2009 Melbourne Cup Winner – Shocking

Shocking has no business being the 2009 Melbourne Cup winner given his barrier 22 start. Despite a win the 2500 metre Lexus Stakes just a few days before, Shocking was at odds of $10 coming into the Cup due to his disastrous barrier. It made no difference to him, though, as a strong run home gave Shocking the win over Mourilyan.

2008 Melbourne Cup Winner – Viewed

Viewed did not look a good chance to become the 2008 Melbourne Cup winner at all, with odds of $40 come race time. You couldn’t blame the punters as Viewed had not impressed in the season leading up to the race, with not even a place and having finished last in his last start. It was thus hard to believe that Viewed had just barely beaten Bauer at the finish line, but so he had.

2007 Melbourne Cup Winner – Efficient

The 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient showed punters that the Melbourne Cup really is any horse’s race. Without a Group 1 win before, Efficient nevertheless won his Melbourne Cup debut in style. Coming up the outside from the back, Shocking overtook the leader with less than 100 metres to go and took a victory that none would have expected up until the very finish.

2006 Melbourne Cup Winner – Delta Blues

Delta Blues made history in the 2006 Melbourne Cup by becoming the first Japanese horse to win the race. He proved his worth in Australia by coming third in the Caulfield Cup that year, but still few suspected he would win the race and he started at $18. Incredibly, stable mate Pop Rock took second place, leading to what will likely be the only Japanese-trained Melbourne Cup quinella for some time.

2005 Melbourne Cup Winner – Makybe Diva

2005 was just Makybe Diva’s year. Maybe she knew she was coming to the end of her racing career, but she put forth some incredible efforts to win both the Melbourne Cup and the Cox Plate. Despite her previous two Melbourne Cup wins, Makybe Diva was actually at longer odds in this run than in the 2004 Melbourne Cup. She proved the doubters wrong, however, and finished on top with a Melbourne Cup achievement that is unlikely to be repeated.

2004 Melbourne Cup Winner – Makybe Diva

In 2004, Makybe Diva took a shot at a second Melbourne Cup victory and was as strongly favoured as she would ever be in the race at $2.50. It seems utterly bizarre, as she had a mixed season leading up to the race, with a couple of second place finishes but no wins. Nevertheless, the punters were right to put their faith in her, as Makybe Diva took her second Melbourne Cup.

2003 Melbourne Cup Winner – Makybe Diva

Perhaps the most unusual thing about looking back at the 2003 Melbourne Cup is that we did not know how great a champion Makybe Diva would be at that time. It was still an impressive run, however, and a great follow up to her second place Caulfield Cup finish a few weeks earlier.

2002 Melbourne Cup Winner – Media Puzzle

Media Puzzle demonstrated the value of a Geelong Cup win, coming off that 2400 metre run into a Melbourne Cup win in 2002. It was an important race for jockey Damien Oliver, who had recently lost his brother around the time of this Melbourne Cup run. Media Puzzle went on to mediocrity after the race, unfortunately, with almost a two year break greatly diminishing him. A tendency toward injury did not help the horse, and he was eventually put down after shattering his leg in the Ascot Gold Cup in 2006.

2001 Melbourne Cup Winner – Ethereal

Ethereal started the recent era of incredible Melbourne Cup runs in 2002 with a win that saw her come from 12 lengths back to take the win by less than a length. This run was made doubly memorable because Ethereal was the first Melbourne Cup winner to ever be trained by a female trainer – Sheila Laxon.

The 2010 Mackinnon Stakes has drawn a cracker field of 12 weight-for-age stars, headlined by leading Melbourne Cup favourites So You Think and Shocking.

Bart Cummings’ dual Cox Plate champion So You Think is the red hot favourite to win the Mackinnon on Saturday, at a short price of $1.60 through Luxbet.

The second favourite in the field is Shocking, paying a far more generous $6.50.

So You Think is the superstar of the spring, set to jump from barrier eight as the High Chaparral four-year-old attempts his eighth career win from just 11 starts.

