Race result
ALMANDIN has claimed the 2016 Melbourne Cup in a thrilling burst to the line, with Heartbreak City in second and Hartnell in third.
Almandin started the race as a $16 for Lloyd Williams’ team and gives them their fifth winner of the Melbourne Cup, and unprecedented achievement.
» 2018 Melbourne Cup live blog
He was also picked by The Roar‘s own Tristan Rayner pre-race as the winner.
The two horses streaked home to beat the rest of the field by three lengths.
More:
» 2016 Melbourne Cup: Who won, came last
» 2016 Melbourne Cup full finishing order
» 2016 Melbourne Cup: Who came second
Race preview
The 2016 Melbourne Cup runs at 3pm (AEDT) and The Roar will bring you live updates, winners, losers, and all the results, plus the late mail as Australia’s richest and most historic race gets underway.
The Roar’s experts have published some huge previews if you’re looking to find a winner. Read the full Melbourne Cup preview and tips here and a complete runner-by-runner guide here.
It’s a horse race rich in history and tradition and one of the biggest events on the Australian calendar, sporting or otherwise.
The famous 2-mile dash has attracted horses from all around the globe for the 2016 edition, making up a field of 24 from Australia, England, Germany, Japan, Ireland and even across the ditch in New Zealand.
In terms of local talent, Jameka is the one to watch as one of the top favourites coming into the race.
A stunning run at the Caulfield Cup saw the four-year-old win by three lengths and shoot up the bookies market for the Melbourne Cup.
The John O’Shea trained Hartnell has also been thrown in the mix after three wins on the trot before the Cox Plate, including the Hill and Turnbull Stakes.
He was blown away by a record eight lengths at the Plate in his last start by the unstoppable Winx, but he ran a near faultless race to beat the rest of the field into second.
British invader Big Orange may be carrying the heaviest weight in the field, but is a huge presence on the track and threatens to take the Cup back to Europe.
He’s fresh off a 14-week break following a win at Goodwood on a similar distance, the track conditions suit him as well.
While there will be plenty of individual battles across the field when the barriers drop, there’s already a battle going on among the big three stables.
Godolphin, Lee Freedman and Lloyd Williams have 11 runners between them.
Freedman is after a sixth Cup victory, while Williams has four to his name. The powerhouse Godolphin stable are winless in the big race and are looking to break their Melbourne Cup curse with five runners in the field.
Oceanographer has come charging in late to threaten the order after a wonderful run at the Lexus Stakes on Derby Day to earn a spot in the field.
Bondi Beach had a tumultuous run in the Cup last year but is coming off some much better form and a decent barrier draw at number five.
Almandin may be one of the most underrated in the field and a real dark horse to snatch the win from the favourites.
A last start win at the Bart Cummings made it two in a row and has him in good stead leading up to the race off a four-week break.
He now has three wins from three starts from 2200 metres or more and is becoming a long distance specialist.
Exospheric is another in with a chance after a third place finish at the Caulfield Cup, while Qewy also brings a win in the Geelong Cup to the table for Godolphin.
Prediction
The handicap nature of the race always makes it a difficult one to call, especially with so many top-class horses in the field.
Just to throw a spanner in the works, the chance of rain could very well affect the track underfoot and could change up the whole race.
Hartnell is the heavily backed favourite at the moment, and although Oceanographer is on level terms with Jameka as one of the top three runners, the later should be shaping up for a one-on-one with Hartnell.
There’s plenty of talent across the field and an upset is always on the card in a race this size.
For mine, it will be a tough ask to deny Godolphin their first win with Hartnell. Three wins and a pair of second place finishes in the last five starts is nearly as good a form you could ask for coming into the Cup.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Head to Head right to the end.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Take a breath!! The Cup has been run and won for another year, but there are still three more races to come. For all the live highlights and results for the remainder of the day, you can head back HERE for the live blog.
