Melbourne Cup 2020: Guide to all runners, odds and tip
Welcome to our Melbourne Cup runner-by-runner guide and tips, which will give you a clear insight into the race that stops a nation in Australia. The 2020 Melbourne Cup will take place on Tuesday, November 3, at Flemington in Melbourne and includes a strong international element. Below we have examined the field in detail.
All about the Melbourne Cup
How to place a trifecta on the Melbourne Cup
Which horse will win the 2020 Melbourne Cup?
Our resident big-race expert ”Magic Mike” has examined the 24 runners for the 2020 Melbourne Cup Here is his runner-by-runner guide to each of the contenders for the group 1 race which offers $A8 million in prizemoney.
1.ANTHONY VAN DYCK (IRE)
(Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Jockey: Hugh Bowman. Weight: 58.5kg. Barrier: 3)
What the World Gambling List says: This English Derby winner is a real blueblood and is prepared by one of the world’s leading trainers. He just found one better on the day in the Caulfield Cup but it was still a phenomenal run. This stallion has not started beyond 2400m but should get every chance to run the distance from an inside gate and with a master rider of stayers in the saddle.
UniBet odds: $8.50
2. AVILIUS (GB)
(Trainer: James Cummings. Jockey: John Allen. Weight: 57kg. Barrier: 10)
What the World Gambling List says: Grand galloper whose best may be behind him. He failed in the 2018 Melbourne Cup at his only run over this distance and we can’t be on him this time.
UniBet odds: $51
3. VOW AND DECLARE
(Trainer: Danny O’Brien. Jockey: Jamie Mott. Weight: 57kg . Barrier: 4)
What the World Gambling List says: Last year’s Cup winner but is not going anywhere near as well this time. Drawn well and should not be too far back during the run but would be a major shock if he was to run a place this year.
UniBet odds: $51
4. MASTER OF REALITY (GB)
(Trainer: Joseph O’Brien. Jockey: Ben Melham. Weight: 56kg. Barrier: 11)
What the World Gambling List says: Was second over the line in the Cup last year before being relegated to fourth on protest. He looked the winner in the dying stages before shifting in dramatically. If he repeats that run without the antics he will be in the finish. Melham takes over from Frankie Dettori this year.
UniBet odds: $20
5. SIR DRAGONET (IRE)
(Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace. Jockey: Glen Boss. Weight: 55.5kg. Barrier: 14)
What the World Gambling List says: Won the Cox Plate at his first appearance in Australia on a rain-affected track at Moonee Valley. Is obviously a high-class galloper and if he goes as well on top of the ground he is a live threat. Untested at the trip.
UniBet odds: $10
6. TWILIGHT PAYMENT (IRE)
(Trainer: Joseph O’Brien. Jockey: Jye McNeill. Weight: 55.5kg. Barrier: 12)
What the World Gambling List says: Ran 11th after leading in the Melbourne Cup last year and was not beaten too far. Has struck a purple patch of form this year and could give some cheek from near the front. If the pattern of racing is favouring those up front on the day he is a place chance.
UniBet odds: $23
7. VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ)
(Trainer: Chris Waller. Jockey: Mark Zahra. Weight: 55.5kg. Barrier: 15)
What the World Gambling List says: Outstanding mare who kicked on powerfully to win the Caulfield Cup. Weights and measures are against her here but she is a real winner with 11 victories from just 24 starts with six group 1 wins and almost $A7 million in prizemoney. She is being extended to 3200m for the first time and the key for her will be how she settles. She has an explosive turn of foot.
UniBet odds: $12
8. MUSTAJEER (GB)
(Trainer: Kris Lees. Jockey: Michael Rodd. Weight: 55kg. Barrier: 2)
What the World Gambling List says: A good, tough stayer from an astute strable, but he was only 23rd in the Cup last year. He hit the line well in the Caulfield Cup recently but there just too much quality in this race to be giving Mustajeer a chance of a boilover.