The only other Mackinnon Stakes runner at single figure odds is John Wallace’s Cox Plate fourth placegetter Shoot Out drawn ideally in barrier two and currently at a quote of $9.50.

Good horses to add into the exotics that are at generous odds include Caulfield Cup winner Descarado ($16) and Bart Cummings’ Melbourne Cup bound mare Faint Perfume ($26).

The 2010 Mackinnon Stakes will run as Race 5 at Flemington on Saturday and is scheduled to jump at 2:05pm.

2010 Mackinnon Stakes Field, Barriers & Odds

*Odds provided by Luxbet and are subject to change

The 2010 Geelong Cup was an historic event, with Americain becoming the first French-trained horse to win a Group race in Australia.

If you like So You Think to win the Melbourne Cup now is the time to back him at Luxbet before a Cox Plate win sees his price slashed!

Following the Alain de Royer Dupre-trained six-year-olds’ classy win, Luxbet slashed their price on Americain to win the 150^th Emirates Melbourne Cup into $13.

Americain is now the fourth favourite following So You Think, Shocking and Manighar.

Bart Cummings’ star four-year-old So You Think remains at the top of the markets and is sure to shorten dramatically with a win in the Cox Plate this Saturday, for which he is the hot favourite to do so.

In sensational form and seemingly unstoppable this preparation, punters may not get So You Think at a better price for the Melbourne Cup than what he is at now so today is the time to back him!

Reigning Melbourne Cup champion Shocking has also been a big market mover in the past week, firming in from $9 to $5.50 after the Mark Kavanagh-trained Street Cry five-year-old ran an eye-catching fourth in the Caulfield Cup last Saturday.

Caught up at a crucial stage, Shocking was super impressive to work through the field and finish fourth to Descarado in the Caulfield Cup, hitting the line hard and would likely have won with a few hundred more meters.

Gai Waterhouse’s Caulfield Cup winner Descarado is now at $15 through Luxbet to back up with a Melbourne Cup victory.

The other horse to rise up the Melbourne Cup odds is UK galloper Manighar, trained by Luca Cumani.

Manighar was a close fifth behind Shocking in the Caulfield Cup at their Australian race debut, catching the attention of the bookies and punters and shortening into the $12 third-favourite for the Melbourne Cup.

There were 151 horses still entered for the $6 million Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), set to light up the Flemington track as Race 7 on Tuesday November 2, when first declarations were taken last month but that number was cut to 78 today.

The fight for a spot in the 24-horse Melbourne Cup final field this year is now heating up as are the betting markets open at Sportsbet.

Odds-on favourite to win the 2010 Melbourne Cup is current champion Shocking paying $9, who is second on the order of entry for the Melbourne Cup field following Sans Frontieres.

Shocking is one of two horses among the second acceptors for Flemington-based trainer Mark Kavanagh, who has also paid up for his improving Zabeel mare Zantelagh.

British galloper Sans Frontieres is another favourite in the Melbourne Cup betting after gaining a ballot exemption for their Irish St Leger win earlier in the month.

Sans Frontieres is one of a number of star international raiders set to contest the 150^th Emirates Melbourne Cup.

International Horses Among 2010 Melbourne Cup Second Declarations Include:

• Sans Frontieres
• Americain
• Bauer
• Becqu Adoree
• Campanologist
• Illustrious Blue
• Mr Medici
• Profound Beauty

Other overseas horses on the Melbourne Cup trail include French stayer Americain, 2008 Melbourne Cup placegetter Bauer, Hong Kong’s Mr Medici and the Dermot Weld-trained Profound Beauty.

Following Shocking in the Melbourne Cup betting are three horses from the stables of Australia’s much loved and respected trainer Bart Cummings with So You Think ($10), Precedence ($12) and Dariana ($15).

Cummings has also chosen to pay up for Empires Choice and Faint Perfume for the second declarations.

