Pick The Cup Winner
OrderStats & Stories
If you are looking for Trivia for your Media outlet, Pub, Club, Bar, Tavern, Restaurant, Bistro, Hotel, Office or a Melbourne Cup party you are hosting at home you have come to the right place. There are a heap of stats and stories below from which you can select to assemble your own Trivia sheet.
Alternatively, if you are time poor and want an easier alternative, I have assembled a Trivia Sheet for you. Click on this link to download the Trivia and a heap of good ideas to help you organise you Melbourne Cup Day. https://www.pickthecupwinner.com.au/trivia All you need do is download the sheet, print out as many copies as you need and distribute them. Ummmm. Easy.
Did you know the Father of an Australian Prime Minister Joseph Lyons (see picture) sold the family home and put it all on a horse in the Melbourne Cup?
In 1887, because of a Melbourne Cup dream, Michael Lyons (Joe's Dad) sold the family house and took a ship across Bass Strait to Melbourne. He took the entire proceeds of the sale of the house and bet all of it on 'Tranter' in the 1887 Melbourne Cup. Unhappily the race was won by Dunlop. Trantner finished 15th. The only 'good' to come from this experience was it allowed Joe to be able to to boast that he grew up in poverty before reaching the highest office in Australia. As it turned out he was Premier of Tasmania from 1923 to 1928 and Prime Minister of Australia from 1932 to 1939. He is famous for guiding Australia through the 1930 Depression years.
About 'dreaming' the winner of the Melbourne Cup. In the 1880's it became a topical thing to do because of a dream Walter Craig had in his Ballarat Hotel. There are differing versions to the story. The one first told to me was several months before the running of the 1970 Melbourne Cup, Walter Craig told his customers of a dream he had where his horse, Nimblefoot, won the 1880 Melbourne Cup. He also told that the jockey seemed to be wearing a black armband. Soon after this Walter died, on the 8th of September, at the age of 45. In November his horse, Nimblefoot, won the Melbourne Cup...and his jockey was wearing a black armband. Ummmm. Spooky eh? Author's note: In 1996, in the offices of the VRC at Flemington, I noted a painting of Nimblefoot....and, in the painting, the jockey was wearing a black armband!
Hence, in the latter part of the 19th century dreaming a winner became 'the thing' to do for adventurous people. So much so in the 1880, Banjo Patterson wrote a poem titled "A Dream Of The Melbourne Cup." It began:
"Bring me a quart of colonial beer
And some doughy damper to make good cheer,
I must make a heavy dinner;
Heavily dine and heavily sup,
Next month they run the Melbourne Cup,
And I must dream the winner."
I invite you to scroll down to the very bottom of this page to find the rest of Banjo's verse. You'll also find "What'll win the Cup?"
Twilight Payment won the 2020 Melbourne Cup. International horses ran 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Tiger Moth was 2nd and Prince Of Arran was 3rd. Twilight Payment was ridden by Jye McNeil. Twilight Payment was #6 - drew Barrier 12 - Carried 55.5kgs - Is an 8yr old gelding - finished 11th in the Cup in 2019 - carried predominantly blue colours - Starting Price was $26.00 - Race time: 3.17.34 (Race record held by Kingston Rule in 1990 in 3.16.3.) Tragically, the top weight Anthony Van Dyck broke down on the home turn and had to be euthanised. Twilight Payment led almost all the way. Last horse to do that was Might and Power in 1997. Because of Covid-19 virus there was no one in the stands at Flemington on Cup day. The last 8yr old to win the Melbourne Cup was Catalogue in 1938. But you can argue about this as he could be called a Northern Hemisphere 7yr old! Jye McNeill partner, is also a jockey - Jess Payne.(No relation to Michelle Payne (1st woman jockey to ride a Melbourne Cup winner - Prince Of Penzance in 2015). Jess gave birth to their son on August 1. (Horses birthday). It was McNeil's first ride in the big race and his horse led throughout. McNeil said his mother and father would both have been watching the race - his mother glued to the television and his father would be watching from his 'throne' on the tractor in their dairy farm just out of Koondrook up on the Murray River.
Vow and Declare won the 2019 Melbourne Cup. FIrst Australian horse to win the race since Shocking won in 2009. Of the 24 starters, 22 of them were internationals. Surprise Baby was the only other Aussie-bred horse in the race. It was controversial Cup as (initially) Master Of Reality was 2nd and Prince of Arran was 3rd. IlParidiso was 4th across the line.
But the stewards protested against the result and found found jockey Frankie Dettori guilty of blocking stablemate Il Paradiso in the run to the line in the Melbourne Cup. The protest was upheld and Racing Victoria announced after the stewards meeting that Master of Reality had officially been relegated to finish fourth, while third-place finisher Prince of Arran was promoted to second and Il Paradiso officially finished third.
Both Dettori and Il Paradiso's jockey Wayne Lordan refused to give evidence that would result in Master of Reality being penalised. Lordan insisted during the hearing his horse wasn't impeded, but it wasn't enough to save Dettori. "I didn't have to stop riding," Lordan said of the contact from Master of Reality. "It was very close at the line. I didn't know how much of a difference it made. We have got tight, but I honestly don't know how much of a difference it made. My horse didn't back out of it. He's a very tough horse and he kept running through it." Dettori said Il Paradiso still had room to move. "He was going left. I put both hands on the rein and straightened him up. They had plenty of room to move through," Dettori said. The protest has cost the connections of Master of Reality $750,000, dropping the ownership group's prizemoney from the $1.1m prize for second-place to the $350,000 prize for fourth.
Note: After looking at all the Pre Melbourne Cup issues of all daily papers in Australia I proudly tell MelbourneCupMax was the only tipster to select a $26 outsider as his #1 selection to win the 2019 Melbourne Cup. I invite you to watch the race again and see Master Of Reality miss winning by the 'smallest' of margins. As for him being relegated to 4th place, it is hard to accept when both of the jockeys believed there was sufficient room for Il Paridiso to win the race had he been good enough.
Vow and Declare was ridden by Craig Williams. This was his first win in the Melbourne Cup. It was also trainer Danny O'Brien's first Melbourne Cup win. V&D drew Barrier #21 and carried 52kgs. Starting Price was
Watch the race
Cross Counter won the 2018 Melbourne Cup. Marmelo was second. A Prince of Arran was 3rd. Beaten favourites Magic Circle and Yucatan. Heavy rain in the morning meant the rating of the track for Race 1 was 'heavy 8'. During the day it improved to a 'Soft 6'. Cross Counter was $9.00 Win and $4.00Place; Marmelo was $12.00 Win and $3.75 place; 3rd place was A Prince of Aaran at $23.00 Win and $6.50 Place; Finche was 4th $26.00 Win and $7.25 place; Rostroplvich was 5th $21 Win $6.00 Place; 6th was Youngstar $11.00 win $3.50 place. (Youngstar was the first Australian bred horse to cross the line), Cross Counter was ridden by Kieran McEvoy. (HIs third Melbourne Cup success). Cross Counter was a 3yr old (Northern Hemisphere). One punter outlaid $3.00 on a Quadrella of Cross Counter, Marmelo, A Prince Of Aaran and Finche and collected $114,062. The biggest loss of the day with TAB was $100,000 each way on Yucatan. Cross Counter started from Barrier 19 and carried 51kgs. Marmelo started from Barrier 10 and was allocated 55kgs. (However jockey H Bowman was fined after the race for being 1kilo overweight). A Prince of Aaran started from Barrier 20 and carried 53kgs. The crowd at Flemington was 83,701. Cross Counter wore the Royal Blu silks of the Godolphin Stable. 1.84 million Aussies tuned in to Channel 7 for its' final Melbourne Cup transmission. Next year Channel 10 will take over the broadcast. Watch the race:https://www.foxsports.com.au/horse-racing/melbourne-cup/melbourne-cup-2018-live-full-coverage-of-flemington-race-horses-favourites-how-to-watch-and-more/news-story/60dfbdc12e669fb9ccce332b3392502b
Rekindling, won the 2017 Melbourne Cup from Johannes Vermeer and Max Dynamite. He is owned by Lloyd Williams and this was his sixth Melbourne Cup winner. Rekindling started from Barrier 4. He was ridden by Corey Brown and trained by Joseph O'Brien (Son of Aiden O'Brien). He carried 52.kgs. He was the first 3yr old to win the Melbourne Cup since Skipton in 1941.
