With the final field declared and the barrier draw completed, the stage is set for the 164th edition of the G1 Melbourne Cup!
Flemington will have the eyes of the world on it on the first Tuesday in November as 24 battle hardened stayers will go to war over 3200m for a share of $8.56 million.
The time-honoured feature has a rich history dating back to 1861 when Archer won the inaugural Melbourne Cup.
Champion trainer Chris Waller has a five-pronged attack this year led by race favourite Buckaroo as he looks to win his second Melbourne Cup to go with his magnificent mare Verry Elleegant’s 2021 victory.
Irish conditioner Willie Mullins is in search of his first Melbourne Cup and returns with second favourite Vauban and Absurde who finished 14th and 7th respectively last year.
Jockey Mark Zahra is looking to match Ladbrokes own Glen Boss’ incredible feat of riding three straight Melbourne Cup winners when he partners the Ciaron Maher-trained Circle Of Fire. Unlike ‘Bossy’ whose three wins all came aboard Makybe Diva, Zahra has ridden a different horse each year.
The race that stops the nation is one of the hardest races to find the winner of each year, so we’ve lent you a hand and run the rule over each horse in the field. (Prices current at time of publish)
1. Vauban (11)
Price: $7.00
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding returns for his second tilt at the Melbourne Cup after disappointing as favourite last year.
In 2023 he arrived in Australia with fresh legs, but this time he arrives fitter with five runs under his belt.
Since finishing 14th in last year’s Cup, the 3x G1 winner has won the Lonsdale Cup over 3319m and placed in three Group races.
His most recent performance in the G1 Irish St Leger was excellent with the seven-year-old running on strongly for second behind Kyprios.
Mullins is a master horseman so I have little doubt that we will see his charge fighting out the finish.
2. Buckaroo (21)
Price: $5.50
A gelding procedure ahead of this preparation has been the making of him as his results emphatically prove.
Following an eye-catching performance in the G1 Winx Stakes first-up, the Chris Waller-trained son of Fastnet Rock mustered plenty of strength to win the G2 Chelmsford Stakes.
He then came to Melbourne for the G1 Underwood Stakes and handled racing the opposite direction with aplomb, demoralising his rivals in a 3.5 length victory.
The six-year-old was brave as the day is long two starts ago when finding the line powerfully to finish a head second to Via Sistina in the G1 Turnbull Stakes.
His last start performance in the G1 Caulfield Cup summed him up perfectly given he made up a stack of ground on a day when the track favoured leaders to finish 1.25 lengths second.
He brings the A1 form lines to this year’s Melbourne Cup so it’s easy to see why he’s favourite.
3. Circle Of Fire (24)
Price: $34.00
The son of Almanzor made an inauspicious return to the races three starts ago in the G1 Makybe Diva Stakes when eased down to finish 21.5 lengths last.
The Ciaron Maher-trained five-year-old improved significantly second-up when working home well to finish 6.5 lengths ninth in the Turnbull Stakes.
The G1 Sydney Cup winner again didn’t fire a shot in the Caulfield Cup when beaten by 13.9 lengths.
The Melbourne Cup has been his Grand Final throughout this preparation and he will no doubt be better over two miles.
4. Warp Speed (3)
Price: $26.00
The Japanese visitor can bounce back following a disappointing 13th in the Caulfield Cup last start.
Several factors were against him on the day namely the wide draw which saw him settle too far back on a day when ground could not be made easily and the wet track which he failed to handle.
The Noboru Takagi-trained gelding has chased home one of Japan’s finest, T O Royal, in his past four races at home including most recently in the Tenno Sho over this distance when 4.3 lengths fifth so he there is no doubting his class.
He’ll relish the rise in distance and has to be considered a leading contender.
5. Kovalica (17)
Price: $21.00
The Chris Waller-trained son of Ocean Park took all before him as a three-year-old, winning three Group races in Queensland including the G1 Queensland Derby.
Unfortunately, that win which was 18 months ago, was his last.
The now five-year-old looked to have a great opportunity two starts ago in the G2 Hill Stakes at Rosehill but just couldn’t get the job done, finishing a head second.
Last start in the G1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate, he settled last before running on strongly to finish 11.8 lengths behind his record-breaking stablemate Via Sistina.
All his runs this preparation have been building to this, and I think we’ll see a peak performance.
6. Sharp ‘N’ Smart (15)
Price: $71.00
It’s been a long time between drinks for the New Zealand galloper.
In fact, it’s been 82 weeks since the Team Rogerson gelding won the G1 New Zealand Derby.
Three starts ago, he showed a glimpse of his past best when finishing a neck second at Te Rapa.
Since arriving in Australia, he has finished down the track in the Turnbull Stakes before running a solid race for third in the G2 Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup.
Graeme Rogerson won the Melbourne Cup in 2007 with Efficient and it’s great to see him with another runner.
