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Everyone loves a roughie, those unlikely outsiders that capture the imagination on the day of the race that stops a nation.
Over more than 160 years of Melbourne Cup history, the famous two-mile race has produced some of sport's most thrilling upsets.
From horses few believed in, to riders written off before the start, these long-shots prove that on Cup Day, fairy tales can still come true.
1. The Pearl (1871)
The roughie is not a new concept, with The Pearl saluting at 100-1 all the way back in 1871
In 1871, The Pearl galloped into history with odds of 100-1, the longest-priced winner the Cup has ever seen. The stable backed another horse, but fate had other plans. The Pearl avoided trouble mid-race, then surged clear to win by two lengths in 3:39.0. Punters were left stunned, and bookmakers reeling. It was one of the first true 'anything can happen' moments in Australian racing and more than a century later, it still stands as a symbol of the Cup's unpredictability.
2. Wotan (1936)
A crowd of 100,000 watched in disbelief as the New Zealand outsider Wotan stormed from last to first at 100-1. The field was full of champions, but Wotan's finishing burst was something out of legend. 'The calculations of thousands of backers were upset yesterday when the 100 to 1 chance, Wotan, won the Melbourne Cup,' one paper declared. His time of 3:21.25 broke records and hearts alike. Wotan's victory remains one of the most jaw-dropping results in racing history.
3. Old Rowley (1940)
Old Rowley wasn't supposed to be anywhere near the finish. With only four wins from 60 starts, few even bothered to look his way. But as the field hit the home straight, the 100-1 outsider charged through and claimed a famous victory. Headlines described him as 'a 100/1 outsider … dashing to the front a furlong from the finish.' It was a reminder that even the most written-off horses can have their day in the sun.
4. Rimfire (1948)
Rimfire's 1948 win was unforgettable, not just for the 80-1 odds, but for the chaos that followed. The result went to a photo-finish, the first in Cup history, and young jockey Ray Neville, just 15 years old, was at the centre of it all. The crowd waited in suspense as the image was developed and judged. When Rimfire was declared the winner, the stands erupted. It was a moment of youth, courage, and long-shot glory that summed up everything the Melbourne Cup stands for.
5. Hi Jinx (1960)
New Zealand raider Hi Jinx stunned the Flemington crowd by beating the favourite at 50-1
In the 1960 Centenary Melbourne Cup, Hi Jinx, a 50-1 New Zealand mare, stunned racegoers by beating the mighty Tulloch. The crowd expected a coronation for the favourite, but Hi Jinx's stamina and heart proved stronger. She crossed the line first, silencing punters and adding another Kiwi chapter to the Cup's folklore. Her triumph showed again why this race is never a sure thing.
6. Silver Knight (1971)
The year before Piping Lane's heroics, another New Zealander, Silver Knight, upset the form guides at around 10-1. His trip to Melbourne had almost been cancelled before a last-minute flight opened up. On race day, amid chaos and several breakdowns in the field, Silver Knight kept his composure to secure a surprise victory. It was a classic Cup tale, a horse barely meant to be there becoming the one to beat them all.
7. Piping Lane (1972)
Tasmanian-bred and little-known outside his home state, Piping Lane was dismissed at 40-1. His jockey John Letts later admitted, 'We're only here to make up the numbers.' Instead, Piping Lane surged home to win comfortably, toppling the great Gunsynd in the process. The story of the humble horse who crossed Bass Strait to shock Australia became one of the Cup's most endearing fairytales.
8. Think Big (1975)
Think Big was out of form and given little chance at 33-1 to defend his 1974 title. The weather was miserable, the field deep, and his trainer Bart Cummings warned conditions weren't ideal. But as the rain fell and the crowd roared, Think Big produced a storming finish to win back-to-back Cups. It was a powerful lesson in resilience, and proof that lightning really can strike twice.
9. Prince of Penzance (2015)
Michelle Payne riding Prince Of Penzance celebrates after winning the Melbourne Cup in 2015
When Prince of Penzance stormed home at 100-1 in 2015, it was history in the making. Jockey Michelle Payne became the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup, turning a long-shot story into a national moment. 'My body went a bit numb … I just couldn't believe we had won the Melbourne Cup. It was a dream come true,' she said afterward. In her victory speech, she told her critics to 'get stuffed.' That mix of emotion, history and audacity made this one of the most iconic moments the Cup has ever seen.
10. Knight's Choice (2024)
Knight's Choice entered the 2024 Cup a forgotten runner at 90-1. Irish jockey Robbie Dolan, on his first Cup ride, crossed the line in disbelief. 'Pinch me, I think I'm dreaming,' he said moments later. The horse had been winless in ten starts but surged home in the final strides to stun favourites and fans alike. Trainer Sheila Laxon called it 'an awesome and amazing ride.' Knight's Choice joined the rare company of century-defying Cup winners, ensuring that even in the modern era, the roughie's spirit is alive and well.
