Horse racing is among the oldest, most exciting, and popular sports worldwide. It’s ancient, with the racing of horses deep-rooted in human history, generations before thoroughbreds competed under official rules. The sport is as popular today as ever, with more meetings and races shown on television and through live-streaming apps than before. Are you a horse racing fan? If not, you’ve chosen a great time to get involved.
The UK and Ireland are credited with being the birthplace of modern horse racing, with some events dating back to the 16th century. The St Leger raced at Doncaster in fall ranks as one of the main events. It’s the oldest of the UK’s five classics and attracts a star-studded field annually. But Great Britain doesn’t hold a monopoly on racing, and the sport has become a global affair over the last century.
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Exciting Racing
The international racing calendar boasts some show-stopping fixtures. There’s the Kentucky Derby, Caulfield Cup, l’Arc in Paris, and the exciting King Charles III Stakes. International racing has something for everyone, from the heat of Melbourne to the drama of Churchill Downs. The best betting sites offer odds, markets, and promotions on the standout races, allowing customers to get involved.
Thoroughbred horse racing is exciting and unpredictable, making it fascinating to watch on TV or from the grandstands at the stadium. But you can add an extra layer of excitement by predicting the winner and gambling at a legal and licensed sportsbook to trade in your state.
Fans Favorite Returns
You’ll find dozens of international horse races on the calendar, but some are more popular than others. The upcoming event we can’t wait to see is the 2023 renewal of the Melbourne Cup in Australia. The contest runs on Tuesday, 7th November 2023 at Flemington Racecourse. The best horses, jockeys, trainers, and owners will attend, joined by the cream of the crop from global racing.
The Melbourne Cup honors list reads like a who’s who of racing, but which runner and rider will add their name to the history books later this year? That is anyone’s guess at this stage, with the final field to be confirmed, but that has yet to stop fans, experts, pundits, and bookies having their say. The leading sportsbooks from Melbourne to Morecambe offer odds on the winner and significant places. There’s value available for those willing to look hard enough.
Who are the leading contenders at this early stage of proceedings, and is it too early to predict the winner? Our team of horse racing experts runs the rule over the Melbourne Cup, bringing readers up to speed with the entrants, stats, and past winners. If you want to predict the winner of November’s race in Flemington successfully, we’ve got the stats that could help you find the right path.
We use the stats and trends, comparing them with industry insiders’ early odds and predictions. Our team wishes to arm you with the information needed to flag the winner of the Melbourne Cup 2023 in advance. Let’s start with some of the more fancied runners from the antepost market.
Vauban
Vauban is a five-year-old gelding trained by Willie Mullins and owned by Mrs Ricci. The striking chestnut brings a racing CV showcasing one run and one win on the flat this season. He scored at Ascot in June when cracking the Class 2 Copper Horse Handicap, beating nearest rival Absurde by 7 1/2 lengths. The performance and winning distance ensured connections pushed him toward Melbourne.
He won the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last year, and that ushered in talks of a crack at the Champion Hurdle and Melbourne Cup. Connections, including Mullins, are sure they have a runner capable of going Down Under and collecting the richest two-mile handicap race on the calendar. They have set him some challenging tasks in preparation for that journey, and racing enthusiasts may want to see how he performs in the UK this season.
Some entries considered for Vauban include a trip to Naas in Ireland for the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes, York for a Group 2 Lonsdale Cup, and the Curragh in Ireland for the Group 1 Irish St Leger in September.
Lunar Flare
Vauban is a hype horse but will face the harsh reality of racing at the top level when traveling to Australia. It’s an expensive trip, meaning all entrants travel to win. That includes Lunar Flare, second in the antepost market and expected to provide the main danger to Vauban.
Lunar Flare is a seven-year-old bay filly trained by Grahame Begg. Her record current stands at 16 runs, three wins, and another four times, finishing in the major places. She finished behind White Marlin and Right You Are in Sandown, Australia, in a Group 3 handicap last time out. Horse racing is an exciting and popular sport worldwide so you would meet like-minded people in the venue as well.
Lunar Flare is most accustomed to running in Australia, and the time saved traveling will help her cause. She isn’t the runner you immediately look to when previewing this race, but she has attracted plenty of support during the early exchanges.
Stats and Trends
The Melbourne Cup was first run in 1861, so there are plenty of stats and trends to rely on when studying the form. We’ll focus on more recent times and note that a six-year-old has won each of the last two Melbourne Cup runnings and seven of the previous 13. Will another six-year-old take the trophy for a third year on the bounce?
Gold Trip won last year for jockey Mark Zahra, trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, and owners Australian Bloodstock et al. An official time of 3.24.04 was noticeably slower than the previous two years won by Verry Elleegant and Twilight Payment.
Watching the Race
The Melbourne Cup 2023 is available at TV broadcasters worldwide, or you can follow for free on your mobile device, thanks to improved live streaming. Watch on the go with your phone and enjoy HD coverage, expert commentary, and in-depth analysis. The leading sportsbooks offer free live-streaming of the big races to members.