7. Just Fine (13)
Price: $51.00
The Waterhouse & Bott-trained gelding won his way into this year’s Melbourne Cup by winning the G3 Bart Cummings and the golden ticket attached to that victory two starts ago.
Unfortunately, the seven-year-old with the massive ownership group mixes his form horribly as shown by his last place finishes in the G3 Naturalism Stakes and Moonee Valley Gold Cup either side of his win.
He’d need to recapture the form that he showed to win The Bart Cummings to be a genuine winning chance.
8. Land Legend (18)
Price: $19.00
The Chris Waller-trained gelding raced wide when second-up in the G3 Kingston Town Stakes but still fought on well to finish 5.1 lengths sixth.
He then stepped up to 2400m two starts ago in the G1 Metropolitan and proved his toughness by getting the better of Zardozi on the line after a battle that took place over the length of the straight.
The son of Galileo was excellent in the Caulfield Cup after making a run at the 1000m mark and serving it up to leader Duke De Sessa and while he lost that battle, he still fought on bravely to finish third.
He enters the Melbourne Cup with the required miles in his legs and looks well placed to factor in the finish
9. Absurde (7)
Price: $11.00
The Willie Mullins-trained gelding returns to Flemington looking to improve on his seventh-place finish in last year’s Melbourne Cup.
He arrived in Australia last year on the back of an Ebor win and he again will bring winning form to the Cup courtesy of a last start win in the Chester Stakes.
Jockey Kerrin McEvoy who has won three Melbourne Cups will pilot the Irish stayer and said that his work this week gave him a good feel and that he was on target for a bold showing.
He got the better of his travelling partner,Vauban, in last year’s Cup, and you can’t discount him once again.
10. Athabascan (2)
Price: $51.00
The O’Shea & Charlton-trained gelding will stay all day and will relish the 3200m.
He proved that toughness last start at Randwick when he kept finding when challenged by Wyclif to win the G3 St Leger by a nose.
In his only previous start over two miles, he handled the test of stamina well finishing two lengths behind Circle Of Fire in this year’s Sydney Cup.
His best performances have been on rain-affected tracks so he is defintely one to include if we get any rain over the next 48 hours.
11. Knight’s Choice (6)
Price: $101.00
Sheila Laxon won the 2001 Melbourne Cup with Ethereal, but I strongly doubt she’ll be adding another title with co-trainer John Symons and this guy.
The son of Extreme Choice failed to beat a runner home in the Turnbull Stakes and was 16 lengths behind the winner in the Caulfield Cup.
He improved last start in the Bendigo Cup to finish fifth and you would think that 3200 metres won’t be an issue.
12. Okita Soushi (10)
Price: $21.00
The Ciaron Maher-trained seven-year-old finished 11th in last year’s Melbourne Cup but enters this year’s race in superior form.
Two starts back he gave a good sight in the Herbert Power before finishing 1.25 lengths second.
The son of Galileo produced a blistering turn of foot last start to win the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.
With just 51kg on his back, top jockey Jamie Kah will replace regular rider Billy Egan.
He’s peaking at the right time and there feels like a real sense of timing about the former import.
13. Onesmoothoperator (12)
Price: $8.00
The English gelding could not have been more impressive when putting his rivals to the sword in the Ladbrokes Geelong Cup.
International raiders Media Puzzle, Americain and Dunaden all produced big Geelong Cup victories before going on to win the Melbourne Cup and memories of those horses all came flooding back when the seven-year-old saluted.
Such was the dominance of the win, top jockey Craig Williams committed to riding the son of Dialed In in the Cup straight after saluting.
He had to pass a vet’s check on Saturday morning for a cut heel to be allowed to run on Tuesday which is not the ideal preparation but if there’s no effect then he’s right in this up to his eyeballs.
14. Zardozi (4)
Price: $19.00
The Godolphin mare relished the rise to 2400m when fighting bravely with Land Legend for a nose second in The Metropolitan three starts ago.
Two starts back she gave a good account of herself in the Caulfield Cup where she enjoyed a nice run before boxing on well for fourth.
Trainer James Cummings took a leaf out of his grandfather Bart’s book and ran his mare in Saturday’s G1 Empire Rose Stakes where she finished 2.5 lengths fifth and would have topped her off nicely for the Melbourne Cup.
She’s bred to stay and while she’s facing 3200m for the first time, several of her performances last preparation such as her close second in the G1 Australian Oaks and when she bolted in to win the G1 VRC Oaks suggest she’ll handle the trip.
The four-year-old’s chances have been bolstered by the booking of Hong Kong-based jockey Andrea Atzeni who is no stranger to Australian G1 success after piloting Circle Of Fire to his Sydney Cup win.
15. Sea King (1)
Price: $9.00
The English stayer stormed into Melbourne Cup calculations when he decimated last week’s Bendigo Cup field by 3.75 lengths.