Almandin, a 7yr old gelding, won the 2016 Melbourne Cup starting from Barrier 17. He had Saddlecloth #2 and carried 52kgs and was ridden by Kieran McEvoy who won a previous Melbourne Cup in 2000 on Brew. In 2014 Almandin, in a Group 2 race in Germany defeated Protectionist (who won the 2014 Melbourne Cup).
Almandin is owned by Lloyd Williams and this is the fifth time he has won a Melbourne Cup. No one else has ever owned five Melbourne Cup winners. Hie previous winners were Just a Dash (1981); What a Nuisance 1985; Efficient (2017); Green Moon (2012); Almandin 2016).
Did you know the owner of 2018 joint favourite Magic Circle was Marwqan Koukash. He loudly proclaimed to all and sundry that his horse would definitely win the Cup. Several months before the running of the Cup Marwgan announced he planned receiving the Cup wearing a g-string. Speaking after Magic Circle drew barrier 17, he said: "When we win on Tuesday no one will stop me providing Flemington with the best celebration you have ever had. I will take my clothes off, I will keep my tie, my thong and my shoes." See: https://wwos.nine.com.au/videos/cup-owner-will-accept-trophy-in-g-string/cjo39tv40000y0qnssoc02hzo
Women trail blazers
Did you know Michelle Payne was the first woman jockey ever to ride a Melbourne Cup winner in 2016 on Prince of Penzance. Dynamite Max was 2nd and Criterion was 3rd.
Did you know Bart Cummings was the first trainer to engage Michelle Payne to ride a horse in the Melbourne Cup. In 2009 she rode Allez Wonder in the 2009 Melbourne Cup.
Did you know the Australian Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, called Michelle to congratulate her on becoming the first woman jockey to ride a Melbourne Cup winner.
Did you know the father of one of our Prime Ministers sold his house and wagered the entire proceeds on the Melbourne Cup...because of a dream? Joe Lyons was born in Stanley, Tasmania on 15 September 1879. He was the 5th of eight children born to Michael and Ellen Lyons. He began working, at the age of nine, as a printer's messenger boy. By the age of twelve, he was "cutting scrub" (clearing land) for local farmers. He became Premier of Tasmania from 1923 to 1928 and went on to serve as one of Australia's most popular Prime Ministers. (1931 - 1938).
Joe Lyons' father, Michael, failed in a series of enterprises - as hotel keeper, farmer, butcher and baker - before finally losing his family's savings on the 1887 Melbourne Cup.
Did you know the first (unofficial) woman to train a Melbourne Cup winner was "Granny" McDonald. She trained cup winner Catalogue in 1938. However, at that time the VRC rules would not accept a nomination from women trainers. Hence her husband had to be shown as the trainer. Shiela was the first (official) woman trainer of the Melbourne Cup winner Etherial in 2001.
Did you know other women trail blazers in Melbourne Cup history have been Mrs E A Widdes who was the first woman to own a Melbourne Cup winner Patrobas in 1915. Maree Lyndon was the first woman jockey to ride in a Melbourne Cup when she finished 20th in 1987 on Argonaut Style. In 2007 two women jockeys rode in the Melbourne Cup. Clare Lindop was 5th on Dolphin Jo, Lisa Cropp was 9th on Sculptor. Gai Waterhouse became the second woman to train a Melbourne Cup winner when Fiorente won the Melbourne Cup in 2013.
Did you know on the day after the 2016 Melbourne Cup one of my Facebook Friends wrote this on my page Facebook page.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you Melbourne Cup Max. Because of you we had our best ever Melbourne Cup. Here is how it happened. When my husband read Max's Melbourne Cup Day Message in the Members' Only section of your website, we noted you thought any one of 17 horses could win without causing a surprise. We also noted you suggested the idea of taking "the field" and "the field" to run second and third....... and hope for a long shot to run into a place.
Using this advise, my husband decided to have "the field" to run first. We coupled it with your chosen six horses to run second and also for third. As i am sure you already know three of your chosen horses ran second, third and fourth.
So, because of your research, we backed the Melbourne Cup Trifecta and won heaps. Yippee! it's the best Melbourne Cup day we have ever had...... thanks to you. So we will now be calling you Marvelous Melbourne Cup Max. What a pity we didn't take the first four. Your tips would have got us there. But a win's a win!!!!! Again thanks so much."
Did you know the winner of the 2016 Melbourne Cup, Prince of Penzance, carried saddle cloth #19; started from Gate #1; was a 6yr old bay gelding; ridden by Michelle Payne; had last run, before the Cup, on the 24/10/15 running 3rd to United States in the 2500 metre Group 2 Moonee Valley Cup.
Did you know the TAB recorded $95,000,000 turnover on the 2016 Melbourne Cup. This was 5.7% up on 2014.
Did you know one punter bet $2000, at $126.00, on Prince of Penzance in a Melbourne TAB thirty minutes before the race. He won $250,000.
Did you know the NSW TAB dividends for Pride Of Penzance 1st; Max Dynamite 2nd; Criterion 3rd were: Win $86.00; Place $21.60; Quinella $910.60; Exacta #2050.70; Duets 19-8 $287.70; 19-2 $299.10; 8-2 $37.60; Trifecta $26,045; First Four 18-8-2-10 $185,975.
Did you know the win by Prince of Penzance, in 2016 (at 100/1), was one of the six biggest upsets in the Melbourne Cup history since it began in 1861. The others were The Pearl in 1871 at 100/1; Wotan in 1936 at 100/1; Old Rowley in 1940 at 100/1; Rimfire in 1948 at 80/1 and Zulu in 1881 when a dog ran onto the course causing three horses to fall and the death of jockey John Dodd.
Did you know international jockey Frankie Dettori was fined $20,000 and a month's suspension for his ride on Max Dynamite. It was said to be the worst interference in twenty years and ruined the chances of up to 25% of the field.
Did you know (up to 2016) Rising Fast (1954) is the only horse to win the Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in the same year.
Did you know how Phar Lap got its' name? I have heard two stories and I like them both.
Story #1. A young man called Aubrey Ping, then a student in medicine at the University of Sydney, regularly watched horses in trackwork at Randwick and would often 'chew the fat' with riders and trainers. He came up with the name Pharlap.
Ping's father was a Zhuang speaker who migrated to Australia in the 19th century from southern China. Young Aubrey learnt some Zhuang from his father, and the Zhuang language shares with Thai the name for lightning. (pharlap) The use of the letters 'ph', instead of a simple 'f', created a seven letter name that was split into two words: Phar Lap. This was essential to Harry Telford because it replicated the dominant pattern set by Melbourne Cup winners he had noted: Revenue (1901); Acrasia (1904); Piastre (1912); Sasanof (1916; Poitrel (1920); Bitalli (1923); Windbag (1923); Trivalve (1927); Rivette (1939); Skipton (1941); Colonus (1942); Rimfire (1948); Foxzami (1949); Toporoa (1955); Galilee (1966); Hyperno (1979); Subzero (1992); Dunaden (1911).
Story #2. Another of our elite, PHAR LAP, has an interesting story behind his name. Apparently a foreign journalist asked the horses name at trackwork one morning and was told he didn`t have one. Harry Telford was recieving the jibes of his peers because of his horses poor performances at trackwork, and they asked what he would call it. He said he didn`t know but it his name had to sound like something fast. The journalist offered the name 'FARLAP' saying tht it meant lightning in the country of his origin, he offered to write it down for the trainer who apon seeing said 'No the last few Melbourne Cup winners have all had 7 letter names`. This sent his peers into raucous laghter as no one belived this slow horse would one day win a Melbourne Cup. The journalist crosed out the 'F' and replaced it with a 'PH' exlaiming "there you go Mr Telford 7 letters". The rest is history.
I am grateful to one of my Facebook friends, Jamal Principe, who sent me this information after the 4yr old Mongolian Khan won the 2016Caulfield Cup and told of going onto the 2016 Melbourne Cup.
