World racing’s focus will be on Flemington on Tuesday, November 7th for 2023 Melbourne Cup Day!
Some of the best locally trained stayers will step out alongside a strong international contingent at 3pm AEDT, but there are ten winners to be found on 2023 Melbourne Cup Day.
Yet to do the form? Don’t worry! I’ve done all the heavy lifting for you below and provided my complete 2023 Melbourne Cup Day Tips.
Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) – 10:45am AEDT
Melbourne Cup Day launches with the two-year-olds in the Maribyrnong Plate, and I’m keen on the Godolphin colt, Admitted.
Admitted has made just one appearance at the races so far, but proved far too good for his rivals at Bendigo on that occasion.
With natural improvement, he can continue his rise through the grades.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Admitted
Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) – 11:20am AEDT
Big drop in class for Pounding, and I think that this is the perfect race for him.
The Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman-trained gelding ended his last prep an impressive third in the Group 1 Australian Cup here at Flemington, and while he’s yet to strike in four starts back this time, there is no doubt that he has stripped fitter for each.
Getting out to 1800m on Tuesday is ideal and with even luck, I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Pounding
Listed TAB Trophy (1800m) – 12pm AEDT
There is a case to be made for a few of them in the third on Melbourne Cup Day, but I’m really keen to see Queen Of Dragons out to 1800m for the first time on the big track.
Queen Of Dragons stamped herself as one to watch during a decent two-year-old prep earlier this year, and she has returned some fine performances since returning in spring.
Having broken her maiden at Randwick-Kensington, I thought that she was quite good in Group 2 company last time out, finishing just over two lengths behind the winner, and I thought it was the run of a horse looking for more ground.
Suggested Bet: No. 10 Queen Of Dragons
The Schweppervescence Plate (1000m) – 12:40pm AEDT
Barber steps out on Melbourne Cup Day third-up and ready to strike.
The Exceed And Excel colt debuted to racing for three-consecutive wins, including the Blue Diamond Prelude first-up in February.
He was a little outclassed in a couple of Group 1 features, but went to the paddock after an improved performance for third in the Kindergarten Stakes, and his first two starts back this time have been credible.
This is easily the weakest task that he has been set, and I think it’s the perfect opportunity for him to return to winning form.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Barber
The Macca’s Run (2800m) – 1:20pm AEDT
Is The Macca’s Runs the REAL staying test of Melbourne Cup Day 2023!?
Absolutely not, but it has been won by some quality gallopers throughout its existence, and it’s almost always a terrific contest.
Insulation has returned to the races in sharp form, and I thought it looked a perfect race for him.
The Intello gelding is yet to miss placing in five starts back from a break, and recorded consecutive wins back in August, including a Saturday metro race in Adelaide.
Having finished second in races here at Flemington and Caulfield since being freshened, I’m confident he’ll be in peak order on Tuesday, and he’ll carry just 53kgs over the 2800m.
Suggested Bet: No. 12 Insulation
Subzero Handicap (1400m) – 1:55pm AEDT
Always one of the more popular races of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, the greys race has attracted a typically open field, including Kooled.
Kooled was freshened after a credible effort for third behind the likes of Watadeel and Bews at Sandown back in August, and returned to finish fifth out at Ballarat in mid-October.
He was just a little outclassed in BM80 company on Moonee Valley Gold Cup Night but fitter third-up and dropping back in class, I think he’ll be in the finish on Melbourne Cup Day.
Suggested Bet: No. 8 Kooled
Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) – 3pm AEDT
Another stunning field of local and international stayers will chase their place in the history books in the 2023 Melbourne Cup.
I have Vauban on top, but I am going to have several bets in the race, all of which you can find in my 2023 Melbourne Cup Tips RIGHT HERE.
Suggested Bet: No. 5 Vauban
Listed Desirable Stakes (1400m) – 3:50pm AEDT
This is a quality race to follow up the Melbourne Cup 2023, but I think that Commemorative has a very bright future, and this looks a lovely bit of black type for her.
Commemorative has made just two appearances at the races so far, stamping herself as one to follow by winning easily on debut at Canterbury back in June, while returning to finish an agonizingly close second at Randwick a couple of weeks ago.
With improvement for that effort, under James McDonald this week and from and inside draw, she gets a lot of ticks here.
Suggested Bet: No. 13 Commemorative
Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) – 4:35pm AEDT
New Zealand Group 1 winner Skew Wiff steps out in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes on Melbourne Cup Day, and I think she’ll take plenty of beating.
Skew Wiff has rarely turned in a poor performance during her fourteen career starts so far, and her consistency in quality black type races in New Zealand culminated in her winning the Group 1 Tarzino Trophy at Hastings in September.
Retrospectively, she clearly needed her first run in the Tristarc Stakes here in Australia to tune up, but she was just over a length behind the winner that day, and she’s a horse that tends to enjoy sharp improvement with a run under her belt.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Skew Wiff
Paramount+ Trophy (1400m) – 5:15pm AEDT
Chicago Storm has been racing extremely well, particularly on the Country Cups circuit in South Australia this time in, and I think he can win on Melbourne Cup Day as well!
The Trust In A Gust gelding has finished worse than second only once in five starts back from a break, winning three times, including the Gawler Cup at his latest.
He’s hard fit and Mark Zahra rides from a good draw, so he does look well placed to receive every chance again.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Chicago Storm
