Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw 2025 (+ Statistics)

The barrier draw plays a crucial role in the Melbourne Cup. The Melbourne Cup 2025 draw tells us where each runner will jump from. But why is the Melbourne Cup barrier draw in 2025 so important? This page explains the emphasis on the barrier draw for this race.

Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw

The Melbourne Cup draw is so important that it’s televised each year. You can watch the live Melbourne Cup barrier draw in 2025 on November 1 (which is also Derby Day). The Melbourne Cup 2025 draw will be broadcast live at 5.30pm after the Derby Day card has finished.

The barrier draw is critical to a horse’s success in the Melbourne Cup. Many factors increase the importance of the barrier draw, some of which include:

  • The number of horses in the event.
  • The racing style of each runner.
  • The layout of the racecourse.
  • The barrier draw statistics (there are a few barriers that haven’t seen much success over the years).

The connections of each runner will come into the Melbourne draw for 2025 with a specific barrier in mind. You’ll see the odds of each runner change (sometimes fairly dramatically) depending on which barrier they draw. On top of this, many experts will hold off writing their horse racing tips or Flemington tips until the barrier draw is complete.

The process of the Melbourne Cup draw is random. Connections of runners can’t choose the barrier themselves (because then they would all probably want to choose the same barrier!). Race tactics and any plans might be thrown out the window if the runner doesn’t get a desired starting barrier.

The Melbourne Cup barriers are just one piece of the puzzle. There are other key aspects that you should be across as well, like tips, form guide, field, results, history and more. As it is one of the biggest Group One Races on the calendar, we have all these important aspects covered on our Melbourne Cup page.

Melbourne Cup Barrier Statistics

There are a few that are considered the best barriers for the Melbourne Cup. While securing one of the most successful barriers for the Melbourne Cup doesn’t necessarily guarantee that runner the win, it can certainly improve their chances.

The Melbourne Cup barrier winners with the most success start with barriers five and 11. So far in the history of the Melbourne Cup (when barriers were assigned), we have seen eight winners jump from barriers five and 11. The next most successful barriers are 14 and 19, both with six wins each.

Barrier NumberNumber of WinsLast Winner
Barrier 58 WinsKnight's Choice (2024)
Barrier 118 WinsAmericain (2010)
Barrier 146 WinsMakybe Diva (2005)
Barrier 196 WinsCross Counter (2018)
Barrier 15 WinsPrince Of Penzance (2015)
Barrier 45 WinsRekindling (2017)
Barrier 65 WinsLight Fingers (1965)
Barrier 85 WinsViewed (2008)
Barrier 105 WinsProtectionist (2014)
Barrier 175 WinsAlmandin (2016)
Barrier 215 WinsVow And Declare (2019)

Melbourne Cup 2024 Barrier Draw

Looking back at the most recent barrier draw for the Melbourne Cup, Knight’s Choice won the event from barrier five. This pushed barrier five up to the equal-best barrier in recent history, with eight wins (tied with barrier 11).

See all the 2024 Melbourne Cup barrier draw details here:

No.

Horse

Trainer

Jockey

Barrier

Weight

1

VAUBAN (FR)

Willie Mullins

William Buick

11

55.5kg

2

BUCKAROO (GB)

Chris Waller

Joao Moreira

21

54.5kg

3

CIRCLE OF FIRE (GB)

Ciaron Maher

Mark Zahra

24

54.5kg

4

WARP SPEED (JPN)

Noboru Takagi

Akira Sugawara

3

54.5kg

5

KOVALICA (NZ)

Chris Waller

Damian Lane

17

53.5kg

6

SHARP ’N’ SMART (NZ)

Graeme & Deborah Rogerson

Michael Dee

15

53.5kg

7

JUST FINE (IRE)

Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

Jye McNeil

13

53kg

8

LAND LEGEND (FR)

Chris Waller

Zac Purton

18

53kg

9

ABSURDE (FR)

