Melbourne Cup Betting Guide 2022

Weight

If you’re new to horse racing betting, it might seem bizarre that weights are added to a horse. But the premise of adding weights is to even the playing field, and stop certain horses, quite literally, running away with it.

Before you bet on the Melbourne Cup, look at what weight a horse will carry and check how they’ve performed in the past under similar circumstances.

Barrier Draw

The barrier draw can have a major impact on the outcome of a race. In 2020, Tiger Moth was initially favourite but received a barrier draw for number 23 – a position no horse has won from since 1976. He eventually came second to Twilight Payment.

In 2021, Verry Elleegant became the first horse in 161 runnings to win from barrier 18. Watch out for the barrier draw ahead of the race and factor this into your Melbourne Cup betting.

Favourites’ Record

The Melbourne Cup is often occupied by similar names over several years, as is the case in many major races – like Tiger Roll constantly being among the favourites for the Grand National and winning the race back-to-back in 2018 and 2019.

We saw this with Tiger Moth in 2021, installed as the early favourite after a near miss in 2020 before suffering heavy defeats and failing to make the field. Research the favourites and consider their form in recent outings before placing your bets.

Form

Whatever sport you’re betting on, form is important – and that’s no different with the Melbourne Cup. Bet on horses, jockeys and trainers who have pedigree, with a proven track record in this or other major races. But also look at recent form to see if you can spot a horse who has shown continual improvement in recent months.

The Caulfield Cup is always a good place to start your research, as it takes place just a couple of weeks before the Melbourne Cup.

Fastest Time

The fastest time is an interesting record in the Melbourne Cup. Rain Lover set the record in 1968 with a brilliant time of 3:19.1, but in 1972 the length of the race was reduced by over 18.6 metres. Rather than strip Rain Lover of his record, his time was adjusted to 3:17.9, though this was later beaten by 1990 Melbourne Cup winner Kingston Rule, coming in at 3:16.3.

Most Barrier Wins

We mentioned how important the barrier position can be in Melbourne Cup betting, and we’ve got some stats to back it up. The most successful starting position is barrier number five, which has racked up eight wins to date. Conversely, barrier 15 has produced just one winner and Verry Elleegant won the 2021 Melbourne Cup to become the first horse to win from barrier 18.

Most Successful Trainer

No trainer even comes close to Bart Cummings, whose exceptional record in the Melbourne Cup spans from 1965 to 2008. Cummings has amassed a remarkable 12 wins, with his closest competitor managing five. This proves how important trainers are when betting on the Melbourne Cup.

Most Successful Jockey

Unlike the best trainer, the most successful jockey is a much more closely fought affair. Joint top are Bobby Lewis and Harry White with four wins each. More recently, Glen Boss famously notched three wins on the trot from 2003 to 2005, all while riding Makybe Diva – the most successful horse in the competition’s history.