Heading into the 2025 Melbourne Cup, punters will face two main options when betting:
Do you go early on futures betting, or do you wait for the tote?
In this betting guide, we’ll look at what futures betting is, it’s advantages, disadvantages and how to use these markets to maximise your returns on the Melbourne Cup.
Bookmakers for Melbourne Cup Futures Betting
1
2024 Melbourne Cup futures odds
Note: Keep an eye on this page for updated odds and odds comparison from the biggest bookmakers.
Remember the value futures punters will receive, given the favourite before the running of the Cup usually jumps at between $5-$10.
Most online bookmakers provide fixed odds for more than 100 possible horses that could squeeze into the 24-runner field.
Odds for the Melbourne Cup as of November 4, 2024:
| RUNNER | WIN ODDS | PLACE ODDS |
|---|---|---|
| Vauban | +550 | +170 |
| Buckaroo | +600 | +160 |
| Onesmoothoperator | +750 | +230 |
| Absurde | +800 | +210 |
| Zardozi | +1100 | +320 |
| Sea King | +1100 | +300 |
| Okita Soushi | +1200 | +360 |
| Land Legend | +1400 | +400 |
| Interpretation | +1800 | +500 |
More runners quoted at Bovada
Advantages of placing a Melbourne Cup futures bet
The saying goes “early bird catches the worm” and that’s the punters theory when betting on futures.
Getting in early has always been a positive in all aspects of betting because that’s when the best value is offered.
Why are the odds better? Due to the race being days, weeks or months away, the odds haven’t been affected by recent form, nor can the price be affected by the pool of money.
Some helpful futures market info and thoughts:
- Most Melbourne Cup favourite’s pay in the range of $5-$8 by the time of race day, but you can get almost double that for most of the well-favoured runners in the months leading up to the race, with the markets constantly changing.
- Futures odds also give punters the opportunity to secure big overs on a runner that isn’t well liked in the market. Punters might have an inkling, inside knowledge or just plain luck and their runner at massive odds could get into the field with a chance of winning.
- Runners yet to be accepted to run in the 24-horse field in the Melbourne Cup will often have to show strong form and win qualification races in the lead up. Before they achieve this feat, they are often in the hundreds of dollars in the odds market. Getting in early on a futures market can literally make you hundreds and thousands of dollars.
- If your desired runner isn’t listed at any of our recommended bookmakers, simply make contact with them and they will get a quote for your runner.
2024 Melbourne Cup final field
| No. | Silks | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Vauban | Willie Mullins | William Buick | 11 | 55.5kg | +500 |
| 2 |  |
Buckaroo | Chris Waller | Joao Moreira | 21 | 54.5kg | +400 |
| 3 |  |
Circle Of Fire | Ciaron Maher | Mark Zahra | 24 | 54.5kg | +3300 |
| 4 |  |
Warp Speed | Noboru Takagi | Akira Sugawara | 3 | 54.5kg | +4000 |
| 5 |  |
Kovalica | Chris Waller | Damian Lane | 17 | 53.5kg | +2500 |
| 6 |  |
Sharp ‘N’ Smart | Graeme & Deborah Rogerson | Michael Dee | 15 | 53.5kg | +7000 |
| 7 |  |
Just Fine | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Jye McNeil | 13 | 53kg | +3300 |
| 8 |  |
Land Legend | Chris Waller | Zac Purton | 18 | 53kg | +2000 |
| 9 |  |
Absurde | Willie Mullins | Kerrin McEvoy | 7 | 52.5kg | +1000 |
| 10 |  |
Athabascan | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Zac Lloyd | 2 | 52kg | +4000 |
| 11 |  |
Knight’s Choice | John Symons & Sheila Laxon | Robbie Dolan | 6 | 51.5kg | +15000 |
| 12 |  |
Okita Soushi | Ciaron Maher | Jamie Kah | 10 | 51kg | +1600 |
| 13 |  |
Onesmoothoperator | Brian Ellison | Craig Williams | 12 | 51kg | +700 |
