2021 Melbourne Cup Results
Verry Elleegant made history as a mare carrying 57kg from barrier 18 to a four length win in the 2021 Melbourne Cup results. Photo: Steve Hart.
- 1st: #4 Verry Elleegant
- 2nd: #2 Incentivise
- 3rd: #3 Spanish Mission
- 4th: #22 Floating Artist
Verry Elleegant made history in the Melbourne Cup 2021 results, Chris Waller’s now 10-times Group 1 winning mare powering home the final furlong to defeat the beaten favourite Incentivise by four lengths in a supreme staying performance. UK raider Spanish Mission ran well for third in the Melbourne Cup trifecta, the first three past the post all carrying 57kg. Floating Artist was the best of the light-weights with 50kg, the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace-trained import finishing off the Melbourne Cup First Four.
The capacity 24-horse Melbourne Cup field for the ‘race that stops a nation’ is officially released on the Saturday before the $7.43 million feature takes place on the first Tuesday of November annually. After the racing action on Victoria Derby Day is when punters get a first glimpse at the stayers that will face off in that year’s field.
2021 Melbourne Cup Field & Barrier Draw
The 2021 Melbourne Cup Final Field & Barrier Draw will be released this Derby Day at Flemington after the racing action on Saturday October 30, 2021 revealing the 24 Melbourne Cup Horses.
The confirmed Melbourne Cup 2021 field and barriers are now out with the short-priced favourite Incentivise jumping from barrier 16 with Brett Prebble aboard Peter Moody’s last-start Caulfield Cup champion who chases the double for the first time since Ethereal (2001).
Last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Twilight Payment from the Irish stables of Joseph O’Brien defends his title from gate two with Jye McNeil aboard again, this time carrying the 58kg top weight.
Spanish Mission is the only other northern hemisphere-trained international Melbourne Cup runner this year, the Andrew Balding-trained UK visitor having been passed fit to run on Saturday afternoon.
- Melbourne Cup 2021 Scratchings Update: #20 Future Score (15) has been withdrawn after failing a last-minute vet check by Racing Victoria.
2021 Melbourne Cup Acceptance Dates
- 2021 Melbourne Cup Nominations: Closed on Tuesday August 3, 2021 – attracted 153 entries
- 2021 Melbourne Cup First Declarations: Close on Tuesday September 7, 2021 – drew 124 horses
- 2021 Melbourne Cup Second Declarations: Closed on Tuesday September 28, 2021
- 2021 Melbourne Cup Third Declarations: Closed on Tuesday October 12, 2021 – 60 horses remain
- 2021 Melbourne Cup Fourth Declarations: Closed on Monday October 25, 2021 – 35 left as field takes shape
- 2021 Melbourne Cup Final Field: Announced Saturday October 30, 2021 at 4:30pm (local time)
- 2021 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw: Takes place Saturday October 30, 2021 at 7:00pm (local time)
Early market betting odds on the 2022 Melbourne Cup will be displayed below once available. Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live markets, please visit ladbrokes.com.au.
2021 Melbourne Cup Nominations
Early Melbourne Cup 2021 Nominations featuring a huge list of potential runners in the two mile classic close in August and will be detailed in full below as soon as released.
The official 2021 Melbourne Cup Nominations close on Tuesday August 3, 2021.
The 2021 Melbourne Cup nominations attracted 174 stayers – the exact same number as last season – including the defending champion Twilight Payment who is one of four for last year’s winning trainer Joseph O’Brien and all-in favourite Incentivise now prepared by Peter Moody of Black Caviar fame.
2021 Melbourne Cup First Acceptances
The official Melbourne Cup 2021 first acceptances close on Tuesday September 7, 2021.
The 2021 Melbourne Cup first acceptances attracted 124 early entries led in pre-field betting by the Peter Moody-trained Incentivise and UK visitor Spanish Mission.
The Melbourne Cup First Acceptances feature:
- 6 Internationals
- Last year’s champion Twilight Payment
- 13 for Chris Waller
2021 Melbourne Cup Second Acceptances
The Melbourne Cup 2021 second acceptances closed on Tuesday September 28, 2021.
2021 Melbourne Cup Third Acceptances
The Melbourne Cup 2021 third acceptances closed on Tuesday October 12, 2021.
The 2021 Melbourne Cup third acceptances attracted 60 stayers including the Peter Moody-trained favourite Incentivise, last year’s winner Twilight Payment who is one of three remaining internationally-trained raiders and 10 for the Maher/Eustace stable including their ballot-exempt The Bart Cummings winner Grand Promenade.
The Melbourne Cup Third Acceptances feature:
- 3 Internationals
- Last year’s champion Twilight Payment
- 10 for the Maher/Eustace stable
2021 Melbourne Cup Fourth Acceptances
The Melbourne Cup 2021 Fourth Acceptances are taken the Monday leading-up to Victoria Derby Day, eight days prior to the ‘race that stops a nation’.
The 2021 Melbourne Cup fourth acceptors have been confirmed with 35 stayers left chasing a spot in the capacity 24-horse Melbourne Cup field with all-in markets dominated by Peter Moody’s star Caulfield Cup champion Incentivise.
The Melbourne Cup field features no emergencies so if a horse is scratched after final acceptances than the two-mile showdown will run under capacity. There are plenty of lead-up races offering a chance for runners outside the Melbourne Cup ballot order of 24 to make the field including the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate.
Betting on the possible horses in the Melbourne Cup field is open nearly all year round, but the Melbourne Cup odds really firm once the final line-up is confirmed.
Each year the presence of internationally-trained horses outside of Australia and New Zealand in the Melbourne Cup field is growing and the raiders have a strong record running in the Melbourne Cup trifecta. There are many lead-up races horses can run in leading-up to taking their spot in the Melbourne Cup field including the Geelong Cup.
Before the official Melbourne Cup field is announced there are a number of nomination and entry stages. The original Melbourne Cup nominations close in late August or early September followed by Melbourne Cup weights around a week later. The nominations are followed by first acceptances in early October and second acceptances later that month.