Connor Bennett
Editor
An incredible image from an incredible finish.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Rose of Virginia.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Hartnell had a bit of work to do around the final turn, coming from out wide and breaking away with Almandin and Heartbreak City, but it was too much for him in the end and he fell away. Still taking an impressive place finish, but that elusive Melbourne Cup win continues to be out of reach for Godolphin
Jessicaq
Guest
do you know who came last ??
Connor Bennett
Editor
A good race overall, but what an incredible finish that was!! Nothing it in for the final hundred metres and you could tell they both wanted it so bad, neither refused to give up and it was a fight to the line.
Connor Bennett
Editor
A record fifth win for owner Lloyd Williams at the Melbourne Cup and a second success in the Cup for jockey Kerrin McEvoy
Connor Bennett
Editor
MELBOURNE CUP RESULTS: 1. Almandin 2. Heartbreak City 3. Hartnell 4. Qewy
Connor Bennett
Editor
Connor Bennett
Editor
MELBOURNE CUP The final horses being packed into the barriers... AND THEY'RE AWAY!!!! The two-mile dash is on!! Oceanographer and Harnell got out strong as the field moves over to the inside rail. Wicklow Brave is on the outside as Qewy makes his way to the front. Who Shot The Barman has slipped back a long way as they head past the post on the first lap. Curren Mirotic leading the way followed by Assign and Excess Knowledge. Everyone jostling for position. Excess Knowledge takes the lead around the back with Assign right next to him coming aroudn the outside. Secret Number is making headway up the front and takes a length over third plavce. Curren Mirotic is falling back now. Jameka is stuck on the inside rail and is struggling to get through traffic. Secret Number in the lead now by a length over Excess Knowledge who is controlling the pace for the most part. Around the final turn now!!! Secret Number still in the lead but the field is swamping him. Hartnell and Jameka have found some galloping room on the outside and they're coming up. Heartbreak City, Harntell and Almandin come through!!! They're creating a huge gap, about five lengths on the field already with 200 metres to go. Hartnell is falling back now!!! Heartbreak City and Almandin are flying ahead, a length ahead of Hartnell and six ahead of the rest. INCREDIBLE FINISH!!! THEY'RE NOSE-TO-NOSE!!! Heartbreak City half a head in front... Almandin gets his nose in front!! THIS IS THRILLING!!! Coming up to the post it could be a photo finish, no one is giving up as Hartnell drops back further and further towards the rest of the field. ALMANDIN HAS IT!!! ALMANDIN WINS THE 2016 MELBOURNE CUP!!!! Heartbreak City is just that for the runner up who loses out by a nose in an incredible finish to the Cup. They were a world away from the rest of the field who would have fnished around six lengths back. Hartnell takes third ,just losing his legs and failing to keep up with the leaders.
Connor Bennett
Editor
A few horses a little slow into the barriers but we're about 30 seconds away from the gates dropping
Connor Bennett
Editor
All the horses are out on the track and making their way into the barriers one by one. ONE MINUTE AWAY!!
Connor Bennett
Editor
Those poor race goers at Eagle Farm up in Queensland have lost power on their big screen that's covering the Cup. Lucky The Roar is here with all the live coverage for you to follow.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Oceanographer has made big gains after winning the Lexus Stakes on Derby Day. Coming out of barrier 11 he'll be one to keep an eye on.
Connor Bennett
Editor
The count down continues. Just five minutes away!!
Connor Bennett
Editor
Caulfield Cup = Check Melbourne Cup = ?? Can Jameka pull off the famed double?
Connor Bennett
Editor
Wicklow Brave is already out on the track. Still 8 minutes until the barriers drop and no other horse is out there.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Bondi Beach is making some late movements towards favoritism, coming off four place finishes in a row including a last start win at the Enterprise Stakes.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Sir John Hawkwood. What a name for a horse eh. According to Wikipedia, this is who he was. Sir John Hawkwood was an English mercenary or condottiere who was active in 14th-century Italy