| 14 |  |
Zardozi | James Cummings | Andrea Atzeni | 4 | 51kg | +1300 |
| 15 |  |
Sea King | Harry Eustace | Hollie Doyle | 1 | 50.5kg | +850 |
| 16 |  |
Valiant King | Chris Waller | Craig Newitt | 22 | 50.5kg | +6000 |
| 17 |  |
Fancy Man | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Ron Stewart | 19 | 50kg | +10000 |
| 18 |  |
Interpretation | Ciaron Maher | Teo Nugent | 14 | 50kg | +1800 |
| 19 |  |
Manzoice | Chris Waller | Declan Bates | 8 | 50kg | +8000 |
| 20 |  |
Mostly Cloudy | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Karis Teetan | 16 | 50kg | +10000 |
| 21 |  |
Positivity | Andrew Forsman | Winona Costin | 20 | 50kg | +10000 |
| 22 |  |
Saint George | Ciaron Maher | Tyler Schiller | 9 | 50kg | +3300 |
| 23 |  |
The Map | Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray | Rachel King | 23 | 50kg | +2500 |
| 24 |  |
Trust In You | Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley | Mark Du Plessis | 5 | 50kg | +15000 |
Past Melbourne Cup fields
No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Odds 1 
Gold Trip Ciaron Maher & David Eustace James McDonald 2 58.5kg +340 2 
Alenquer Michael Moroney Damien Oliver 9 56.5kg +5000 3 
Without A Fight Anthony & Sam Freedman Mark Zahra 16 56.5kg +600 4 
Breakup Taisuya Yoshioka Kohei Matsuyama 18 55kg +1700 5 
Vauban Willie Mullins Ryan Moore 3 55kg +240 6 
Soulcombe Chris Waller Joao Moreira 4 53.5kg +1000 7 
Absurde Willie Mullins Zac Purton 8 53kg +2200 8 
Right You Are Ciaron Maher & David Eustace John Allen 15 53kg +7000 9 
Vow And Declare Danny O’Brien Billy Egan 19 53kg +3000 10
ClevelandKris LeesMichael Dee2352kgSCR 11 
Ashrun Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Kerrin McEvoy 11 51.5kg +4000 12 
Daqiansweet Junior Phillip Stokes Daniel Stackhouse 12 51.5kg +9000 13 
Okita Soushi Joseph O’Brien Dylan Gibbons 20 51.5kg +7000 14 
Sheraz Chris Waller Beau Mertens 22 51.5kg +12500 15 
Lastotchka Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Craig Williams 21 51kg +2500 16 
Magical Lagoon Chris Waller Mark Du Plessis 7 51kg +9000 17 
Military Mission Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Rachel King 5 51kg +4500 18 
Serpentine Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Jye McNeil 1 51kg +6000 19 
Virtuous Circle Liam Howley Craig Newitt 6 51kg +9000 20 
More Felons Chris Waller Jamie Kah 24 50.5kg +3000 21 
Future History Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Hollie Doyle 13 50kg +2600 22 
Interpretation Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Teo Nugent 17 50kg +6000 23 
Kalapour Kris Lees Zac Lloyd 14 50kg +5000 24 
True Marvel Matthew Smith Ben Thompson 10 50kg +15000 No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Odds 1 
Gold Trip Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Mark Zahra 14 57.5kg $13 2 
Duais Edward Cummings Hugh Bowman 10 55.5kg $21 3 
Knights Order Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 24 55.5kg $21 4 
Montefilia David Payne Jason Collett 11 55.5kg $11 5 
Numerian Annabel Neasham Tommy Berry 7 55.5kg $61 6 
Without A Fight Simon & Ed Crisford William Buick 18 55.5kg $11 7 
Camorra Ben & JD Hayes Ben Melham 17 55kg $41 8 
Deauville Legend James Ferguson Kerrin McEvoy 9 55kg $3.80 9 
Stockman Joseph Pride Sam Clipperton 2 54kg $34 10 
Vow And Declare Danny O’Brien Blake Shinn 4 54kg $18 11 
Young Werther Danny O’Brien Damian Lane 21 54kg $26 12 
Hoo Ya Mal Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Craig Williams 15 53.5kg $21 13 
Serpentine Robert Hickmott John Allen 23 53.5kg $61 14 
Daqiansweet Junior Phillip Stokes Daniel Moor 13 53kg $51 15 
Grand Promenade Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Harry Coffey 1 53kg $61 16 
