The 2013 Melbourne Cup form guide is the most important reading punters all around Australia will do in the lead up to the race that stops a nation.

This year’s Melbourne Cup is packed full of talent so our team of horse racing experts have compiled a complete 2013 Melbourne Cup form analysis that has key information about all 24 runners in the race.

Read our comprehensive guide to help you pick a winner.

Melbourne Cup Horses – Form Guide & Analysis

1. Dunaden (58.5kg)

The 2011 Melbourne Cup winner was originally set for the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) this campaign but connections changed their plans when the Nicobar entire failed to fire when finishing sixth behind Japanese superstar Orfevre in the Group 2 Prix Foy (2400m). He hasn’t won a race since his victory in the 2011 Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) but he has performed well at the highest level of racing in Europe this season; finishing third in the Group 1 Prix Ganay (2100m) at Longchamp, second in the Group 1 Coronation Cup (2423m) at Epsom Downs and second in the Group 1 Grand Prix De Saint Cloud (2400m).

Geoffrey Fabre is the stable representative for Mikel Delzangles in Australia and believes that Dunaden is in the best form of his career heading into the 2013 Melbourne Cup.

“I remember last year that I declared he was in career best form and from what I have seen at Werribee this year I think that he has even topped that,” Fabre said.

“He is the class horse in the race.”

2. Green Moon (57.5kg)

The Lloyd Williams-owned stayer has not been victorious since his impressive win in the 2012 Melbourne Cup and will need to improve significantly with three and a half kilos extra on his back in this year’s race. He has had only three runs this preparation, after missing the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes (2000m) with a fever, and performed fairly in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) – both races that were not run to suit the Montjeu entire.

Owner Lloyd Williams has made the decision to apply blinkers to Green Moon for the first time in his racing career and is hoping that it will have the same effect as it did to What A Nuisance (1985) and Hyperno (1979) – who both won the Melbourne Cup after having blinkers applied.

The gear change has not led to any additional Melbourne Cup betting support for Green Moon and he is still an outsider at odds of $41.

3. Red Cadeaux (56.5kg)

Red Cadeaux is back for his third tilt at the Melbourne Cup after finishing second by a pixel in 2011 and eighth in last year’s race. The seasoned international traveler may be eight years old but remains competitive in the biggest races on the global racing calendar. The tough gelding won the 2012 Group 1 Hong Kong Vase (2400m) and was competitive in both the Group 1 Dubai World Cup (2000m) and Group 1 Tenno Sho (3218m) in Japan. Raced well with heavy weights in the Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2670m) and Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) but will need plenty of luck from barrier 13.

Trainer Ed Dunlop said that Red Cadeaux had plenty go against him in the Irish St Leger and believes that the veteran stayer would be at much shorter Melbourne Cup odds if he hadn’t run in the race.

“If I hadn’t run him in the Irish St Leger we would be really fancying ourselves again this year in the Melbourne Cup” Dunlop said.

“It wasn’t the race for him, but you never really know that at the time.”

4. Sea Moon (56.5kg)

The imported stayer took a while to acclimatize to Australian racing conditions but is slowly returning to his best European form that saw him destroy a strong 2012 Hardwicke Stakes field that included Dunaden and Fiorente. He had no luck in either the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) or Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) before losing the Listed The Bart Cummings (2520m) on protest after being the first horse across the line. He finally recorded his maiden win in Australia in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) but still has plenty of improvement in front of him. Is well-weighted with 56.5kg.

Managing co-owner Nick Williams admits that Sea Moon still needs to improve to win the 2013 Melbourne Cup but is confident that the highly-rated galloper will return to his European rating over 3200 metres at Flemington tomorrow.

“He needs to find a few more rating points to be in there with 56.5kg but we are confident that he will,” Williams said.

5. Brown Panther (55kg)

The Shirocco entire has form around horses like Masked Marvel, Mount Athos and Jet Away that have already had success in Australia and has been of the most consistent stayers in England since 2011. He won the Listed Pontefract Castle Stakes (2413m) and Group 2 Goodwood Cup (3128m) in impressive fashion earlier this year but missed a start in the Irish St Leger  (2816m) due to injury before producing a less than stellar effort in the Listed Foundation Stakes (1986m).

