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The Melbourne Cup is a world-renowned horse racing event that has captivated hearts and minds for over a century. With a rich history dating back to 1861, this iconic race has become a symbol of Australian culture and a global spectacle. In this 2000-word article, we will explore the anticipation and excitement surrounding the Melbourne Cup 2023, delve into the fascinating world of horse racing, and provide you with valuable betting strategies to enhance your chances of success in this year's race.

The Melbourne Cup 2023: A Glance into the Upcoming Event

The Melbourne Cup 2023, set to take place on the first Tuesday of November at the historic Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia, promises to be an unforgettable day of racing, fashion, and celebration. As one of the most prestigious horse racing events on the global calendar, the Melbourne Cup continues to attract attention from horse racing enthusiasts, fashionistas, and betting aficionados worldwide.

Expert top picks for Melbourne Cup 2023

The Melbourne Cup attracts top-class horses from around the world, making it a fiercely competitive event. In the lead-up to the 2023 Melbourne Cup, several horses are being closely watched by our Winning Edge Investment analysts:

Hear from Dean Evans and Luke Murrell as they share their expert Melbourne Cup 2023 runner-by-runner preview! Both tipped the winner Gold Trip at $21 as their 2nd picks last year.

Dean Evans - Trial Spy   Unleash!

Track / Meeting Overview: (Two lines)

Rail: TRUE

Current Track Conditions: GOOD 4

Predicted Track Conditions: GOOD 4

No rain forecast so the track should be in perfect order. Perhaps they will attempt to address the rails bias from Derby Day.

The race that stops the nation. Has been won in recent years by the likes of Golt Trip, Verry Elleegant, Twilight Payment, Vow And Declare, Cross Counter, Rekindling, Protectionist, Fiorente & Dunaden.

Historical Profiling (last 12 years)

•          This race most years comes with a litany of different formlines from both local and overseas. This year there are 4 overseas trained runners.

•          Since 2017 the Northern Hemisphere overseas 3yos (Southern Hemisphere 4yos) have dominated, with Rekindling (51.5kg) winning in 2017, Cross Counter (51kg) winning in 2018, and Il Paradiso (52.5kg) running a very unlucky close 3rd in 2019 when should have won, then Tiger Moth (52.5kg) ran a close 2nd in 2020. Deauville Legend ran 4th in 2022 with too much weight (55kg). No qualifiers this year.

•          Equal or more weight this start than their prior start (1/74 - Verry Elleegant), Lower weight than prior start (11/206)

•          Negative: Without A Fight, Breakup, Soulcombe, Right You Are, Okita Soushi

•          4yo (3/32), 5yo (1/81), 6yo (6/77), 7yo (1/55), 8yo (1/26), 9yo (0/7), 10yo (1/2)

•          Barriers are irrelevant

•          Last run 3 days ago (Flemington): 27 runners for 0 winners

•          Negative: Kalapour

•          Last run 6 days ago (Bendigo Cup): 4 runners for 0 winners

•          Negative: Interpretation

•          Last run 10/11 days ago (Moonee Valley – Cox Plate or MV Cup): 52 runners for 5 winners

•          Positive: Gold Trip, Alenquer, Vow & Declare, Cleveland, Sheraz, Future History, True Marvel

•          Last run 13 days ago (Geelong Cup): 21 runners for 1 winner

•          Positive: Ashrun, Magical Lagoon, Virtuous Circle, More Felons

•          Last run 17 days ago (Caulfield Cup): 90 runners for 1 winner

•          Negative: Without A Fight, Breakup, Soulcombe, Right You Are, Okita Soushi

•          Last run 24 days ago (Caulfield – Herbert Power): 9 runners for 1 winner

•          Positive: Military Mission, Daqiansweet Junior

•          Last run 30/31 days ago (Flemington – Bart Cummings): 14 runners for 1 winner

