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Buckaroo was excellent scoring an eye-catching second in the Caulfield Cup ahead of Tuesday’s ‘Race That Stops a Nation’, but can the classy galloper go one better over the two miles and hand trainer Chris Waller a second success in the 2024 Melbourne Cup results?

Waller held up the Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy as a winning trainer for the first time back in 2021 with the ill-fated mare Verry Elleegant and the mast horseman returns with a five-strong contingent in this year’s $8.56 million classic.

The shortest priced from the Waller Melbourne Cup contingent on Tuesday is 3.5 length Underwood Stakes winner Buckaroo who has eased out to $7 second favouritism in the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au for the 164th running.

The ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira is aboard and seeking to win back the love of the punters after his weaving rice on Soulcombe last year, when he should have stayed straight and followed the eventual winner Without A Fight home (hindsight’s great isn’t it?!), for a second-place finish.

Waller has forgiven him, but has the hoop forgive himself?

“I think there’s a part of Joao who would love to win the Melbourne Cup, and he’s a competitive jockey, but Joao wouldn’t be looking back on things,” Waller told the Sydney Morning Herald this week.

“Joao would be only looking forward. I respect that. There’s only one tick, it’s this year’s race. If he ticks the box, he’ll be smiley Joao.”

So, can the Brazilian hoop atone and ride this year’s Melbourne Cup winner?

Read on for the arguments for and against Buckaroo!

Click here to bet on Buckaroo in the Melbourne Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au.

2024 Melbourne Cup Horse Form: No. 2 Buckaroo

• Barrier: 20 (in from 21)
• Weight: 54.5kg
• Jockey: Joao Moreira
• Trainer: Chris Waller
• Owner/s: Mr A Kheir, Qatar Bloodstock Ltd, Mr J A O’Neill, YES Bloodstock, Carty Racing, A K Racing, Mr D Edmonds, Mr B D Nettlefold, Mr T R Maddern, Bromfield Park Pty Ltd
• Age: 6YO
• Gender: Gelding
• Breeding: by FASTNET ROCK from ROHERYN (IRE)
• Career: 22-5:4:3
• Win: 22.73%
• Place: 54.55%
• Last 10: 5356×81122
• Prize Money: $2,074,648    
• Track: 2:0-1-0
• Distance: 0:0-0-0
• Current 2024 Melbourne Cup Odds*: $7 (at time of publish) – BET NOW

Why Buckaroo Can Win the 2024 Melbourne Cup for Waller

• Chris Waller trained is a plus with the horseman a master trainer and previous winner of this race in 2021 with Verry Elleegant
• Joao Moreira learnt his lesson last year and won’t be making the same mistake in 2024
• Caulfield Cup is the superior Melbourne Cup form race historically and his second in that was eye-catching
• Ran through the line in the Caulfield Cup suggesting he can see out the 3200m
• Well-weighted with 54.5kg
• Proven Group 1 winner by 3.5 lengths in the Underwood two back
• Ultra-consistent lead-up running top two in his past 4
• Great performances this prep since being gelded
• Form around his subsequent eight-length Cox Plate winning stablemate Via Sistina when runner-up in the Turnbull at his latest Flemington run

Why Buckaroo Won’t Win the Melbourne Cup in 2024

• Has to overcome barrier 20 (in from 21)
• Needs to prove his two-mile credentials only having won up to 1800m previously
• Only has a 22.73% Win Rate
• Is the international form stronger?

*Note: 2024 Melbourne Cup odds are correct at time of publish, provided by Ladbrokes.com.au, and subject to change without notice.

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