Did you know between 1980 and 2009 these 4yrds won the Melbourne Cup: Shocking (51kg) 2007: Efficient (54.5kg) 2001: Ethereal (52kg) 1997: Might And Power (56kg) 1996: Saintly (55kg) 1992: Subzero (54.5kg) 1991: Let's Elope (51kg) 1982: Gurner's Lane (56kg) 1981: Just A Dash (53.5kg) In the past 50 year's the only 4 year-old to carry more then 56kg and win the Melbourne Cup was Galilee in 1966 who carried 56.5kg. Mongolian Khan was allocated an additional 1kg Penalty for winning the 2016 Caulfield Cup and will carry 56kgs.
My old man (a Bookmaker and a Publican) used to say "There are liars, damn liars an statisticians! Figures can tell any story you want them too." He probably would not believe his son would produce a whole heap of statistics at Melbourne Cup time. But, then again, he probably would not believe there was 'things' called the Internet, Twitter or Facebook where you could access Melbourne Cup Stats & Stories. Ummmmmmm.
So, I will let you be the judge of which Stats and Stories are useful and helpful to you in the annual search for the answer to the question "What'll win the Cup?"
Did you know the Godolphin Stable owned His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Did you also know, up until 2016, he has sent 20 horses to challenge for the Melbourne Cup since 1998. In 2016 he will be represented by Sky Hunter. The head trainer for Godolphin is Saeed Bin Surour. To Godolphin horses come agonizingly close to winning the Cup on on three occasions with Central Park (1999), Give The Slip (2001) and Crime Scene (2009) finishing second.
Did you know this about the Internationalization of the Melbourne Cup? Melbourne Cup winners Comedy King (1910) and Backwood (1924) were born in England but taken to Australia as foals. Actually Comedy King was still in his dam's womb.
Beldale Ball (1980) was unsuccessful in the UK but won the Melbourne Cup in 1980. At Talaq, the 1986 winner, was trained in America. Jeune, the 1994 Melbourne Cup winner was trained in England.
In 1993 UK horse Vintage Crop, who was trained in Ireland by Dermot Weld, won the Cup without running in a lead race in Australia. Dermot Weld won again with Media Puzzle in 2002). Japanese horse Delta Blues won the Cup in 2006 narrowly beating another Japanese horse - Pop Rock. French trained horses Americain and Dunaden won the Cup in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
Green Moon, who won the Cup in 2012 and Fiorente who won in 2013 were bred and trained in Ireland, before being brought to Australia specifically to compete in the Cup.
Protectionist was the first German-trained horse to win the Melbourne Cup.
Did you know Gai Waterhouses' 2014 Melbourne Cup favouite (as at 13/8/14) The Offer may run in the Chelmsford Stakes which is to be run in Sydney on the 6th of November 2014. This would be in preference to The Offer running in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes which is to be run at Moonee Valley on the same day. Not sure if Gai is 'into' these kind of statistics but the last horse to claim the Chelmsford Stakes/Melbourne Cup double was Delta in 1951. Saintly was placed in the 1996 Chelmsford Stakes before winning both the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup while Gurners Lane in 1982 is the only other horse to place in the Chelmsford and win the Melbourne Cup since 1980. Ummmm. Note: The last horse to win the Dato Chin Nam Stakes/Melbourne Cup double was her own Fiorente in 2013. (also trained by Gai Waterhouse). However the only other horse to win this race (which was then called the John F Feehan Stakes) was Rising Fast in 1954.
"The Dato Tan Chin Nam (Gr2 WFA at Moonee Valley on 6 September) looks a nice race for him but I haven't ruled out keeping him in Sydney for one run." The Gr2 Chelmsford Stakes is run at Randwick on the same day and over the same distance as the Dato Tan Chin Nam and is the most likely target should he have one run in Sydney.
Did you know the Caulfield Cup is often quoted as a good guide to the Melbourne Cup. However only eleven horses have ever won the caulfield Melbourne Cup double. They were: Poseidon (1906), The Trump (1937), Rivette (1939), Rising Fast (1954), Even Stevens (1962), Galilee (1966), Gurner's Lane (1982), Let's Elope (1991), Doriemus (1995), Might and Power (1997) and Ethereal (2001). In the 2014 Caulfield Cup there were 221 nominations. Of these 44 were internationals.
Did you know Dermot Weld, the Irish Trainer who trained 1993 Melbourne Cup winner Vintage Crop, believed the 2013 Irish St Leger winner - Voueuse De Couers - would be the perfect horse to win the 2014 Melbourne Cup. However Australian investors bought VDC and ran her in the 2013 Cup. (She ran 10th).
Did you know Gai Waterhouse commented after the horse she trained to win the 2013 Melbourne Cup ( carrying 54.5 kgs) "It will be hard for Fiorente to go for another Cup next year because he will get so much weight."
Did you know Gai Waterhouse was (officially) the first Australian woman trainer to train a Melbourne Cup winner.
Did you know the first (official) woman trainer was Sheila Laxton who trained 1991 Melbourne Cup winner Etherial.
Did you know Sydney in 2013 hosted its first Melbourne Cup carnival since sending $150 million on a Grandstand upgrade. AJC was probably disappointed with the 23,000 attendance whilst the VRC hosted 104,000 at Flemington.
Did you know there were more than 1,000,000 searches for 'Melbourne Cup' on the Monday before the Melbourne Cup.
Did you know Fiorente was Hall of Fame jockey Damien Oliver's third Melbourne Cup winner. His previous winners were Doriemus (1995) and Media Puzzle in 2002.
Did you know Fiorente in winning in 2013 became only the fourth horse to improve on his second placing and win the following year. Previous horses were Empire Rose (1987/88);
Phar Lap is the only horse to run 3rd in the Melbourne Cup and follow it up with a win the following year. He did this in 1929/1930.
Did you know it was reported in Nov 6th edition of the Australian newspaper that owner of Dear Demi John Singleon had 100,000 on his horse.
Did you know this about Fiorente - the 2013 winner of the Melbourne Cup. Red Cadeaux was second and Mount Athos was third. Fiorente's saddle cloth number was #6. He drew Barrier #5. He carried 55 kgs. He started favourite at #7.00. He wore black silks with a purple stripe and a black cap. Damien Oliver was the jockey. Gai Waterhouse was the trainer. See this video.
Did you know Fiorente was the first favourite to win since Makybe Diva in 2005.
Did you know TAB reported it turned over $90,600,000 ib bets on the 2013 Melbourne Cup. It noted this was 2% down on 2012.
Did you know one TattsBet punter is still smiling after landing one of the biggest ever bets on the Melbourne Cup. The customer collected a cool $457,225 after nailing the first four in the cup - straight out for $5. That means he picked Fiorente, Red Cadeaux, Mount Athos and Simenon, in that order, and collected the $91,445 dividend five times.
Did you know one one lucky Victorian TAB punter won $118,652 for his $1 outlay when he correctly selected Fiorente, Red Cadeaux, Mount Athos and Simenon to be the first four horses over the line in the 2013 Melbourne Cup.
Did you know in MelbourneCupMax's Melbourne Cup day message he wrote:
"Here are the six horses from which I think will come the winner of the 2013 Melbourne Cup.
#4 Sea Moon; #6 Fiorente; #8 Dandino;
#10 Fawkner #12. Seville #19. Simenon"
(Note: Four of these horses filled the first six placings)
Did you know MelbourneCupMax also wrote:
"I really balk at suggesting a Trifecta as I think the odds are in favour of one or more of 'the internationals' or 'long shots' running into a place. So, you might think about taking one or more of these as a 'stand out' trifecta bet with 'the field' for the second and third legs. I have a feeling a long shot might fall into a place and make this a reasonable bet and a big payout. But I really can't fault Fiorente's preparation for the 2013 Melbourne Cup. So, I have chosen Fiorente as my #1 pick."
(Note: For a $50 wager Fiorente with the field for the second and third legs payed around $400 on the NSW TAB.)
Did you know MelbourneCupMax tipped the winner of the 2013 in May 2013 on the 26th of May 2013 he put a video up YouTube suggesting the winner of 2013 Cup would either be Puissance De Lune or Fiorente. See this video.
Did you know in the 2013 Melbourne Cup 19 of the 24 horses participating were born in the UK. There were no New Zealand bred horses in the 2013 Cup. How things have changed. In 1960 14 of the 24 horses were bred in New Zealand.
Did you know Lloyd Williams, with four winners, is the the joint most successful Melbourne Cup owner of all times. His winners (up to 2013) were: Just A Dash (1981); What A Nuisance (1985); Efficient (2007); Green Moon (2012).