Willie Mullins

Kerrin McEvoy

7

52.5kg

10

ATHABASCAN (FR)

John O’Shea & Tom Charlton

Zac Lloyd (a)

2

52kg

11

KNIGHT’S CHOICE

John Symons & Sheila Laxon

Robbie Dolan

6

51.5kg

12

OKITA SOUSHI (IRE)

Ciaron Maher

Ms Jamie Kah

10

51kg

13

ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA)

Brian Ellison

Craig Williams

12

51kg

14

ZARDOZI

James Cummings

Andrea Atzeni

4

51kg

15

SEA KING (GB)

Harry Eustace

Ms Hollie Doyle

1

50.5kg

16

VALIANT KING (GB)

Chris Waller

Craig Newitt

22

50.5kg

17

FANCY MAN (IRE)

Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald

Ron Stewart

19

50kg

18

INTERPRETATION (IRE)

Ciaron Maher

Teo Nugent

14

50kg

19

MANZOICE

Chris Waller

Declan Bates

8

50kg

20

MOSTLY CLOUDY (IRE)

Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young

Karis Teetan

16

50kg

21

POSITIVITY (NZ)

Andrew Forsman

Ms Winona Costin

20

50kg

22

SAINT GEORGE (GB)

Ciaron Maher

Tyler Schiller

9

50kg

23

THE MAP

Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray

Ms Rachel King

23

50kg

24

TRUST IN YOU (NZ)

Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley

Mark Du Plessis

5

50kg

Melbourne Cup 2023 Barrier Draw

Looking back at one of the more recent Melbourne Cup barrier history, in 2023 Without A Fight won the Melbourne Cup jumping from barrier 16. Without A Fight’s victory in the 2023 Melbourne Cup pushed barrier 16’s overall wins to four.

Here are more details about the 2023 Melbourne Cup results and which barriers the top finishers jumped from:

FinishNo.HorseTrainerJockeyMarginBarrierWeight
13WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE)Anthony & Sam FreedmanMark Zahra-1656.5kg
26SOULCOMBE (GB)Chris WallerJoao Moreira2.25L453.5kg
314SHERAZ (FR)Chris WallerBeau Mertens2.75L2251.5kg
411ASHRUN (FR)Ciaron Maher & David EustaceKerrin McEvoy4.75L1151.5kg
512DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR (NZ)Phillip StokesDaniel Stackhouse4.95L1251.5kg
622INTERPRETATION (IRE)Ciaron Maher & David EustaceTeo Nugent5.35L1750kg
77ABSURDE (FR)Willie MullinsZac Purton5.45L853kg
824TRUE MARVEL (FR)Matthew SmithBen Thompson6.7L1050kg
99VOW AND DECLAREDanny O’BrienBilly Egan7.45L1953kg
1017MILITARY MISSION (IRE)Gai Waterhouse & Adrian BottMs Rachel King8.2L551kg
1113OKITA SOUSHI (IRE)Joseph O’BrienDylan Gibbons (a)8.4L2051.5kg
1220MORE FELONS (IRE)Chris WallerMs Jamie Kah9.15L2350.5kg
1315LASTOTCHKA (FR)Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)Craig Williams13.15L2151kg
145VAUBAN (FR)Willie MullinsRyan Moore13.35L355kg
1521FUTURE HISTORY (GB)Ciaron Maher & David EustaceHollie Doyle14.1L1350kg
164BREAKUP (JPN)Tatsuya YoshiokaKohei Matsuyama14.3L1855kg
171GOLD TRIP (FR)Ciaron Maher & David EustaceJames McDonald23.3L258.5kg
1819VIRTUOUS CIRCLE (NZ)Liam HowleyCraig Newitt32.3L651kg
1918SERPENTINE (IRE)Gai Waterhouse & Adrian BottJye McNeil32.4L151kg
2023KALAPOUR (IRE)Kris LeesZac Lloyd (a)32.7L1450kg
212ALENQUER (FR)Michael MoroneyDamien Oliver33.45L956.5kg
2216MAGICAL LAGOON (IRE)Chris WallerMark Du Plessis43.45L751kg
FF8RIGHT YOU ARECiaron Maher & David EustaceJohn Allen1553kg
-10CLEVELAND (IRE)Kris LeesMichael Dee0