Brown Panther has been one of the best backed runners since the barrier draw was conducted on Saturday and is now into Melbourne Cup odds of $19.

Owner Michael Owen said that he could be happier with his star galloper and believes that he has done everything right heading into the race.

“My horse has travelled well, I think he only lost seven kilos on the flight, and he’s put that back on,” Owen said.

“He’s eaten well, he’s training well so we’ve got all the boxes ticked so far but obviously the biggest box to tick is to be good enough to win the race.”

6. Fiorente (55kg)

Last year’s runner-up is yet to produce a bad run since arriving in Australia and is a deserved favourite in 2013 Melbourne Cup betting markets. The Monsun entire resumed with an eye-catching sixth in the Group 1 Memsie

Stakes (1400m) before flashing home late to win the Group 2 Dato’ Tan Chim Nam Stakes (1600m). He had no luck when a fast-finishing fourth in the Turnbull Stakes(2000m) and battled home bravely after being ridden on the pace in the Group 1 Cox Plate(2040m). Has drawn an ideal gate but there are questions about whether he has any gas left in the tank.

Fiorente remains the favourite in 2013 Melbourne Cup betting markets and even Lloyd Williams, who has six runners in the field, believes that the Gai Waterhouse-trained galloper is the horse to beat.

“Gai has used exactly the same races as I did with Green Moon last year,” Williams said.

“If I can’t win the race I hope Gai does.”

7. Foreteller (55kg)

The underrated import has had a stellar 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign and according to trainer Chris Waller deserves an opportunity in the Melbourne Cup. He won the Makybe Diva Stakes  in impressive fashion and franked his weight-for-age credentials with a second place finish behind Atlantic Jewel in the Caulfield Stakes and a fast-finishing fourth in the Cox Plate. Looks like he has been harshly treated in the weights and there are concerns that he will not be able to run a strong 3200 metres.

Waller was the big winner on Victoria Derby Day, taking out Group 1 events with Zoustar and Red Tracer, but is yet to taste success in the Melbourne Cup.

Foreteller has been a below the radar market mover in Melbourne Cup betting markets and is now into a price of $31 after being available at much longer odds earlier in the week.

8. Dandino (54.5kg)

The Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock-owned stayer flashed home late to finish a narrow second behind Fawkner in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and is now into  odds of $11 after faring well at the Melbourne Cup barrier draw yesterday. The Dansili entire is yet to taste success at Group 1 level but has performed well in top races in Europe, Hong Kong and the United States. He does have a poor record when stepped up in distance and even managing co-owner Darren Dance admits that he is no certainty to stay the trip.

Dance was delighted with the inside barrier draw for Dandino and believes that gate four will give the seven-year-old the best possible chance to run out a strong 3200 metres.

“Barrier four makes it a little bit more comfortable and he won’t do much in the first 800 metres,” Dance said.

“He will be ready to be strong late.”

 9. Ethiopia (54.5kg)

The 2012 Australian Derby winner has failed to return to his best form since breaking down in last’s year Melbourne Cup. The Helenus gelding finished a promising fifth in the Makybe Diva Stakes but failed to fire in the Underwood Stakes and Caulfield Cup. He produced an improved effort in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday but does not appear a realistic winning chance with 54 and a half kilos on his back on Tuesday.

Trainer Pat Carey said that he was extremely pleased with Ethiopia’s performance in the Lexus Stakes and believes he is finding his best form at the right time heading into the Melbourne Cup.

“I was delighted with Ethiopia’s run in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes,” Carey said.

“The winner Ruscello ran a cracker to win and we were pleased with how our lad was finishing.”

 10. Fawkner (54.5kg)

Fawkner has made incredible progress as a stayer since finishing third behind Black Caviar in the Group 1 William Reid Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley earlier this year. He started his 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign with solid performances in the Tramway Handicap (1400n) and George Main Stakes (1600m) before finishing third behind Happy Trails and Puissance De Lune in the Turnbull Stakes. There were doubts over his ability to stay the trip in the Caulfield Cup but he easily handled the step-up in distance to win the key Melbourne Cup form race in impressive fashion. The Reset gelding will be the first horse since Ethereal in 2001 to complete the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double if he is successful on Tuesday.