Noteworthy Defectors from 2010 Melbourne Cup Following Second Declarations

• Alandi (Robert Hickmott)
• Black Mamba (Gai Waterhouse)
• Brightnight (Bart Cummings)
• Cavalryman (Saeed Bin Suroor)
• Extra Zero (David Hayes)
• Imposing (Robert Hickmott)
• Rebel Raider (Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas)
• Rite Of Passage (Dermot Weld)

The next declaration stage for the 2010 Melbourne Cup is third declarations taken on October 25.

Meanwhile, the 2010 Caulfield Cup third declarations were released today leaving 41 horses still in contention as were the 2010 Cox Plate third declarations lead by So You Think.

Now is the time to get in on the early Melbourne Cup betting markets open at Sportsbet while there are still generous odds available so sign up with the bookie that offers a better price than the TAB today!

List of 2010 Melbourne Cup Second Declarations

An eye-catching second place finish to So You Think in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield a fortnight ago has seen Redoute’s Choice mare Dariana firm from $15 into the $10 equal favourite at Sportsbet.

Early Favourites in 2010 Melbourne Cup Betting Markets:

• Dariana ($10)
• Shocking ($10)
• So You Think ($11)
• Precedence ($11)
• Sans Frontieres ($15)

All odds are provided by Sportsbook and are subject to change.

Four-year-old Dariana shares the top line of Melbourne Cup betting with last year’s winner Shocking.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained five-year-old finished fifth in the Underwood Stakes, drifting out from the clear $8 favourite to $10.

Shocking and Dariana are set to face off again this weekend in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.

Third favourite to win the 2010 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday November 2 is last year’s Cox Plate winner So You Think.

Another star from the stables of the Cups King Bart Cummings, So You Think is at a quote of $11 which shortened from $17 after his Underwood Stakes victory.

Cummings has a vice-like grip over the current Melbourne Cup markets, with improving Zabeel gelding Precedence another $11 pick after winning the JRA Cup at Moonee Valley last Friday night.

The next line of betting is occupied by Sans Frontieres paying $15, who is the top international contender for the Cup this year.

Sans Frontieres remains the only horse with a Melbourne Cup ballot exemption following the Galileo five-year-olds’ stunning win in the Irish St Leger at the start of the month.

Other oversees raiders high up in the Melbourne Cup odds are Dermot Weld’s classy mare Profound Beauty ($21), the Luca Cumani-trained Manighar ($21) and French stayer Americain ($21).

Reigning champion Shocking is still the odds-on favourite to win the 2010 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday November 2, the Mark Kavanagh-trained so of Street Cry currently paying $8 after his decisive win in the Makybe Diva Stakes at the start of the month.

The big mover in the Melbourne Cup markets, however, is Jeremy Noseda’s brilliant British galloper Sans Frontieres.

The Galileo five-year-old has shortened into the $12 second elect at Sportsbet after winning the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2800m) last week, beating fellow Melbourne Cup hopeful Profound Beauty.

Profound Beauty, who along with Ascot Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage are the two top contenders entered by Dermot Weld as the European trainer seeks his third Melbourne Cup win, is now a $19 chance through Sportsbet.

The St Leger victory was Sans Frontieres’ third straight win but has earned him a 2kg penalty from the VRC’s chief handicapper Greg Carpenter in the Melbourne Cup weights.

Despite the punters desperately getting behind Sans Frontieres in the Cup markets, there is still a chance it won’t make the trip to Australia with the hefty 57kg they are allocated to carry likely the deciding factor.

The Bart Cummings-trained Dariana now occupies the third line of Melbourne Cup betting paying $15 to give Cummings his record 13^th victory in the ‘race that stops the nation’.

The classy mare is then followed by four horses paying $17 including stablemates So You Think, winner of the 2009 Cox Plate, and Precedence.

Peter Moody’s improving Kiwi raider Mr Charlie and Caulfield Cup favourite Moudre are the other two Cup hopefuls at $17.

As the Cup Carnival draws closer the betting markets on all of the Group 1 features begin to heat up so now is the best time to lock in lucrative odds on your favourites.

