After all of the build up, Melbourne Cup Day 2024 has arrived.
The race that stops a nation – the 2024 Melbourne Cup – headlines a massive day at Flemington and we will be recapping the entire card right here on the Ladbrokes blog.
Race 1 - 10:45am AEDT
Group 3 Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000 METRES)
Tycoon Star has taken out the first event of the day at Flemington, finding a gap in the middle of the field to win the race.
Bacash and Shining Smile rounded out the places half a length behind the winner in a tight call for the placings.
Pre-race favourite Price Tag ran fourth.
- 1st: Tycoon Star (9) [$17.00/$4.20]
- 2nd: Bacash (3) [$2.20]
- 3rd: Shining Smile (1) [$2.00]
Race 2 - 11:20am AEDT
Listed TAB Trophy (1800 METRES)
The second race of Melbourne Cup Day has been won by Opening Address with James Mcdonald picking up his first win of the day.
Kenmare Bay set the early pace, leading up until the 500m mark before Opening Address took the lead and never looked back.
Statuario came home in second place while Cecchetti edged the remainder of the field to finish in third.
- 1st: Opening Address (2) [$4.50/$1.85]
- 2nd: Statuario (3) [$2.40]
- 3rd: Cecchetti (12) [$5.50]
Race 3 - 12:00pm AEDT
MSS Security Subzero Handicap (1400 METRES)
James Mcdonald has his second winner of the day, riding the favourite Chattahoochee to victory in the MSS Security Subzero Handicap.
The Kris Lees trained gelding took the lead with around 300m remaining, holding off a fast finishing Riot And Rose.
Chattahoochee finished in third place having challenged down the straight before falling off the pace in the final few strides.
- 1st: Cloudland (10) [$3.00/$1.35]
- 2nd: Riot And Rose (6) [$1.70]
- 3rd: Chattahoochee (3) [$1.95]
Race 4 - 12:40pm AEDT
The Schweppervescence Plate (1000 METRES)
Manolo Bling has taken out the Schweppervescence Plate, winning the 1000m sprint down the Flemington straight.
Part of a group out on the wide part of the track, the Freedman trained filly flew over the line ahead of the rest of the pack.
Hedonist ran a strong second place with John Allen in the saddle while Overfull came in third with Blake Shinn steering.
- 1st: Manolo Bling (13) [$8.50/$2.80]
- 2nd: Hedonist (9) [$7.00]
- 3rd: Overfull (12) [$3.90]
Race 5 - 1:20pm AEDT
Australian Heritage Cup (2800 METRES)
Garachico has improved on last year’s third place finish in the Australian Heritage Cup, taking out the overall honours in 2024.
Call Me Vexatious set the early speed with Point Nepean and Whisky on the Hill in close pursuit early.
Hit the Road Jack began to push at the 1300m mark and lead as the field hit the home straight before the Dominic Sutton trained gelding finished strongest.
Newfoundland was second for Waterhouse and Bott with Whisky on the Hill finishing third for Moroney and Thompson.
- 1st: Garachico (6) [$81.00/$15.00]
- 2nd: Newfoundland (10) [$2.20]
- 3rd: Whisky On The Hill [$2.20]
Race 6 - 1:55pm AEDT
Furphy Plate (1800 METRES)
It was a close call in the 2024 Furphy Plate with Arran Bay just edging out a fast finishing Unspoken on the line.
Luke Nolen brought the six-year-old gelding down the inside and took out the race for trainer Phillip Stokes.
Race favourite Apulia recorded a third place finish with Mark Zahra in the saddle.
- 1st: Arran Bay (5) [$6.50/$2.05]
- 2nd: Unspoken (1) [$3.70]
- 3rd: Apulia (8) [$1.40]
Race 7 - 3:00pm AEDT
Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200 METRES)
The race that stops a nation has been run and won with Knights Choice taking out the 2024 Melbourne Cup in a dramatic photo finish ahead of Warp Speed.
The Symons and Laxon trained gelding only lead for the final few metres as Robbie Dolan timed the run to perfection.
Just Fine took the early lead with Land Legend and Circle of Fire trailing just behind and paced the field until the final straight.
There Okita Soushi and Zardozi came to the front but had to settle for third and fourth respectively.
- 1st: Knights Choice (11) [$81.00/$18.00]
- 2nd: Warp Speed (4) [$7.00]
- 3rd: Okita Soushi (12) [$6.50]
Race 8 - 3:50pm AEDT
Listed The Amanda Elliott (1400 METRES)
It took eight races but Gai Waterhouse has her first winner of the day at Flemington with Catoggio taking out The Amanda Elliott.
Marilyn’s Edge set the early speed leading into the final straight before the chasing pack caught up.
Bousustow ran a close second with Supercilious rounding out the places.
- 1st: Cattoggio (14) [$51.00/$10.00]
- 2nd: Bousustow (1) [$5.50]
- 3rd: Supercilious (4) [$5.00]
Race 9 - 4:35pm AEDT
Group 3 The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400 METRES)
Fancify has won the 2024 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes, leading the race from start to finish with the Michael Hickmott trained mare holding off the chasing duo.
Tiz Invincible and Konasana were second and third with 1000m and 500m to go with that order holding through the finish line.
Jamie Kah spurred on a challenge from Tiz Invincible down the final straight and Konasana rallied late however Joe Bowditch ensured Fancify had the speed in reserve for the seventh win of her racing career.
- 1st: Fancify (12) [$7.50/$2.60]
- 2nd: Tiz Invincible (2) [$4.80]
- 3rd: Konasana (4) [$2.80]
Race 10 - 5:15pm AEDT
Channel 9 Trophy (1400 METRES)
Melbourne Cup Day has wrapped up with the final race of the day, the Channel 9 Trophy won by the Freedman trained Bel Air.
Running second at the 1000m and 500m mark behind race favourite Rheinberg, Ben Melham found space on the straight and the gelding found the pace to finish just ahead of the field.
Is It Me won a photo finish for second spot ahead of Warnie who was just off the leader and threatened late, but could not find that final kick.
- 1st: Bel Air (13) [$12.00/$3.30]
- 2nd: Is It Me (14) [$2.05]
- 3rd: Warnie (12) [$1.60]