Arapaho Bjorn Baker Rachel King 19 52.5kg $101 17 
Emissary Mike Moroney Patrick Moloney 3 51.5kg $21 18 
Lunar FlareGrahame BeggMichael Dee1251.5kg$2119 
Smokin’ Romans Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Jamie Kah 16 51.5kg $21 20 
Tralee Rose Symon Wilde Dean Yendall 22 51kg $101 21 
Point NepeanRobert HickmottWayne Lordan2051kg$7122 
High Emocean Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Teo Nugent 8 50kg $51 23 
Interpretation Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Craig Newitt 6 50kg $41 24 
Realm Of Flowers Anthony & Sam Freedman Damien Thornton 5 50kg $15 Full 2021 Melbourne Cup field
No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Odds 1 Twilight Payment Joseph O’Brien Jye McNeil 2 58kg $11 2 Incentivise Peter Moody Brett Prebble 16 57kg $2.50 3 Spanish Mission Andrew Balding Craig Williams 14 57kg $9 4 Verry Elleegant Chris Waller James McDonald 19 57kg $15 5 Explosive Jack C Maher & D Eustace John Allen 4 54kg $51 6 The Chosen One M Baker & A Forsman Damian Lane 5 54kg $61 7 Delphi A & S Freedman Damien Oliver 3 53.5kg $41 8 Ocean Billy Chris Waller Damian Thornton 13 53.5kg $101 9 Selino Chris Waller Ron Stewart 24 53.5kg $151 10 Johnny Get Angry Denis Pagan Lachlan King 22 53kg $101 11 Knights Order G Waterhouse & A Bott Daniel Stackhouse 9 53kg $201 12 Persan C Maher & D Eustace Luke Currie 11 53kg $31 13 Carif P & P Snowden Blaike McDougall 8 52.5kg $201 14 Master Of Wine Team Hawkes Fred Kersley 6 52.5kg $101 15 Pondus Robert Hickmott Rachel King 1 52.5kg $41 16 Grand Promenade C Maher & D Eustace Kerrin McEvoy 21 52kg $21 17 Miami Bound Danny O’Brien Patrick Moloney 17 52kg $151 18 Port Guillaume Ben & JD Hayes Harry Coffey 23 52kg $151 19 She’s Ideel Bjorn Baker Craig Newitt 20 52kg $101 20 Future ScoreMatt CumaniDean Yendall1551.5kgSCR 21 Tralee Rose Symon Wilde Dean Holland 12 51kg $17 22 Floating Artist C Maher & D Eustace Teo Nugent 10 50kg $18 23 Great House Chris Waller Michael Dee 7 50kg $31 24 Sir Lucan G Waterhouse & A Bott Glen Boss 18 50kg $26 No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Odds 1 Anthony Van Dyck Aidan O’Brien Hugh Bowman 3 58.5kg $8.50 2 Avilius James Cummings John Allen 10 57kg $51 3 Vow And Declare Danny O’Brien Jamie Mott 4 57kg $51 4 Master Of Reality Joseph O’Brien Ben Melham 11 56kg $26 5 Sir Dragonet C Maher & D Eustace Glen Boss 14 55.5kg $10 6 Twilight Payment Joseph O’Brien Jye McNeil 12 55.5kg $31 7 Verry Elleegant Chris Waller Mark Zahra 15 55.5kg $13 8 Mustajeer Kris Lees Michael Rodd 2 55kg $101 9 Stratum Albion Willie Mullins Jordan Childs 9 55kg $47 10 Dashing Willoughby Andrew Balding Michael Walker 19 54.5kg $101 11 Finche Chris Waller James McDonald 6 54.5kg $19 12 Prince Of Arran Charlie Fellowes Jamie Kah 1 54.5kg $12 13 Surprise Baby Paul Preusker Craig Williams 7 54.5kg $9.50 14 King Of LeogranceDanny O’BrienDamian Lane1853.5kgSCR 15 Russian Camelot Danny O’Brien Damien Oliver 16 53.5kg $13 16 Steel Prince A & S Freedman William Pike 21 53.5kg $44 17 The Chosen One M Baker & A Forsman Daniel Stackhouse 5 53.5kg $42 18 Ashrun Andreas Wohler Declan Bates 24 53kg $23 19 Warning A & S Freeman Luke Currie 8 53kg $51 20 Etah James C Maher & D Eustace Billy Egan 22 52.5kg $201 21 Tiger Moth Aidan O’Brien Kerrin McEvoy 23 52.5kg $8.60 22 Oceanex M Price & M Kent jnr Dean Yendall 17 51.5kg $101 23 Miami Bound Danny O’Brien Daniel Moor 21 51kg $41 24 Persan C Maher & D Eustace Michael Dee 20 51kg $42 No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Odds 1 Cross Counter Charlie Appleby William Buick 5 57.5kg $13 2 Mer De Glace Hisashi Shimizu Damian Lane 2 56kg $9 3 Master Of Reality Joseph O’Brien Frankie Dettori 1 55.5kg $26 4 Mirage Dancer T Busuttin & N Young