne Cup winners. Note, northern hemisphere 3Yos race down under as 4YOs and are included here as 4YO winners. Roughie hope Virtuous Circle is the sole four-year-old Melbourne Cup contender this year.

Back: No. 19 Virtuous Circle ($201)

Horses Wearing Saddlecloth No. 4: A record 12 Melbourne Cup winners have donned the No. 4 saddlecloth numbers the latest being Verry Elleegant (2021) who was the first since At Talaq (1986) to do so.