Melbourne Cup 2022 Barrier Draw

Looking back to the 2022 Melbourne Cup draw now, Gold Trip was victorious from barrier 13. Thanks to Gold Trip’s victory from barrier 13, there are now four Melbourne Cup winners who have jumped from that barrier.

Here are more details about the 2022 Melbourne Cup results and which barriers the top finishers jumped from:

FinishNo.HorseTrainerJockeyMarginBarrierWeight
11GOLD TRIP (FR)Ciaron Maher & David EustaceMark Zahra-1357.5kg
217EMISSARY (GB)Michael MoroneyPatrick Moloney2L351.5kg
322HIGH EMOCEAN (NZ)Ciaron Maher & David EustaceTeo Nugent3.25L850kg
48DEAUVILLE LEGEND (IRE)James FergusonKerrin McEvoy5L955kg
524REALM OF FLOWERSAnthony & Sam FreedmanDamien Thornton6L550kg
614DAQIANSWEET JUNIOR (NZ)Phillip StokesDaniel Moor7.25L1253kg
719SMOKIN’ ROMANS (NZ)Ciaron Maher & David EustaceMs Jamie Kah7.65L1551.5kg
89STOCKMAN (NZ)Joseph PrideSam Clipperton7.85L254kg
93KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE)Gai Waterhouse & Adrian BottTim Clark8.6L2255.5kg
1010VOW AND DECLAREDanny O’BrienBlake Shinn8.7L454kg (cd 54.5kg)
1116ARAPAHO (FR)Bjorn BakerMs Rachel King10.95L1852.5kg
1212HOO YA MAL (GB)Gai Waterhouse & Adrian BottCraig Williams20.95L1453.5kg
136WITHOUT A FIGHT (IRE)Simon & Ed CrisfordWilliam Buick21.15L1755.5kg
1415GRAND PROMENADE (GB)Ciaron Maher & David EustaceHarry Coffey21.35L153kg
1511YOUNG WERTHER (NZ)Danny O’BrienDamian Lane22.85L1954kg
164MONTEFILIADavid PayneJason Collett23.05L1155.5kg
1720TRALEE ROSE (NZ)Symon WildeDean Yendall30.05L2051.5kg
182DUAISEdward CummingsHugh Bowman38.05L1055.5kg
195NUMERIAN (IRE)Annabel NeashamTommy Berry73.05L755.5kg
2013SERPENTINE (IRE)Robert HickmottJohn Allen99L2153.5kg
217CAMORRA (IRE)Ben & JD HayesBen Melham99L1655kg
FF23INTERPRETATION (IRE)Ciaron Maher & David EustaceCraig Newitt650kg
-18LUNAR FLAREGrahame BeggMichael Dee0
-21POINT NEPEAN (IRE)Robert HickmottWayne Lordan0

Melbourne Cup 2021 Barrier Draw

For the Melbourne Cup draw in 2021, we saw Verry Elleegant, who jumped from barrier 19 win. The wider barrier had a lot of success this year, with the first four runners all jumping from a double-digit barrier.

