The 2013 Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres at Flemington brought back two former winners, the 2011 champion Dunaden and the 2012 winner Green Moon, as well as Fiorente, runner-up a year earlier, and Red Cadeaux, second to Dunaden in 2011.
The Caulfield Cup winner Fawkner and the Makybe Diva Stakes winner Foreteller led the locals, while Europe sent the Irish St Leger winner Voleuse De Coeurs, the Goodwood Cup winner Brown Panther, Ascot Gold Cup runner-up Simenon, and the French stayers Verema and Tres Blue.