History is against him with the last Bendigo Cup winner to go on and win the Melbourne Cup being in 1869, but it’s fair to say the seven-year-old isn’t your regular Bendigo Cup victor.
That was his first run since finishing sixth in The Ebor Handicap where he was just ahead of Onesmoothoperator who easily won the Geelong Cup.
He’ll have come on nicely since last start and looks a major player in this year’s Melbourne Cup with just 50.5kg.
16. Valiant King (22)
Price: $71.00
The Chris Waller-trained import’s best result since arriving in Australia was a sixth in last year’s Caulfield Cup.
Unfortunately, he isn’t in anywhere near as good form.
He didn’t handle his first time the Sydney way of going and finished a long last in the Kingston Town Stakes before being well beaten in the Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Cup.
The five-year-old gelding has only won once and I doubt he adds a second win to his CV here.
17. Fancy Man (19)
Price: $71.00
The Neasham & Archibald-trained gelding endured a tough run first-up in the Naturalism Stakes before running on well to finish 2.3 lengths third in the G2 Herbert Power Stakes two starts ago.
He ran a solid race to finish sixth in the Caulfield Cup and that’s probably where he’s at.
Last year’s Queensland Cup winner will run you a good race and it wouldn’t stun to see him in the mix at massive odds.
18. Interpretation (14)
Price: $18.00
The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding returns for his second attempt at the Melbourne Cup after finishing a slightly unlucky sixth last year.
He’s been building throughout this preparation, getting better with each race.
That was clearly evident last start when running on strongly to finish 2.25 lengths second in the Geelong Cup.
The son of Galileo is an out and out stayer who will relish the rise to two miles.
I can’t see any reason why he can’t replicate his 2023 performance and give the top six a shake.
19. Manzoice (8)
Price: $71.00
His last win came over two years ago when he claimed the G1 Victoria Derby.
Since then, and in particular this campaign, he has shown very little to suggest that he can compete for the Melbourne Cup.
A return to Flemington is a positive and Chris Waller wouldn’t have him in the race if he didn’t think he had room for improvement.
20. Mostly Cloudy (16)
Price: $101.00
The Busuttin & Young-trained gelding came within a half-length of earning automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup when finishing second in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes earlier this year.
During the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, he finished a close second in the Queensland Cup proving he has no problem with running out 3200m.
A second last place finish in the Bart Cummings isn’t the last start form you want to bring into a race of this calibre, but you know that he will run the trip strongly.
21. Positivity (20)
Price: $101.00
The Andrew Forsman-trained four-year-old mare has performed well this preparation including a win in the Naturalism Stakes.
However, she was well beaten in the Bart Cummings and then the Moonee Valley Gold Cup at her subsequent two starts.
She has the makings of a nice stayer and will be better suited in next year’s Melbourne Cup, but there is no reason that she won’t run well on Tuesday.
22. Saint George (9)
Price: $31.00
The Ciaron Maher-trained grey arrived in Australia with huge wraps but in four starts has yet to live up to those expectations.
He boasts a second placed finish in the G2 Queen’s Vase at Ascot in 2023 so has it in him to produce a big run but he did spend a year off the scene.
He caught the eye charging to the line late in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup last start.
Saint George would need to lift considerably to be threatening the judge, but Ciaron Maher is a freak and we know that the talent is there.
23. The Map (23)
Price: $51.00
The South Australian mare booked her spot in the Melbourne Cup by producing a gritty effort to win the Andrew Ramsden Stakes in May.
She will have no problem running out the 3200m given she finished second by just a nose in this year’s G2 Adelaide Cup.
The daughter of Alpine Eagle enters this race on the back of two solid performances in the Herbert Power Stakes and the Geelong Cup where she let down nicely once clear.
The Ladbrokes book has her priced around the $51 mark and she certainly doesn’t deserve to be that high a price.
24. Trust In You (5)
Price: $101.00
Considered one of the rank outsiders of the field, this Kiwi has shown staying ability in the past.
The Wallace & Cooksley-trained son of Sweynesse fought bravely in the Auckland Cup this year to finish 3.6 lengths sixth.
His two runs in Australia this preparation in The Metropolitan and St Leger have been solid and both resulted in close fourth place finishes.
He gets the services of Mark Du Plessis who will get the most he possibly can out of him.
Selections:
1st – Sea King (15)
2nd – Buckaroo (2)
3rd – Warp Speed (4)
4th – Land Legend (8)
2024 Melbourne Cup Betting Strategy
- 1.5 Units Each Way – Sea King
- 1 Unit Each Way – Buckaroo
- 0.5 Units Each Way – Warp Speed
- 0.5 Units Each Way – Land Legend
- Boxed First Four (Taken for a percentage you’re comfortable with) – 1,2,4,8,12,13,15