Ben Melham 13 55.5kg $34 5 Southern France C Maher & D Eustace Mark Zahra 14 55.5kg $23 6 Hunting Horn Aidan O’Brien Seamie Heffernan 11 55kg $46 7 Latrobe Joseph O’Brien James Mcdonald 13 55kg $46 8 Mustajeer Kris Lees Damien Oliver 6 55kg $21 9 Rostropovich D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Dwayne Dunn 12 55kg $101 10 Twilight Payment Joseph O’Brien Hugh Bowman 19 55kg $41 11 Finche Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 4 54kg $41 12 Prince Of Arran Charlie Fellowes Michael Walker 8 54kg $19 13 Raymond Tusk Richard Hannon Jamie Spencer 3 54kg $23 14 Downdraft Joseph O’Brien John Allen 15 53.5kg $20 15 Magic Wand Aidan O’Brien John Allen 14 53.5kg $19 16 Neufbosc D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Luke Nolen 23 53.5kg $251 17 Sound Mike Moroney James Winks 10 53.5kg $126 18 Surprise Baby Paul Preusker Jordan Childs 20 53.5kg $15 19 Constantinople D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Joao Moreira 7 52.5kg $10 20 Il Paradiso Aidan O’Brien Wayne Lordan 17 52.5kg $14 21 Steel Prince Anthony Freedman Brett Prebble 16 52.5kg $71 22 The Chosen One M Baker & A Forsman Tim Clark 18 52kg $71 23 Vow And Declare Dan O’Brien Craig Williams 21 52kg $12 24 Youngstar Chris Waller Tommy Berry 9 52kg $34 No. Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Odds 1 Best Solution Saeed bin Suroor Pat Cosgrave 6 57.5kg $15 2 The Cliffsofmoher Aidan O’Brien Ryan Moore 9 56.5kg $17 3 Magic Circle Ian Williams Corey Brown 17 56kg $8.50 4 Chestnut Coat Yoshito Yahagi Yuga Kawada 4 55.5kg $9.50 5 Muntahaa John Gosden Jim Crowley 13 55.5kg $10 6 Sound Check Mike Moroney Jordan Childs 16 55.5kg $67 7 Who Shot TheBarman Chris Waller Ben Melham 18 55.5kg $8.50 8 Ace High David Payne Tye Angland 22 55kg $11 9 Marmelo Hughie Morrison Hugh Bowman 10 55kg $17 10 Avilius James Cummings Glyn Schofield 11 54.5kg $13 11 Yucatan Aidan O’Brien James McDonald 23 54.5kg $4.50 12 Auvray Richard Freedman Tommy Berry 1 54kg $91 13 Finche Chris Waller Zac Purton 15 54kg $26 14 Red Cardinal Darren Weir Damien Oliver 5 54kg $34 15 Vengeur Masque Mike Moroney Patrick Moloney 2 54kg $67 16 Ventura Storm Hayes, Hayes & Dabernig Mark Zahra 7 54kg $34 17 A Prince of Arran Charlie Fellowes Michael Walker 20 53kg $15 18 Nakeeta Iain Jardine Regan Bayliss 3 53kg $81 19 Sir Charles Road Sullivan & Scott Dwayne Dunn 14 53kg $101 20 Zacada Forsman & Baker Damien Lane 24 53kg $126 21 Runaway Waterhouse & Bott Stephen Baster 12 52kg $34 22 Youngstar Chriss Waller Craig Williams 8 51.5kg $21 23 Cross Counter Charlie Appleby Kerrin McEvoy 19 51kg $9 24 Rostropovich Aidan O’Brien Wayne Lordan 21 51kg $21
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The disadvantages of futures betting
We have highlighted the reasons why futures betting can be rewarding, but punters must be aware of the pitfalls and risks that also apply:
- When you place a futures bet, your money is tied up in that market for a long period of time, therefore, don’t expect a quick payout when placing a futures bet. Betting into a futures market can be good for a big payout off a small investment, which appeals to the smaller bankrolls, but the larger players tend to want a quicker payout.
- Odds can change, sometimes in your favour, but sometimes not. If you back a horse at $31 and it starts the race at $51, then you’re flat out of luck. It’s tough to predict what a horse will pay on the day of the race, so be wary of the factors that adjusts a horse’s starting price.
- It seems obvious, but you can’t play multiples or exotic futures bets. All futures bets are either for the win or at an each way basis. Due to an unknown pool size, you can’t take bets such as quinella or trifecta in the futures market.