Here are more details about the 2021 Melbourne Cup results and which barriers the top finishers jumped from:

FinishNo.HorseTrainerJockeyMarginBarrierWeight
14VERRY ELLEEGANT (NZ)Chris WallerJames McDonald-1957kg
22INCENTIVISEPeter G MoodyBrett Prebble4L1657kg
33SPANISH MISSION (USA)Andrew BaldingCraig Williams4.4L1457kg
422FLOATING ARTIST (GB)Ciaron Maher & David EustaceTeodore Nugent (a)4.6L1050kg
56THE CHOSEN ONE (NZ)Murray Baker & Andrew ForsmanDamian Lane10.6L554kg
616GRAND PROMENADE (GB)Ciaron Maher & David EustaceKerrin McEvoy12.6L2152kg
77DELPHI (IRE)Anthony & Sam FreedmanDamien Oliver13.35L353.5kg
89SELINO (GB)Chris WallerRon Stewart13.45L2453.5kg
921TRALEE ROSE (NZ)Symon WildeDean Holland16.7L1251kg
1019SHE’S IDEELBjorn BakerCraig Newitt17.2L2052kg
111TWILIGHT PAYMENT (IRE)Joseph O’BrienJye McNeil19.45L258kg
1217MIAMI BOUND (NZ)Danny O’BrienPatrick Moloney21.45L1752kg
1323GREAT HOUSE (IRE)Chris WallerMichael Dee21.85L750kg
1424SIR LUCAN (IRE)Gai Waterhouse & Adrian BottGlen Boss21.95L1850kg (cd 51kg)
155EXPLOSIVE JACK (NZ)Ciaron Maher & David EustaceJohn Allen23.2L454kg
1614MASTER OF WINE (GER)Michael, Wayne & John HawkesFred Kersley24.2L652.5kg
1715PONDUS (GB)Robert HickmottMs Rachel King24.6L152.5kg
1813CARIFPeter & Paul SnowdenBlaike McDougall25.35L852.5kg
1911KNIGHTS ORDER (IRE)Gai Waterhouse & Adrian BottDaniel Stackhouse25.65L953kg
2012PERSANCiaron Maher & David EustaceLuke Currie28.9L1153kg
2118PORT GUILLAUME (FR)Ben & JD HayesHarry Coffey33.15L2352kg
2210JOHNNY GET ANGRY (NZ)Denis PaganLachlan King (a)41.15L2253kg
238OCEAN BILLY (NZ)Chris WallerDamien Thornton53.15L1353.5kg
-20FUTURE SCORE (IRE)Matt CumaniDean Yendall15

The Most Challenging Melbourne Cup Barriers in History

For the Melbourne Cup barrier draw in 2025, there are certain barriers that runners want to avoid. Thanks to Verry Elleegant’s victory in 2021, every barrier has now seen at least one winner. All the least successful barriers are listed in this section.

Barrier NumberNumber of WinsLast Winner
Barrier 71 WinBlackwood (1924)
Barrier 151 WinSilver Knight (1973)
Barrier 181 WinVerry Elleegant (2021)
Barrier 122 WinsFoxzami (1949)
Barrier 202 WinsEmpire Rose (1988)
Barrier 222 WinsGurner's Lane (1982)

Melbourne Cup Draw FAQs

The Melbourne Cup 2025 draw can have a lot of influence on the results of the race. So, it’s only natural that people have plenty of questions about the barrier draw. We’ve gone through and found some of the most common questions people have and answered them in this FAQs section.

When is the Melbourne Cup barrier draw?

The Melbourne Cup barrier draw time is on November 1, which is also Victoria Derby Day. The barrier draw will take place after all the races on the card at Flemington have finished.

Which barrier is best for the Melbourne Cup?

When it comes to the Melbourne Cup barrier draw for 2025, there are a couple of barriers that you should keep an eye on. Barrier five and 11 are currently the most successful barriers with eight wins each to date.

What time is the Melbourne Cup barrier draw?

The Melbourne Cup 2025 draw will take place at 5.30pm, which is after all the races have concluded for the day at Flemington Racecourse. After this, you’ll see many bookies update their odds and potentially even offer horse racing promotions for the race.

Where can I watch the Melbourne Cup barrier draw?

You’ll be able to watch the Melbourne Cup horses 2025 barrier draw on free-to-air. The exact channel hasn’t been confirmed yet, it is likely to be Channel 9, as they currently have the rights to broadcast the Melbourne Cup.