There has been a constant stream of money for Fawkner in Melbourne Cup betting markets and that support is expected to continue after leading form analysis and former bookmaker Dominic Beirne made Fawkner his selection for the race.

“There have only been three horses in the past 20 years to satisfy a series of powerful predictive factors that I use to find the Melbourne Cup winner, Beirne said.

“The previous two were Doriemus (1995) and Makybe Diva (2003), this year it is Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner.”

 11. Mourayan (54.5kg)

Mourayan is a tough stayer who will run a strong 3200 metres but is yet to find his best form this preparation. The eight-year-old won the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) in the autumn and has missed the placings in the Makybe Diva Stakes, The Metropolitan and Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. It is hard to see him winning the Melbourne Cup but he is a good chance to finish in the top ten, despite his long odds.

Rising jockey Brenton Avdulla will be making his Melbourne Cup debut on Mourayan tomorrow and it full of excitement to have the opportunity to partner the veteran stayer, who will become a dressage horse following his retirement from racing, in ‘the race that stops a nation’.

“To get a Cup ride for Lloyd is a big thrill,” Avdulla said.

 12. Seville (54.5kg)

Co-owner Nick Williams considers Seville one of the Macedon Lodge’s best chances in the 2013 Melbourne Cup. The Galileo entire started his preparation slowly, finishing at the tail of the field in the Memsie Stakes and Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes, but showed his staying credentials with a tough win in The Metropolitan. The six-year-old is heading into the Melbourne Cup on the back of a strong run in the Cox Plate – reminiscent of Green Moon’s performance in the Australasian Weight-For-Age Championship last year.

Seville is now into 2013 Melbourne Cup odds of $16 but will need to overcome recent history to be victorious in the $6 million Group 1 event.

Macdougal, Straight Draw, Dalray, Delta and Tim Whiffler are the only horses that have completed the The Metropolitan/Melbourne Cup double and no horse has achieved the feat since 1959.

13. Super Cool (54.5kg)

Super Cool was a star as a three-year-old, winning the Group 1 Australian Cup (2000m), but he has been inconsistent during the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival. The Fastnet Rock gelding finished third in the Memsie Stakes but had no luck in either the Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes or Turnbull Stakes. He returned to a semblance of his best form with a third place finish in the Caulfield Stakes and a credible fifth in the Cox Plate but will still need to find several lengths of improvement to have any chance of giving trainer Mark Kavanagh his second Melbourne Cup victory.

There are plenty of question marks over whether a son of Fastnet Rock could ever win the Melbourne Cup but Kavanagh said that Super Cool gives him every indication that he will run a strong 3200 metres.

“Kala Dancer threw Subzero and O’Reilly has already thrown Master O’Reilly to win a Caulfield Cup and good sires can do it if they throw to the mares’ genes and hopefully we have gone that way,” Kavanagh said.

14. Masked Marvel (54kg)

The Montjeu entire beat Brown Panther and Mount Athos to win the 2011 Ladbrokes St Leger (2900m) and has improved with each of his race starts in Australia. He was outpaced in his Australia debut in the Makybe Diva Stakes and finished third, despite racing erratically, in the Hill Stakes (2000m) before being narrowly beaten by Honorius in the Craven Plate (2000m). His 13^th place finish in the Cox Plate can be completely forgiven and the proven stayer is sure to relish the step up in distance to 3200 metres.

The staying credentials of Masked Marvel can not be questioned and co-owner Nick Williams is confident that he will be right in the finish if he can find his best form.

“If he finds his English form here, he might just outstay them,” Williams said.

“He is certainly the best stayer in the race.”

15. Mount Athos (54kg)

The Luca Cumani-trained stayer was the hard luck story of the 2012 Melbourne Cup, flying home late to finish fifth, and will carry the same weight of 54kg in this year’s weight. On paper his form does not look as impressive

as it did twelve months ago but the seven-year-old had no luck in either the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2400m) or the Group 2 Goodwood Cup (3200m). He returned to his best form with a second place finish behind Harris Tweed in the March Stakes (2800m) and has impressed at the International Equine Centre at Werribee. Will need some luck from barrier 22 but has leading jockey Craig Williams on his back.