Did you know the other joint most successful Melbourne Cup owner of all times (at least up until 2013) is Dato Tan Chin Nam. His horses (trained by Bart Cummings) were: Think Big (1974/75); Saintly (1996) and Viewed (2008).
Did you know many Melbourne Cup winners have been some very clever names based on the horse's breeding. Eg.Statesman (1928 Cup winner) was by Demosthenes; Comic Court (1950) was by Power Court out of the mare Witty Maid; Straight Draw (1957) was by Faux Tirage (means Long Shot in French; Even Stevens (1962) was by Fair's Fair; Light Fingers (1965) was by Le Filou (means The Thief in French); Red Handed (1967) was also by Le Filou.
Did you know 1965 Melbourne Cup winner, Light Fingers, dam was initially called Cuddlesome. Stewards thought the name too risque and the name was changed to Close Embrace.
Did you know the above two statistics may change after the 2013 Melbourne Cup as Lloyd Williams has six starters in the Cup. They are Green Moon; Sea Moon; fawkner; Seville and Masked Marvel. No other owner has ever had six horses in the Melbourne Cup.
Did you know, in the 2013 Melbourne Cup, a record eight Northern Hemisphere trained horses are in the field. These are: Dunaden; Red Cadeaux; Brown Panther; Verema; Mount Athos, Royal Empire, Simenon and Ruscello.
Did you know since the international invaders started to arrive on our shores, wanting to take our Melbourne Cup, only one has done so without having a start in an Australian race before going on to the Melbourne Cup. I refer to Vintage Crop in 1993.
Other international invaiders to have won including Media Puzzle in 2002, Delta Blues in 2006, Americain in 2010 and Dunaden in 2011 all had an Australian start prior to the Melbourne Cup.
Did you know this about the international invaders in 2013? Eight international horses will go into the 2013 Melbourne Cup without having had a start in Australia.
Did you know this about 7yr olds? As there were several 7yr old horses running in the 2013 Melbourne Cup I suggested you need be aware that only three 7 yr olds have won the Cup since 1986. They were Makybe Diva in 2005; Rogan Josh in 1999 and Vintage Crop in 1993. Ummmmm. (Post event note: The Winner Fiorente was a 6yr old stallion.)
Did you know Francesca Cummani Cummani, extremely knowledgable daughter of rainer Luca Cummani, told prior to the 2013 Cup that she believed there are four factors that decides who will win the Melbourne Cup. They are Weight; Nationality; Pace and Draw.
Weight: According to handicapping scale over 3200 metres one kilogram equates to about two lengths. The winning most weight in the past 38 years has been 54kgs. In this time only two horses carrying 58 kgs or more to Victory. Think Big in 1975 and Makybe Diva in 2005.
Nationality: English horses have been the least successful of the international horse. From sixty one starters they are yet to win a Melbourne Cup.
Pace: Traditionally the Cup is run at a fast tempo. This allows horses to take there place tucked in behind the leaders and then they finish on strongly. A slowly run race is more likely favour the leading group of horses.
Draw: Logic suggests an inside barrier is preferable. Up to and including the 2013 Cup Barrier 11 is the most successful starting stall followed by barriers 10, 14 and 5. (Note: The 2013 Cup winner Fiorente started from Barrier 5.)
Did you know this about the Lexus Stakes? In recent years this race, run on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup, has been an excellent guideline to selecting the winner or place getters in the Melbourne Cup. See below:
2000... Brew won both the Lexus and 2000 Melbourne Cups
2006 Maybe Better won the Lexus and then ran 3rd in 2006 Melbourne Cup
2009.... Shocking won both the Lexus and the 2009 Melbourne Cup
2010... Maluckyday won the Lexus and then ran 2nd in 2010 Melbourne Cup
2012... Kelinni won the Lexus and then ran 4th in 2012 Melbourne Cup
However, another way to look at it is since Baystone won the Lexus (then Hotham Handicap) and Melbourne Cup double in 1958, only three horses have won both races - Think Big (1974), Brew (2000) and Shocking (2009).
In 2013 English horse Ruscello won the Lexus and then drew Barrier 24 in the Melbourne Cup.
Did you know this about the McKinnon Stakes? In recent years this race, run on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup, has not had as much 'success' as The Lexus Stakes.
2010... So You Think won the McKinnon Stakes and then ran 3rd in 2010 Melbourne Cup
1999... Rogan Josh won both the McKinnon Stakes and the 1999 Melbourne Cup
1991... Let's Elope won both the McKinnon Stakes and the 1991 Melbourne Cup
In 2013 English horse Side Glance won the McKinnon Stakes. However, Side Glance is not in the 2013 Melbourne Cup.
Did you know, up to 2013, Gai Waterhouse, in her twenty one years as a horse trainer, has trained three second place getters in the Melbourne Cup. Te Akau Nick (1993); Nothin' Leica Dane (1995) and Fiorente in 2012....and they were all 'long shots.' Te Akau Nick was 160/1; Nothin' Leica Dane was 20/1 and Fiorente was 30/1 in 2012. 2013 is the first year she trained 'the favourite' (Fiorente at 7/1) for the Melbourne Cup.
Did you know this about 'the favourites.' Up to 2012 Makybe Diva is the only winning favourite in the last ten years, on two occasions after winning the first of her three Melbourne Cups in 2003.
Did you know that up to and including 2012 thirty three favourites have won the race since 1861. This indicates a favourite, on average, wins approximately every five years.The last favourite to win the Cup was Makybe Diva (at $4.40) in 2005.
Did you know Max Presnell, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald on the 4th of November 2013 told Robbie Waterhouse told of Lloyd Williams turning down the opportunity to buy Fiorente?
Did you know Fiorente's jockey Damien Oliver, up to the 2013 Melbourne Cup, had ridden in 24 previous Melbourne Cups. Fiorente was his third winner. ( also Doreimus 1995; Media Puzzle 2002). He has also ridden three 'seconds'. These were Paris Lane (1994); Pop Rock (2006) and Purple Moon (2007).
Did you know 2013 Melbourne Cup winner, Fiorente, began his life in England. As did the horses that ran 2nd and 3rd in 2013. (Red Cadeaux and Mount Athos).
Did you know Firorente is the first English horse to win the Cup? That is if you exclude Comedy King who came to Australia as a foal in his mother's (dam) belly.
Did you know the winner of the 2012 Melbourne Cup, held on the Tuesday 6th of November, was #14 Green Moon ($21). Fiorente ($31) was 2nd; Jakkalberry ($81) was 3rd. Brett Prebble was the winning jockey and 53.5 was the weight carried by Green Moon. The second horse also carried 53.5 kgs. The third horse carried 55.5kgs.
Did you know once again the favourite failed to win the 2012 Melbourne Cup. Dunaden was the favourite, starting at $7. He ran 14th. The last favourite to win the Melbourne Cup was Makybe Diva in 2005.
Did you know Brett Prebble's win on Green Moon in the 2012 Melbourne Cup was his first Melbourne Cup win. However he had previously knocked back rides on who knocked backed winning rides on Brew (2000), Efficient (2007), Shocking (2009) and Dunaden (2011).
Did you know in the 2012 Melbourne Cup turned an 8c bet into more than $77,000 after picking the first four finishers in the Melbourne Cup. The miraculous bet returned odds of 969,406 to one after the sportsbet.com.au customer put 8c on Green Moon, Fiorente, Jakkalberry and Kelinni to fill the first four positions. It was the first time this woman punter had bet with the online bookmaker. She spent $1.92 on a number of combinations.
Did you know the first four paid a New South Wales record $1.4 million with the TAB. One punter spent $5.00 on a box trifecta with Green Moon, Fiorente, Jackalberry and Kelinni received 20.8% of the dividend and that share was worth $305,645.
Did you know Green Moon started from Barrier #5 in the 2012 Mlebourne Cup. Barrier #5 has won three times since Barriers were introduced. The last time Barrier #5 won was in 1994 when Jeune won.
Did you know Green Moon carried #14 saddlecloth and the last time #14 won was in 2002 when Media Puzzle won. In all #14 has now won six times.
Did you know Lloyd Williams, the owner of Green Moon, has now won four Melbourne Cups. His other Melbourne Cup winners have been Just A Dash (1981), What A Nuisance (1985) and Efficient (2007).
