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All Melbourne Cup Horses In 2023 Field: Pros & Cons
2023 Melbourne Cup Scratchings Update: No. Cleveland (23) has been withdrawn on Monday evening due to an elevated temperature. Click here to read the full story.
All Melbourne Cup Horses In 2023 Field: Pros & Cons
There are 23 of the season’s best stayers in the mix to face off at HQ on Tuesday in the world-famous Group 1 $8.41 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m), and below we have a look at the arguments for and against each runner as they prepare to line-up in the famous Flemington Race 7.
Can Soulcombe hand trainer Chris Waller with a second Melbourne Cup trophy on Tuesday? Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.
With 23 remaining horses to do the Melbourne Cup form on it can seem an overwhelming task to sort through all the lead-up runs, track and distance statistics, stables, breeding, and more to uncover the best horses to back in the 163rd edition of the ‘race that stops a nation’.
We have a Willie Mullins-trained Irish favourite in Vauban who is yet to have an official start down under but looked a powerhouse machine in a league of his own in his recent work at Flemington.
There is the reigning Melbourne Cup winner Gold Trip who needs to carry 58.5kg to victory to go back-to-back in the two-mile classic which hasn’t been done since Think Big for his second in 1975 with Harry White in the saddle.
We have four internationals coming off varying form lines after the non-acceptance of Valiant King, four from the premier Sydney-based horseman Chris Waller who won in 2021 with Verry Elleegant in an upset, plenty of sneaky light weights looking to steal the show, and of course the retiring G.O.A.T. Damien Oliver chasing his fairy tale swansong Cup ride on Alenquer.
So, let’s get into it so you can get over to Ladbrokes.com.au to lock in your Melbourne Cup tips!
1. Gold Trip (2)
Pros: Class import. Proven. Right stable. Ace lead-up. Runs the distance. Great gate. J Mac rides.
Cons: Carries 58.5kg. History against. Zahra came off.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $7 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
2. Alenquer (9)
Pros: Retiring G.O.A.T. Damien Oliver in the saddle and he’s riding as good as ever. Strong international form lines. Track will suit. Moroney has solid strike-rate in this race. Good barriers.
Cons: Out-weighted. Never a threat in Moonee Valley Gold Cup 9th. Distance a query.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $51 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
3. Without A Fight (16)
Pros: Caulfield Cup winner. Mark Zahra chose to ride. Class import. Right form. Well-weighted for his grade. Conditions to suit. Last year’s performance forgivable.
Cons: Failed last year. Wide alley.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $6 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
4. Breakup (18)
Pros: Tenno Sho form. More space at HQ. Right distance. Japanese hoop Kohei Matsuyama comes aboard. Well-bred. Looks tough.
Cons: Brutal Caulfield Cup run. Barrier 18.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $18 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
5. Vauban (3)
Pros: Deserving favourite. Dour stayer. Flat and hurdle star. Flemington work blistering. Well weighted. Ryan Moore aboard. Great barrier.
Cons: Not much. Needs to live up to the hype.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $4.20 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
6. Soulcombe (4)
Pros: Waller factor. Son of Frankel. Fit. Magic Man aboard. 53.5kg is a good weight for him. Can run the distance. Form around Gold Trip. Drawn well. Time to overcome a tardy start.
Cons: Needs to improve on last run.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $10 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
7. Absurde (8)
Pros: Under the radar. Stablemate to favourite. Zac Purton aboard. Ebor Handicap winner with 60.5kg. Right in the frame now with 53kg. Winning form up to 4km. Earlier market mover. Good barrier. Super consistent.
Cons: Needs to beat Vauban.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $11 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
8. Right You Are (15)
Pros: Maher/Eustace stable. Likes Flemington. Form around good horses. Caulfield Cup fifth four lengths beaten was brave at 40/1.
Cons: Can’t beat these guys. Better from the stable in the same race. Two miles too tough.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $51 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
9. Vow And Declare (19)
Pros: Past Melbourne Cup champion. Is very tough. Evergreen having 4th start in the event. In on 53kg this year. Eye-catching Moonee Valley Gold Cup second last start.
