The race that stops a nation. The Melbourne Cup.
What a day it is. The day when every Australian has the right to be a racing expert and offer their opinion on the big race.
It doesn’t matter how you come to your selection.
Jockey silks? Favourite number? Inside barrier draw?
We’ve gathered together some Melbourne Cup stats all in the one place so that you have some fire power when that inevitable conversation comes up around the water cooler.
Our full 2021 Melbourne Cup – By The Numbers article below.
ONLY THREE HORSES IN THE LAST 31 YEARS HAVE WON THE CUP AFTER BEING BEATEN IN THE RACE PREVIOUSLY
History would suggests that you only get one chance in the Melbourne Cup.
Only Brew (2000), Fiorente (2013) and Twilight Payment (2020) have won the Melbourne Cup after running, and not winning, previously.
This Eliminates: Twilight Payment, Verry Elleegant, The Chosen One, Persan, Miami Bound
ONLY ONE FAVOURITE IN THE LAST 15 YEARS HAS WON THE MELBOURNE CUP
Fiorente is the only favourite to have won the Melbourne Cup since Makybe Diva in 2005.
Sainfoin was the longest priced favourite to win the Cup in 1893 at $9.00!
This Eliminates: Incentivise
ONLY THREE OF THE PAST 31 MELBOURNE CUP WINNERS HAVE PAID MORE THAN $20
Michelle Payne steered Prince Of Penzance to victory at $101 in 2015, Bart Cummings saddled his last (and 12th) Melbourne Cup winner Viewed at $41 and last years winner Twilight Payment paid $26.
This Eliminates: Any horse paying $20 or more at jump time.
ONLY ONE HORSE IN THE LAST 66 YEARS HAS CARRIED THE NUMBER 1 SADDLECLOTH TO VICTORY
Makybe Diva carried 58kg to victory when she won the Melbourne Cup for the third time in 2005 which is a mares weight carrying record in the race.
Kingston Town carried 59kg in 1972 when he finished second and Gunsynd ran third when carrying 60.5kg in that same race.
Vintage Crop carried 59kg in 1995 when third over the line.
Only one horse has carried 58.5kgs or more to win the Melbourne Cup since 1972. That horse was Think Big in 1975.
28 horses have tried.
This Eliminates: Twilight Payment
FOUR AND FIVE YEAR OLD’S HAVE WON 90 OF 160 MELBOURNE CUPS (56.2%)
Four year old’s = 46
Five year old’s = 44
This Eliminates: Twilight Payment, Spanish Mission, Verry Elleegant, The Chosen One, Ocean Billy, Selino, Knights Order, Carif, Master Of Wine, Pondus, Grand Promenade, She’s Ideel, Future Score, Floating Artist.
ONLY 11 INDIVIDUAL MARES HAVE WON THE MELBOURNE CUP IN 160 YEARS
The females have a horrid record in our great race.
Only 16 fillies or mares have won the Melbourne Cup, 13 of them are mares and three of the wins are accounted for by the great Makybe Diva.
This Eliminates: Verry Elleegant, Miami Bound, She’s Ideel & Tralee Rose.