6th November 2006
The Melbourne Cup – Three Year Olds
Bill Whittaker writing in the Sydney Morning Herald provided the following interesting statistics for the Melbourne Cup.
Over the past 60 years twelve VRC Derby winners have contested the Melbourne Cup in their 3 year old season.
The following table shows how the 3 year old’s fared, note their weight increased from a minimum 47.5kg to 49kg in 2005. This is the new weight for age scale applicable to 3 year olds.
Skipton ridden by Bill Cook was the last 3 year old to win the Cup in 1943. Before 1941 the 3 year olds enjoyed outstanding success in the Cup winning 22 times between 1863 and 1933.
Outstanding Champion 3 year olds Phar Lap (1929), and Mandred (1925) were defeated as “hot” favourties.
60 Year History of 3 years olds in the Melbourne Cup
Year Horse Weight Finished
KG
1946 Prince Standard 46 5th to Russia
1948 Comic Court 47 4th to Rimfire
1949 Delta 47.5 5th to Foxzami
1950 Alister 47 8th to Comic Cout
1951 Hydrogen 48 6th to Delta
1958 Sir Blink* 50 6th to Baystone
1959 Travel Boy 47.5 7th to Macdougal
1964 Royal Sovereign 47.5 14th to Polo Prince
1965 Tobin Bronze 47 8th to Light Fingers
1989 Stylish Century 47.5 21st to Tawrrific
1995 Nothin’ Leica Dane 47.5 2nd to Doriemus
1998 Arena 47.5 15th to Jezabeel
2006 Efficient 49 Scratched
*Sir Blink penalized for winning the Caulfield Cup in 1958.
