2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup at Flemington: the runners, the odds, the verdict
The former Joseph O'Brien-trained Buckaroo and the Willie Mullins-trained Vauban are vying for favouritism for the race that stops a nation, the Lexus Melbourne Cup (4am), at Flemington on Tuesday morning after a controversial build-up saw St Leger winner Jan Brueghel ruled out after a veterinary check.
Get the lowdown on all of the Melbourne Cup contenders, including their trainers and jockeys plus big-race odds, in our comprehensive runner-by-runner guide to the Grade 1 handicap.
2024 Melbourne Cup: the full list of horses for Flemington
1 Vauban
Went off market leader for this last year but didn't come close to those market expectations in finishing 14th; returned this season in terrific form, posting three 112+ RPRs under today's rider, and again heads into this race at the top of his game; every chance of a big effort if that run 12 months ago was simply a write off.
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: William Buick
Forecast odds: 5-1
Draw: 11
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2 Buckaroo
Matured into a consistent classy horse now when considering he won the Group 1 Underwood Stakes, a first top-level success, in September and then followed that with a head second to Via Sistina in the Turnbull; caught the eye when second in the Caulfield Cup last time from off the pace, first try over 1m4f, and pedigree/siblings always suggested that trip could be ideal; one of the likelier types for this even though he's yet to be successful past 1m1f but draw has been unkind.
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Joao Moreira
Forecast odds: 5-1
Draw: 21
3 Circle Of Fire
Began his career in Britain where he showed smart form at up to 1m6f (albeit once behind Saint George off levels) and won two races in Australia soon after he started with Ciaron Maher, notably the 2m Sydney Cup (2m, good ground) in April; hard to take anything he's done recently after five months off that positively and draw makes things that bit more difficult but rider has won the last two runnings of this race.
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Mark Zahra
Forecast odds: 20-1
Draw: 21
4 Warp Speed
Smart enough type in Japan but has yet to land a Group/Graded event, his best performance coming when fifth in the 2m Grade 1 Tenno Sho in April; 25-1 and beaten over 16 lengths when down the field in the Caulfield Cup after a lengthy absence, so will need to have come on plenty from that to take this big race.
Trainer: Noboru Takagi
Jockey: Akira Sugawara
Forecast odds: 25-1
Draw: 3
5 Kovalica
Nothing Chris Waller sends to any big race can be safely ignored, and this gelding did win the 1m4f 2023 Queensland Derby (albeit at a track he likes) but, while never usually beaten that far, it's hard to think he has anything more than a place only chance here unless gaining a new career best over a trip he's never tried.
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Damian Lane
Forecast odds: 14-1
Draw: 17
6 Sharp 'N' Smart
Had a really good time of it as a three-year-old, winning a 1m2f Group 1 and then finishing second in the Victoria Derby at this track; added another couple of Group 1s not long after in New Zealand and, while it's fair to say the majority of subsequent form hasn't matched that sort of level, he could be a lively outsider if building on his recent third in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup and sees out this new trip.
Trainers: Graeme & Deborah Rogerson
Jockey: Michael Dee
Forecast odds: 33-1
Draw: 15
7 Just Fine
Smart type when with Sir Michael Stoute and made good impression switched to the Southern Hemisphere, landing first three Australian starts (one a Group 1 handicap) when switched to racing on the front end; bit in and out since with regards to positions, looking good when securing the win and you're in Bart Cummings here but disappointing in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup; brother has won over hurdles so fair chance he will stay this distance.
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Jockey: Jye McNeil
Forecast odds: 33-1
Draw: 13
8 Land Legend
Developed into a smart stayer for James Ferguson in Britain and ended his time with that handler with a St Leger Stakes (1m5f) success at Randwick last year; building nicely towards this contest edging up in distance, beating Zardozi in the Group1 handicap Metropolitan at the start of October before a third in the Caulfield Cup, a new career best; his brother is a multiple winner over at least 1m7f; interesting.
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Zac Purton
Forecast odds: 10-1
Draw: 18
9 Absurde
Seventh, beaten only five and a half lengths, in this 12 months ago and plenty of good efforts since on the Flat and over Jumps, albeit he's only been successful at up to Listed class on the level (Grade 3 as a hurdler); matched his Flat career best when last seen at Chester and sure to give a good account when considering all his big field experience.
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
Forecast odds: 13-2
Draw: 7
10 Athabascan
NON-RUNNER
11 Knight's Choice
Well beaten at three-digit odds in both the Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Cup (both Group 1s) and fifth to Sea King in the Bendigo Cup recently; hard to make a strong case for him.
Trainers: John Symons & Sheila Laxon
Jockey: Robbie Dolan
Forecast odds: 100-1
Draw: 6
12 Okita Soushi
100-1 when 11th in this 12 months ago (albeit from stall 20) and has taken a while to find the sort of form he was showing for Joseph O'Brien in Europe, but his last two runs have been promising with this in mind, including landing the Moonee Valley Gold Cup towards the end of last month; Jamie Kah an eyecatching jockey booking and can do better this time round.