Did you know Green Moon was a 6 year old and the Cup has been won by 6 yr olds thirty times. The last time a 6 yr old won was in 2011 when Dunaden won.
Did you know #1 saddle cloth (the Top Weight) rarely wins. Makybe Diva carried the #1 saddle cloth 1995. But, before that, you have to go back to Rising Fast in 1954 to find a Melbourne Cup winner carrying the #1 saddle cloth.
Did you know of the hundreds of horses entered for the Melbourne Cup only two have been allocated more than 70kgs. They were Archer in 1863 who was allocated 71.5kgs and The Barb in 1869 who was allocated 73.5kgs
Did you know the heaviest weight carried by a Melbourne Cup winner (Carbine in 1890) was 10 stone 5 pounds (66 kg). Makybe Diva holds the record for a mare with 58 kg in the 2005 Melbourne Cup. The horse to carry the heaviest weight of all time was Phar Lap (10 stone 10 pounds - 68kgs) in 1931 when he ran 8th.
Did you know Artilleryman, who won the 1919 Melbourne Cup as a three year old, might have been one of the greatest horses to win the Melbourne Cup? He was by Comedy King, who won the Cup in 2910. In his short career he won 11 races. Tragically soon after winning the 1919 Melbourne Cup he died from lymphatic cancer.
Did you know the 2nd place getter Redcraze, in the 1956 Melbourne Cup carried the heaviest weight (64.8 kgs) any horse had carried since 1890 when Carbine won. Redcraze was beaten a neck by Evening Peal who carried 50.8 kgs
Did you know Dalray, in 1952, carried 59.5kgs to win the Melbourne Cup from Welkin Sun who carried 34kgs.
Did you know Peter Pan, in 1932 as a 3 yr old, carried 47kgs to win the Cup and then backed up two years later to win again carrying 60.32kgs.
Did you know Phar Lap after winning easily, by three lengths, in 1930 carrying 62.6kgs was allocated 68kgs in the 1931 Cup when he ran 8th to White Nose who carried 43.54kgs.
Did you know, up to and including 2011, favorites have only won thirty one out of one hundred and fifty one Melbourne Cups.
Did you know up to and including 2012 the last favourite to win was Makybe Diva in 2005.
Makybe Diva was also the favourite when she won in 2004.
Did you know (up to and including Fiorente in 2013) favourites have only placed five times in last fifteen years.
Did you know only two eight-year-olds have won the Melbourne Cup. The last eight year old to win was Catalogue in 1938.
Did you know, whilst 7 yr olds have a better record than 8yr olds in the Cup, only five seven year olds have won the Melbourne Cup since1950: Toparoa (1955);What a Nuisance (1985); Vintage Crop (1993); Rogan Josh (1999); Makybe Diva (2005)
Did you know only four horse have ever won the Melbourne Cup and returned the next year to win the Caulfield Cuo? They were Skipton (1941, 1943), Rising Fast (1954, 1955) and Viewed (2008, 2009) and Dunaden (2011, 2012).
Did you know Dunaden, in 2012, became the first original topweight in Caulfield Cup history to win the race?
Did you know three year olds, now, rarely run in the Melbourne Cup? And the last three year old to win the Melbourne Cup was Skipton in 1941. However, 23 of the first 81 Melbourne Cups were won by 3yr olds.
Did you know there have been five multiple Melbourne Cups winners?
Archer 1861/62; Peter Pan 1932/1934; Rain Lover 1968/1969; Think Big 1974/1975; Makybe Diva 2003/2004/2005.
Did you know the biggest Melbourne Cup Trifecta dividend was a $61,867.90 paid out in 1993 on Vintage Crop 1st; Te Arku Nick 2nd; Mercator 3rd.
Did you know no horse has ever won from Barrier 18.
Did you know (up to and including 2012) barriers 9 & 12 have been the most successful with four victories in the past eleven years. (Barrier #5 won in 2012).
Did you know Dunaden's (2011 winner) started from Barrier 13.
Did you know Dunaden's (2011 winner) saddle cloth no in 2011 was #3.
Did you know #13 was a very 'lucky' number in 1941 when Skipton won the Melbourne Cup. He started from barrier #13; his saddle cloth was #13, and in winning he became the 13th horse to win in the VRC Derby - Melbourne Cup double.
Did you know Dunaden's 2011 Melbourne Cup win over Red Cadeaux took officials over five minutes to decide on the result via photo. This is the longest time ever taken to decide the winner of a Melbourne Cup.
Did you know four and five year old horses have the best record in the Melbourne Cup. Four year olds have won 44 forty four times and five year olds have won 45 times. Green Moon was a five year old when he won in 2012.
Did you know, however, in the past twelve years (up to and including 2013) six (6) six-year-olds have won the Melbourne Cup? The most recent was Fiorent in 2013. Previous to that it was Dunaden in 2011.
Did you know mares 'do not' have a good winning record in the Melbourne Cup? However, in the past fourteen years (to 1913) ONLY five (5) Melbourne Cup winners were mares.
Did you know only five four year old mares have won the Melbourne Cup since 1861. Up to and including 2013 the last was Makybe Diva in 2003.
Did you know only eleven (11) Melbourne Cup winners won the Caulfield Cup in the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup? They were Poseidon (1906); The Trump (1937); Rivette (1939); Rising Fast (1954); Even Stevens (1962); Galilee (1966); Gurner's Lane (1982); Let's Elope (1991);
Doriemus (1995); Might and Power (1997); Ethereal (2001).
Did you know the Melbourne Cup was first run in 1861 on at Thursday?
Did you know the first time the Melbourne Cup was run on a Tuesday was in 1875?
Did you know the Melbourne Cup has been postponed twice because of rain. The first time was in 1870. The second was 1916.
Did you know the 1976 Melbourne was delayed because of a huge last minute storm that turned Flemington racetrack into a mud track and the Flemington lawns and bookmaking ring into swimming pools. Noteld 'mudlark' Van Der Hum, from New Zealand, beat favourite Gold and Black to the line through the mud and slush.
Did you know it was so wet and muddy in the 1976 Melbourne Cup the announcer had difficulty in knowing which horse was which. See this video.
Did you know 1976 Melbourne Cup winner Van Der Hum was ridden by Bob Skelton who is remembered as having won the largest number of 3200 metre races in Australasian history.
Did you know Saintly, who won the 1996 Melbourne Cup was bred by his trainer, Bart Cummings, who owned him in partnership with a Malaysian businessman, Dato Tan Chin Nam.
Did you know Saintly was called 'the horse from heaven' due to his name and his partnership with jockey Darren Beadman, who at the time was a proclaimed born again Christian. In 1997, Beadman, then aged 31, retired from racing and studied to become a pastor. In 2000 he came out of retirement.
Did you know, in 1996, Saintly to beat Filante in the Cox Plate and backed up 10 days later for an easy win in the Melbourne Cup. Up to and including 2013 he was only the fourth horse to complete the Cox Plate-Melbourne Cup double in the same year. The others were Nightmarch (1929), Phar Lap (1930), and Rising Fast (1954), and preceding Makybe Diva (2005).
Did you know, because of WW2 the 1942 Melbourne Cup was run on a Saturday?
Did you know the current race record is 3.16.30. It was set by Kingston Rule in 1990?
Did you know Archer (1861) has the slowest winning time for the Melbourne Cup (3:52)?
Did you know the widest winning margin was eight lengths? It was achieved by Archer in 1862 and Rain Lover in 1968?
Did you know the 1958 Melbourne Cup was the first Cup start from automatic barrier stalls?
Did you know Baystone, in 1958, was the first horse in Melbourne Cup history to win wearing the #7 saddlecloth?
Did you know three horses have won the Melbourne Cup at 100-1: The Pearl (1871), Wotan (1936) and Old Rowley (1940). However, Rimfire won in 1948 at 80/1. Hi Jinnx won the 1960 Cup at 50/1. And Viewed won the 2008 Cup at 40/1.
Did you know the shortest odds winner - Phar Lap at 8/11 in the 1930 Melbourne Cup.
Did you know Phar Lap ran in three Melbourne Cups? In 1929 he ran 3rd to Nightmarch and Paquito. In 1931 he finished 8th. White Nose won in 1931; Shadow King was 2nd; Concentrate was 3rd.
Did you know the most runners in a Melbourne Cup was 39? It was in 1890 when Carbine won. Highborn was 2nd; Correze was 3rd.
