The Melbourne Cup is almost here and in 2022 there's a field of 23 Australian and international horses galloping in the 3200 metre race for $8 million in prize money.
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Here are the key things you need to know before the running of the 'race that stops the nation'.
What time does it start?
The Melbourne Cup is always held on the first Tuesday in November, this year's race will start at 3pm AEDT.
For those in Victoria, NSW, the ACT and Tasmania it's on at 3pm. If you're watching in Western Australia its 12pm, in the Northern Territory it's on at 1.30pm, and it's 2pm in Queensland, 2.30pm in Adelaide.
Where can I watch?
Channel 10 will have coverage of the Melbourne Cup from 10am until 5.30pm.
You can also livestream it at racing.com, or watch on the racing channel on Foxtel.
Order of entry: Who's running?
Saddlecloth number - Horse - Trainer - Jockey - barrier - Weight
1 - GOLD TRIP (FR) - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - Mark Zahra - 14 - 57.5kg
2 - DUAIS - Edward Cummings - Hugh Bowman - 10 - 55.5kg
3 - KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE) - Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott - Tim Clark - 24 - 55.5kg
4 - MONTEFILIA - David Payne - Jason Collett - 11 - 55.5kg
5 - NUMERIAN (IRE) - Annabel Neasham - Tommy Berry - 7 - 55.5kg
6 - WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE) - Simon & Ed Crisford - William Buick - 18 - 55.5kg
7 - CAMORRA (IRE) - Ben & JD Hayes - Ben Melham - 17 - 55kg
8 - DEAUVILLE LEGEND (IRE) - James Ferguson - Kerrin McEvoy - 9 - 55kg
9 - STOCKMAN (NZ) - Joseph Pride - Sam Clipperton -2 - 54kg
10 - VOW AND DECLARE - Danny O'Brien - Blake Shinn - 4 - 54kg
11 - YOUNG WERTHER (NZ) - Danny O'Brien - Damian Lane - 21 - 54kg
12 - HOO YA MAL (GB) - Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott - Craig Williams - 15 - 53.5kg
13 - SERPENTINE (IRE) - Robert Hickmott - John Allen - 23 - 53.5kg
14 - DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR (NZ) - Phillip Stokes - Daniel Moor - 13 - 53kg
15 - GRAND PROMENADE (GB) - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - Harry Coffey - 1 - 53kg
16 - ARAPAHO (FR) - Bjorn Baker - Rachel King - 19 - 52.5kg
17 - EMISSARY (GB) - Michael Moroney - Patrick Moloney - 3 - 51.5kg
18 - LUNAR FLARE - Grahame Begg - Michael Dee - 12 - 51.5kg **scratched**
19 - SMOKIN' ROMANS (NZ) - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - Jamie Kah - 16 - 51.5kg
20 - TRALEE ROSE (NZ) - Symon Wilde - Dean Yendall - 22 - 51.5kg
21 - POINT NEPEAN (IRE) - Robert Hickmott - Wayne Lordan - 20 - 51kg **scratched**
22 - HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ) - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - 8 - Teo Nugent - 50kg
23 - INTERPRETATION (IRE) - Ciaron Maher & David Eustace - 6 - Craig Newitt - 50kg
24 - REALM OF FLOWERS - Anthony & Sam Freedman - Damien Thornton - 5 - 50kg
Who are the favourites?
At 9am on Tuesday, November 1, English import DEAUVILLE LEGEND (saddlecloth number eight in barrier nine) is the hot favourite paying $3.50 for a fixed odds win with tab.com.au.
MONTEFILIA (saddlecloth four in barrier 11) and WITHOUT A FIGHT (saddlecloth six in barrier 18) are paying $11 for a fixed odds win.
REALM OF FLOWERS (saddlecloth 24 in barrier five) is paying $12 for a fixed odds win.
The longest odds are currently GRAND PROMENADE (saddlecloth 15 in barrier one) and TRALEE ROSE (saddlecloth 20 in barrier 20) which are both paying $71 for a fixed odds win.
Does the barrier matter?
Historically, some barriers have proven to be more likely to produce a winner than others, tab.com.au data shows.
The most successful barrier is number five which has produced eight winners. This is followed by 11 (seven winners), 10 (six wins), 14 (six wins) and eight (five wins).
IN OTHER NEWS:
As lucky as these barriers have been, there are others that haven't give the punters any luck.
Last year's winner, Verry Elleegant, was the first horse in history to win the race from barrier 18.
Barrier 15 has only had one win, while barriers two, seven and nine have only had two wins since the first running back in 1861.
What prize money is on offer?
The race is 3200 metres and a total of $8 million is on offer this year, it's the same as last year. This is the breakdown:
- 1st $4.4m
- 2nd $1.1m
- 3rd $550,000
- 4th $350,000
- 5th $230,000
- 6th-12th $160,000
2021 Melbourne Cup Finishing Order
Position - Horse
1st - 4. VERRY ELLEEGANT
2nd - 2. INCENTIVISE
3rd - 3. SPANISH MISSION
Most wins by a horse
Only five horses have won multiple Cups, with the great mare Makybe Diva holding the record with three Melbourne Cups, all ridden by jockey Glen Boss.
Wins - Horse - Years
3 Makybe Diva - 2003, 2004, 2005
2 Think Big - 1974, 1975
2 Rain Lover - 1968, 1969
2 Peter Pan - 1932, 1934
2 Archer - 1861, 1862
Other interesting Melbourne Cup records
- Longest odds winners - 100-1 : The Pearl (1871), Wotan (1936), Old Rowley (1940), and Prince of Penzance (2015).
- Shortest odds win - Phar Lap at 8/11 in 1930 ($1.73).
- Favourites win percentage - 23 per cent have won the Melbourne Cup (34 of 150 favourites).
- Most runs - Shadow King ran six times in seven years from 1929 and 1935. Finishing 6th, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd and 4th.
- Oldest winners - Three horses have run as eight year olds - Toryboy in 1865, Catalogue in 1938 & Twilight Payment in 2020.
- First female jockey win - Michelle Payne (2015, on Prince of Penzance).
- Record winning time - 3.16.30 Kingston Rule (1990).
- Longest win margin - Archer in 1862 and Rain Lover in 1968 both won by a record 8-lengths.
- Heaviest weight carried by winner - The horse to carry the heaviest weight in the Cup's history was Phar Lap (68 kg) in 1931 where he ran 8th.
- Lightest weight carried by winner - Banker in 1863 with 34 kg.
Nadine Morton
I report on crime, emergency services and police matters. Email me on nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
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