The countdown is on until the world’s richest handicap lights up Flemington Racecourse at 3:00pm (AEST) on Tuesday (November 6) and below we take a look at full Melbourne Cup Jockey Silks 2012 and provide some interesting facts and stats on the Melbourne Cup horse and jockey colours.
Melbourne Cup champion Dunaden has very distinctive jockey silks of yellow, royal blue stars and a yellow cap
A capacity 24-horse field is engaged to face off for Flemington Race 7, the $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) and for punters looking to uncover the Melbourne Cup winner it is worth looking at the Melbourne Cup silks and jockey colours as much as any other form.
What does it take to win a Melbourne Cup trophy?
A champion stayer, a good run and a winning ride.
What else?
A bit of luck, good lead-up form, track cred and perhaps the right colours if you are a bit of a superstitious punter that likes to follow the winning Melbourne Cup Silks & Horse Colours.
Winning Melbourne Cup Silks Statistics
- The most successful Melbourne Cup jockey silks colour is black (as a main colour) with 17 Melbourne Cup winning jockeys wearing this colour – the most recent however was George Podmore on Evening Peal back in 1956
- In the 2012 Melbourne Cup only two horses will be ridden by a hoop donning primarily black in their jockey silks with #11 Fiorente ($31) and #22 Unusual Suspect ($301)
- As only three triple-figure horses have ever won the Melbourne Cup it makes the Gai Waterhouse-trained import Fiorente, formerly prepared in England by Sir Michael Stoute, the best of the above duo
- The next most successful winning Melbourne Cup jockey colour is then navy blue and royal blue with 14 wins; this year that brings into contention Turnbull Stakes winner #14 Green Moon ($16), a scratching from the race on Melbourne Cup Day last year #16 Mourayan ($26), Sydney Cup champ #18 Niwot ($41) and French import #19 Tac De Boistron ($61)
Melbourne Cup Horse Colours
Speaking of Melbourne Cup colours, what about that of the horse?
There are six official colourings, not including combinations of both, a thoroughbred racehorse can be registered, but has a certain coloured horse dominated the Melbourne Cup results in recent years?
- 10 of the past Melbourne Cup winners were officially ‘Bay’ coloured horses
- 18 of the 24 horse in the Melbourne Cup field this year are bay, the shortest-priced of which is #1 Dunaden ($7.50)
- Only six Grey horses have won the Melbourne Cup, the most famous of which was Subzero (1992)
- This year #6 Voila Ici ($151) and #19 Tac De Boistron ($61) are the only two greys looking to break the hoodoo in 2012
Further adding to the woes of Peter Moody’s veteran import Voila Ici is that along with being the wrong colour they are also the wrong age to win the Melbourne Cup with just two 8YO’s taking it out in the race’s 152-year history – hence their triple figure price!
See below for the complete list of 2012 Melbourne Cup Silks, Melbourne Cup Jockeys & Colours for the 24 horses in the field.
#1 Dunaden (FR)
Breeder: Edouard Decazes
Owners: Pearl Bloodstock Pty (Mgr R M Levitt)
Colours: Yellow, Royal Blue Stars, Yellow Cap
Trainer: Mikel Delzangles (Chantilly (FR))
Jockey: Craig Williams (59kg)
#2 Americain (USA)
Breeder: Wertheimer & Frere
Owners: G T & Mrs V J Ryan, K L & Mrs C O Bamford
Colours: White, Royal Blue And White Stars Panel, Red, White And Royal Blue Striped Sleeves And Cap
Trainer: Alain de Royer Dupre (Chantilly (FR))
Jockey: Damien Oliver (58kg)
#3 Jakkalberry (IRE)
Owners: Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock (Mgr D Dance), T Porter, S Duke, M Casey, D McLennan, SCG Racing Pty Ltd (Mgr S Gereaux), Merlin B’stock (Mgr J Richards), D Love, G Gereaux, M Johnston, M Eastmure, P Brittain, S Davidson, Y Xie
Colours: Fluorescent Yellow, Navy Blue Seams
Trainer: Marco Botti (Newmarket (GB))
Jockey: Colm O’Donoghue (55.5kg)
#4 Red Cadeaux (GB)
Breeder: Foursome Thoroughbreds
Owners: The Hon Ronald Arculli
Colours: Light Blue And Red Diamonds, Light Blue Sleeves, Red And Light Blue Diamond Cap
Trainer: Ed Dunlop (Newmarket (GB))
Jockey: Michael Rodd (55.5kg)
#5 Winchester (USA)
Breeder: Mr & Mrs Bertram R Firestone
Owners: Rosemont Stud Pty Ltd (Mgr A Mithen), D M Harvey, M J Hirst, S R Curwood, Anembo Bloodstock Pty Ltd (Mgr A Hardwick), Obe One Syndicate (Mgr J O’Brien), P D McNamara, Swan Street Syndicate (Mgr E McKeon) & T G Casanelia
Colours: Red, White Gatecrasher
Trainer: John Sadler (Flemington)
Jockey: Jamie Mott (55.5kg)
#6 Voila Ici (IRE)
Breeder: Soc. Finanza Locale Consulting Srl.