Mount Athos’s owner Marwin Koukash said that he is not worried about the poor barrier draw and is full of confidence that Mount Athos is the best horse in the race.

“At least I have a good horse and a bad draw which is better than having a bad horse with a good barrier,” Koukash said.

“I’m not too pessimistic about barrier 22 and I still believe that I have the best horse in the field.”

16. Royal Empire (54kg)

Royal Empire does not have the high profile of a number of other stayer that Godolphin has brought to Australia in the past but his Melbourne Cup form profile is excellent. The Teofilo entire started his campaign with back-to-back wins in the Listed Steventon Stakes (2017m) and Group 3 Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2670m) before finishing second in both the Group 3 September Stakes (2414m) and Group 3 Cumberland Lodge Stakes (2414m). Will be stepping up to 3200 metres for the first time but trainer Saeed Bin Suroor is confident that he will run out the trip strongly.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy is chasing his first success in the Melbourne Cup since the memorable victory of Brew in 2000 and said that Royal Empire has all the attributes required to win the race.

“He has a nice little profile for the race and he has been running well over a mile and a quarter and a mile and a half in England,” McEvoy said.

“He has a turn-of-foot and that is what you need in our Melbourne Cup.”

17. Voleuse De Coeurs (54kg)

The lightly-raced mare will be making her debut for new trainer Michael Moroney after previously being prepared by Dermot Weld. Voleuse De Coeurs stamped herself as a leading contender for the 2013 Melbourne Cup with a dominant six lengths victory in the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) and had previously recorded a strong win in the Listed Vintage Crop Stakes (2816m). Weld felt that she needed another year of racing under her belt to be ready for the Melbourne Cup but new owners Eliza Park International wasted no time getting her to Australia.

Moroney is confident that he has made the right decision entering Voleuse De Coeurs for the Melbourne Cup this year and is confident that she can become the first horse since Vintage Crop in 1993 to win the race without having a lead-up run in Australia.

“I think she’s here at the right time,” Moroney said.

“She brings similar form lines to Vintage Crop over here so we’re just hoping she can do the job.”

18. Hawkspur (53.5kg)

The Queensland Derby winner has been a forgotten horse in the 2013 Melbourne Cup field after being heavily hyped before the Melbourne Cup. He started his campaign with a fast-finishing run in the Group 2 Warwick Stakes (1400m) and stamped himself as a ‘Cups’ contender with a dominant victory over a strong field in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m). The Purrealist gelding had no luck in either the George Main Stakes or Turnbull Stakes and was given far too tough as assignment from an outside gate in the Caulfield Cup after starting the race as favourite. Has drawn wide once again but has gotten out to attractive Melbourne Cup odds.

Trainer Chris Waller is chasing his first victory in the Melbourne Cup and is confident that he has given Hawkspur the ideal preparation for the race.

“I will sit back after the race on Tuesday and say I wouldn’t have done anything different,” Waller said.

“My gut feeling is if he’s good enough, he will win the Melbourne Cup.”

19. Simenon (53.5kg)

Simenon was competing in hurdle races under a year ago but his Melbourne Cup lead-up form this campaign has been excellent. After finishing fourth in the Chester Cup (3755m), he finished a narrow second in both the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup (4023m) and the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3299m). He was expected to be outpaced in the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) at Caulfield last month but loomed as the winner before finishing third behind Sea Moon in what was a stellar performance.  He will have no problem running a strong 3200 metres and looks like he has the turn-of-foot required to win the race.

Simenon has been the market mover in 2013 Melbourne Cup betting markets and is now into odds of $17 after being available at a much longer quote earlier in the week.

The Irish stayer is the 2013 Melbourne Cup tip of British racing expert Jim McGrath who has closely studied the form of all the European-trained runners.

“He is trained by one of Europe’s top trainer of jumpers, Willie Mullins, who is a superb horseman,” McGrath said.

“Simenon should have nearly won the Herbert Power Stakes and this horse has got a good turn of foot.

“Simenon is without question the best value in the Melbourne Cup.”

