Mark Zahra riding Without a Fight wins the Lexus Melbourne Cup during Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse on November 07, 2023. Photo: Quinn Rooney
There will be three New Zealand trained horses lining up in the 164th running of the Melbourne Cup, but most interest again will be on the northern raiders.
The three New Zealand horses are all at long odds.
2023 New Zealand derby winner Sharp 'N' Smart was the best priced at $84 after the field of 24 runners was confirmed, while Positivity and Trust In You were among the longest odds of more and $112.
Early favourites Buckaroo from Great Britain has drawn gate 21, while French entry Vauban, who disappointed as favourite last year, will jump from barrier 11.
Sixteen of the 24-strong field were bred in the northern hemisphere.
The 164th Melbourne Cup
Flemington Race course, Melbourne
5pm (NZ time) on Tuesday, November 5
Distance 3200m (2 miles)
Prize money $9.4 million (World's richest handicap race) Winner earns $4.8 million.
Kingston Rule set the current Melbourne Cup race record winning in a time of 3 minutes 16.3 seconds in 1990.
New Zealand trained horses
Sharp 'n' Smart. 53.5kg The five year old gelding is a multiple group one winner with $3 million in winnings. He's trained by Graeme and Debbie Rogerson near Hamilton. Graeme Rogerson won the Melbourne Cup with Efficient in 2007. Sharp 'N' Smart won the New Zealand Derby in 2023. Finished third in its last start in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2400m). Expat Kiwi jockey Mick Dee to ride.
Positivity. Bred by the Hogans the four year old mare made it into the field following the withdrawal of a number of other horses over the last week.
She is trained by Andrew Forsman at Cambridge. Had four wins including a 2000m race at Caulfield in September. Finished second in the New Zealand Oaks at Trentham in March. Was eighth of ten runners in last start in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2400m)
Trust In You. Trust In You, trained by Bruce Wallace and Grant Cooksley in Karaka. 30 starts for four wins. Last race was a fourth place in the Group 3 St Leger at Randwick (2600m). Mark de Plessis to ride.
Watch out for
Chris Waller.... the ex-pat kiwi trainer has five horses from his stable in the race. Buckaroo, Kovalica, Land Legend, Valiant King and Manzoice.
Waller has trained 170 group one winners but only one Melbourne Cup victory with Verry Elleegant in 2021. He has been the inform trainer so far during the spring carnival and can expect to be a contender in Tuesday's big race.
Who's missing
Jockey James McDonald. He was set to ride Via Sistina before the Cox Plate was withdrawn last week.
The ex-pat Kiwi is in hot form having ridden home two group one winners at Flemington on Saturday. Switzerland (Coolmore Stakes) and Atishu (Empire Rose Stakes) taking his tally of group one winners to 102. He won the Melbourne Cup in 2021 onboard Verry Elleegant.
New Zealand-bred horses
#5 - Kovalica (Ocean Park (sire)-Vitesse (dam), bred by Nearco Stud Ltd)
#6 - Sharp 'N' Smart (Redwood-Queen Margaret, bred by G Harvey)
#21 - Positivity (Almanzor-Pussy O'Reilly, bred by Sir Patrick & Justine, Lady Hogan & P J
Walker)
#24 - Trust In You (Sweynesse-Shinko Bay, bred by Explosive Breeding Ltd)
Jockeys with New Zealand links
#6 Sharp 'N' Smart - Michael Dee
#24 Trust In You - Mark du Plessis
Jockey James McDonald rides Verry Elleegant to victory in the 2021 Melbourne Cup. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Facts
History: The Melbourne Cup has been run every year since 1861 although to took a break during World War I and World War II.
The first Tuesday in November has been a public holiday for most of Victoria since 1876.
Qualifying: Initial entry fee is around $600 while the fourth and final acceptance fee is $46,000.
To get the field down to 24, horses are gradually balloted out based on a number of factors including wins, placings, prize money and handicaps.
There are also a number of races that the winner of is exempt of the balloting for the Cup.
Handicap: Handicap races are meant to even out the field with the more fancied horses carrying more weight.
The extra weight (over and above the weight of the jockey) are held in pockets on the saddle.
Trophy: The first winner of the Melbourne Cup received a gold watch. A new trophy is struck every year An 18-carat solid gold trophy valued at around $600,000 is awarded to the winner.
Distance: 3200m. The distance is the equivalent of the old two miles (2 miles). The Melbourne Cup distance was cut from 3219m to 3200m in 1972 when Australia adopted the metric system.
Prize money: $9.4 million (World's richest handicap race) Winner earns $4.8 million. Prize money for horses finishing first to 12th.
Race time: The Race is scheduled to start at 5pm NZ time. Kingston Rule set the current Melbourne Cup race record winning in a time of 3 minutes 16.3 seconds in 1990.
NZ records: New Zealand bred horses have won the Melbourne Cup 43 times with 19 of those horses also owned in New Zealand.
The last New Zealand bred horse to win the Melbourne Cup was Verry Elleegant in 2021 and the last New Zealand owned and trained horse to win was Ethereal in 2001.
2021 was a good year for New Zealand with Verry Elleegant trained by Chris Waller and ridden by James McDonald.
Betting: Last year: In 2023 the race was won by Australian stayer Without A Fight.
There was $13.4 million gambled by New Zealand punters on the Cup with a turnover of $28.4m on the day.
At the height of interest in the race shortly before the 5pm race start, 6850 bets were being processed each minute.
Mark Zahra riding Without a Fight wins the Lexus Melbourne Cup during Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse on November 07, 2023. Photo: Quinn Rooney
Melbourne Cup - final field (bred)
1- Vauban (France)
Weight: 55.5kg. Barrier: 11
2 - Buckaroo (Great Britain)
Weight: 54.5kg. Barrier: 21
3 - Circle of Fire (Great Britain)
Weight: 54.5kg. Barrier: 24
4 - Warp Speed (Japan)
Weight: 54.5kg. Barrier: 3
5 - Kovalica (New Zealand)
Weight: 53.5kg. Barrier: 17
6 - Sharp 'N' Smart (New Zealand)
Weight: 53.5kg. Barrier: 15
7 - Just Fine (Ireland)
Weight: 53kg. Barrier: 13
8 - Land Legend (France)
Weight: 53kg. Barrier: 18
9 - Absurde (France)
Weight: 52.5kg. Barrier: 7
10 - Athabascan (France) Scratched
Weight: 52kg. Barrier: 2
11 - Knight's Choice (Australia)
Weight: 51.5kg. Barrier: 6
12- Okita Soushi (Ireland)
Weight: 51kg. Barrier: 10
13 - Onesmoothoperator (USA)
Weight: 51kg. Barrier: 12
14 - Zardozi (Australia)
Weight: 51kg. Barrier: 4
15 - Sea King (Great Britain)
Weight: 50.5kg. Barrier: 1
16 - Valiant King (Great Britain)
Weight: 50.5kg. Barrier: 22
17 - Fancy Man (Ireland)
Weight: 50kg. Barrier: 19
18 - Interpretation (Ireland)
Weight: 50kg. Barrier: 14
19 - Manzoice (Australia)
Weight: 50kg. Barrier: 8
20 - Mostly Cloudy (Ireland)
Weight: 50kg. Barrier: 16
21 - Positivity (New Zealand)
Weight: 50kg. Barrier: 20
22 - Saint George (Great Britain)
Weight: 50kg. Barrier: 9
23 - The Map (Australia)
Weight: 50kg. Barrier: 23
24 - Trust in You (New Zealand)
Weight: 50kg. Barrier: 5
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