2018 Melbourne Cup
Introduction
The 2018 Melbourne Cup will be one to remember.
It was ‘The Race that Stopped the Nation,’ but only one horse triumphed.
In the hours leading up to the Grand Dance, Flemington was pelted with torrential rain, leaving the track flooded, wet, and heavy.
While some runners took to the turf and relished the heavy track, others were not so fortunate.
Floundering their 2018 Melbourne Cup hopes, as well as the hopes of punters around the world.
Cross Counter came in at $12, and managed to cross the white line first, giving jockey Kerrin McEvoy his third Melbourne Cup win.
Now, for the 2018 Melbourne Cup information.
There are 24 runners in the Melbourne Cup, who were narrowed down from the initial field of 300 to 400 nominated horses. These nominations are put forward in the first week of August.
A Committee ultimately decide the final 24.
After nomination, owners must confirm their intention to run four more times leading up to the Melbourne Cup. Owners are then forced to decide whether to continue with the race lead up, by paying the fees needed, or backing out.
Barriers are then drawn at the conclusion of racing on Derby Day.
The final runners are decided mostly on factors such as prize money over the past two years, wins and placing, and of course, allocated handicap.
Horses that have won other previous prestigious races around the world are actually exempted from the balloting process. These include:
the Victoria Derby, Lexus Stakes, Cox Plate, LKS Mackinnon Stakes, Caulfield Cup, Irish St. Leger (IRE), and the Tenno Sho (Spring) (JPN). There are some Australian races that allow for an automatic pass through the balloting process like the Bart Cummings, and the Andrew Ramsden Stakes.
2018 Melbourne Cup Details:
Date: November 3rd 2020
Track: Flemington Racecourse
Winning Horse: Cross Counter
Winning Trainer: Charlie Appleby
Winning Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
Winning Owner: Godolphin
CROSS COUNTER!
Kerrin McEvoy finds the gap and storms home to win the 2018 Lexus #MelbourneCup What a moment for Charlie Appleby and Godolphin. 🙌👏 pic.twitter.com/lYli37qfJ8
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) November 6, 2018
Melbourne Cup Field 2018
| No | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BEST SOLUTION (IRE) | Saeed Bin Suroor | Pat Cosgrave | 6 | 57.5kg |
| 2 | THE CLIFFSOFMOHER (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien | Ryan Moore | 9 | 56.5kg |
| 3 | MAGIC CIRCLE (IRE) | Ian Williams | Corey Brown | 17 | 56kg |
| 4 | CHESTNUT COAT (JPN) | Yoshito Yahagi | Yuga Kawada | 4 | 55.5kg |
| 5 | MUNTAHAA (IRE) | John Gosden | Jim Crowley | 13 | 55.5kg |
| 6 | SOUND CHECK (GER) | Michael Moroney | Jordan Childs | 16 | 55.5kg |
| 7 | WHO SHOT THEBARMAN (NZ) | Chris Waller | Ben Melham | 18 | 55.5kg |
| 8 | ACE HIGH | David Payne | Tye Angland | 22 | 55kg |
| 9 | MARMELO (GB) | Hughie Morrison | Hugh Bowman | 10 | 55kg |
| 10 | AVILIUS (GB) | James Cummings | Glyn Schofield | 11 | 54.5kg |
| 11 | YUCATAN (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien | James McDonald | 23 | 54.5kg |
| 12 | AUVRAY (FR) | Richard Freedman | Tommy Berry | 1 | 54kg |
| 13 | FINCHE (GB) | Chris Waller | Zac Purton | 15 | 54kg |
| 14 | RED CARDINAL (IRE) | Darren Weir | Damien Oliver (late alt) | 5 | 54kg |
| 15 | VENGEUR MASQUE (IRE) | Michael Moroney | Patrick Moloney | 2 | 54kg |
| 16 | VENTURA STORM (IRE) | David & B Hayes & T Dabernig | Mark Zahra | 7 | 54kg |
| 17 | A PRINCE OF ARRAN (GB) | Charlie Fellowes | Michael Walker | 20 | 53kg |
| 18 | NAKEETA (GB) | Iain Jardine | Regan Bayliss | 3 | 53kg |
| 19 | SIR CHARLES ROAD | Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott | Dwayne Dunn | 14 | 53kg |
| 20 | ZACADA (NZ) | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Damian Lane | 24 | 53kg |
| 21 | RUNAWAY | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Stephen Baster | 12 | 52kg |
| 22 | YOUNGSTAR | Chris Waller | Craig Williams | 8 | 51.5kg |
| 23 | CROSS COUNTER (GB) | Charlie Appleby | Kerrin McEvoy | 19 | 51kg |
| 24 | ROSTROPOVICH (IRE) | Aidan O’Brien | Wayne Lordan | 21 | 51kg |
2018 Melbourne Cup Favourites
Marmelo – Marmelo had run in the 2017 Melbourne Cup as a favourite, but managed to slot into 9th after attempting to set the pace and lead for the entirety of the race.
Cox Plate-winning jockey, Hugh Bowman, was keen to jump on board the horse once more, to try and rightfully take back what he believed to be his.
Unfortunately, the six-year-old returned in a similar vein of form to last year, without the final lead-up run in Australia.
Trainer Hughie Morrison was also worried the track was too firm for Marmelo in the 2018 Melbourne Cup, and that he was hoping for a little give in the ground.
