INTERNATIONAL RUNNERS IN MELBOURNE CUP

In the last 45 years the Melbourne Cup has become a truly international event.



Absurde was best of the internationals in 2023

INTERNATIONAL RUNNERS IN MELBOURNE CUP

In the last 45 years the Melbourne Cup has become a truly international event.

But since the early 1990's we have had overseas horses specifically encouraged to compete in our premier horse race and not just be trained here.

However overseas horses had tasted success in the Cup as far back as 1910 when Comedy King became the first "import" to win our major prize in racing.

Blackwood in 1924 was the second international horse to win.

Since 1978 we have seen a constant flow of overseas participation, be it by Australians purchasing overseas horses to aim them specifically at the Cup, breeding them to overseas time or by racing authorities offering inducements to get overseas owners and trainers to make the long journey down under.

The late Robert Sangster started the "new" trend back in 1978 with Panamint and then finally succeeding two years later in 1980 with Beldale Ball.

Imported horses to be trained here changed to be those who come to Australia to race with their current trainers from the mid '90s. In more recent times those overseas trainers are starting to get a better idea of the type of horse required to win the Cup.

In the past the emphasis has been on the dour staying types of gallopers who can stay all day, ie up to 4000m.

However it has been shown that the best type of European galloper is one with form up to about 2800m - the distance of the Irish St Leger which Vintage Crop won before coming to Australia. Media Puzzle was a similar type of galloper before he came down for the Cup.

Americain showed in his Geelong Cup win he too had that dash as did his French compatriot Dunaden who blazed a similar trail in the same lead up race.

The really dour overseas stayers don't have the ability to sprint at the end of a 3200m race and have largely been a failure in Australia. Green Moon was raced in Australian interests but was originally a Listed Race winner with Harry Dunlop.

In 2013 the redoubtable Red Cadeaux was second again and in fact the first five home all started their racing careers in Europe while a year later it was the German horse Protectionist who beat old Red again.

2017 saw an all Irish trifecta with a European 3yo taking the prize as Rekindling won for Joseph O'Brien beating his father Aidan home.

It happened again in 2018 as the trifecta went to one country. England scored its first training win as Charlie Appleby gave Godolphin their initial Melbourne Cup success with Cross Counter.

An Aussie fought off a swag of globetrotters in 2019.

Then in 2020 we went back to the global domination as Twilight Payment from Ireland beat Tiger Moth from Ireland with Prince Of Arran from England placed once again despite it being affected by coronavirus attendance.

There were only two to contest in 2021 due to worldwide issues of travel through the pandemic and also concerns that participants expressed regarding test requirements for those entries.

Also in 2022, while now a local being trained by Maher/Eustace, Gold Trip was a French horse who had run in a Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe two years before.

Without A Fight ran in the 2022 Cup when down the track but stayed in Australia under the Freedman's banner and did the Cups double in 2023.

So when looking at the imports we should focus on Group performers who have excellent form between roughly 2500m to 3200m.

