Melbourne Cup Trifecta Payouts
Find all the information you need about Melbourne Cup Trifecta payouts.
What is the Melbourne Cup Trifecta?
The Trifecta is a popular bet type where you need to pick the first three runners past the post. This becomes more difficult in the Melbourne Cup because there is a capacity field of 24 runners which is much larger than standard race field sizes in Australia. The Trifecta payout is determined by how much money is in the pool, and how many people have won the Trifecta.
2025 Melbourne Cup Trifecta Payout
The results and dividends for the 2025 Melbourne Cup Trifecta payouts will be updated as soon as correct weight is declared on Tuesday, November 4.
Past Melbourne Cup Trifecta Payouts - Last 5 Years
There have been some massive Melbourne Cup Trifecta payouts throughout the years, including the most recent Trifecta payout in 2024 that paid more than $30K on NSW TAB. See below for some recent payout figures, or check out the full Melbourne Cup results to see where horses finished.
2024 Melbourne Cup Trifecta Payout
| Result | S-TAB Div | NSW-TAB Div | UTAB Div |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11, 4, 12 | $22,576.80 | $30,604.70 | $28,491.70 |
2023 Melbourne Cup Trifecta Payout
| Result | S-TAB Div | NSW-TAB Div | UTAB Div |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3-6-14 | $10,668.10 | $9,441.30 | $12,423.20 |
2022 Melbourne Cup Trifecta Payout
| Result | S-TAB Div | NSW-TAB Div | UTAB Div |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-17-22 | $16,494.00 | $17,668.70 | $17,282.00 |
2021 Melbourne Cup Trifecta Payout
| Result | S-TAB Div | NSW-TAB Div | UTAB Div |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4-2-3 | $436.20 | $356.10 | $380.30 |
2020 Melbourne Cup Trifecta Payout
| Result | S-TAB Div | NSW-TAB Div | UTAB Div |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-21-12 | $1,806.90 | $2,276.40 | $1,7777 |
How Does the Trifecta Work in the Melbourne Cup?
There are multiple options available for punters when placing a Trifecta bet on the Melbourne Cup, and it’s important to understand how the Trifecta works.
Trifecta Types
Essentially, there are three types of Trifecta bet you can place. A Boxed Trifecta, Standout Trifecta, and a Straight Trifecta. We explore these in detail so you know how they work.
Boxed Trifecta
A boxed Trifecta involves selecting your runners to finish in any order. You can select a minimum of three runners, and there is no maximum number of runners you can box. However, the more runners you box, the more expensive the Trifecta cost will be.
Standout Trifecta
With a Standout Trifecta, you can select each runner to finish in a certain position. For example, you might select three horses to finish 1st, five horses to finish 2nd, and 10 horses to fill third place. One horse from each of your selections needs to fill the corresponding place in order to win.
Straight Trifecta
In a Straight Trifecta, you select one horse for 1st, one horse for 2nd, and one horse for 3rd place. This is the most cost effective Trifecta type, but also the hardest to land.
Flexibet Trifecta
A Flexibet Trifecta can be used on Standout and Boxed Trifectas, and this is basically the flexibility to nominate your spend amount.
How Much Does a Melbourne Cup Trifecta Cost?
The minimum spend for 100% of the Trifecta payout is $1. This is for a Straight Trifecta with three runners to fill 1st, 2nd and 3rd place.
How to Calculate the Trifecta Cost
The cost of the Trifecta is based on how many winning combinations there are. The simple formula for calculating the Trifecta cost is:
- Number of runners for first x number of runners for second (minus 1) x number of runners for third (minus 2)
For example, a boxed Trifecta with five runners would be 5 x 4 x 3 = $60
How to Win the Melbourne Cup Trifecta - Strategy & Tips
With so much money in the Melbourne Cup Trifecta pools, it’s no wonder so many people have a crack at landing the Trifecta. We’ve put together a few useful tips for a successful Melbourne Cup strategy.
- Research: Study the Melbourne Cup form and identify the top winning chances. If you need some help with this, blackbook.com.au’s experts will have free Melbourne Cup tips available in the days leading up to the race.
- Find Value: It’s one thing to land the Trifecta, and it’s another to get a piece of a huge Trifecta payout. The Melbourne Cup always seems to throw up some rough results, so don’t be afraid to go outside the favourite runners in the market.
- Diversify: Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket, even if confidence is high in a particular runner. There are up to 24 horses in the Melbourne Cup, and sometimes bad luck is inevitable.
- Gamble Responsibly: Set a budget for Melbourne Cup Day and stick to that amount. All bookmakers in Australia offer the ability to set a deposit limit so you can’t go over that amount.
Which TAB Tote Pool Has the Biggest Melbourne Cup Trifecta Payout?
In the past 10 years, NSW TAB has paid out more on average than STAB or UNITAB. The best Melbourne Cup betting apps will allow you to select which Tote pool you would like to place your bet with.
