As the Melbourne Cup draws near, anticipation builds in the leadup to Australia’s most famous horse race on November 7, 2023. With the jaw-dropping prize purse of $10 million, the stakes are high for trainers and jockeys in this over-the-moon race. Among the key figures to watch is renowned trainer Chris Waller, who trained Verry Elleegant to her victory in the 2021 Melbourne Cup. Waller’s strength in depth This year, Waller has five runners in the race. Among them are strong contenders Valiant King and Buckaroo, at $8.50 and $9 odds respectively.
It will be a tough go for Waller’s horses on a very demanding track. The terrain is likely to be squishy due to the torrential rain in the days prior to the event. This kind of weather should have a pretty big effect on race dynamics, especially for the horses that’ll be carrying the most weight. Waller’s horse is well in at the weights, carrying 53kg. That pits it right in the competitive zone of weights. This weight increases the chances that it will lose. In fact, according to historical data, over the last 53 years, no horse has ever won the Melbourne Cup carrying a weight of 59kg or more. On that occasion, Rain Lover won with 60.5kg.
This year, there’s an extra thrilling subplot: Jamie Melham and his twin brother Ben Melham will compete against each other. If successful, they will create history by becoming the first married couple to compete against each other in a Melbourne Cup. Jamie Melham will partner Half Yours, the sole Australian-bred galloper in this year’s edition. However, as much as he hated the rainy conditions, Lambert was quick to highlight that his mount loved it.
“I don’t like the rain that much but he loves it,” – Jamie Melham
Jamie has confidence in Half Yours, stating that if he can give the horse a quiet run early, it should perform well.
“He won’t have any trouble running this trip out if I can just give him a really nice, quiet run early and just save him,” – Jamie Melham
Calvin McEvoy, trainer of another serious contender, went further than Jamie with his confidence about the upcoming race. He said he was very confident in the form of his horse, but very much looking forward to the competition.
“It’s filling us with confidence and we’re just very excited to be taking part,” – Calvin McEvoy
The current TAB Melbourne Cup favourite Presage Nocturne ($8.50). The 7-to-1 odds indicate a strong level of confidence among bettors about its likelihood of success.
As history has proved time and again, the Melbourne Cup is filled with shocks and outcomes no-one can see coming. The incredible performances of legendary previous winners such as Rain Lover only deepen the mystique surrounding Australia’s greatest race.
