By James Connolly
Image by annca from Pixabay
Melbourne Cup is a sport known to bring Australia to a stop. Being an international competition, it brings together numerous entrants. This makes it difficult for participants and spectators to decide where to engage in the Australian Group 1 circuit. Some of the interactive and thrilling Australian races to look out for include Turnbull Stakes, The Bart Cummings, Herbert Power Stakes, Caulfield Cup, Geelong Cup, and Cox Plate. The international races, on the other hand, range from the Ascot Gold Cup, Ebor Handicap, Goodwood Cup, Hardwicke Stakes to Lonsdale Cup. The Melbourne Cup has been enjoyed since 1861.
Every year, multiple horses are nominated for the race after selection depending on the balloting system as well as handicapping. The horses then participate in the Lexus Stakes on Derby Day where the 24 finalists are selected for the Cup. There are different race numbers where each is given a unique name and features a specific distance alongside varying prize purses.
Melbourne Cup Facts
In betting, you should consider the form of race, assess the barriers, and look out for the weight of the horse to decide your pick. The favourite won the cup only once between 2005 and 2016. In terms of sex, geldings have attracted the first honours severally in comparison to the others.
Age-wise, horses that are 5 years old are recognised for their success in the history of the Melbourne Cup Field having won 47 times.
For betting fanatics, you should know there is an unlucky barrier. Over the years, for instance, no horse is known to have crossed the line first from barrier 18.
Melbourne Cup Field
The field limit of this competition is 24. There is a table including the top 24 horses that are likely to reach the final field. The table indicates the horse, its age, sex, trainer, and past winnings, thus providing reliable betting tips. Although hundreds of horses are nominated, only a few make it to the Melbourne Cup Field. These are the horses that have won Group races previously with a distance of 2400m+. This is a challenge for most international runners since they are not able to meet the requirements.
Melbourne Cup Form
The Melbourne Cup form guide is available in a short-form, long-form, form predictor, and speed. It includes a wide range of data that features factors you’ll consider when choosing your runner. It shows the barrier number of each horse with 24 being the worst placement. The barrier number is important because the smaller it is, the closer the horse is to the inside rail. This increases its chances of emerging victorious among various other competitors.
Betting Tips
Betting on the Australian and international races can be challenging since once off the boat, there is no telling what to expect.
Check out the betting tips below:
Kings Will Dream is the favourite horse to bet on considering its numerous first-place finishes across a wide range of distances. In 2018, it came third in the $1 million Memsie Stakes. This means that your bet will have a great probability of winning.
If you are looking to place a winning bet, you won’t go wrong with Magic Circle. While it has no Australian racetrack experience like Kings Will Dream, being an Irish gelding gives it a headstart. It is popular for its success in the Britain racetracks. Besides guaranteeing you a good payout after betting, it is also highly likely to cross the line first.
Marmelo hails from Great Britain and has claimed first place position for long-distance races in 2017 and 2018. It is the best roughie to bet on this year since it has great odds for the Melbourne Cup.