Known as the race that stops a nation, the 2023 Melbourne Cup (G1) happens Tuesday, November 7 at Flemington. The two-mile turf race is a de facto holiday in the state of Victoria, and people flock to the racetrack or the local pub to see who wins Australia’s most exciting and historic race. It is also one of the horse race betting events of the year, with a field of up to two dozen classy horses.
If you are betting the Melbourne Cup from North America, don’t forget to set your clock. After all, even though it happens Tuesday night in Australian time, that means the race happens Monday night in North America: 11:00 p.m. Eastern time, 8:00 pm. Pacific. So, set your clock and don’t miss one of the best betting opportunities of the year!
Keep reading to find out the best places to get Vegas odds on the Melbourne Cup online, and the best horses to bet in the race.
It’s important to pick a winner in the Melbourne Cup, but even more important to choose the right place to bet the race. If you’re serious about getting real Vegas odds, there is good news: online sportsbooks bring the power of Las Vegas to your phone, tablet, or computer. You can bet horse racing and sports from anywhere, and know you’re getting the best odds.
Our betting experts can help you pick the right betting site quickly. They have written a guide to online sportsbooks. All of the sportsbooks mentioned in the guide offer real Vegas odds and trusted betting payouts, meaning you can’t go wrong with any of the recommendations.
Each of them also offers lucrative betting site bonuses. The bonus structures differ by site, which means taking a few minutes now to pick the best one can mean hundreds or even thousands of dollars in bankroll boosts as you play. So, take a few minutes now to pick the best sign-up and deposit bonuses, referral benefits, and rebates for how you play!
These are the best places for Las Vegas betting online, for the Melbourne Cup and beyond:
These are the early declarants for the 2023 Melbourne Cup in order of priority, including trainers, jockeys (if announced), and weight assignments:
The final post draw for the Melbourne Cup happens Saturday, November 4. That day, the field will be set for sure, as well.
Once the race is drawn and the field is finalized, make sure to track the odds at your online sportsbook of choice. When you see an overlay on a horse you think can win the race, go ahead and place your bet! After all, the most exciting thing about betting online is that you can lock in real Vegas odds on your horse the moment you bet, and be confident of what you’ll win.
Once you know where to bet, the next step is to figure out who to bet. Read on to find out about the best contenders in the 2023 Melbourne Cup!
The best bet in the Melbourne Cup is Soulcombe. Though he was only seventh in the Caulfield Cup (G1) last out, he has strong upside stepping up in trip. Two miles will be the longest he has yet tried, but his good form at 1 ⅝ and 1 ¾ miles bodes well for him staying the Cup trip. It also helps that he carries 53.5kg, a light weight compared to other top contenders, and does his most consistent work at Flemington.
The likely favorite in the Melbourne Cup is Vauban for top Irish trainer Willie Mullins. He has yet to race in Australia, but reports are excellent about his local training into the race. He has won his last two starts leading into the race, and his back form over two miles suggests that the extra distance should help him even further.
Caulfield Cup winner Without a Fight was only midfield in the Melbourne Cup last year, but comes into the race in even better form. He may be dismissed a bit off his run last year, but he has enough back form in staying races in Great Britain to suggest that he can find his best, especially since he beat so many of his Melbourne Cup foes last out.
Gold Trip won the Melbourne Cup last year and may be a bit of an underlay on the win end as a result of people betting him back. However, it would be no surprise to see him in the frame once again, especially if this was the ultimate goal. He enters the race in sharp form: he won the Turnbull (G1) three starts back, and then made credible efforts in both the Caulfield Cup and the Cox Plate (G1) since.
Even though Valiant King doesn’t quite have the back class of Joseph O’Brien’s two previous Melbourne Cup winners, he still has some points in his favor at a big price. His sixth-place finish in the Caulfield Cup was credible first off the ship, and he is lightly-enough raced to have some upside trying a true staying distance for the first time, for a trainer who has a good mind for who will be able to handle it.
More Felons is another runner who spent most of his career in Europe (under the name Scriptwriter) before moving down under. He missed by only ½ length in the Geelong Cup (G3), a race with some historical form into the Melbourne Cup. Even though most of his longer-distance form has come on the hurdle, his close second in a 1 ¾-mile Group 3 on the flat at York suggests he could be a savvy purchase for his new Southern Hemisphere connections.
Now that you know the field and have your betting account set up, there is just one thing left to do: bet the race! These are the best bets for the 2023 Melbourne Cup!