Year Horse Finish Odds Margin Jockey
2023 Absurde 7th 8/1 5.5L Zac Purton
  Okita Soushi 11th 100/1 8.4L Dylan Gibbons
  Vauban 14th 9/2 13.4L Ryan Moore
  Breakup 16th 17/1 14.3L Kohei Matsuyama
2022 Deauville Legend 4th 3/1 5.0L Kerrin McEvoy
  Without A Fight 13th 11/1 21.2L William Buick
2021 Spanish Mission 3rd 9/1 4.4L Craig Williams
  Twilight Payment 11th 12/1 19.4L Jye McNeil
2020 Twilight Payment WON 25/1 0.4L Jye McNeil
  Tiger Moth 2nd 11/2 0.4L Kerrin McEvoy
  Prince Of Arran 3rd 8/1 0.6L Jamie Kah
  Ashrun 10th 25/1 4.8L Declan Bates
  Master Of Reality 15th 20/1 10.7L Ben Melham
  Stratum Albion 20th 30/1 17.9L Jordan Childs
  Dashing Willoughby 21st 100/1 19.2L Michael Walker
  Anthony Van Dyck DNF 9/1 DNF Hugh Bowman
2019 Prince Of Arran 2nd 16/1 0.2L Michael Walker
  Il Paradiso 3rd 14/1 0.3L Wayne Lordan
  Master Of Reality 4th 25/1 0.4L Frankie Dettori
  Mer De Glace 6th 8/1 1.2L Damian Lane
  Cross Counter 8th 12/1 1.6L William Buick
  Magic Wand 10th 25/1 3.6L Ryan Moore
  Twilight Payment 11th 40/1 3.8L Hugh Bowman
  Hunting Horn 15th 50/1 4.5L Seamie Heffernan
  Raymond Tusk 16th 20/1 5L Jamie Spencer
  Latrobe 18th 20/1 6.5L James McDonald
  Downdraft 22nd 20/1 8.7L John Allen
2018 Cross Counter WON 8/1 1.0L Kerrin McEvoy
  Marmelo 2nd 11/1 1.0L Hugh Bowman
  A Prince Of Arran 3rd 20/1 3.0L Michael Walker
  Rostropovich 5th 20/1 4.5L Wayne Lordan
  Best Solution 8th 15/1 8.8L Pat Cosgrave
  Muntahaa 9th 16/1 9.6L Jim Crowley
  Yucatan 11th 5/1 11.9L James McDonald
  Nakeeta 12th 80/1 12.0L Regan Bayliss
  Chestnut Coat 14th 66/1 16.3L Yuga Kawada
  Magic Circle 16th 6/1 19.8L Corey Brown
  The Cliffsofmoher DNF 20/1 DNF Ryan Moore
2017 Rekindling WON 14/1 0.4L Corey Brown
  Johannes Vermeer 2nd 12/1 0.4L Ben Melham
  Max Dynamite 3rd 20/1 2.9L Zac Purton
  Nakeeta 5th 40/1 6.5L Glyn Schofield
  Thomas Hobson 6th 20/1 8.8L Ben Allen
  Tiberian 7th 30/1 9.3L Olivier Peslier
  Marmelo 9th 6/1EF 9.9L Hugh Bowman
  Wicklow Brave 10th 66/1 10.7L Stephen Baster
  Red Cardinal 11th 15/1 11.5L Kerrin McEvoy
  Wall Of Fire 16th 10/1 15.8L Craig Williams
  US Army Ranger 18th 66/1 16.5L Jamie Spencer
2016 Heartbreak City 2nd 20/1 0.2L Joao Moreira
  Qewy 4th 20/1 6.8L Craig Williams
  Beautiful Romance 7th 66/1 8.0L Damian Lane
  Big Orange 10th 12/1 9.7L Jamie Spencer
  Oceanographer 12th 8/1 10.2L Chad Schofield
  Bondi Beach 13th 12/1 11.0L Ryan Moore
  Secret Number 21st 30/1 22.0L Stephen Baster
  Wicklow Brave 22nd 15/1 24.0L Frankie Dettori
  Curren Mirotic 23rd 50/1 27.0L Tommy Berry
2015 Max Dynamite 2nd 12/1 0.5L Frankie Dettori
  Trip To Paris 4th 5/1 2.1L Tommy Berry
  Big Orange 5th 60/1 2.5L Jamie Spencer
  Quest For More 9th 80/1 4L Damian Lane
  Fame Game 13th 4/1 6L Zac Purton
  Bondi Beach 16th 20/1 6.5L Brett Prebble
  Hokko Brave 17th 40/1 6.5L Craig Williams
  Kingfisher 19th 60/1 7.5L Colm O'Donoghue
  Sky Hunter 22nd 30/1 16.5L William Buick
  Snow Sky 23rd 50/1 18.5L Ryan Moore
  Red Cadeaux DNF 25/1 DNF Gerald Mosse
2014 Protectionist WON 7/1 4L Ryan Moore
  Red Cadeaux 2nd 20/1 4L Gerald Mosse
