Melbourne Cup tipping: How often does the favourite win? | Sporting News Australia

by Admin
November 4, 2024

Should you back the favourite at the 2024 Melbourne Cup?

The Sporting News looks at the history of favourites at Australia’s most famous race.

MORE: Melbourne Cup 2024: Which trainer has the most runners?

How often does the favourite win the Melbourne Cup?

The last favourite to win the Melbourne Cup was Fiorente in 2013 (at $7), and you’d have to go back to Makybe Diva in 2005 to find the next closest.

Just 34 favourites have gone on to win in 163 editions of ‘the race that stops the nation’, while only six have won at $3.60 or shorter.

Last year’s favourite Vauban finished in 14th but will have another attempt in 2024.

Who was the 1st favourite to win the Melbourne Cup?

Archer was the first favourite and back-to-back winner to claim the Melbourne Cup, starting at $3 in the second-ever edition of the race in 1862.

The stallion was one of five horses to win the event twice in history, joining Rain Lover (1968–69), Peter Pan (1932, 1934), Think Big (1974–75) and Makybe Diva (2003–2005).

Interestingly, Archer started at the fourth shortest odds in the first Melbourne Cup race in 1861, despite its win.

Who are the favourites to win Melbourne Cup 2024?

Caulfield Cup runner-up Buckaroo is still considered a strong possibility to win despite a poor barrier draw, whilst Vauban, Onesmoothoperator and Absurde are also receiving support in the betting markets.

Melbourne Cup 2024 final field, barriers and betting odds

The final field has been locked in, with the likes of Vauban and Buckaroo locked at the top of the betting markets.

Odds courtesy of Sportsbet and correct as of November 4 at 11:00am AEDT

Runner (Barrier)	Jockey	Trainer	Odds
Vauban (11)	William Buick	Willie Mullins	$6.50
Buckaroo (21)	Joao Moreira	Chris Waller	$7.00
Circle of Fire (24)	Mark Zahra	Ciaron Maher	$27.00
Warp Speed (3)	Akira Sugawara	Noboru Takagi	$26.00
Kovalica (17)	Damian Lane	Chris Waller	$23.00
Sharp ‘N’ Smart (15)	Michael Dee	Team Rogerson	$67.00
Just Fine (13)	Jye McNeil	Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott	$51.00
Land Legend (18)	Zac Purton	Chirs Waller	$12.00
Absurde (7)	Kerrin McEvoy	Willie Mullins	$9.00
Athabascan (2)	Zac Lloyd	John O’Shea and Tom Charlton	$51.00
Knights Choice (6)	Robbie Dolan	John Symons and Sheila Laxon	$101.00
Okita Soushi (10)	Jamie Kah	Ciaron Maher	$13.00
Onesmoothoperator (12)	Craig Williams	Brian Ellison	$9.00
Zardozi (4)	Andrea Atenzi	James Cummings	$11.00
Sea King (1)	Hollie Doyle	Harry Eustace	$12.00
Valiant King (22)	Craig Newitt	Chris Waller	$126.00
Fancy Man (19)	Ron Stewart	Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald	$101.00
Interpretation (14)	Teodore Nugent	Ciaron Maher	$19.00
Manzoice (8)	Declan Bates	Chris Waller	$126.00
Mostly Cloudy (16)	Karis Teetan	Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young	$101.00
Positivity (20)	Winona Costin	Andrew Forsman	$101.00
Saint George (9)	Tyler Schiller	Ciaron Maher	$26.00
The Map (23)	Rachel King	Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray	$51.00
Trust In You (5)	Mark Du Plessis	Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley	$101.00

When is the Melbourne Cup?

This year’s Melbourne Cup will be held on Tuesday, November 5.

As the feature event at Flemington Racecourse, the race is scheduled to start at 3:00 pm AEDT.

What channel is the Melbourne Cup on?

This year’s Melbourne Cup will be broadcast live on free-to-air via Channel 9 – not Channel 7, who are showing the rest of the Spring Racing Carnival.

Sky Racing will also show the race, but it will be on delay and not live.