The Melbourne Cup is almost here with the final field ready to make history.
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Australian and international horses will gallop in the 3200 metre race for $8 million in prize money.
Here are the key things you need to know before the running of the 'race that stops the nation'.
What time does it start?
The Melbourne Cup is always held on the first Tuesday in November. This year's race will start at 3pm AEDT on November 7.
For those in Victoria, NSW, the ACT and Tasmania it's on at 3pm. If you're watching in Western Australia its 12pm, in the Northern Territory it's on at 1.30pm, and it's 2pm in Queensland, 2.30pm in Adelaide.
Where can I watch?
Channel 10 will have coverage of the Melbourne Cup from 10am until 5.30pm.
You can also livestream it at racing.com, or watch on the racing channel on Foxtel.
Order of entry: Who's running?
Order of entry - Horse - Barrier - Trainer, Jockey - Weight:
- Gold Trip (FRA) - 2 - Ciaron Maher, David Eustace - 58.5 kg
- Alenquer (FRA) - 9 -Mike Moroney - 56.5kg
- Without a Fight (IRE) -16- Anthony and Sam Freedman - 56.5kg
- Breakup (JPN) - 18 - Tatsuya Yoshioka - 55kg
- Vauban (FRA) - 3 - Willie Mullins - 55kg
- Soulcombe (GB) - 4 - Chris Waller - 53.5kg
- Absurde (FRA) - 8 - Willie Mullins - 53kg
- Right You Are - 15 - Ciaron Maher and David Eustace - 53kg
- Vow and Declare - 19 - Danny O'Brien - 53kg
- Cleveland (IRE) - 23 - Kris Lees - 51.5kg
- Ashrun (FRA) - 11 - Ciaron Maher and David Eustace - 51.5kg
- Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) - 12 - Phillip Stokes - 51.5 kg
- Okita Soushi (IRE) - 20 - Joseph O'Brien - 51.5 kg
- Sheraz (FRA) - 22 - Chris Waller - 51.5kg
- Lastotchka (FRA) - 21 - Jean-Marie Beguigne - 51kg
- Magical Lagoon (IRE) - 7 - Chris Waller - 51 kg
- Military Mission (IRE) - 5 - Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott - 50.5kg
- Serpentine (IRE) - 1 - Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott - 51kg
- Virtuous Circle (NZ) - 6 - Liam Howley - 51kg
- More Felons (IRE) - 24 - Chris Waller - 50.5kg
- Future History (GB) - 13 - Ciaron Maher and David Eustace - 50kg
- Interpretation (IRE) - 17 - Ciaron Maher and David Eustace - 50kg
- Kalapour (IRE) - 14 - Kirs Lee - 50kg
- True Marvel (FRA) - 10 - Matthew Smith - 50kg
Who are the favourites?
As of 1pm November 2, French export VAUBAN is the hot favourite paying 3.50 for a fixed odds win with tab.com.au.
Behind VAUBAN is GOLD TRIP, paying 4.50 for a fixed odds win and WITHOUT A FIGHT in third spot paying 7.00 for a fixed odds win.
ALENQUER, ASHRUN AND FUTURE HISTORY are paying 34.00 for a fixed odds win.
The longest odds currently is TRUE MARVEL paying 201.00 for a fixed odds win.
- National Gambling Helpline on 1800 858 858
What prize money is on offer?
The race is 3200 metres and a total of $8 million is on offer this year, it's the same as last year. This is the breakdown:
- 1st $4.4m
- 2nd $1.1m
- 3rd $550,000
- 4th $350,000
- 5th $230,000
- 6th-12th $160,000
2022 Melbourne Cup Finishing Order
Position - Horse
1st - GOLD TRIP
2nd - EMISSARY
3rd - HIGH EMOCEAN
Most wins by a horse
Only five horses have won multiple Cups, with the great mare Makybe Diva holding the record with three Melbourne Cups, all ridden by jockey Glen Boss.
Wins - Horse - Years
3 Makybe Diva - 2003, 2004, 2005
2 Think Big - 1974, 1975
2 Rain Lover - 1968, 1969
2 Peter Pan - 1932, 1934
2 Archer - 1861, 1862
Other interesting Melbourne Cup records
- Longest odds winners - 100-1 : The Pearl (1871), Wotan (1936), Old Rowley (1940), and Prince of Penzance (2015).
- Shortest odds win - Phar Lap at 8/11 in 1930 ($1.73).
- Favourites win percentage - 23 per cent have won the Melbourne Cup (34 of 150 favourites).
- Most runs - Shadow King ran six times in seven years from 1929 and 1935. Finishing 6th, 3rd, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd and 4th.
- Oldest winners - Three horses have run as eight year olds - Toryboy in 1865, Catalogue in 1938 & Twilight Payment in 2020.
- First female jockey win - Michelle Payne (2015, on Prince of Penzance).
- Record winning time - 3.16.30 Kingston Rule (1990).
- Longest win margin - Archer in 1862 and Rain Lover in 1968 both won by a record 8-lengths.
- Heaviest weight carried by winner - The horse to carry the heaviest weight in the Cup's history was Phar Lap (68 kg) in 1931 where he ran 8th.
- Lightest weight carried by winner - Banker in 1863 with 34 kg.