Did you know the least runners in the Melbourne Cup was 7? It was in 1863 when Banker won. Musidora was 2nd; Rose of Denmark was 3rd.
Did you know the most attempts to win the Melbourne Cup was by Shadow King. He had six consecutive attempts to win the Cup. His first attempt was in 1929 when he ran ran 6th. He then ran 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd and finally 4th in 1934.
Did you know in the 1800's the Hobart Mercury used carrier pigeons to carry details of the Cup winner across the Tasman sea to Hobart on Melbourne Cup Day?
Did you know only six grey horses have won the Melbourne Cup? Up to an including 2013 the two most recent were Subzero in 1992 and Efficient in 2007.
Did you know the first female jockey to ride in a Melbourne Cup was New Zealander Maree Lyndon in 1987? She rode Argonaut Style who finished in 20th place.
Did you know the first Australian female jockey to ride in the Melbourne Cup was Claire Lindop in 2003? She the unplaced Debben.
Did you know the first photo-finish was used in the 1948 Melbourne Cup when Rimfire beat home Dark Marne.
Did you know in 1933, the year Hallmark won the Melbourne Cup, Sir Charles Kingsford Smith flew a copy of the film to Sydney? Smithy stood by with his bi-plane awaiting the race to be completed and for the film. Then he flew it to Sydney so it could be seen in the Sydney theatres on the same day as the Cup.
Did you know the 1925 Melbourne Cup was the first to be broadcast on Radio? It was broadcast by Station 3LO (ABC Station in Melbourne). The Cup was won by Windbag; Manfred was 2nd; Pilliewinkie was 3rd.
Did you know the 1957 Melbourne Cup was the first to be televised? The ABC transmitted the telecast. Straight Draw won; Prince Darius was 2nd; Pandie Sun was 3rd.
Did you know the jockey (Ray Neville) on the winner of the 1948 Melbourne Cup (Rimfire) was just 15 years old? It was only his seventh race ride and his first in a Melbourne Cup.
Did you know the youngest jockey ever to ride a Melbourne Cup winner was Peter St. Albans? He rode Briseis (in 1876) when he was 12 years old.
Did you know "Fashions On The Field" was first held in 1962?
Did you know in 1965 the British bombshell, Jean Shrimpton, attended the Melbourne Cup - to the horror of the Melbourne Media - without stockings, gloves or hat. WOW......did she cop a pasting from the press!
Did you know in the 1994 Melbourne Cup jockey Shane Dye rejected the offer to ride Jeune (who won) in favour of Coachwood (who finished unplaced).
Did you know Ron Hutchinson rejected the ride on the 1959 Melbourne Cup winner MacDougal in favour of the Mackinnon Stakes winner Trellios. Pat Glennon who picked up the last minute ride on MacDougal.
Did you know American author Mark Twain attended the 1881 Melbourne Cup. Zulu won the 1881 Cup at 50/1; The Czar was 2nd; Sweetmeat was 3rd. During the 1881 Melbourne Cup race, a dog ran onto the track, causing three out of the thirty-three horses competing to fall. Jockey Dodd died from the injuries he sustained.
Did you know the NSW township of Nowra has Melbourne Cup history? The first Cup winner - Archer in 1861 - walked from Nowra to Melbourne for the race. And if you spell Nowra backwards you get ARWON - the name of the 1978 Melbourne Cup winner.
Did you know the winner of the 1978 Melbourne Cup winner Arwon began his racing career in New Zealand as Flash Guy?
Did you know in a Brisbane Magistrates Court, in 1948, a short recess was called on Melbourne Cup Day to listen to the Cup? The Magistrate, Prosecutor, Police and the Prisoners adjourned to the verandah to listen to the Cup and hear Rimfire win the Cup.
Did you know in 1982 Les Pell, a Victorian farmer, was bemoaning the fact that he had lost $1.00 on Kingstown Town when he was narrowly beaten by Gurners Lane? 30 minutes later the Tatts Lotto ticket his wife bought him for Fathers Day won $600,000.
Did you know the 1867 Melbourne Cup was won by Tim Whiffler? Problem was there were two hoses named Tim Whiffler. The Bookies, ever resourceful, solved the problem by calling them Sydney Tim and Melbourne Tim. Sydney Tim won at odds of 5/2.
Did you know 1965 was the first year a Bart Cummings trained horse won a Melbourne Cup? The horse was Light Fingers. Stablemate Ziema was 2nd and Midlander was 3rd.
Did you know Bart Cummings trained twelve Melbourne beginning with Light Fingers (1965); Galilee (1966); Red Handed (1967); Think Big (1974); Think Big (1975); Gold and Black (1977); Hyperno (19790; Kingston Rule (1990); Let's Elope (1991); Saintly (1996); Rogan Josh (1999) and Viewed (1908).
Did you know in 1965, 1966, 1974, 1975, and 1991, Cummings trained both the first and second place winners in the Melbourne Cup.
Did you know Bart Cummings' Dad - Jim Cummings - trained the 1950 Melbourne Cup winner - Comic Court. Comic Court was 2nd and Chiquita was 3rd.
Did you know in the 1939 Melbourne Cup winning jockey Teddy Preston 'rode' two horses in the Cup? Preston's official mount was Rivette. Ortelle Star was ridden by Frank de Valle. Down the River side of the course Ortelle Star stumbled and dislodged jockey de Valle. Rivette took the lead on the home turn and looked a winner. But the crowd hushed as Ortelle Star made a charge along the rails. Preston sensed the danger a riderless horse could cause in a field of galloping horses. So, quick thinking Preston pocketed Ortelle Star on the rails. And all the way down the straight Teddy could be heard calling out "Steady Star, Steady Star." Ortelle Star actually crossed the line ahead of Rivette.
Did you know in 1968 the trainer (Mick Robbins) of the Melbourne Cup winner (Rain Lover) had only had a trainers license for four months? And it was his first Melbourne Cup runner.
Did you know the first woman to (officially) train a Melbourne Cup winner was Sheila Laxton who trained Etherial to win the 2001 Melbourne Cup.
Did you know the first woman to (unofficially) train a Melbourne Cup winner was Granny McDonald? She trained the last 8 year old to win a Melbourne Cup - Catalogue. At that time the VRC would not accept women trainers. Her husband was shown as the official trainer.
Did you know the first woman to own a Melbourne Cup winner was Mrs E A Widdis of Gippsland in Victoria? She owned the 1915 Melbourne Cup winner - Patrobas.
Did you know an American bred horse has won the Melbourne Cup? It happened when Robert Sangster's horse Beldale Ball won the 1980 Melbourne Cup from My Blue Denim from Love Bandit.
Did you know Comedy King, who won the 1910 Melbourne Cup, was the sire of Artilleryman who won the 2019 Melbourne Cup?
Did you know Spearfelt, who won the 1926 Melbourne Cup, was the sire of Dark Felt who decisively won the 1943 Melbourne Cup?
Did you know Silver Knight, who won the 1971 Melbourne Cup, was the sire of the 1984 Melbourne Cup winner Black Knight?
Did you know Think Big, in1975, had not won a race since his victory in the 1974 Melbourne Cup? Punters didn't think he would win in 1975 particularly because of the wet conditions. Hence he started at 33/1.
Did you know the first horse to win the AJC Metropolitan and then the Melbourne Cup was Tim Whiffler in 1867. The next to do it was Delta in 1951. Then McDougal did it in 1959... and it has not been done since up to and Including 2012.
Did you know Wodalla, in 1953, is one of only four horses to win the Melbourne Cup and Moonee Valley Gold Cup double up to and including 2012.
Did you know, in 1954, Rising Fast as well as winning the Melbourne Cup also won the Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Stakes, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, Mackinnon Stakes and the Fisher Plate?
Did you know the Centenary Melbourne Cup, in 1960, was won by five-year-old Hi Jinx at 50/1? Howsie was 2nd and Illumph was 3rd.
Did you know the 150th Melbourne Cup, in 2010, was won by the French horse Americain? Maluckyday was 2nd and So You Think was 3rd.
Did you know jockeys Peter Cook and his father Billy Cook are the only father and son combination to win the Melbourne Cup? Billy won in 1941 on Skipton and 1945 Rainbird. Peter won on Just a Dash in 1981.