•          Positive: Serpentine

•          Last run 40-160 days ago (Overseas): 62 runners for 3 winners

•          Positive: Vauban, Absurde, Lastotchka

•          Any sort of Gear Change: 80 runners for 1 winner (Blinkers Off)

•          Negative: Alenquer, Soulcombe, Magical Lagoon, Serpentine, More Felons

•          1st up to 6th up (12/262), 7th up to 15th up (0/18)

•          Negative: Military Mission, Future History, Kalapour

•          3200m starts: 0 (9/138), 1-4 (3/121), 5-10 (0/21)

•          3200m wins: 0 (11/214), 1-7 (1/66)

•          Negative: Gold Trip, Vauban, Vow And Declare, Daqiansweet Junior, Okita Soushi, True Marvel

•          Flemington Runs: 0 (4/104), 1-10 (8/176)

•          Flemington Wins: 0 (7/187), 1-5 (5/93)

•          Positive: Gold Trip, Soulcombe, Right You Are, Vow And Declare, Ashrun, Future History, Kalapour

•          SP Rank: 1 (1/12), 2-4 (5/36), 5-10 (5/72), 11-24 (1/160)

•          Last Start Distance: 2000m-2200m (4/41), 2300m-2500m (6/193), 2600m-3000m (2/37), 3200m+ (0/9)

•          Positive: Gold Trip, Absurde

•          Geldings (5/149), Entires (6/99), Mares (1/31)

•          Only top-quality mares generally win it. Only Verry Elleegant has won and High Emocean run a place in the past 12 years from 31 runners

•          Negative: Lastotchka, Magical Lagoon

•          Tab Number: 1-8 (6), 9-16 (1), 17-24 (5)

•          Negative: Vow And Declare, Cleveland, Ashrun, Daqiansweet Junior, Okita Soushi, Sheraz, Lastotchka, Magical Lagoon

•          Jockey Same As Last Start: No (10/148), Yes (2/132)

•          Negative: Alenquer, Without A Fight, Vow And Declare

•          Weight: 50-52kg (4/66), 53kg-55kg (5/172), 56-59kg (3/42)

•          Career Win % 20%+: (11/225), Under 20% (1/55)

•          Negative: Gold Trip, Vow And Declare, Serpentine, Virtuous Circle, True Marvel

•          Finishing Position Last Start: 1st-4th (10/160), 5th -18th (2/120)

•          Finishing Position 2nd Last Start: 1st-4th (10/179), 5th -18th (2/101)

•          Finishing Position 3rd Last Start: 1st-5th (12/187), 5th -20th (0/93)

•          Positive: Gold Trip, Vauban, Lastotchka, Military Mission, Serpentine, Future History, Kalapour

•          Neutral: Without A Fight, Soulcombe, Absurde, Vow And Declare, Cleveland, Okita Soushi

•          Negative: Alenquer, Breakup, Right You Are, Ashrun, Daqiansweet Junior, Sheraz, Magical Lagoon, Virtuous Circle, More Felons, Interpretation, True Marvel

•          Last Start: Margin within 2L of winner last start: (11/152), more than 2L: (1/128)

•          2nd Last Start: Margin within 2L of winner last start: (8/166), more than 2L: (4/114)

•          3rd Last Start: Margin within 1L of winner last start: (11/129), more than 1L: (1/151)

•          Positive: Gold Trip, Without A Fight, Serpentine, Future History

•          Neutral: Vauban, Soulcombe, Vow And Declare, Ashrun, Military Mission, More Felons, Kalapour

•          Negative: Alenquer, Breakup, Absurde, Right You Are, Cleveland, Daqiansweet Junior, Okita Soushi, Sheraz, Lastotchka, Magical Lagoon, Virtuous Circle, More Felons, Interpretation, True Marvel

•          Official Handicap Rating Rank: 1-7 (8/84), 8-24 (4/196)

•          Positive: Gold Trip, Without A Fight, Soulcombe, Vow And Declare, Breakup, Vauban, Right You Are

