Pedestrian’s Melbourne Cup Form Guide



Have you left it to the last minute to become an Emirates Melbourne Cup expert again? Well that’s cool. While you’ve spent the year ruing those near misses and promising yourself you’d be all over it this time around, we’ve actually been getting all over it. It referring to the Melbourne Cup form, and this year we’ve detailed a list of the sure things, the long shots, and the absolute turkeys. Happy punting!

Keep in mind, if you have a bet with Centrebet on the Cup and run second to the favourite, they will refund your first losing bet.


Dunaden is an even better horse than he was last year when he took out the big one. Back to back?

1. DUNADEN (FR)
Trainer: Mikel Delzangles – Jockey: Craig Williams – Barrier 16
After taking out last years Cup by a whisker, Dunaden has continued to improve and enters this years race as the best horse in the field. Problem being, if he is to win he will do so carrying the most weight of any horse since 1968. Weather conditions either way will throw plenty of horse off their game but Dunaden is versatile, and will be a huge chance rain, hail, or shine.
Odds: $7.00

2. AMERICAIN (USA)
Trainer: Alain de Royer Dupre – Jockey: Damien Oliver – Barrier 12
With impeccable credentials, Americain is the perfect Melbourne Cup Horse. Damien Oliver has been there, done that as well. The big question is his age. At 8, this will surely be his last cup run. Maybe it’s one too many.
Odds: $6.50

3. JAKKALBERRY (IRE)
Trainer: M Botti – Jockey: Colm O’Donoghue – Barrier 19
Jakkalberry comes into the cup with some okay form but going off his Caulfield run, he’s is ridden by a jockey with little clue on how to ride winners in Australia’s big races. A probable back of the field finish beckons.
Odds: $71.00

4. RED CADEAUX (GB)
Trainer: Ed Dunlop – Jockey: Michael Rodd – Barrier 18
Ran a very close second last year and heavily backed this year. Runs better fresh which is why he hasn’t run since September. Pundits claim it’s a stronger field this year some are questioning whether Red Cadeaux is a better horse. Justifiably a favourite but a few questions remain. Was last year his best shot?
Odds: $9.50

5. WINCHESTER (USA)
Trainer: John Sadler – Jockey: Jamie Mott – Barrier 22
Has decent form and fitness but probably not the class to take out the Cup. Expect him to come home strong but outside of the places leaving punters to rue what could of been.
Odds: $51.00

6 .VOILA ICI (IRE)
Trainer: Peter G Moody – Jockey: Vlad Duric – Barrier 13
The love for the fancied Viola Ici to a massive hit after the last placed Caulfield Cup run and he appears to have been found out as a pretender. Just making up the numbers.
Odds: $151.00

7. CAVALRYMAN (GB)
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor – Jockey: Frankie Dettori – Barrier 6 – Odds
Not even the world’s best jockey, Frankie Dettori, will be able to get this slugger up in contention. Cavalryman has raced little of late and his European form has been far from impressive.
Odds: $34.00


Luca Cumani’s Mount Athos and My Quest For Peace are both big chances can. Can he go 1-2?

8. MOUNT ATHOS (IRE)
Trainer: Luca Cumani – Jockey: Ryan Moore – Barrier 8
A Bona fide Cup chance. Looks like he’ll be suited to the conditions, he’s carrying little in the way of weight and he is in super form. It’s Ryan Moore’s first Melbourne Cup and while he is an extremely experienced jockey, the Melbourne Cup is a race like no other. If he can hold his head and there is little in the way of rain, expect Mount Athos to live up to his hype.
Odds: $7.00


9. SANAGAS (GER)

Trainer: Bart Cummings – Jockey: Nicholas Hall – Barrier 4
If it’s your tradition to chuck a sentimental bet on for Bart, Sanagas is your best option. But you better make it an each-way. Needs to find several lengths of form to finish anywhere in the top half of the field but if anyone is going to find that form…
Odds: $51.00


10. ETHIOPIA

Trainer: Pat Carey – Jockey: Rhys Mc Leod – Barrier 14
As a 4-year-old, Ethiopia has a huge future ahead of him. Ran an excellent race in the Cox Plate last week but will be too inexperienced this year, surely? Expect “Greatest horse since… comparisons if he does pull out the race of his life.
Odds: $21.00

11. FIORENTE (IRE)
Trainer Gai Waterhouse – Jockey: James McDonald – Barrier 2
A recent score for Waterhouse, Fiorente smashed the fancied Red Cadeaux in August. Loves a wet track. Probably not his year.
Odds: $31.00

