The 2023 Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres at Flemington brought together the defending champion Gold Trip, the Caulfield Cup winner Without A Fight and a strong Irish team led by Willie Mullins' pair Vauban and Absurde.
Without A Fight, trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, came in off a dominant Caulfield Cup win with Mark Zahra, who had won the race a year earlier on Gold Trip. Gold Trip returned with James McDonald after a Turnbull Stakes win, while Vauban had been set for the race since winning at Royal Ascot. Japan was represented by Breakup, and the Cup was Damien Oliver's final ride in the race, on Alenquer.