  Willing Foe 5th 30/1 7L James McDonald
  Au Revoir 8th 66/1 11L Glyn Schofield
  Seismos 9th 100/1 12.5L Craig Newitt
  Gatewood 12th 60/1 15.5L William Buick
  Mutual Regard 14th 8/1 17.5L Damien Oliver
  My Ambivalent 17th 30/1 25L Andrea Atzeni
  Royal Diamond 20th 100/1 48L Steve Arnold
  Admire Rakti 22nd 9/2 73.5L Zac Purton
2013 Red Cadeaux 2nd 60/1 0.8L Gerald Mosse
  Mount Athos 3rd 12/1 2.3L Craig Williams
  Simenon 4th 20/1 2.5L Richard Hughes
  Dandino 5th 9/1 3.5L Ryan Moore
  Brown Panther 8th 20/1 7.3L Richard Kingscote
  Dunaden 11th 60/1 8.8L Jamie Spencer
  Royal Empire 14th 20/1 10.5L Saeed Bin Suroor
  Ruscello 23rd 50/1 56.7L Chad Schofield
  Verema DNF 16/1 DNF Christophe Lemaire
2012 Jakkalberry 3rd 80/1 2.3L Colm O'Donoghue
  Mount Athos 5th 13/2 3.3L Ryan Moore
  Red Cadeaux 8th 8/1 6L Michael Rodd
  My Quest For Peace 10th 16/1 6.3L Corey Brown
  Americain 11th 13/2 6.7L Damien Oliver
  Cavalryman 12th 30/1 7.7L Frankie Dettori
  Dunaden 14th 6/1 10L Craig Williams
  Galileo's Choice 20th 15/1 12L Pat Smullen
2011 Dunaden WON 15/2 0.1L Christophe Lemaire
  Red Cadeaux 2nd 30/1 0.1L Michael Rodd
  Americain 4th 4/1 1.5L Gerald Mosse
  Manighar 5th 40/1 3L Damien Oliver
  Lost In The Moment 6th 30/1 3L William Buick
  Fox Hunt 7th 30/1 3L Silvestre de Sousa
  Drunken Sailor 12th 40/1 8L Dwayne Dunn
  Moyenne Corniche 15th 30/1 8L Brett Prebble
  Saptapadi 16th 80/1 8.5L Chris Symons
  Jukebox Jury 20th 14/1 17L Neil Callan
  Modun 23rd 30/1 26L Kerrin McEvoy
2010 Americain WON 12/1 3.0L Gerald Mosse
  Holberg 6th 20/1 6.5L Frankie Dettori
  Manighar 7th 25/1 9.4L Damien Oliver
  Illustrious Blue 9th 50/1 11L Glen Boss
  Mr Medici 10th 60/1 12.5L Darren Beadman
  Tokai Trick 12th 100/1 13L Shinji Fujita
  Campanologist 16th 66/1 19L Kerrin McEvoy
  Profound Beauty 17th 30/1 19.5L Pat Smullen
2009 Crime Scene 2nd 40/1 0.8L Kerrin McEvoy
  Mourilyan 3rd 20/1 2.3L Glyn Schofield
  Munsef 12th 50/1 6.4L Zac Purton
  Basaltico 18th 25/1 11.5L Danny Nikolic
2008 Bauer 2nd 20/1 0.1L Corey Brown
  Profound Beauty 5th 8/1 2.7L Glen Boss
  Mad Rush 7th 9/2 5.7L Damien Oliver
  Varevees 14th 100/1 11.3L Craig Williams
  Septimus 18th 6/1 20.5L Johnny Murtagh
  Alessandro Volta 20th 40/1 39.5L Wayne Lordan
  Honolulu 21st 20/1 89.5L Colm O'Donoghue
2007 Purple Moon 2nd 9/2 0.5L Damien Oliver
  Mahler 3rd 9/1 3.0L Stephen Baster
  Tungsten Strike 21st 30/1 53.9L Darryll Holland
2006 Delta Blues WON 16/1 0.1L Yasunari Iwata
  Pop Rock 2nd 5/1EF 0.1L Damien Oliver
  Land N Stars 5th 200/1 7.6L John Egan
  Yeats 7th 11/2 8.1L Keiran Fallon
  Glistening 10th 80/1 10.4L Scott Seamer
  Geordieland 18th 15/1 28.7L Frankie Dettori
2005 Vinnie Roe 8th 15/1 5.5L Patrick Smullen
  Eye Popper 12th 5/1 6.8L Shinji Fujita
  Grey's Inn 17th 80/1 17.3L Weichong Marwing
  Distinction 19th 25/1 20.6L Michael Kinnane
  Franklins Gardens 24th 200/1 PU Darryll Holland
2004 Vinnie Roe 2nd 5/1 1.3L Patrick Smullen
  Distinction 6th 12/1 7.4L Darren Beadman
  Mamool 7th 25/1 7.5L Frankie Dettori
  Razkalla 9th 40/1 9.9L Kerrin McEvoy