12. GALILEO’S CHOICE (IRE)

Trainer: Dermot Weld – Jockey: P J Smullen – Barrier 11
A reformed jumps horse, Galileo’s Choice has all the attributes. Traditionally jumps horses are slower but have superior fitness so look for Galileo’s Choice to come home strong when some of the sprinters start falling away.
Odds: $16.00

13. GLENCADAM GOLD

Trainer: Gai Waterhouse – Jockey: Tommy Berry – Barrier 7
As the favorite, Glencadam Gold ran a stinker at the Caulfield Cup. He likes to lead but will probably find the speed and class of the field too much and blow up pretty early.
Odds: $41.00

14. GREEN MOON (IRE)
Trainer: Robert Hickmott – Jockey: Brett Prebble – Barrier 5
Green Moon has plenty of buzz but has never raced, let along performed well, over 2500m. He bombed as a favorite in the Cox Plate but his form has always been up and down so he’s about due for a good run. But probably not.
Odds: $18.00

15. MALUCKYDAY (NZ)

Trainer: Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes – Jockey: Jimmy Cassidy – Barrier 9
Seen as the best local chance, this 6-year-old 2010 runner-up should be hitting the his prime racing age. Would like some rain and would like some of the older favorites to act their age.
Odds: $14.00


I good showing will make up for the disappointment of a race day scratching for Mourayan last year.


16. MOURAYAN (IRE)

Trainer: Robert Hickmott – Jockey: Hugh Bowman – Barrier 3
Scratched on the morning of last years Cup, Mourayan has fallen off most punters radar. Has decent Sydney racing form and goes into the race fresh and suited to the dry track. Look for this horse on the back strait! Great value.
Odds: $26.00

17. MY QUEST FOR PEACE (IRE)
Trainer: Luca Cumani – Jockey: Corey Brown – Barrier 1
Top European form has translated to decent Australian form but their are indications that he is still improving. Very decent odds and perfectly suited to the predicted hard track. A real chance.
Odds: $19.00


Unfortunately Niwot is one of the office sweeps bogus picks this year.


18. NIWOT

Trainer: Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes – Jockey: Dwayne Dunn – Barrier 15
Niwot is To Win backwards. Problem for Niwot is he hasn’t shown any form running forwards. Ran well last year but his recent performances have been on the nose. Would benefit from a heavy track.
Odds: $61.00

19. TAC DE BOISTRON (FR)
Trainer: Michael KentJockey: O Dolueze – Barrier 21
This typical Frenchy is set in his ways and loves a wet track. Was awful in the Geelong Cup and similar conditions are predicted for tomorrows race. Needs a lot of rain, probably even too much to hope for from Melbourne’ typically fickle weather.
Odds: $61.00

20. LIGHTS OF HEAVEN (NZ)
Trainer: Peter G Moody – Jockey: Luke Nolen – Barrier 17
Heads the local charge after a good showing in the Caulfield Cup. She’s never ran 3200m so distance could be a problem. Will feature in the top half but probably out of the places. Still a horse on the up-and-up so keep an eye on her if she gets a run next year.
Odds: $19.00

21. PRECEDENCE (NZ)
Trainer: Bart Cummings – Jockey: Blake Shinn – Barrier 20
Not even the Bart expects this guy to win. It’s his third turn out for the race and his placing will continue his slide through the field.
Odds: $101.00

22. UNUSUAL SUSPECT (USA)
Trainer: Michael Kent – Jockey: Glyn Schofield – Barrier 23
Coming from the US, with little in the way of substencial form, ever, Unusual Suspect is just making up the numbers.
Odds: $301.00

23. ZABEELIONAIRE (NZ)
Trainer: Leon Corstens – Jockey: Craig Newitt – Barrier 24
Sired from the same Papa the gave us Might And Power and Jezabeel, Zabeelionaire has the genes. Not an exceptionally fast horse off the mark, he’ll build over the last half of the race. To be a chance Newitt will need to make sure he doesn’t fall too far back in the first half of the race. Not a bad roughie.
Odds: $51.00

24. KELINNI (IRE)
Trainer: Chris Waller – Jockey: Glen Boss – Barrier 10
Scraped into the race with a win Lexus Stakes on Saturday. He’s never ran 3200m before and he’s giving away plenty of class. Glen Boss enjoyed Cup success on Makybe Diva; I hope he savored it because he’s just making up the numbers this time around.
Odds: $20.00

Pedestrian Top Tips
1. Dunaden
2. Mount Athos
3. My Quest For Peace
4. Maluckyday
5. Ethiopia

Pedestrian Roughies
1. Galileo’s Choice
2. Mourayan
3. Lights Of Heaven

Best of luck and have fun!

Pictures by Getty Images

More Stuff From PEDESTRIAN.TV