And that it did, with the rain pummelling down, Marmelo was able to secure a front place, but couldn’t hold on – just losing out and coming in 2nd.
Prince of Arran – Prince of Arran stormed into Cup contention, after a victory in the Lexus Stakes (2,500m).
The six-year-old was amongst the leading chances when horses stacked in their barriers on the Tuesday of the 2018 Melbourne Cup – with the winners of the Lexus consistently boasting a strong record in backing up in the cup.
Although it was a short turnaround between races, Prince of Arran had been thriving Down Under, despite the fact he’d raced on four continents throughout the 2018 period.
The horse had developed both mentally and physically during this period, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough, and he rounded in at 3rd.
Cross Counter – Cross Counter took out top gong in the 2018 Melbourne Cup, and was paying a hot $9 to do so.
Charlie Appleby had also revealed himself as a domineering force in Aussie racing, bringing horses Down Under, and claiming big-race success.
And this cheeky little gun looked just the horse to do it.
With only seven starts under his belt, and a week missed of training due to a cut heel – it looked like it could be all over red rover for Cross Counter’s chances at the 2018 Melbourne Cup.
Fortunately, Cup jockey, Kerrin McEvoy gave him the green light, and he became the winner we all know today.
Cross Counter had previously taken home four wins in his not-so-lengthy career, including a very easy win in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes (2,400m).
Cross Counter, alongside mates, Best Solution and Avilius, were all a part of Godolphin’s master plan for an elusive 2018 Melbourne Cup victory.
Magic Circle – Magic Circle came into the main event paying a cool $7.
He’s also a seven-year-old, who had been at the top of Melbourne Cup betting markets, since he pummelled home to take out two dominant wins in his only two starts in England.
Magic Circle showed runners who’s boss, when he resumed from a break, to power away and win the May’s Chester Cup (3,750m) by six lengths, ahead of Melbourne Cup rivals, Prince of Arran and Nakeeta.
Less than a fortnight after, he showed his staying power, registering another massive victory in the Henry II Stakes at 3,264.
He could clearly do the distance, and with trainer Ian Williams enlisting in the services of two-time Cup-winning jockey in Corey Brown (Shocking 2009, Rekindling 2017); he looked like a sure thing!
But, what comes up, must come down – and those who haven’t trialled on the Aussie turf may have difficulty.
And difficulty he did – coming in at a shocking 16th.
Who Shot Thebarman – Who Shot Thebarman is a popular horse amongst the Aussies.
The grand old galloper with the perfect name to attract once-a-year punters, is a 10-year-old who would make history with a win (no horse older than eight has ever claimed the Cup).
Who Shot Thebarman was back for another ‘shot’ at the 2018 Melbourne Cup – after finishing 3rd in 2014, 11th in 2015, and 5th in 2016. He was also scratched in the 2017 event.
The former New Zealand stayer showed no signs of slowing down through the 2018 racing season, finishing third in the Tancred Stakes (2,400m), before snagging a victory in the Sydney Cup (3,200m), after finishing second in the race twice prior.
Trainer Chris Waller has maintained the horse’s fitness and mental state to the extreme – and his final lead-up at fourth in the Moonee Valley Cup (2,500m) showed he still had some zest in him.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t take it to the white line of the Melbourne Cup, where he took home his worst result to date at 17th.
Melbourne Cup 2018 Results
| No. | Horse | Win | Place |
| 1 | Best Solution | $12.00 | $3.60 |
| 2 | CliffsofMoher | $17.00 | $5.00 |
| 3 | Magic Circle | $8.00 | $2.70 |
| 4 | Chestnut Coat | $61.00 | $15.00 |
| 5 | Muntahaa | $11.00 | $3.40 |
| 6 | Sound Check | $31.00 | $8.50 |
| 7 | Who Shot Thebarman | $41.00 | $11.00 |
| 8 | Ace High | $61.00 | $15.00 |
| 9 | Marmelo | $14.00 | $4.20 |
| 10 | Avilius | $13.00 | $4.00 |
| 11 | Yucatan | $6.00 | $2.25 |
| 12 | Auvray | $101.00 | $21.00 |
| 13 | Finche | $21.00 | $6.00 |
| 14 | Red Cardinal | $41.00 | $11.00 |
| 15 | Vengeur Masque | $81.00 | $17.00 |
| 16 | Ventura Storm | $31.00 | $8.50 |
| 17 | A Prince of Arran | $20.00 | $5.50 |
| 18 | Nakeeta | $101.00 | $21.00 |
| 19 | Sir Charles Road | $71.00 | $17.00 |
| 20 | Zacada | $81.00 | $17.00 |
| 21 | Runaway | $41.00 | $11.00 |
| 22 | Youngstar | $15.00 | $4.40 |
| 23 | Cross Counter | $9.00 | $3.00 |
| 24 | Rostropovich | $21.00 | $6.00 |
Melbourne Cup 2018 Dividends
The 2018 Melbourne Cup Quinella paid $74.60
The 2018 Melbourne Cup Exacta paid $132.70
The 2018 Melbourne Cup First Four returned $42,925.50.
2018 Melbourne Cup Trifecta Payout
The 2018 Melbourne Cup Trifecta paid $2,479.40.
Want more punting tips on the Melbourne Cup? Look no further than our Melbourne Cup Guide!