To guarantee you are getting top Melbourne Cup odds avoid the TAB and join Sportsbet today!

After 256 gallopers made up the nominations for the 150^th Melbourne Cup, due to run on Tuesday November 2 at Flemington, the connections of 105 horses have chosen not to pay the first declaration fee or continue with Cup plans.

With the number of stayers left vying for a spot in the 24-horse Melbourne Cup final field dramatically shortened, the Melbourne Cup betting markets at Sportsbet are starting to really heat up also.

Below we have broken down the major developments of the 2010 Melbourne Cup first declaration round including the new betting odds for the favourites, notable absentees and international contenders still seeking victory in the $6 million feature handicap.

The 2010 Melbourne Cup final field of acceptances will be released on Victoria Derby Day, Saturday October 30, followed shortly after by the barrier draw.

Cupcarnival.com.au will publish the field and barriers moments after their announcement so bookmark this page and return throughout the spring to stay up to date with the latest Melbourne Cup Carnival news, race previews and betting tips.

The 2011 Melbourne Cup has a new field of Melbourne Cup horses, visit Luxbet for the latest odds.

Notable Absentees from 2010 Melbourne Cup First Declarations

• Efficient (2007 Melbourne Cup winner)
• Purple Moon (2007 Melbourne Cup runner-up)
• Shamoline Warrior (Norman Robins Stakes winner)
• Kutchinsky (Queensland Derby runner-up)
• Jaguar Mail (Tenno Sho winner)
• Meiner Kitz (Tenno Sho runner-up)
• Mastery (English St Leger winner)

Top International Horses Still in 2010 Melbourne Cup Contention

• Illustrious Blue (Great Britain)
• Rite Of Passage (Ireland)
• Sans Frontieres (Great Britain)
• Profound Beauty (Ireland)
• Eastern Aria (Great Britain)
• Tactic (Great Britain)
• Tokai Trick (Japan)

New 2010 Melbourne Cup Betting Odds Following First Declarations

• Shocking $8
• Dariana $15
• Mr Charlie $17
• So You Think $17
• Precedence $17
• Moudre $17
• Faint Perfume $19
• Sans Frontieres $19

Full List of 2010 Melbourne Cup First Declarations

Premier online bookmaker Sportsbet now have the Mark Kavanagh-trained Shocking as the clear $8 favourite to win the 150^th Melbourne Cup on Tuesday November 2.

The five-year-old son of Street Cry had his odds slashed on Saturday after claiming victory in the 2010 Makybe Diva Stakes.

Going out at the generous starting price of $18, Shocking surged through the field on the straight to win by a half-length ahead of Heart Of Dreams ($7.50) with Vigor ($5.50) in third.

The victory was the first time since Jeune in 1994 that a Melbourne Cup winner went on to claim victory in the following year’s Makbye Diva Stakes.

Shocking resumed racing this season in the Group 2 JJ Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield last month, finishing seventh to Shoot Out.

Back at his beloved Flemington, Shocking’s barnstorming win on Saturday has the punters getting behind him to become just the sixth horse in history to claim back-to-back Melbourne Cups.

Unbeaten in his four starts at his home track at Flemington, home to the esteemed Melbourne Cup Carnival, Shocking is also proving to be a talented weight-for-age star.

His solid weight-for-age performance on the weekend has also seen his odds trimmed from $26 into $19 for the 2010 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on October 23.

But trainer Kavanagh has stated that the famed Melbourne Cup is definitely Shocking’s primary spring target.

“We’re committed to running and being our best on Melbourne Cup day,” said Kavanagh.

Before the weekend the Bart Cummings-trained Dariana was the odds-on favourite to win the 2010 Melbourne Cup.

The Queensland Derby winning mare had her first-up run on Saturday, finishing eighth to No Evidence Needed in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m).

She has now drifted out to the $15 second elect for the $6 million Melbourne Cup through Sportsbet.

The other big mover in the 2010 Melbourne Cup betting markets is Peter Moody’s Mr. Charlie.

