It’s the race that stops the nation, and here are some key facts and figures around the 164th edition of the Melbourne Cup.
TOP CONTENDERS
International raider Vauban is poised to jump as Cup favourite for the second straight year for Irish master trainer Willie Mullins, who has twice finished on the podium with Max Dynamite but has never won Australia’s great race. The Chris Waller-trained Buckaroo was the favourite but drifted slightly in betting after drawing barrier 21.
TRAINERS
High-profile pair Waller (five) and Ciaron Maher (four) have the most runners in the 24-strong field. Both the Australian-based training giants are chasing their second Cup win and have had multiple successes in Group 1 races this spring.
STAR JOCKEY
Mark Zahra is aiming for his third straight Melbourne Cup triumph after winning aboard Without A Fight (2023) and Gold Trip (2022). Zahra will ride the Maher-trained Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire out of the widest gate on Tuesday.
FEMALE CHANCES
A record four female jockeys – Jamie Kah (Okita Soushi), Hollie Doyle (Sea King), Winona Costin (Positivity) and Rachel King (The Map) – have rides in this year’s Cup. All are vying to become the second female in 164 editions of the great race to win, after Michelle Payne’s stunning triumph aboard 100-1 shot Prince Of Penzance in 2015. There are also six female trainers involved, led by past winners Gai Waterhouse and Sheila Laxon.
RECORD HOLDERS
Legendary trainer Bart Cummings claimed a record 12 Cup victories, while four-time winners Bobbie Lewis and Harry White are the most successful jockeys in the race’s history. Three-time winner Kerrin McEvoy will ride Willie Mullins’ Absurde this year as he seeks to match the records of Lewis and White. Kingston Rule (1990) holds the current record for the 3200m race with a time of 3:16.30, while the biggest winning margin of eight lengths is held jointly by Archer (1862) and Rain Lover (1968).
THE RAIDERS
There are five horses trained outside Australia and New Zealand in this year’s field, led by Mullins’ pair Vauban and Absurde. Noboru Takagi’s Warp Speed has arrived from Japan, while UK duo Onesmoothoperator (Brian Ellison) and Sea King (Harry Eustace) are also in the mix.
DETAILS
As always, the Melbourne Cup will be run on the first Tuesday in November. The 164th edition of the great race – run over 3200m, or about two miles – is scheduled to start at 3pm AEDT.
PRIZE MONEY
A total of $8.5 million is on offer again this year. First place takes home $4.4 million, with second receiving $1.1 million and third $550,000. Every horse finishing in the first half of the field will earn at least $160,000. Owners receive 85 per cent of the winnings, with trainers (10 per cent) and jockeys (5 per cent) taking smaller cuts.
FUN FACT
Horses jumping from barriers seven, 12, 19 and 23 have been least successful, with only one win each. Barrier 11 has hatched the most winners with seven.
