The starting field for the 2023 Melbourne Cup has been finalised with the French Defender Gold Trip being heavily penalized with a 58 kilogram burden to overcome. Military Mission, an Irish horse has scored the ideal barrier draw at number 5. The French Roughie True Marvel has the true advantage of carrying the lowest weight.
| Number | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Weight (kg) | Barrier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gold Trip (FR) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | James McDonald | 58 | 2 |
| 2 | Alenquer (FR) | Michael Moroney | Damien Oliver | 56.5 | 9 |
| 3 | Without A Fight (IRE) | Anthony Freedman & Sam Freedman | Mark Zahra | 56.5 | 10 |
| 4 | Breakup (JPN) | Tatsuya Yoshioka | Kohei Matsuyama | 55 | 18 |
| 5 | Vauban (FR) | Willie Mullins | Ryan Moore | 55 | 3 |
| 6 | Soulcome (GB) | Chris Waller | João Moreira | 53.5 | 4 |
| 7 | Absurde (FR) | Willie Mullins | Zac Purton | 53 | 8 |
| 8 | Right You Are | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | John Allen | 53 | 15 |
| 9 | Vow And Declare | Danny O’Brien | Billy Egan | 53 | 19 |
| 10 | Cleveland (IRE) | Kris Lees | Michael Dee | 52 | 23 |
| 11 | Ashrun (FR) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Kerrin McEvoy | 51.5 | 11 |
| 12 | Daqiansweet Junior (NZ) | Phillip Stokes | Daniel Stackhouse | 51.5 | 12 |
| 13 | Okita Soushu (IRE) | Joseph O’Brien | Dylan Gibbons | 51.5 | 20 |
| 14 | Sheraz (FR) | Chris Waller | Beau Mertens | 51.5 | 22 |
| 15 | Lastotchka (FR) | Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | Craig Williams | 51 | 21 |
| 16 | Magical Lagoon (IRE) | Chris Waller | Mark Du Plessis | 51 | 7 |
| 17 | Military Mission (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Rachel King | 51 | 5 |
| 18 | Serpentine (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Jye McNeil | 51 | 1 |
| 19 | Virtous Circle (NZ) | Liam Howley | Craig Newitt | 51 | 6 |
| 20 | More Fellons (IRE) | Chris Waller | Jamie Kah | 50.5 | 24 |
| 21 | Future History (GB) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Hollie Doyle | 50 | 13 |
| 22 | Interpretation (IRE) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Teo Nugent | 50 | 17 |
| 23 | Kalapour (IRE) | Kris Lees | Zac Lloyd | 50 | 14 |
| 24 | True Marvel (FR) | Matthew Smith | Ben Thompson | 50 | 10 |