UniBet odds: $81
9. STRATUM ALBION (GB)
(Trainer: Willie Mullins. Jockey: Jordan Childs. Weight: 55kg. Barrier: 9)
What the World Gambling List says: Tough old British stayer who mixes it up between the hurdles and flat racing. He produced a career-best run last start when second in the group 2 Lonsdale Cup at York last start but would have to got to another level entirely. We can’t see it.
UniBet odds: $41
10. DASHING WILLOUGHBY (GB)
(Trainer: Andrew Balding. Jockey: Michael Walker, 54.5kg. Barrier: 19)
What the World Gambling List says: A lightly raced type who you would say looks suited in the Cup, but at his only Australian run he was last in the Caulfield Cup after leading early. That’s not his right form as he is the winner of a group 2 race at Royal Ascot over 2800m but it’s still hard to see him turning around his Caulfield Cup display.
UniBet odds: $81
11. FINCHE (GB)
(Trainer: Chris Waller. Jockey: James McDonald. Weight: 54.5kg. Barrier: 6)
What the World Gambling List says: A quality stayer and as a seven-year-old he has had only 18 starts, including running well in this race twice. He was fourth in 2018 and then seventh last year as favourite, beaten less than two lengths. Finche seems to be racing as well as ever and has had a light campaign this time around. The query is whether he has the turn of foot to win but you know he will run well again, and he has arguably the best jockey in the world in the saddle this time.
UniBet odds: $18
12. PRINCE OF ARRAN (GB)
(Trainer: Charlie Fellowes. Jockey: Jamie Kah. Weight: 54.5kg. Barrier: 1)
What the World Gambling List says: A tough and widely travelled stayer which is back for a third crack at the Melbourne Cup. Was a gallant third in the race in 2018 after backing up from winning the Lexus Stakes three days earlier. Was second in the Cup last year after the placings were shuffled by an upheld protest, and showed he was travelling just as well this time with a flashing fourth in the Caulfield Cup recently. Could make Jamie Kah the second female rider to win the Cup.
UniBet odds: $11
13. SURPRISE BABY (NZ)
(Trainer: Paul Preusker. Jockey: Craig Williams. Weight: 54.5kg. Barrier: 7)
What the World Gambling List says: The son of 2009 winner Shocking was a slashing fifth in this race last year, beaten less than a length. He has had just two starts since as he has been aimed solely at this race. This edition of the Cup looks considerably stronger than last year’s but he also should be slightly strong and has last year’s Cup-winning jockey in the saddle. Best hope of a ”local” win.
UniBet odds: $9.50
14. KING OF LEOGRANCE (FR)
(Trainer: Danny O’Brien. Jockey: Damian Lane. Weight: 53.5kg. Barrier: 18)
SCRATCHED
15. RUSSIAN CAMELOT (IRE)
(Trainer: Danny O’Brien. Jockey: Damien Oliver. Weight: 53.5kg. Barrier: 16)
What the World Gambling List says: Boom galloper tackling this at just is 10th start but he already has a couple of group 1s in the bag and was a brave third in the Cox Plate last start on a wet track that may not have suited him. If Damien Oliver can find a decent spot from a widish gate, he is a great chance of landing the Cup
UniBet odds: $12
16. STEEL PRINCE (IRE)
(Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman. Jockey: William Pike. Weight: 53.5kg. Barrier: 21)
What the World Gambling List says: A super honest grey which seldoms puts in a bad run and won the Geelong Cup, an increasingly good lead-up race, at this most recent start, beating the likes of Ashrun, which has rocketed into contention. Was a decent ninth in this race last year and will run well but won’t be in our top four.
UniBet odds: $34
17. THE CHOSEN ONE (NZ)
(Trainer: Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman. Jockey: Daniel Stackhouse. Weight: 53.5kg. Barrier: 5)
What the World Gambling List says: A career-best run when third in the Caulfield Cup last time, but failed in the Melbourn Cup last year. Hard to see him beating all of these so happy to bet around him.