In May 2014 Windgap asked to put a Melbourne Cup field together so we could have Sky Race Broadcaster
Matty Hill call a Phantom Windgap Cup at a Night at the Races. Windgap is a not for profit organisation that operates in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. It provides services for people with intellectual disabilities. It was a hugely successful night. Call me on 0419 53 63 73 if you want some advice or help to do a similar night somewhere. Here are the horses I chose.
1. Westcourt 1917
Even though we were in the middle of WW1 78,000 people still went to Flemington to see Westcourt win the 1917 Melbourne Cup. He had ran a very close 2nd in 1915 to Patrobas. In 2017 he won by a short half head.
2. Artilleryman 1919
Artilleryman, who won the 1919 Melbourne Cup as a three year old, might have been one of the greatest horses ever to win the Melbourne Cup. In his short career Artilleryman won 11 races. Tragically soon after winning the 1919 Melbourne Cup he died from lymphatic cancer.
3. Spearfelt 1926
Spearfelt ran 3rd in the 1924 Melbourne Cup before winning the Melbourne Cup in 1926. Jockey Hughie Cairns picked up the ride on Spearfelt, in 1926, in a Caulfield Pub soon after his mount Manfred (who ran 2nd in 1925) had been scratched from the Cup.
4. Nightmarch 1929
Nightmarch won the 2029 Melbourne Cup. He was the first horse to win both the Melbourne Cup and the Cox Plate in the same year (1929). This feat was repeated by Phar Lap the following year (1930), and by Rising Fast in 1954. Saintly did it in 1996 and Makybe Diva in 2005.
5. Phar Lap. 1930
Phar Lap dominated Australian racing winning the 1930 Melbourne Cup, two Cox Plates, an AJC Derby, and 19 other weight for age races. In 1932 he won the Agua Caliente Handicap in T Mexico in record time in his final race. He died in Mexico. Many people think he was poisoned.
6. Peter Pan 1932 & 1934
Peter Pan won the Melbourne Cup in 1932 and 1934. Some good judges considered Peter Pan a better horse than Phar Lap. In the 1932 Melbourne Cup, Peter Pan was travelling at the rear of the pack when he clipped the heels of the horse in front and fell to his knees. His stablemate, Dennis Boy, bumped Peter Pan back onto his feet and he went on to win the race. Because of illness he did not run in the 1933 Cup. However, he won his 1934 Melbourne Cup carrying at 9 st 10 lb (61 kgs) from an outside barrier on a heavy track.
7. Hall Mark 1933
Three days before the 1933 Melbourne Cup Hall Mark won the Victoria Derby with an infected foot. The following day the infection worsened. By the Tuesday had improved sufficiently for him to run in the Cup. When the field came into Flemington straight, the colt surged to the front, but in the last 100 metres the infected hoof burst and bled. It was only Hall Mark's tremendous courage which carried him over the line to win by a head. 33. Hallmark 1933. This was the first year the Cup was seen in the News cinemas in NSW on the same day the Cup was run. Sir Charles Kingsford Smith flew a copy of the film to Sydney as soon as the race was over.
8. Wotan 1936
Coming from last and starting at 100/1 New Zealander Wotan won the 1936 Melbourne Cup in front of a crowd of 110,000 people at Flemington. He won in the then record time of 3:21.25. Prior to the Cup the New Zealand owners had tried to lease or sell the hapless horse.
9. The Trump 1937
The Trump won the Caulfield Cup - Melbourne Cup in 1937. He showed his versatility by winning races over distances of six furlongs to two miles. His win in the 1937 Cup was his sixth successive win.
10. Catalogue 1938.
Was the first Melbourne Cup winner to be trained by a woman. She was know as Granny McDonald. In that era women were not accepted, by the VRC, as trainers. Catalogue was the last 8 yr old to win a Melbourne Cup.
11. Old Rowley 1940
The last 100/1 winner of the Melbourne Cup was Old Rowley in 1940. The first two were The Pearl in 1871 and Wotan in 1936. Hi Jinx won in 1960 at 50/1. Think Big won in 1975 at 33/1. Tawriffic won on 1989 at 30/1. Viewed won in 2008 at 40/1.
12. Skipton 1941
The last three year old to win the Melbourne Cup was Skipton in 1931. He was the son of Maribou who won the 1935 Melbourne Cup. Three year olds rarely run in the Melbourne Cup these days. However, 23 of the first 81 Melbourne Cups (beginning in 1861) were won by 3yr olds.
13. Rimfire 1948
The photo finish camera was first used at Flemington when Rimfire won the 1948 Melbourne Cup. Rimfire beat Dark Marne. However, many on-course punters believe the result should have been reversed. It was later found that the camera was incorrectly aligned and was moved.
14. Comic Court 1950
Comic Court won the 1950 Melbourne Cup carrying 9 stone 5 pounds (59 kgs). He was a most versatile post-war racehorse who set race records at distances of 6 furlongs (1,200 metres) and 2 miles (3,200 metres). In 1950 won the Melbourne Cup in record time of 3 minutes 19½ seconds. He was trained by Bart Cumming's dad - JM Cummings.
15. Delta 1951
Adolph Basser, a Sydney optician, jeweller and philanthropist donated £50,000 to Sydney University in 1954. It was the sum won by his racehorse Delta in the 1951 Melbourne Cup. This donation permitted the construction of Silliac, a computer the size of a double-decker bus.
16. Dalray 1952
Dalray won the 1952 Melbourne Cup and left the bookmakers crying. It was estimated bookmakers in the eastern capitals lost £1,000,000. Welkin Sun, who ran 3rd, was the rankest outsider ever to be placed in a Melbourne Cup He started at 200 to 1.
17. Rising Fast 1954
In 1954 Rising Fast won Melbourne Cup, Turnbull stakes, Caulfield Stakes, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, Mackinnon Stakes and the Fisher Plate. Rising Fast became the only horse in history to win the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate in the same season.
18. Light Fingers 1965
Light Fingers won the Melbourne Cup in 1965. Trained by Bart Cummings, Light Fingers would become the first of his 12 Melbourne Cup winners. British model Jean Shrimpton, attended the 1965 Cup. To the horror of the Melbourne social set she appeared without stockings, gloves or hat.
19. Rain Lover 1968 & 1969
Rain Lover won consecutive Cups in 1968 and 1969. Rain Lover's trainer Mick Robbins obtained his trainer's licence three months before he took over as trainer of Rain Lover. Controversy surrounded his second win. Heavily backed Big Philou, trained by Bart Cummings, was scratched 30 minutes the event and had been nobbled.
20. Think Big 1974 & 1975
Think Big won the Melbourne Cup in 1974 and 1975. He was trained by Bart Cummings. Bart Cummings trained the mare Leilani who was the favourite for the 1974 Melbourne Cup but she was run down in the last fifty metres by her stablemate Think Big. Following his second last in the lead up McKinnon Stakes Think Big started at 33-1 in the 1975 Melbourne Cup. He had not won a race since his victory the previous year. In 1975 Think Big beat his stablemate Holiday Wagon.
21. Van Der Hum 1976
Van der Humwon the 1976 Melbourne Cup principally because he loved running on wet tracks. On Cup day, not long before the race a downpour turned the track into a quagmire. NZ trainer, Len Robinson had spent two nights in his car, armed with a shotgun, outside Van Der Hum's stall.
22. Gurner's Lane 1982
Gurner's Lane is best remembered for winning the Caulfield Melbourne Cup and double in 1982. Gurner's Lane was just the seventh of 11 horses to complete this rare double. Malcolm Johnston, on crowd favourite Kingston Town appeared likely to win. But Mick Dittman brought Gurner's Lane through on the rails to bring sadness to a million lovers of racing.
23. Let's Elope 1991
In 1991 Let's Elope became the first mare in more than 50 years to complete the Caulfield - Melbourne Cup double. The last mare to complete the double had been Rivette in 1939. Let's Elope trainer was Bart Cummings.
24. Vintage Crop 1993
Vintage Crop won international fame in 1993 by becoming the first overseas-trained horse to win Australasia's greatest race, the Melbourne Cup. He was trained by Irishman Dermot Weld who also won the Cup with Media Puzzle in 2002.
25. Saintly 1996
Saintly won the 1996 Melbourne Cup. He was called 'the horse from heaven' due to his name and his partnership with jockey Darren Beadman. In 1997, Darren retired from racing and studied to become a pastor. He returned to racing in 2000.