  Media Puzzle 12th 20/1 15.766 Damien Oliver
2003 Jardine's Lookout 3rd 40/1 4.2L Darryll Holland
  Hugs Dancer 9th 15/1 8.7L Dean McKeown
  Holy Orders 17th 30/1 16.6L Davy Condon
  Millstreet 21st 30/1 23.1L Patrick Payne
  Mamool 23rd 11/2F PU Frankie Dettori
2002 Media Puzzle WON 11/2 2.0L Damien Oliver
  Beekeeper 3rd 8/1 2.2L Kerrin McEvoy
  Vinnie Roe 4th 9/2f 3.9L Pat Smullen
  Jardines Lookout 7th 30/1 7.2L Paddy Payne
  Daliapour 16th 30/1 15.9L Michael Kinnane
  Pugin 18th 15/2 23.9L Frankie Dettori
  Hatha Anna 20th 50/1 28.9L Richard Hills
  Sandmason 23rd 50/1 41.3L Stephen Arnold
2001 Give The Slip 2nd 30/1 0.8L Richard Hills
  Persian Punch 3rd 12/1 6.8L Tom Quinn
  Marienbard 7th 16/1 8.9L Frankie Dettori
  Caitano 13th 50/1 18.2L John Murtagh
2000 Artic Owl 5th 14/1 4.9L David Harrison
  Enzeli 15th 15/1 25.8L Greg Hall
  Lightning Arrow 17th 20/1 36.1L Frankie Dettori
  Far Cry 21th 8/1 55.9L Kevin Darley
1999 Central Park 2nd 50/1 0.5L Frankie Dettori
  Travelmate 5th 9/1 1.0L David Harrison
  Yavana's Pace 12th 30/1 7.2L Richard Hughes
  Maridpour 20th 66/1 14.6L Steve Arnold
1998 Persian Punch 3rd 12/1 0.8L Rodney Quinn
  Taufan's Melody 4th 20/1 1.0L Patrick Payne
  Yorkshire 5th 33/1 1.1L Danny Nikolic
  Faithful Son 7th 13/2 4.4L Frankie Dettori
  Darazari 11th 14/1 7.1L Opie Bosson
  Sheer Danzig 12th 20/1 7.6L Damien Oliver
  Peak Of Perfection 17th 330/1 10.8L Saimie Jumaat
  Three Crowns FTF 125/1 PU Simon Price
1997 Harbour Dues 4th 40/1 1.1L Ray Cochrane
  Arabian Story 6th 25/1 3.7L Frankie Dettori
1996 Grey Shot 7th 25/1 5.3L Pat Eddery
  Oscar Schindler 15th 4/1F 8.3L Michael Kinnane
  Court Of Honour 20th 25/1 13.3L Simon Marshall
1995 Vintage Crop 3rd 8/1 4.3L Michael Kinnane
  Double Trigger 18th 7/2F 51.0L Jason Weaver
1994 Vintage Crop 7th 5/1F 6.7L Michael Kinnane
  River Verdon 20th 80/1 25.0L John Marshall
  Clivedon Gail 22th 10/1 33.5L Willie Carson
  Quick Ransom 23rd 7/1 33.6L Brent Thomson
1993 Vintage Crop WON 14/1 3.0L Michael Kinnane
  Drum Taps 9th 8/1 10.4L Frankie Dettori
1992 Val D'Arno 13th 33/1 15.6L P Johnson
1991 Ivory Way 5th 6/1 3.5L Michael Clarke
  Rasheek 6th 25/1 4.5L Peter Hutchinson
  Al Maheb 7th 16/1 4.8L Darren Gauci
  Alphabel 16th 40/1 11.3L Glen Darrington
  Nayrizi 19th 33/1 14.3L Greg Hall
1990 Kingston Rule WON 7/1EF 1.0L Darren Beadman
  Savage Toss 7th 66/1 5.0L Brian Hibberd
  Water Boatman 19th 10/1 15.0L Peter Hutchinson
1989 Kudz 3rd 50/1 2.4L Michael Clarke
  Gopak 12th 16/1 14.0L Lance O'Sullivan
1988 Natski 2nd 5/1EF 0.1L Mick Dittman
  Shantaroun 13th 10/1 9.5L Greg Hall
  Authaal 19th 12/1 14.5L Brent Thomson
1987 Rosedale 3rd 5/1F 0.6L John Marshall
1986 At Talaq WON 10/1 0.4L Michael Clarke
1984 British 13th 33/1 14.3L Michael Clarke
1983 Triumphal March 11th 14/1 9.3L Brent Thomson
  Machtvogel 14th 33/1 11.0L P Jarman
1982 Triumphal March 15th 15/1 9.0L Brent Thomson
1980 Beldale Ball WON 11/1 1.5L John Letts
  Bohemian Grove 21st 10/1   Mick Mallyon
1978 Panamint 10th 9/1   Roy Higgins
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