The Melbourne Cup is a prestigious horse race held annually on the first Tuesday of November in Melbourne, Australia. It is the richest and most important two-mile handicap race in the world. The Melbourne Cup has been running since 1861 and has become an iconic event in Australian culture. With its long history, it has become a tradition for many Australians to attend the race and cheer on their favorite horses. But has a filly ever won the Melbourne Cup?
History of Fillies Competing in the Melbourne Cup
The first filly to compete in the Melbourne Cup was named Mother Shipton and she ran in the 1866 race. Since then, fillies have been competing in the Melbourne Cup on a regular basis, but they have never won the race. In fact, fillies have only been placed in the top three once since Mother Shipton. That was in 1883 when filly Palatine II finished in second place.
Why Fillies Don’t Win the Melbourne Cup
There are a few reasons why fillies don’t typically win the Melbourne Cup. First, fillies are not allowed to compete against colts and geldings in the race. This means that the competition is always going to be a bit tougher for fillies.
Second, fillies tend to mature more slowly than colts and geldings. This means that they are less likely to be at their physical peak when the Melbourne Cup is run. Third, fillies also tend to be smaller and lighter than colts and geldings, which can make it more difficult for them to carry the weight of the race.
Finally, fillies are more likely to be raced less than colts and geldings. This means that they may not have the same level of experience or training heading into the race.
Notable Fillies in Melbourne Cup History
There have been some memorable fillies who have competed in the Melbourne Cup over the years, though none have been able to win the race. Here are some of the most notable fillies who have competed in the Melbourne Cup:
- Mother Shipton – The first filly to compete in the Melbourne Cup in 1866.
- Palatine II – The only filly to finish in the top three when she finished second in 1883.
- Winifreda – Ran in the 1902 Melbourne Cup and was the first filly to finish in the top five.
- Kelvin – Ran in the 1903 Melbourne Cup and was the first filly to finish in the top ten.
- Eurythmic – Ran in the 1920 Melbourne Cup and was the first filly to finish in the top eight.
- Fairy Walk – Ran in the 1921 Melbourne Cup and was the first filly to finish in the top six.
- Shirley – Ran in the 1940 Melbourne Cup and was the first filly to finish in the top four.
- Gipsy Heather – Ran in the 1989 Melbourne Cup and was the first filly to finish in the top three in over a century.
Recent Fillies in the Melbourne Cup
In recent years, there have been a few fillies who have competed in the Melbourne Cup, but none have been able to break through and win the race. Here are some of the most notable fillies who have competed in the Melbourne Cup in recent years:
- Circles of Gold – Ran in the 2000 Melbourne Cup and finished in the top ten.
- Bruin – Ran in the 2010 Melbourne Cup and finished in the top fifteen.
- Mystical Miss – Ran in the 2011 Melbourne Cup and finished in the top twenty.
- Miss Scarletta – Ran in the 2012 Melbourne Cup and finished in the top twenty-five.
- Miss Mossman – Ran in the 2013 Melbourne Cup and finished in the top twelve.
- Miss Momentum – Ran in the 2014 Melbourne Cup and finished in the top thirteen.
- Miss Mango – Ran in the 2015 Melbourne Cup and finished in the top sixteen.
Conclusion
While fillies have been competing in the Melbourne Cup for over 150 years, none have been able to win the race. This is due to a variety of factors, such as the fact that fillies are not allowed to compete against colts and geldings in the race, they tend to mature more slowly than colts and geldings, and they are more likely to be raced less than colts and geldings.
Despite not being able to win the race, fillies have still had a strong presence in the Melbourne Cup over the years and a few have been able to finish in the top ten. It is possible that one day a filly will win the Melbourne Cup, but for now, the race remains elusive for fillies.
References
- Bertoldo, L. (2019, April 9). Has a filly ever won the melbourne cup? Retrieved from https://www.racing.com/news/2019-04-09/has-a-filly-ever-won-the-melbourne-cup
- Australian Racing Museum & Hall of Fame (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.racingmuseum.com.au/
- The Great Melbourne Cup (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.greatmelbournecup.com/
References
- Bertoldo, L. (2019, April 9). Has a filly ever won the melbourne cup? Retrieved from https://www.racing.com/news/2019-04-09/has-a-filly-ever-won-the-melbourne-cup
- Australian Racing Museum & Hall of Fame (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.racingmuseum.com.au/
- The Great Melbourne Cup (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.greatmelbournecup.com/