2024 Melbourne Cup Betting Tips: Who to Back by the Facts

One of Australia’s oldest and most revered races, the history on the ‘Race That Stops a Nation’ gives punters plenty of historical trends and statistical facts to take into account when doing the Melbourne Cup 2024 tips for Tuesday’s big event.

The world-famous Flemington Race 7 jumps at 3:00pm (AEDT) on the first Tuesday of November annually and there are 23 stayers still in the mix for this season’s Group 1 $8.56 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) after Monday evening’s withdrawal of Athabascan (2).

The Melbourne Cup betting market at Ladbrokes.com.au tells the story of the Chris Waller-trained Caulfield Cup runner-up Buckaroo proving his two-mile credentials with a second trophy for his trainer while the internationals including Geelong Cup winner Onesmoothoperator and Bendigo Cup champ Sea King chase him over the line.

Other perceived threats to take out the 164th edition of the world’s richest handicap include Irish visitor Vauban back for a second shot, the fellow Willie Mullins-trained raider Absurde also lining-up in the Melbourne Cup field for the second year running, and Ladbrokes Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner Okita Soushi to make jockey Jamie Kah just the second female rider to salute.

That’s the way the bookies have the Melbourne Cup Results 2024 playing out, but what do the Melbourne Cup historical facts and betting statistics on the two-mile classic uncover about which contenders are the genuine winning hopes?

Melbourne Cup Facts Say to Back….

Ciaron Maher-trained Horses

There are four previous Melbourne Cup winning trainers represented in the field this year but the latest to claim the event was Ciaron Maher in partnership with David Eustace with Gold Trip in 2024. Maher is now a solo trainer dominating the spring and he saddles-up four genuine chances looking to add another trophy to the cabinet!

• Back: No. 3 Circle Of Fire ($41), No. 12 Okita Soushi ($20), No. 18 Interpretation ($18), No. 22 Saint George ($31)

Kerrin McEvoy-Ridden Horse

McEvoy has ridden three past Melbourne Cup winners with Cross Counter (2018), Almandin (2016) and Brew (2000). He has run fourth the past two years running on beaten favourite Deauville Legend in 2022 and Ashrun in 2023. He is back for atonement in 2024 chasing a record-equaling fourth victory this year aboard Absurde for Willie Mullins with that horse having placed 7th with Zac Purton aboard last year.

• Back: No. 9 Absurde ($10)

The Runner in Barrier 11

History shows barrier eleven has produced more Melbourne Cup winners than any other with nine previous champions jumping from the gate, most recently Americain (2010), since barriers were introduced. This year barrier eleven was originally drawn by No. 1 Vauban, but the withdrawal of Athabascan (2) has Ladbrokes Geelong Cup champ Onesmoothoperator moving into the alley.

• Back: No. 13 Onesmoothoperator ($8)

The Horses Starting with T

Horses with a name starting with the Letter ‘T’ have won 16 times in Melbourne Cup history, more than any other. Most recently Twilight Payment (2020).

• Back: No. 23 The Map ($41), No. 24 Trust In You ($101)

The Stallions in the Race

Entires have dominated Melbourne Cup Results with entires (horses) aged 4+ saluting 72 times, most recently in 2022 with Gold Trip.

• Back: No. 3 Circle Of Fire ($41), No. 4 Warp Speed ($27), No. 12 Okita Soushi ($20), No. 22 Saint George ($31)

Four-Year-Olds in the Field

4YOs (46) hold the advantage over any other age group when it comes to number of Melbourne Cup winners. Note, northern hemisphere 3Yos race down under as 4YOs and are included here as 4YO winners. The mares Zardozi and Positivity are the sole four-year-old contenders in this year’s field.

• Back: No. 14 Zardozi ($15), No. 21 Positivity ($101)

Horses Wearing Saddlecloth No. 4

A record 12 Melbourne Cup winners have donned the No. 4 saddlecloth numbers the latest being Verry Elleegant (2021) who was the first since At Talaq (1986) to do so.

