‘Class killer’: Bookies sweat on Melbourne Cup weather

‘Class Killer’: Bookies Monitor Melbourne Cup Weather

Australia’s leading bookmakers are closely watching the weather as Melbourne prepares for heavy rain ahead of Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup at Flemington. A significant weather system is forecast to bring a "class killing" downpour, impacting betting markets and race conditions.

Weather Impact on Betting Markets

With rain expected to heavily affect the track, bookmakers note that many punters are now considering horses with proven wet-track performance. Early favorites, including race favorite Half Yours, are predicted to handle the conditions well, but the impending downgrade of the track rating has caused long-odds contenders to gain support.

“The rain will be a factor no doubt and although we are at a Good 3 track rating now, we expect that to be downgraded with further shifts in the market tonight (Monday),” said Ladbrokes spokesperson Nick Quinn.

He added,

“From a Cup perspective, runners at the top of the market all have form on rain-affected tracks, but so do some of the runners at much longer odds who may not have the same form coming into the race. What we will see is punters looking for value ... a better price now that the rain has come."

Bookmakers Reliant on BOM Updates

The bookmakers are monitoring the new Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) website as they gauge how the wet weather will influence race outcomes and wagering behavior.

Summary

Melbourne’s forecasted heavy rain ahead of the Melbourne Cup is reshaping betting dynamics, with punters increasingly favoring value bets on horses proven in wet conditions.

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The Nightly The Nightly — 2025-11-03

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