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Jamie Kah
Forecast odds: 14-1
Draw: 10
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13 Onesmoothoperator
Mostly very useful at up to 2m for much of his career but the second part of 2024 has seen improved performances on the figures, most notably his comfortable Northumberland Plate success in June; set himself up for this race when landing the Geelong Cup almost two weeks ago and his experience of big fields will be a useful asset here; had to pass a vet examination to line-up here though having sustained a cut.
Trainer: Brian Ellison
Jockey: Craig Williams
Forecast odds: 7-1
Draw: 12
14 Zardozi
Got better as she went up in trip early in her career, and won the Group 1 Kennedy Oaks (1m4f 110yds) at this track last year; run to better figures since without adding another top-level success to her profile and recent efforts, including a fourth in the Caulfield Cup and a fifth on Saturday in a mile event, suggest she's a big player for this.
Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
Forecast odds: 10-1
Draw: 4
15 Sea King
Smart at his best for Sir Mark Prescott in Britain at up to 1m6f, and he finished a place ahead of Onesmoothoperator in the Ebor (1lb worse off here); announced himself as a strong candidate for this when he impressively won the Bendigo Cup (1m4f, Group 3 handicap) on stable debut six days ago, and a big run seems likely.
Trainer: Harry Eustace
Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Forecast odds: 7-1
Draw: 1
16 Valiant King
Only win so far was in maiden company and hasn't set the world alight since joining this stable, but was only beaten one and a half lengths by Vauban last August in a 1m4f Group 3 when getting 10lb so, in theory, can be given some sort of chance on that effort; new distance will need to bring about improvement, but even then, stall 22 is far from ideal.
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Craig Newitt
Forecast odds: 40-1
Draw: 22
17 Fancy Man
Capable of smart staying form in Britain but mostly below that level so far in Australia, although run in the Caulfield Cup wasn't too bad; his half-brother The Grey Wizard is a 2m Grade 2 winner in America, so there are reasons to think he could stay this new distance, although his effort on his only try over 1m6f, the 2022 Ebor, wasn't promising.
Trainers: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
Jockey: Ronnie Stewart
Forecast odds: 40-1
Draw: 19
18 Interpretation
Ran pretty well in this last year when considering he has excuses, having been pulled up in 2022, and probably safe to presume this has been the plan ever since; finished nicely to be two and a quarter lengths behind Onesmoothoperator off level weights in the Geelong Cup 13 days ago and can get involved in the finish if everything falls right.
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Teodore Nugent
Forecast odds: 12-1
Draw: 14
19 Manzoice
Won the Victoria Derby here in 2022, beating Sharp 'N' Smart, but hasn't progressed since that memorable win, still searching for another success; obviously has the potential to suddenly spring back to life but difficult to make a case for him landing this.
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Declan Bates
Forecast odds: 40-1
Draw: 8
20 Mostly Cloudy
Has posted bigger figures since leaving Britain as a very useful handicapper at up to 2m but that still leaves him with plenty to find in this company when considering he's not won at Listed level let alone a Group race.
Trainers: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
Jockey: Karis Teetan
Forecast odds: 66-1
Draw: 16
21 Positivity
Won the MRC Foundation Cup, a Group 3 handicap, in September, a third win at that level for the daughter of Almanzor, but behind a few of these since so will need to return to her best to make an impact in his.
Trainer: Andrew Forsman
Jockey: Winona Costin
Forecast odds: 66-1
Draw: 20
22 Saint George
Finished second in the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot when in the care of Andrew Balding, two places ahead of Circle Of Fire, and has shown glimpses of promise in four starts for this trainer after a 13 month break; far less exposed than the majority of this field and will be no surprise if he puts up a big show if staying the new distance, as a lot of his British form reads well, including finishing ahead of Land Legend in the Bahrain Trophy Stakes, but hasn't won a Listed level yet let alone a Group race.
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Tyler Schiller
Forecast odds: 25-1
Draw: 9
23 The Map
Won a race that gave her exemption into this prestigious event and a second in the 2m Adelaide Cup during March shows she stays but a bit of improvement required on recent performances, including a sixth in the Geelong Cup; 2-3 at this track (including on this day last year) shows the venue suits and Rachel King and eyecatching booking but stall 23 isn't going to be helpful.
Trainers: Dan Clarken & Oopy Macgillivray
Jockey: Rachel King
Forecast odds: 33-1
Draw: 23
24 Trust In You
Couldn't be dismissed out of hand on his Metropolitan fourth and didn't run too badly in the St Leger Stakes after that, but hasn't really done enough to suggest he can land a race of this nature.
Trainers: Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley
Jockey: Mark du Plessis
Forecast odds: 100-1
Draw: 5
The verdict: our top Melbourne Cup betting tip
By David Toft
This doesn't appear an overly strong running of this world famous race and Vauban has the potential to outclass them but, at the likely odds, his effort last year still lingers in the mind.
Stablemate Absurde makes more appeal considering he looked a winner of this 12 months ago for some of the home straight, and is respected.
However, BUCKAROO has been running so well in recent months that he has to be a player here. Stall 21 is not great, but Vow And Declare did win from it in 2019, so it's not as though it's insurmountable.
Zardozi is readily fancied to put in a big performance, while Saint George would have a massive chance if back to the levels he achieved in Britain.
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Big-race trends: key stats to help you find the winner of the Melbourne Cup
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