•          Intelligence Rating Rank: 1-5 (8/60), 6-24 (4/220)

•          SP Last Start under $10: (12/202), over $10 (0/78)

•          Negative: Alenquer, Right You Are, Okita Soushi, Sheraz, Magical Lagoon, Serpentine, More Felons, True Marvel

SPEED MAP

I find the notion of trying to do a speed map for a race like the Melbourne Cup, or relying on one as an important factor, a waste of time. It’s not a critical element to the pre-race analysis and most years when a slow pace is expected they go quick, and vice versa. Finding the most suitable horses to win based on form and historical profiling is where the edge is.

Final Field – Key Chances

1. Gold Trip – Won this race by 2L comfortably last year. Could argue he is going even slightly better into it this year. Drawn barrier 2 and James Mcdonald aboard, which in normal circumstances would be two big positives, but for this horse a wider gate with regular jockey M Zahra aboard would have been better! Jumps to 58.5kg here but in the mix.

3. Without A Fight – Is flying. Hit the line hard in the Underwood Stakes then took out the Caulfield Cup last start. Ran in the race last year and the wet track didn’t suit. Back on the dry here and rates highly.

4. Breakup – Japanese entire with 5 wins and 7 placings from 22 starts. G2 winner over 2500m and has run a G1 4th over 3200m and G2 3rd over 3000m in Japan. The Japanese stayers are panels above ours, and the rest of the world. The last time the Japanese came to the Melbourne Spring Carnival was in 2019 when Mer De Glace won the Caulfield Cup and Lys Gracieux won the Cox Plate. The likes of Delta Blues, Pop Rock and Admire Rakti have also dominated Australian staying G1 races. Breakup holds similar formlines and ratings. Was disappointing in the Caulfield Cup, but has historically put in a bad performance and then bounced back next start. Bigger track, up to 3200m and a rider who knows him are all positives.

5. Vauban – Former hurdler who has been set for this by Willie Mullins who has run two placings in this race with Max Dynamite. Won at Ascot over 2800m by 7.5L then in Ireland over 2400m by 1.5L. Is a warm favourite here.

6. Soulcombe – Is racing in consistently good form. Misses the start which is a concern but has a top jockey aboard and is in the mix.

7. Absurde – Also trained by Willie Mullins. Won the Ebor last start under a big weight, which has proven a good pointer for this race in the past. Zac Purton to ride. Has a lot of positives.

8. Right You Are – The 3200m might be a stretch, but did stick on the best of the on pacers in the Caulfield Cup. Has the right trainers to be a rough place hope.

9. Vow And Declare – Racing in excellent form, hitting the line hard for 2nd behind Alligator Blood in the Caulfield Stakes before racing wide no cover but still sticking on for 2nd in the Moonee Valley Cup.

11. Ashrun – Solid run with a big weight in the Bart Cummings then 2nd in the Geelong Cup. Rough place hope.

15. Lastotchka – Staying mare imported from France. Now with the Price/Kent stable. G3 winner over 2800m and 3100m, and multiple G2 placed in the type of French staying races that often measure up here.

17. Military Mission – Was strong winning the Newcastle Cup, poorly ridden in the Metropolitan but ran well for 4th, then impressive winning the G2 Herbert Power. Skipped the Caulfield Cup to run here. Trained by Gai and can win with a light weight at big odds.

18. Serpentine – Drops sharply in weight and was solid last start with a big weight. Place chance.

21. Future History – Led all the way in the Bart Cummings to qualify for this, then hit the line solidly in the Moone Valley Cup for 3rd. Lightweight place chance.