The five-year-old, previously raced in New Zealand, opened as a $26 chance for the Melbourne Cup but after a solid victory in the Spring is the Season Handicap (1700m) at Flemington on Saturday, has shortened into the $17 equal-third favourite at Sportsbet.

Now is the ideal time to lock in an excellent price for your 2010 Melbourne Cup favourites before the spring progresses and their odds shorten.

The VRC’s chief handicapper Greg Carpenter today announced the handicaps handed to the full list of nominees for the 150^th edition of the Melbourne Cup, due to run at Flemington on Tuesday November 2.

Topping the weights for the $6 million Melbourne Cup are the Lloyd Williams-owned Alandi and Efficient.

Winner of the 2009 Irish St Leger, Alandi is currently a $21 chance at Sportsbet for the Melbourne Cup but could drift out after the hefty weight allocation, while 2007 Melbourne Cup winner Efficient is a doubtful starter in the world’s richest handicap due to fitness concerns.

Alandi is due to run in Saturday’s Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.

Other Melbourne Cup hopefuls handed a heavily handicapped include Japan’s Jaguar Mail despite the Tenno Sho winner having already been confirmed as a non starter, and two from racing powerhouse Godolphin, 2009 English St Leger winner Mastery and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe placegetter Cavalryman, all on 57.5kg.

Following closely with 57kg for the Melbourne Cup is another doubtful chance from Japan Meiner Kitz, as well as last year’s Melbourne Cup winner Shocking and the Dermot Weld-trained international raider Rite Of Passage.

Dermot Weld is the only European trainer to have won the Melbourne Cup, twice taking out the honours with Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002).

Along with Ascot Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage, Weld also has Profound Beauty on the 2010 Melbourne Cup trail, the in-form mare allocated 54kg.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained Shocking has been slapped with an extra six kilograms than the 51kg he carried to victory in the 2009 Melbourne Cup, the son of Street Cry looking to become just fifth horse in history to win successive Melbourne Cups.

At the other end of the handicap scale, Queensland Derby winner Dariana is an excellent lightweight chance for this year’s Melbourne Cup after being allocated just 51.5kg.

Other Cup contenders from Bart Cummings include 2009 Cox Plate champion So You Think who has been allocated 56kg and Faint Perfume another lightweight with 52kg.

Weights for the $2.5million Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) also came out today, with the punter’s favourite Moudre also ideally weighted. View the 2010 Caulfield Cup weights by following the link.

2010 Melbourne Cup Weights & Ballot

Amongst the 253 nominees are 44 international runners, five up on the 39 overseas-trained horses nominated for the Melbourne Cup last year.

Connections of star gallopers from all across the globe have paid the $660 nomination fee for the 2010 Melbourne Cup, worth a record $6 million this year.

Leading the international contingent are the Luca Cumani-trained Bauer who ran second to Viewed in the 2008 Melbourne Cup, recent winner of the Goodwood Cup Illustrious Blue, Japan’s Tenno Sho victor Jaguar Mail, Dermot Weld’s Gold Cup winner Rite Of Passage, and one of the early favourites with the punters Irish mare Profound Beauty.

All the Australian turf greats are there too with other notable 2010 Melbourne Cup entries including defending champion Shocking, John O’Shea’s Jessicabeel and Zabrasive, Galileo gelding Linton, and the John Wallace-trained Shoot Out.

Cups King Bart Cummings has nominated 12 of his stable stars including VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume, surprise 2009 Cox Plate champion So You Think and Queensland Derby winner Dariana.

Late nominations for the Melbourne Cup will close next Tuesday incurring a $3,300 late entry fee.

The handicaps will then follow on September 1 before first declarations close on September 7.

Cupcarnival.com.au will have all the latest developments on the 2010 Melbourne Cup and the contenders, so bookmark this page to stay up to date with all the news and betting tips.

Nominations for a number of the other spring feature races were also announced today including those for the $3 million Cox Plate (2040m) and $2.5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m), view the entries by clicking on the race names.

2010 Emirates Melbourne Cup List of Nominations