• Back: No. 4 Warp Speed ($27)

Horses Weighted between 54kg – 55kg

In the past decade the average Melbourne Cup weight carried to victory is 54kg – 55kg. Three horses fit that weight scale this year with Circle Of Fire, Buckaroo and Warp Speed all allocated 54.5kg.

• Back: No. 2 Buckaroo ($6), No. 3 Circle Of Fire ($41), No. 4 Warp Speed ($27)

Runners with Black Silks

More winning jockeys have worn black as their main colour than any other colour. There is just one Melbourne Cup horse donning black silks in 2024 with Okita Soushi racing for Mrs A M Saini.

• Back: No. 12 Okita Soushi ($20)

Flemington R7

Final Race time: 

1st	11. Knight's Choice (5) J: Robbie Dolan51.5kg x9005T: J G Symons & S Laxon	81.00WIN 18.00PLACE
2nd	4. Warp Speed (2) J: Akira Sugawara54.5kg 325x0T: N Takagi	26.00WIN 7.00PLACE
3rd	12. Okita Soushi (9) J: Jamie Kah51kg x8021T: Ciaron Maher	19.00WIN 6.50PLACE
4th	14. Zardozi (3) J: Andrea Atzeni51kg 65245T: James Cummings	14.00WIN 4.50PLACE
5th	9. Absurde (6) J: Kerrin McEvoy52.5kg 1x41xT: Willie Mullins	10.00WIN 3.50PLACE
6th	3. Circle Of Fire (23) J: Mark Zahra54.5kg 1x890T: Ciaron Maher	23.00WIN 6.50PLACE
7th	17. Fancy Man (18) J: Ron Stewart50kg 0x536T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald	81.00WIN 17.00PLACE
8th	8. Land Legend (17) J: Zac Purton53kg x0613T: Chris Waller	14.00WIN 4.80PLACE
9th	2. Buckaroo (20) J: Joao Moreira54.5kg 81122T: Chris Waller	6.50WIN 2.50PLACE
10th	5. Kovalica (16) J: Damian Lane53.5kg x3426T: Chris Waller	26.00WIN 7.00PLACE
11th	1. Vauban (10) J: William Buick55.5kg 24312T: Willie Mullins	8.00WIN 2.90PLACE
12th	13. Onesmoothoperator (11) J: Craig Williams51kg 21741T: Brian Ellison	7.00WIN 2.70PLACE
13th	16. Valiant King (21) J: Craig Newitt50.5kg 6x009T: Chris Waller	91.00WIN 18.00PLACE
14th	15. Sea King (1) J: Hollie Doyle50.5kg 136x1T: Harry Eustace	12.00WIN 4.00PLACE
15th	18. Interpretation (13) J: Teodore Nugent50kg 00862T: Ciaron Maher	21.00WIN 6.00PLACE
16th	6. Sharp 'N' Smart (14) J: Michael Dee53.5kg x0203T: Graeme & Debbie Rogerson	51.00WIN 12.00PLACE
17th	24. Trust In You (4) J: Mark Du Plessis50kg 63044T: Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley	71.00WIN 17.00PLACE
18th	20. Mostly Cloudy (15) J: Karis Teetan50kg 2x440T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	101.00WIN 19.00PLACE
19th	19. Manzoice (7) J: Declan Bates50kg x2307T: Chris Waller	126.00WIN 23.00PLACE
20th	21. Positivity (19) J: Winona Costin50kg x2178T: Andrew Forsman	101.00WIN 20.00PLACE
21st	23. The Map (22) J: Rachel King50kg x9056T: Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray	71.00WIN 15.00PLACE
22nd	22. Saint George (8) J: Tyler Schiller50kg x8495T: Ciaron Maher	23.00WIN 6.50PLACE
23rd	7. Just Fine (12) J: Jye McNeil53kg 05010T: G Waterhouse & A Bott	35.00WIN 10.00PLACE

For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit www.ladbrokes.com.au/racing. Data retrieved: 21/05/2026 11:22:50 PM (Australia/Brisbane)

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*All Melbourne Cup 2024 odds quoted are provided by Ladbrokes.com.au, correct at time of publication, and subject to change at any time without notice.