22. Interpretation – Had no luck in the Bart Cummings but ran well, then won the Bendigo Cup. Lightweight place chance.

Winning Chances (7)

1,3,4,5,7,15,17

Place Chances (7)

6,8,9,11,18,21,22

TOP 10 SELECTIONS:

1. 3 – Without A Fight 

2. 17 – Military Mission

3. 5 – Vauban

4. 7 – Absurde

5. 4 – Breakup

6. 1. Gold Trip

7. 15 – Lastotchka

8. 22 – Interpretation

9. 6 – Soulcombe

10. 9 – Vow And Declare

SUMMARY:

A more open Melbourne Cup than usual in recent years.

Vauban could blow them away. Without A Fight the key danger.

Military Mission, Absurde, Breakup & Lastotchka all capable of winning.

Gold Trip a strong chance of running somewhere in the first four, but might struggle to win with the weight and the draw.

Interpretation looks a great place bet at huge odds.

Military Mission a good each way bet.

King Abraham - Worldwide Tips & Ratings, Australian Tips & Ratings, Syndicate Specials

#3. WITHOUT A FIGHT - The horse to beat on the Australian ratings. Its got a few on these. If it runs to its figure it wins.

#9. VOW AND DECLARE - I cannot ignore past ratings and no reason why this runner cannot run a big race. It rated highly.

#6. SOULCOMBE - Definitely the 3rd best horse outside the imported runners. This  runner is only 3.5 lens off the top 2 runners.]

#17. MILITARY MISSION - Another  big value runner off the figures and I can see  a decent figure that can run a big race. It is only 5 lengths off the top picks.

#8 RIGHT YOU ARE - Monster hope at big odds with a figure that means big smokey at odds and if it runs to the figure I can see it winning.

Gold Trip & More Felons rough chances also.

Lachlan Mosley – Blackbook Bets

#5. VAUBAN - Doesn't take rocket science to put this one top. Been smashing his rivals across the sea. Trackwork doesn't win races but everything he's been doing since he arrived on Australian shores has been mouth-watering. Draws well. Might just be a class above

#6. SOULCOMBE- Was a Melbourne Cup favourite 12 months ago and has hovered around the money all year. Brilliant winner first up but barrier manners of late have cost the horse in the Turnbull and Caulfield Cups.They are taking the blinkers off here hoping that will do the trick. If he steps with them, he's surely the main danger

#3. WITHOUT A FIGHT- Gutsy Caulfield Cup winner who profiles very well for the Cup. Both Anthony and Sam Freedman + Mark Zahra are having a memorable Spring Carnival and this could be the cherry ontop. The fact that Zahra has chosen this horse over last years winner GOLD TRIP speaks volumes to me.

#9. VOW AND DECLARE- Winner of this race 4 years ago that's been plagued by injury and indifferent form since. Hasn't come down a traditional Melbourne Cup path this preparation but has defied his S.P profile to place at Group 1 and Group 2 level in the lead up to this. The Cup wasn't originally on the radar but the horse was going so well that they couldn't resist.

#11. ASHRUN- Got home really well for 4.8L 10th in the Melbourne Cup last year and now drops 2kg from that performance. Ran really well in the Geelong Cup and Kerrin McEvoy knows how to win this race. Might be worth a tiny each-way nibble but a must for the wider exotics

Bryce Parker – Bryce’s Best

#6. SOULCOMBE - Enormous run last start when missing the jump badly. Can't afford to be tardy out of the gates but love the way it's tracking and looks very well suited to the trip. Goes on top in a tricky edition this year.

#5. VAUBAN - Has huge wraps, big money early for it and plenty of experts claiming it will be hard to beat. Tricky to line up the form but is the pick of the crop of the international horses. Goes close.

#3. WITHOUT A FIGHT - Hit a peak last run and has been going along super. Likely to relish this trip and found it too wet last year. Hard to beat.

#4. BREAKUP - Suited up in trip and the Japanese have brought over some handy ones to date. Tough draw but goes in the mix.

#21. FUTURE HISTORY - Likeable formlines and should enjoy the trip. Place hope from the tough draw.

