The trials and tribulations of Lunar Flare have always generated attention with the biggest and best Aussie bookmakers

The story of Lunar Flare at the 2022 Melbourne Cup transcended the sport of horse racing and created plenty of drama with the biggest and best betting sites.

However, having claimed at ballot exemption that was up for grabs at Flemington in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes, Lunar Flare looks ready to go once more in 2023.

Melbourne Cup controversy comes as part of the overall appeal of the race both in Australia and beyond, but the story of Lunar Flare played on the heartstrings of all associated with the sport in 2022.

Declared unfit to run by Victorian vets on the morning of the race, Lunar Flare’s Melbourne Cup hopes looked to be scrapped but 2023 looks to have presented another opportunity for the Graeme Begg trained speedster.

Away from the narrative of the story, plenty of Aussie bookmakers see Lunar Flare as a serious contender at the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday November 7th, 2023.

Have the stars aligned for Lunar Flare in 2023?

For all the disappointment connected with Lunar Flare in 2022, the reality of the dangers of racing were there for all to see on the biggest stage of all in the Melbourne Cup.

Topping the pre-race betting with the many betting sites ahead of the 2022 offering of the iconic Melbourne Cup, Lunar Flare certainly has the credentials to win a race of this magnitude.

Using a ballot exemption to good effect at Flemington back in March, Graeme Begg looks to have had the Melbourne Cup in mind for 12 months and Lunar Flare now finds herself in contention once more in 2023.

At $10 at BoomBet in the ante-post betting markets, Lunar Flare is certainly one to keep an eye on and the narrative surrounding the horse makes it a fascinating story.

Willie Mullins to spoil the party?

Remarkably, legendary Irish trainer Willie Mullins has never won the Melbourne Cup and that is something he looks hell bent on changing in 2023.

Vauban is a prolific racer across a variety of different distances and Mullins has primed the great horse into a Melbourne Cup shot.

Glorious triumphs over the jumps at Cheltenham and across the flat at Ascot, have seen Vauban become one of the most feared horses in international horse racing spheres and the Melbourne Cup looks to be a realistic goal.

Vauban is the clear favourite for the 2023 Melbourne Cup at $7 with TopSport but Lunar Flare is a horse that could match Vauban on its day. 

Plenty of challengers in the field

The Australian and international horse racing fraternity are all on pins chasing glory at Flemington and with the season starting to take shape in 2023, the Melbourne Cup is in the back of everybody’s mind.

Aiden O’Brien is another Irish trainer with a prolific winning record, and he too has Melbourne Cup aspirations with the exciting 3-year-old Tower of London.

There is a degree of uncertainty surrounding Tower of London but it has pace to burn and it could show the field a clean set of heels at $14 with Bet365. 

Elsewhere, Japanese star horse Silver Sonic is another contender in the race with a very impressive record.

Conditions and travel are always question marks that linger over international horses in a race as short as the Melbourne Cup but on racing credentials, Silver Sonic is certainly in with a shout. 

Silver Sonic is a healthy $14.00 in the ante-post betting to blitz the field win the 2023 Melbourne Cup with UniBet.

The story of Lunar Flare at the Melbourne Cup has often felt a cursed one but once again in 2023, it carries the hopes of a nation with most Aussie bookmakers.

Competition will be strong, with Willie Mullins and Aiden O’Brien looking to spoil the party but Lunar Flare is a quality operator and if it gets to actually get out of the starting gates at the Melbourne Cup, it could be ready to write its name into Australian horse racing folklore.