Home » Melbourne Cup Favorites: 8 Top Contenders for the Ultimate Prize

Melbourne Cup Favorites: 8 Top Contenders for the Ultimate Prize

All the horse-racing enthusiasts out there, be ready to bet for the upcoming Melbourne Cup! Every year, people wait for this iconic racing event. Being a bettor, you must be interested to know the names of contenders that are favorable to bet on. Many horses will race to achieve victory, but only the strong one will get the trophy.

The winning contender will make you win the bet. Start Melbourne Cup betting by knowing the odds and get that thrilling experience. Consider all the tough and profitable contenders to mark the specific one for your bets. Surprisingly, this race offers a prize of $7 million, making it profitable globally.

This guide will help you know the names of top contenders participating in the event. Set your favorites and place bets on them to earn better profits. Everyone is eager to discover the horse name who will make it to the ultimate prize. Consider the list and choose the contender wisely.

1. Vauban

Vauban

The male horse from France is five years old with chestnut gelding. Willie Mullins had trained this horse for the group 1 races. In the latest race, this horse won and earned around $700,000. Everyone regards Vauban as the elite class, and it has become the favorite choice for many bettors.

This young and energetic horse has won the races in many events and scored at the top. In 2022, Paul Towned rode Vauban and got money around $200,000. Keep your eyes on Vauban and consider it your favorite in the upcoming event of the Melbourne Cup.

2. Verry Elleegant

It is an 8-year-old mare from New Zealand who France-based F Graffard trains. Verry Elleegant has amazed everyone with her earnings of $14,000,000 by winning the group 1 races. It makes her a strong and favorite contender for many bettors.

In the 2021 race, James McDonald rode this horse and earned $7,000,000. At that time, Incentivise had a surprise defeat. For punters, Verry Elleegant is proven to be a profitable horse for racing events. If you are considering this option, you can expect a 50% chance of getting better returns on your investments.

3. Twilight Payment

Twilight Payment

After winning the race of 2020, every bettor is familiar with the Twilight Payment. It is a unique Irish breed of horse, which can take up all the challenges on the track. The success stories of Twilight Payment make him a strong contender for the Melbourne race event.

Joseph O’Brien trained him to race on different tracks. It is a great name to consider for placing the bet and expecting to get better returns. Consider its performance before placing your bets on this racing horse.

4. Spanish Mission

It is a seven-year-old US-based male bay stallion horse, popular among many bettors. Two trainers, Katherine Coleman and Peter Moody, have trained him to perform well on the track. As per the records, he had won the Group Two races and earned up to $2,000,000.

Spanish Mission is a talented and energetic horse that can win any race if ridden well. William Buick rode him in the 2021 York race and earned $200,000 with this horse. Consider the Spanish Mission in the upcoming Melbourne Cup by betting your money wisely.

5. Sheraz

Sheraz

It is another young and energetic six-year-old male horse from France. Chris Waller is the trainer, which makes him the stakes winner and able to win $600,000 in his career. If you are looking for a contender with above-average abilities, then Sheraz should be your choice.

In the 2021 race at Chantilly, Christophe Soumillon rode Sheraz and managed to earn around $80,000 by defeating Karlstad. Undoubtedly, it is a profitable horse and a favorite choice for punters. By considering him, you can expect a 40% chance of return through your investments.

6. Goldman

Goldman from New Zealand, this five-year-old young horse, is a considerable contender in the Melbourne Cup race. Adrian Bott and Gai Waterhouse have trained him well to become a stakes winner with approximate earnings of $300,000 in his career.

It is another above-average horse, which bettors can mark for their bets. Jordan Childs rode him in the 2024 Flemington race, winning approximately $500,000 by defeating Soulcombe. Anyone investing in Goldman can achieve a 200% return.

7. Lunar Flare

It is a brown Australian-based eight-year-old mare, the perfect choice for bettors in the Melbourne Cup. Grahame Begg is the trainer who helped her win the Group Two race, earning $ 2,000,0000. Lunar Flare should be your choice if you want to bet on a talented horse.

In the 2021 Valley race, Michael Dee rode her and won the amount of $1,000,000 by defeating the Floating Artist. It is a great investment option with a 30% chance of getting a return through your bets. Expect better profits by considering Lunar Flare as a top contender for the upcoming racing events.

8. Valiant King

In this list, Valiant is the youngest 3-year-old male horse from the United Kingdom. Joseph O’Brien is the trainer of this gray stallion. In his career, King has managed to win only one race. But it is a fresh top contender noticed after the race happened at Navan in 2024.

The rider managed to earn $19,000 in his first race. You can invest in Valiant King after considering its performance in the previous events. This new contender will succeed per your expectations, so you can consider it for betting.

Final Thoughts

Choose the best contender from the list for the upcoming Melbourne Cup and place your bets on them to make profits. Get amazed by their performance in previous races and consider them having some chance of winning the cup in the racing event. Delve into The Melbourne Cup Chronicles to gain a fascinating look back at the intriguing history of past winners and races.

Bet your money wisely by investing in the right horse. Know the game and mark your contender with your experience. Never rush to make any decision; it can either make or break your game. Slow down a bit and choose what is perfect for your bets.