UniBet odds: $34
18. ASHRUN (FR)
(Trainer: Andreas Wohler. Jockey: Declan Bates. Weight: 53kg. Barrier: 24)
What the World Gambling List says: This horse fits the profile of several recent Cup winners and earned a start with a strong finish to win the Lexus Stakes at Flemington last Saturday. Before that he was a good third in the Geelong Cup. The draw makes it tricky as he will probably have to go back to near last at the start but if they go crazy up front he should hit the line hard out wide.
UniBet odds: $21
19. WARNING
(Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman. Jockey: Luke Currie. Weight: 53kg. Barrier: 8)
What the World Gambling List says: The 2019 Victoria Derby winner who has not won since. Quite a few of these have him covered.
UniBet odds: $41
20. ETAH JAMES (NZ)
(Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace. Jockey: Billy Egan. Weight: 52.5kg. Barrier: 22)
What the World Gambling List says: Tough mare which won the Sydney Cup on a heavy track earlier this year. Probably needed a heavy track again to have a chance here.
UniBet odds: $101
21. TIGER MOTH (IRE)
(Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy. Weight: 52.5kg. Barrier: 23)
What the World Gambling List says: The mystery horse tackling this at just his fifth start. He is superbly bred to stay and has long been touted as the one to beat in this race as he gets in with a light weight and hails from the leading stable in Europe. Already has a second in the Irish Derby to his credit and it will be a remarkable achievement for O’Brien to win this race with such a light raced horse. The money trail suggests he is ready to run a mighty race.
UniBet odds: $8
22. OCEANEX (NZ)
(Trainer: Mick Price & Michael Kent (jnr). Jockey: Dean Yendall. Weight: 51.5kg. Barrier: 17)
What the World Gambling List says: Loves racing at Flemington but just looks out of her depth in this field. Not this time.
UniBet odds: $71
23 MIAMI BOUND (NZ)
(Trainer: Danny O’Brien. Jockey: Daniel Moor. Weight: 51kg. Barrier: 13)
What the World Gambling List says: Last year’s VRC Oaks winner which finally returned to top form when she circled the field from last to win the Moonee Valley Cup on a wet track. Loves racing at Flemington but probably would prefer it wet.
UniBet odds: $34
24. PERSAN
(Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace. Jockey: Michael Dee. Weight: 51kg. Barrier: 20)
What the World Gambling List says: Has had an incredible year where he has had 10 starts for six wins, three seconds and a third, with four wins coming at Flemington. Untried out this sort of trip but was so impressive last start. This is a whole new level, of course, but if rider Michae Dee can get a smother from the wide draw, a genuine top four chance.
UniBet odds: $34
Our final Melbourne Cup 2020 top four
Tiger Moth 1, , Sir Dragonet 2, Persan 3, Russian Camelot 4.
Recent winners of the Melbourne Cup
2019 Vow And Declare. Jockey: Craig Williams. Trainer: Danny O’Brien. Time: 3:24.76
2018 Cross Counter. Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy. Trainer: Charlie Appleby. Time: 3:21.17
2017 Rekindling. Jockey: Corey Brown. Trainer: Joseph O’Brien. Time: 3:21.29
2016 Almandin. Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy. Trainer: Robert Hickmott. Time: 3:20.58
2015 Prince of Penzance. Jockey: Michelle Payne. Trainer: Darren Weir. Time: 3:23.15
2014 Protectionist. Jockey: Ryan Moore. Trainer: Andreas Wöhler. Time: 3:17.71
2013 Fiorente. Jockey: Damien Oliver. Trainer: Gai Waterhouse. Time: 3:20.30
2012 Green Moon. Jockey: Brett Prebble. Trainer: Robert Hickmott. Time: 3:20.45
2011 Dunaden. Jockey: Christophe Lemaire. Trainer: Mikel Delzangles. Time: 3:20.84
2010 Americain. Jockey: Gérald Mossé. Trainer: Alain de Royer-Dupré. Time: 3:26.87
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