Owners: Glenlogan Park (Mgr: J M Haseler), B Danaher, P E Shadforth, E A & Mrs J A Galante, K A Miller, S Bishopp-Cruciani, D Bernsen, Dick & Morrissy Racing (Mgr: S P Morrissy), W S Vlahos
Colours: Maroon, White Epaulettes
Trainer: Peter G Moody (Caulfield)
Jockey: Vlad Duric (55kg)
#7 Cavalryman (GB)
Breeder: Darley
Owners: Godolphin Management Co Ltd
Colours: Royal Blue, Fly Emirates Logo
Trainer: Saeed Bin Suroor (Newmarket (GB))
Jockey: Frankie Dettori (54kg)
#8 Mount Athos (IRE)
Owners: Dr M Koukash
Colours: Grey, Beige Star, Grey And Beige Stars Sleeves And Cap
Trainer: Luca Cumani (Newmarket (GB))
Jockey: Ryan Moore (54kg)
#9 Sanagas (GER)
Breeder: Stiftung Gestut Fahrhof
Owners: B C 3 Thoroughbreds (W H Vlahos), Dick & Morrissy Racing Synd(S Morrissy), T Helfers, J York-Helfers, J Black, G & R Wood, M Sutherland, Heinrich B’Stock Synd (G Heinrich), D Bernsen, A Patterson, S Davidson,J Zaiter & R Craigie
Colours: Royal Blue, Silver Horseshoe, Halved Sleeves, Striped Cap
Trainer: Bart Cummings (Flemington)
Jockey: Nicholas Hall (54kg)
#10 Ethiopia
Breeder: Wyadup Valley Farm
Owners: Wyadup Valley Farm (Mgr: T J Delroy)
Colours: Light Blue, Green Hoops And Cap
Trainer: Pat Carey (Mornington)
Jockey: Rhys McLeod (53.5kg)
#11 Fiorentine (IRE)
Breeder: Ballymacoll Stud Farm Ltd
Owners: A T Roberts, McClure Ferguson Oman(Mgr: P C McClure), K R Wood, Fesen Pty Ltd (Mgr: P Pollicina), B Pang, Bongiorno Herron(Mgr: R M Herron), D J Deykin, Team McDonnell(Mgr: J S McDonnell, Henderson Racing(Mgr: D A Henderson)& Fiorente(Mgr: T Mitevski)
Colours: Black, Purple Sash
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse (Flemington)
Jockey: James McDonald (53.5kg)
#12 Galileo’s Choice (IRE)
Breeder: Patrick F Kelly
Owners: Dr R Lambe, Dr M W J Smurfit, Mr D Keough, Newtown Anner Stud
Colours: Purple, Yellow Cross Of Lorraine And Cap
Trainer: Dermot K Weld (The Curragh (IRE))
Jockey: Patrick Smullen (53.5kg)
#13 Glencadam Gold (IRE)
Breeder: Roalso Ltd
Owners: K Wood, Team McDonnell, R Smith, Paul McClure, B Pang, Bongiorno Herron, G Diamond, Fesen Pty Ltd, B Stracey & U K Stayers
Colours: White, Red Diamonds Sash, Grey Sleeves, Red Armbands, White And Red Diamond Cap
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse (Flemington)
Jockey: Tommy Berry (53.5kg)
#14 Green Moon (IRE)
Breeder: Goldsmith Bloodstock Partnership
Owners: N C Williams, Mr & Mrs L J Williams
Colours: Navy Blue, White Armbands And Cap
Trainer: Robert Hickmott (Mt. Macedon)
Jockey: Brett Prebble (53.5kg)
#15 Maluckyday (NZ)
Breeder: Karreman Bloodstock Ltd
Owners: N Moraitis A M
Colours: White, Grey Sash, Pink Striped Sleeves, Grey Cap
Trainer: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes (Flemington)
Jockey: Jim Cassidy (53.5kg)
#16 Mourayan (IRE)
Breeder: His Highness the Aga Khan’s Studs S.C.