The Melbourne Cup 2023: Key Details

The Melbourne Cup 2023 promises to be another unforgettable event on the Australian sporting calendar. Here are some key details about the race:

Date: The Melbourne Cup is held on the first Tuesday of November each year. In 2023, it falls on the 7th of November.

Venue: The race takes place at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria, as it has since its inception.

Distance: The Melbourne Cup is a 3,200-meter (approximately 2-mile) race, making it one of the longest and most challenging handicap races in the world.

Prize Money: The 2023 Melbourne Cup is expected to have a substantial prize purse, making it one of the most lucrative horse races globally.

Race Time: The Melbourne Cup typically starts at 3:00 PM local time, and the entire day is filled with various races and entertainment leading up to the main event.

Betting on the Melbourne Cup 2023: Strategies for Success

Betting on the Melbourne Cup can be an exhilarating experience, but it requires careful consideration, strategy, and a fair share of luck. To maximize your chances of success, it's essential to understand the various betting options and develop a solid game plan. Here are some betting strategies to consider:

Types of Bets

Before delving into strategies, let's explore the various types of bets you can place on the Melbourne Cup:

a. Win: This is a straightforward bet on a single horse to win the race. If your selected horse finishes first, your bet is successful.

b. Place: A place bet requires your chosen horse to finish in the top two or three places (depending on the number of runners). If your horse places, you win the bet.

c. Each Way: An each-way bet combines a win and a place bet on the same horse. This means you'll receive a return if your horse wins or places.

d. Quinella: In a quinella bet, you select two horses to finish first and second in any order. As long as both horses finish in the top two, your bet is successful.

e. Exacta: Similar to a quinella, but in an exacta bet, you must predict the first and second-place finishers in the exact order.

f. Trifecta: A trifecta bet involves picking the first three horses to finish in the exact order. While it's challenging, the potential payout is substantial.

g. First Four: In a first four bet, you predict the first four horses to finish in the exact order, offering the highest potential rewards but with increased difficulty.

Betting Strategies

Now, let's dive into some betting strategies to help you make informed decisions for the Melbourne Cup 2023:

a. Research and Form Analysis: Extensive research is vital. Examine the form of each horse, which includes recent performances, previous race results, jockeys, trainers, and track records. Look for horses with consistent form, recent wins, and jockeys and trainers with a history of success.

b. Budget Management: Set a budget that you are comfortable with and stick to it. Betting should be an enjoyable experience, not one that leaves you financially strained.

c. Study the Odds: Pay close attention to the odds for each horse. While favourites may seem appealing, consider the value in longer odds, as they can yield more significant returns if successful.

d. Each-Way Betting: If you're uncertain about a horse's ability to win but believe it has a good chance of placing, consider placing an each-way bet. This allows you to hedge your wager.

e. Observe Lead-Up Races: Pay attention to the lead-up races leading to the Melbourne Cup. Horses that perform well in these races often carry their good form into the Cup.

f. Track Conditions: The state of the racecourse can significantly affect a horse's performance. Some horses excel on firm ground, while others prefer wet conditions. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and how it might impact your chosen horse.

g. Weight and Barrier Draws: The weight a horse carries and the barrier it starts from can play a crucial role. Heavily weighted horses or those starting from unfavourable barriers may face additional challenges.

h. Jockey and Trainer Expertise: Consider the experience and track record of jockeys and trainers. A seasoned jockey who knows the track and a successful trainer can make a difference.

i. Historical Analysis: Study the historical trends of the Melbourne Cup. Certain barriers, ages, and horse sexes have performed better than others in the past, providing valuable insights.

j. Embrace Multiple Bets: While it's essential to manage your budget, don't be afraid to place multiple bets on different horses or bet types. Diversifying your bets can enhance your chances of success.

k. Stay Informed: Leading up to the Melbourne Cup, follow news, updates, and expert opinions on the race. This information can provide valuable insights and influence your betting decisions.