20. Ibicenco (53kg)

The OTI Racing-owned import looked like he was heading for a jumps racing career but has turned around his form in impressive fashion this campaign. The Shirocco entire started his campaign with a strong victory in the Listed Slickpix Stakes (1700m) and had no luck in either the Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) or The Metropolitan. He returned to the winners circle with a strong staying victory in the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m), which earnt him the penalty that got him into the Melbourne Cup field. He will run the trip but probably doesn’t have the class to be competitive.

OTI Racing co-founder Simon O’Donnell believes that Ibicenco has been underrated in Melbourne Cup betting markets and is a better chance than his odds suggest.

“He is in career best form and history says that Geelong Cup winners come out and run well over two miles,” O’Donnell said.

“We know that he stays two miles.”

21. Verema (53kg)

Verema has been one the best backed runners in 2013 Melbourne Cup betting markets in the past week. The Barathea mare recorded her first win at Group level in the Group 2 Prix Maurice De Nieul (2800m) and earnt herself a trip to Australia with her win in the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay (3000m) – the same race won by Americain before his win in the 2010 Melbourne Cup. The five-year-old has been given a light preparation at the International Equine Centre but trainer Alain De Royer-Dupre said that she will be fully fit on Tuesday.

The French stayer is now on the fourth line of Melbourne Cup betting at odds of $13 and trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre has been very happy with her progress since arriving in Australia.

“She looks much better than in Newmarket quarantine and I’m very pleased with her,” Royer-Dupre said.

“Her best performances have always been after a month or so out, and she doesn’t need too much work.”

22. Dear Demi (16)

The 2012 Crown Oaks winner has plenty of miles in her legs and has been given a traditional Melbourne Cup preparation by trainer Clarry Connors. Dear Demi was only fair first-up in the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes

(1400m) but produced one of the strongest performances of her career when she went toe to toe with champions Atlantic Jewel and It’s A Dundeel in the Underwood Stakes. She flashed home down the inside of the track to finish third in the Caulfield Cup and did the same when second to Side Glance in yesterday’s Mackinnon Stakes. The Dehere mare may not win the 2013 Melbourne Cup but she is sure to figure in the finish and is a must for all exotic bets.

Connors was forced to defend his decision to run Dear Demi in the Mackinnon Stakes but was delighted with her performance in the race and believes it was an ideal trial for the Melbourne Cup.

“She kept coming to the line like a staying type horse,” Connors said.

“She hasn’t got a lot of dash, but she kept coming and coming and coming.

“I am looking forward to Tuesday.”

23. Tres Blue (51kg)

The Gai Waterhouse-trained imported will be the first Northern Hemisphere three-year-old to compete in the Melbourne Cup since Mahler who finished third behind Efficient in the 2007 edition of the race. The Anabaa Blue entire recorded back-to-back wins in the Group 3 Prix De Reux (2500m) and Group 2 Grand Prix De Deauville (2500m) and has responded well to the training methods of Gai Waterhouse since arriving in Australia. He will have just 51 kilos on his back and rising jockey Tommy Berry on board.

Fiorente has dominated the headlines for the Waterhouse stable heading into the Melbourne Cup but jockey Tommy Berry is confident that the French stayer can surprise.

“Everyone is forgetting he’s only got 51 on his back and It’s not that much weight,” Berry said.

“I’m very happy with him.”

24. Ruscello (50kg)

Ruscello was the final addition to the 2013 Melbourne Cup field after winning the Lexus Stakes at Flemington yesterday. Trainer Ed Walker was reluctant to back the four-year-old up so quickly but said today that the Cape Cross gelding had come out of his tough run in brilliant condition. He will be stepping up to 3200 metres for the first time but will need plenty of luck from the outside barrier. Ruscello will be staying in Australia and transferred to a new trainer after the Melbourne Cup.

Walker, who worked under Luca Cumani for several years, is thrilled to have a runner in the Melbourne Cup and said that he would have been dissapointed if he had stuck with original decision not to run the Lexus Stakes winner in the Melbourne Cup.

“If I hadn’t have accepted I would have been kicking myself now because he has come out of it great,” Walker said.

Complete Form Guide for the 2013 Melbourne Cup