Owners: N C Williams, Mr & Mrs L J Williams, V Sammartino, A L & Mrs B A Green, B N Singer, P Mehrten & M S Gudinski
Colours: Navy Blue, White Armbands, Navy Blue Cap
Trainer: Robert Hickmott (Mt. Macedon)
Jockey: Hugh Bowman (53.5kg)
#17 My Quest For Peace (IRE)
Breeder: Macquarie
Owners: OTI Racing (Mgrs: S O’Donnell & T Henderson), J Higgins, M Tripp, A Tripp, T Carroll, P Bartholomew, P Barnett, Menon Dugal Synd, Glenlogan Park Stud & Uthmeyer Racing
Colours: Navy Blue And Gold Hoops, White Sleeves And Cap
Trainer: Luca Cumani (Newmarket (GB))
Jockey: Corey Brown (53.5kg)
#18 Niwot
Breeder: Mr a E Vrisakis
Owners: R & C Legh Racing Synd (Mgr: R & Mrs C Legh), S W Kay, Gurners Bloodstock Synd (Mgr: A Ramsden), M J & Mrs M A Calman & N J & Mrs J S Griffin
Colours: Navy Blue, Gold Lightning Bolt, Gold And White Armbands, Gold Cap
Trainer: Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes (Rosehill)
Jockey: Dwayne Dunn (53.5kg)
#19 Tac de Boistron (FR)
Breeder: M M E Jean-Pierre Reverseau
Owners: Australian T’bred B’stock, Merlin B’stock, Greggie Synd, G Ferguson, G Connell, SCG Racing, I Johnson, New Era Racing, Boistron Cheval, Goulburn Valley Synd, D Lyall, R De Maria, Govan & Young Synd, M Eastmure, D Love, Y Xie, P Brittain, Twinspired Racing, The Boys Tron Legacy & G Peirson-Jones
Colours: Navy Blue, Fluorescent Yellow Braces, Quartered Cap
Trainer: Michael Kent (Cranbourne)
Jockey: Olivier Doleuze (53.5kg)
#20 Lights of Heaven (NZ)
Breeder: Mrs J M Wanless
Owners: Mrs J M Wanless
Colours: Dark Blue Tartan, Yellow Seams, Dark Blue Tartan Cap, Yellow Pom Pom
Trainer: Peter G Moody (Caulfield)
Jockey: Luke Nolen (53kg)
#21 Precedence (NZ)
Breeder: Bloomsbury Stud & Sir Patrick & Lady Hogan
Owners: Dato Tan Chin Nam, Sir P Hogan, The Dowager Duchess Of Bedford & B A Schroder
Colours: Black And White Check, Yellow Sleeves, Black And White Checked Cap
Trainer: Bart Cummings (Flemington)
Jockey: Blake Shinn (53kg)
#22 Unusual Suspect (USA)
Breeder: David Abrams
Owners: P Lord, S Rose, Baltimore Racing Synd, B Oakley, Ewart-Johnstone Winning Edge Synd, B Abrams, ATB Davidson Synd, B Bannister, Ms L Huddy & I Hicks
Colours: Black, Silver Star In White Disc, Silver Sleeves, Red Cap
Trainer: Michael Kent (Cranbourne)
Jockey: Glyn Schofield (53kg)
#23 Zabeelionaire (NZ)
Breeder: Wyadup Valley Farm
Owners: B J Spicer, R Alvaro, J H Donegan, F D Magnabosco, Mrs C Elberg, Realize The Dream Synd, Coopers Inn No 2 Synd & Seljaci Synd
Colours: Yellow, Royal Blue Knight, Royal Blue And Yellow Stripe Sleeves, Yellow And Royal Blue Star Cap
Trainer: Leon Corstens (Kyneton)
Jockey: Craig Newitt (52kg)
#24 Kelinni (IRE)
Breeder: Newberry Stud Farm Ltd
Owners: F Cook, Mrs C Cook, I Bruce, G G Ltd Syn (Mgr: G Peterson), K Hunt, B Mathieson, R Smith, R Portaro, G Stead, Werrett B’stck P/L (Mgr: N Werrett) & Est B Wright
Colours: Maroon, White Crossed Sashes, Yellow Armbands And Cap
Trainer: Chris Waller (Rosehill)
Jockey: Glen Boss (51kg)
