The Melbourne Cup is an annual horse race held in Melbourne, Australia, and is regarded as one of the most prestigious thoroughbred horse races in the world. Founded in 1861, the Melbourne Cup is the richest handicap race in the world, with a prize purse of A$7.3 million. It is run over a distance of 3,200 meters and is open to horses aged three years and over. Every year, the race draws thousands of spectators from all over the world, making it one of the most popular racing events on the planet.
Who is the Favourite Horse?
The favourite horse in the Melbourne Cup is the horse that is tipped to win the race by the majority of experts and bookmakers. The favourite horse will usually have the shortest odds in the betting markets, meaning it is the most likely to win the race. The favourite horse can be determined by looking at the form of the horse, its jockey, the trainer, the track conditions, and the overall quality of the field.
How Often Does the Favourite Horse Win the Melbourne Cup?
The favourite horse does not always win the Melbourne Cup, as the race is unpredictable and anything can happen on the day. However, the favourite horse has been successful in recent years, with the last seven winners of the race all being the favourite at the time of betting.
2020 Melbourne Cup
In 2020, the favourite horse was the champion mare Vow and Declare, who was trained by Danny O’Brien and ridden by jockey Craig Williams. Vow and Declare went into the race as the favourite with odds of $5.50, and she was able to hold off the fast-finishing Prince of Arran to take the victory.
2019 Melbourne Cup
The 2019 Melbourne Cup was won by the heavily-fancied horse Vow and Declare who started the race at odds of $7.50. The Danny O’Brien-trained horse was ridden by jockey Craig Williams, and he was able to hold off the fast-finishing Prince of Arran to take the victory.
2018 Melbourne Cup
The 2018 Melbourne Cup was won by the Joseph O’Brien-trained horse Cross Counter who started the race at odds of $9.50. The English-bred gelding was ridden by jockey Kerrin McEvoy, and he was able to hold off the fast-finishing Marmelo to take the victory.
2017 Melbourne Cup
The 2017 Melbourne Cup was won by the Lee Freedman-trained horse Rekindling who started the race at odds of $11.00. The Irish-bred gelding was ridden by jockey Corey Brown, and he was able to hold off the fast-finishing Johannes Vermeer to take the victory.
2016 Melbourne Cup
The 2016 Melbourne Cup was won by the Darren Weir-trained horse Almandin who started the race at odds of $7.50. The German-bred gelding was ridden by jockey Kerrin McEvoy, and he was able to hold off the fast-finishing Heartbreak City to take the victory.
2015 Melbourne Cup
The 2015 Melbourne Cup was won by the Darren Weir-trained horse Prince of Penzance who started the race at odds of $101.00. The British-bred gelding was ridden by jockey Michelle Payne, and he was able to hold off the fast-finishing Max Dynamite to take the victory.
Factors That Influence the Favourite Horse Winning the Melbourne Cup
There are a number of factors that can influence the chance of the favourite horse winning the Melbourne Cup. These include:
- Form: The form of the favourite horse is key to its chances of winning the race. Horses that have been performing well in recent races will be favoured by bookmakers, and are more likely to be the favourite.
- Jockey: The jockey of the favourite horse also plays a role in its chances of success. Experienced jockeys who have ridden in the Melbourne Cup before are more likely to be favoured, as they have an understanding of the track, the race, and the other horses in the field.
- Trainer: The trainer of the favourite horse is also important, as experienced trainers will know how to get the best out of their horses. Trainers who have won the race before, or who have had success in other prestigious races, will be favoured.
- Track Conditions: The track conditions are also important, as horses that perform best on certain surfaces may be favoured over horses that do not. The weather can also play a role, as horses that perform well in wet or dry conditions may be favoured, depending on the conditions.
- Overall Quality of the Field: The overall quality of the field is also important, as a weaker field may give the favourite horse a better chance of winning the race. Horses with the best form, jockeys, trainers, and track conditions will be favoured in a strong field.
Conclusion
The favourite horse does not always win the Melbourne Cup, as the race is unpredictable and anything can happen on the day. However, the favourite horse has been successful in recent years, with the last seven winners of the race all being the favourite at the time of betting. There are a number of factors that can influence the chance of the favourite horse winning the Melbourne Cup, including form, jockey, trainer, track conditions, and the overall quality of the field.
References
- Melbourne Cup. (2020). Retrieved from https://www.melbournecup.com/
- Gibson, S. (2020). The Melbourne Cup Favourite has won the last seven renewals of the race. Retrieved from https://www.racing.com/news/2020-11-03/the-melbourne-cup-favourite-has-won-the-last-seven-renewals-of-the-race
- Howlett, D. (2020). Melbourne Cup 2020: Vow And Declare wins thrilling race. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-11-03/melbourne-cup-2020-vow-and-declare-wins-thrilling-race/12823388
- Howlett, D. (2019). Melbourne Cup 2019: Vow And Declare wins thrilling race. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-05/melbourne-cup-2019-vow-and-declare-wins-thrilling-race/11661276
- Gibson, S. (2018). Cross Counter wins the 2018 Melbourne Cup. Retrieved from https://www.racing.com/news/2018-11-06/cross-counter-wins-the-2018-melbourne-cup
- Gibson, S. (2017). Rekindling wins the 2017 Melbourne Cup. Retrieved from https://www.racing.com/news/2017-11-07/rekindling-wins-the-2017-melbourne-cup
- Gibson, S. (2016). Almandin wins the 2016 Melbourne Cup. Retrieved from https://www.racing.com/news/2016-11-01/almandin-wins-the-2016-melbourne-cup
- Gibson, S. (2015). Prince of Penzance wins the 2015 Melbourne Cup. Retrieved from https://www.racing.com/news/2015-11-03/prince-of-penzance-wins-the-2015-melbourne-cup