Cons: Eight-year-old now. Had his go. Bad barrier. Few win this race twice, especially years apart.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $23 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
10. Cleveland (23) – SCRATCHED
11. Ashrun (11)
Pros: Right stable. Three-time winning hoop Kerrin McEvoy. Mid-field draw gives options in the run. Geelong Cup 2nd last start with more weight. Lightly raced for age. Has upside. Should get the distance.
Cons: 10th in the race in 2023. Spent three years on the side lines. Eight-year-olds rarely win.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $41 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
12. Daqiansweet Junior (12)
Pros: Herbert Power fourth last start only two lengths beaten with a big weight. Group 2 Adelaide Cup winner over the distance. Group 1 Sydney Cup place-getter over the distance. Sixth last year.
Cons: Triple figures. Not going good enough. Lacks class.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $101 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
13. Okita Soushi (20)
Pros: Prepared by two-time winning Irish trainer Joseph O’Brien. Lightly-raced. Winner over 3219m distance with 61kg. Well-weighted.
Cons: Bad barrier. Dylan Gibbons inexperienced rider. Caulfield Cup flop. Better internationals to have.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $101 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
14. Sheraz (22)
Pros: Waller factor. Won up to 3000m so should get the distance.
Cons: Injury issues. Triple-figure outsider. Better Waller runners in same race. Wide gate. 8th last start in MV Cup. Needs a wet track and won’t get that.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $201 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
15. Lastotchka (21)
Pros: Pocket rocket. Classy visitor. Craig Williams ride. Light weight. Has won up to 3000m overseas in Group 3 company.
Cons: Mares don’t have the best strike-rate. She’s diminutive against some big boys. Widely drawn. Form lines hard to stack-up. Has only been in Australia for six weeks.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $21 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
16. Magical Lagoon (7)
Pros: Good gate. Waller-trained. Light weight. Group 1 Irish Oaks winner. Has acclimatised.
Cons: Triple figures. Mares don’t often win. Not good enough based on recent form. Swamped late for last start 6th in Geelong Cup.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $151 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
17. Military Mission (5)
Pros: Historically the best barrier. Good stable. Light weight. Rachel King riding well. Going well. 2 wins from last three starts. Group 2 Herbert Power victory last time out. Drops weight.
Cons: Distance query. Class concern.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $21 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
18. Serpentine (1)
Pros: Inside alley. Jye McNeil rides. Waterhouse/Bott runner. 51kg. Lloyd Williams ownership. 2020 English Derby winner. Coming good at the right time. Stable spruiking.
Cons: Looks second-tier compared to some of these. 20th last year.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $41 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
19. Virtuous Circle (6)
Pros: Good gate. Group 1 ATC Derby runner-up in the autumn.
Cons: Triple-figures to win. Has only won up to 1500m. Poor lead-ups including Geelong Cup 8th. Can’t have.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $151 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
20. More Felons (24)
Pros: Carries 50.5kg. Winning form up to 3381m. Now with the Waller team. Flashed home first-up down under when 5th a half-length off in the Geelong Cup.
Cons: Extreme outside barrier. 8th to Absurde in Ebor.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*:$34 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
21. Future History (13)
Pros: Good lead-up. The Bart Cummings winner. Moonee Valley Cup placing. Light weight.
Cons: Untried at the distance. Some classier runners from the stable including Gold Trip. English hoop Hollie Doyle yet to ride in a Melbourne Cup.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $18 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
22. Interpretation (17)
Pros: Maher/Eustace-trained. Carries just 50kg. Only one placing from six starts at Flemington. Bendigo Cup winner last start.
Cons: Wide draw. Failed to finish last year’s race.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $126 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
23. Kalapour (14)
Pros: Tough and fit. Can stay. Strong Sydney form. Lexus winner. Light weight. Consistent and in-form.
Cons: Three-day back-up. Hard task. Apprentice Zac Lloyd lacks experience.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $41 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
24. True Marvel (10)
Pros: 50kg. Stays all day. Winning form up to 3800m. Great 3200m record.
Cons: Below part in last few starts. Well outclassed here. Needs rain.
Current Melbourne Cup 2023 Odds*: $151 (at time of publish) – BET NOW
*All 2023 Melbourne Cup odds are from Ladbrokes.com.au and subject to change.
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