26. Kingston Rule 1990
Kingston Rule won the 1990 Melbourne Cup in a record time of 3:16:3. This time still stands as the record today. Kingston Rule was trained by bart Cummings and ridden by Darren Beadman.
27. Etherial 2001
Etherial, a mare, was the first Melbourne Cup winner to be 'officially' trained by a woman. Her name was Shiela Loxton. Etherial won the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in 1991.
28. Makybe Diva 2003, 2004 & 2005
Makybe Diva became the first horse to win the Melbourne Cup on three occasions. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse racing history, with winnings of more than $14,000,000. Makybe Diva is one of only five horses to have won the Cup more than once since 1861. She is one of only 14 female horses (11mares and and three fillies).
29. Americain 2010
Americain won the 2010 Melbourne Cup. He was American-bred and trained by Frenchman Alain De Royer-Dupre. He was ridden by French jockey Gerald Mossé . The 2010 Melbourne Cup was the 150th running of the Cup.
30. Fiorente 2013
Fiorente was Hall of Fame jockey Damien Oliver's third Melbourne Cup winner in 2013. Oliver's previous winners were Doriemus (1995) and Media Puzzle in 2002. Fiorente was the favourite and the last favourite to win before Fiorente was Makybe Diva in 1995.
31. Nightmarch 1929
Won the Cox Plate and the Melbourne Cup in 1929 and beat the favourite Phar Lap. (who ran 3rd). He was by Night Raid who was also the sire of Phar Lap. Nightmarch was the first horse to win both the Melbourne Cup and the Cox Plate in the same year (1929). The feat repeated by Phar Lap the following year.
32. Rogan Josh
The winner of the 1999 Melbourne Cup, Rogan Josh, was purchased for $13,000 by owner Wendy Green from Darwin. Rogan Josh, trained by Bart Cummings, also won the McKinnon Stakes on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup.
33. Windbag 1925
The 1925 Cup, won by Windbag, was the first Cup to be broadcast on radio. It was broadcast by Station 3LO (ABC Station in Melbourne).
34. Straight Draw 1957
The 1957 Melbourne Cup, won by Straight Draw, was the first Melbourne Cup to be televised by ABC Melbourne.
35. Rainbird 1945
Rainbird, who won the 1945 Melbourne Cup was ridden by Billy Cook. Billy and his son Peter are the only father and son combination to win the Melbourne Cup. Peter won on Just a Dash in 1981.
36. Backwood 1924
Backwood won the 1924 Melbourne Cup. This was the first year starting stalls were used. Backwood started from barrier 7. In the 79 years since (to 2013) no other winner has started from Barrier 7. Note no Melbourne Cup winner has ever started from Barrier #18.
37. King Ingoda 1922
King Ingoda, who won the the 1922 Melbourne Cup beat the favourite The Cypher by a head. The owner of The Cypher - Darcy Eccles - is said to have lost One Hundred thousand pounds. This is estimated to be worth around $6,000,000 in today's money. WOW!
38. Efficient 2007
The 2007 Melbourne Cup winner, Efficient, was the last 'grey' horse to win the Melbourne Cup. Only six grey horses win the Melbourne Cup. The previous grey to win was Subzero in 1991.
39. Delta Blues 2006
Delta Blues, the 2006 Melbourne Cup winner, was the first Japanese horse to win the Cup. He defeated Pop Rock, another Japanese horse. Both horses also trained by Katsuhiko Sumii.This was the field I assembled:
What'll Win The Cup, Mate? by Max Hitchins
My Dad loved the Melbourne Cup. He also loved his home town - Moree (NSW). It was my home town too. I remember developing that same love of the Cup when I ran a pub in Moree. My Dad is no longer with us and several years ago I wrote this verse and dedicated it to him.
I was in a pub in Moree town
First time I heard the line
"What'll win the Cup?" he said
As he drank his middy down.
It's a cry that's heard in pub and club
Where there's always talk of races
It's even heard in church and school
And high falootin' places.
"What'll win the Cup?" he said
As he downed another beer
"S'pose ya think the favorit will...
No one thinks that round 'ere."
Great thing about the Cup, you know
Is, everyone's a crack
Can tell you what's a cert to win
And which one not to back.
In every place across the land
They quote a favourite story
Perhaps the time when Carbine won
Or, when Phar Lap went to glory.
It matters not where ere you are
Down South they talk of Arwon
But Gunsynd is still the favourite
If you come from near the Barwon.
Do you remember TJ's Kingston Town?
Van Der Hum - he loved the rain;
But who was it that beat the King
Was it Gold and Black or Gurner's Lane?
"Carbine was the best you know"
Said the bloke behind the Bar
"Na, be buggered - Phar Lap was
Hey, give us another jar."
And on and on and on it goes
As far as the Pearly Gate
Where my old man was heard to ask
"What'll win the Cup, mate?"
A Dream Of The Melbourne Cup by Andrew Barton (Banjo) Patterson
Bring me a quart of colonial beer
And some doughy damper to make good cheer,
I must make a heavy dinner;
Heavily dine and heavily sup,
Next month they run the Melbourne Cup,
And I must to dream the winner.
Stoke it in, boys! the half-cooked ham,
The rich ragout and the charming cham,
I've got to mix my liquor;
Give me a gander's gaunt hind leg,
Hard and tough as a wooden peg,
And I'll keep it down with a hard-boiled egg,
'Twill make me dream the quicker.
Now that I'm full of fearful feed,
Oh, but I'll dream of a winner indeed,
In my restless, troubled slumber;
While the nightmares race through my heated brain
And their devil riders spur amain,
The trip for the Cup will reward my pain,
And I'll spot the winning number.
Thousands and thousands and thousands more,
Like sands on the white Pacific shore,
The crowding people cluster;
For evermore it's the story old,
While races are bought and backers are sold,
Drawn by the greed of the gain of gold,
In their thousands still they muster.
And the bookies' cries grow fierce and hot,
"I'll lay the Cup! The double, if not!"
"Five monkeys, Little John, sir!"
"Here's fives bar one, I lay, I lay!"
And so they shout through the live-long day,
And stick to the game that is sure to pay,
While fools put money on, sir!
And now in my dream I seem to go
And bet with a "book" that I seem to know --
A Hebrew moneylender;
A million to five is the price I get --
Not bad! but before I book the bet
The horse's name I clean forget,
His number and even gender.
Now for the start, and here they come,
And the hoof-strokes roar like a mighty drum
Beat by a hand unsteady;
They come like a rushing, roaring flood,
Hurrah for the speed of the Chester blood!
For Acme is making the pace so good
They are some of 'em done already.
But round the track she begins to tire,
And a mighty shout goes up: "Crossfire!"
The magpie jacket's leading;
And Crossfire challenges fierce and bold,
And the lead she'll have and the lead she'll hold,
But at length gives way to the black and gold,
Which right to the front is speeding.
Carry them on and keep it up --
A flying race is the Melbourne Cup,
You must race and stay to win it;
And old Commotion, Victoria's pride,
Now takes the lead with his raking stride,
And a mighty roar goes far and wide --
"There's only Commotion in it!"
But one draws out from the beaten ruck
And up on the rails by a piece of luck
He comes in a style that's clever;
"It's Trident! Trident! Hurrah for Hales!"
"Go at 'em now while their courage fails;"
"Trident! Trident! for New South Wales!"
"The blue and white for ever!"
Under the whip! With the ears flat back,
Under the whip! Though the sinews crack,
No sign of the base white feather:
Stick to it now for your breeding's sake,
Stick to it now though your hearts should break,
While the yells and roars make the grandstand shake,
They come down the straight together.
Trident slowly forges ahead,
The fierce whips cut and the spurs are red,
The pace is undiminished;
Now for the Panics that never fail!
But many a backer's face grows pale
As old Commotion swings his tail
And swerves -- and the Cup is finished.
And now in my dream it all comes back:
I bet my coin on the Sydney crack,
A million I've won, no question!
"Give me my money, you hook-nosed hog!
Give me my money, bookmaking dog!"
But he disappears in a kind of fog,
And I woke with "the indigestion".
The poem was published in the Bulletin just prior to the running of the 1886 Melbourne Cup. All the horses referred to in it, with the exception of Acme, started in the race, which was won by Arsenal. Trident finished fourth.
- choosing a selection results in a full page refresh