We are hours away from crowning the 164th champion in a wide-open edition of the Group 1 $8.56 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m), and below we take a look at the race day market movers ahead of Flemington Race 7 at 3:00pm (AEDT).
For some the 2024 Melbourne Cup field is lacking depth and it’s true, there has been a high attrition rate with some key early fancies ruled out.
No. 10 Athabascan (John O’Shea & Tom Charlton) was scratched from the 2024 Melbourne Cup field on Monday afternoon after being found to be suffering from cardiac arrhythmia in his mandatory final check by RV vets. Click here for the full story.
But what that means punters, is we have an open betting race!
This is a Melbourne Cup that literally any of the 24 horses in the mix could win without surprise.
Are we looking at an international champion with Vauban out to atone?
Can Buckaroo go the distance?
Is The Map ready to score an upset and send South Australia into absolute scenes?
Will we see another 100/1 roughie get up like Prince Of Penzance did in 2015?
There are storylines galore, and the punters are coming for a range of contenders.
So, let’s have a look where the money is at in Melbourne Cup betting today.
2024 Melbourne Cup Favourite
- No. 1 Vauban ($6.50 at time of publish) – BET NOW
It is a super tight betting battle between Vauban and Buckaroo with the former narrowly winning into $6.50 now to atone after jumping favourite only to run 14th when failing to fire in last year’s race.
Melbourne Cup Day 2023 was a blistering hot one and this horse didn’t handle the heat.
Cooler weather, a different and impressive lead-up campaign back in Europe, the confidence of Willie Mullins to bring him back, William Buick on, and into barrier 10?
Lots to like for those backing the favourite in the Melbourne Cup this year!
But be warned, the last Melbourne Cup favourite to salute for the punters was Fiorente ($7 in 2013) so it’s been some time!
2024 Melbourne Cup Market Mover
- No. 14 Zardozi ($12 at time of publish) – BET NOW
There’s been a big late move on the talented James Cummings-trained Zardozi to become the latest Melbourne Cup winning mare joining an elite list of female stayers.
Verry Elleegant (2021), rest her soul, was the latest and this four-year-old ticks a few boxes.
She has been backed in from $17 to $12 to salute for the Royal Blue and gets a dream run from barrier three (in from four).
A VRC Oaks winner as a filly at this track, she is one of the better untested hopes to see out the two miles.
Carries 51kg and has Italian hoop Andrea Atzeni in the saddle.
It has been a while between drinks with her latest win being a Group 2 back in March but the lead-up runs are strong including a The Metrop second, Caulfield Cup fourth, and fifth in last weekend’s Empire Rose when dropped back to 1600m.
Big ask to go from a mile to two miles but she’s Cummings-trained and had a traditional Cummings’ prep.
2024 Melbourne Cup Best Backed
- No. 6 Sharp ‘N’ Smart ($41 at time of publish) – BET NOW
Still at a big price but this Kiwi galloper has been one of the best backed Melbourne Cup horses in 2024.
Graeme & Deborah Rogerson’s Redwood five-year-old is drawn midfield for Michael Dee with 53.5kg. He’s a Group 1 winner, VRC Derby placegetter, NZ Derby champ, and caught the eye with a Moonee Valley Gold Cup third at weight-for-age last time out.
Top six wouldn’t surprise.
2024 Melbourne Cup Triple-Figure Roughies
- No. 11 Knight’s Choice ($151 at time of publish) – BET NOW
- No. 16 Valiant King ($101 at time of publish) – BET NOW
- No. 19 Manzoice ($151 at time of publish) – BET NOW
There’s always interest in the longest priced horses in Melbourne Cup betting each year with punters hoping to clean up like those who backed Prince Of Penzance did at 100/1 in 2015!
Money is For
- No. 3 Circle Of Fire ($34 into $23)
- No. 12 Okita Soushi ($21 into $14)
- No. 20 Mostly Cloudy ($101 into $71)
- No. 21 Positivity ($101 into $61)
- No. 22 Saint George ($31 into $23)
- No. 24 Trust In You ($101 into $71)
Money is Against
- No. 2 Buckaroo ($5.50 out to $7)
- No. 4 Warp Speed ($26 out to $31)
- No. 7 Just Fine ($34 out to $51)
- No. 15 Sea King ($9 out to $14)
- No. 18 Interpretation ($15 out to $18)
- No. 23 The Map ($41 out to $61)
Melbourne Cup 2024 Odds & Results
Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1)
Runner Details | Win | Place |
---|---|---|
1st
11. Knight's Choice (5)
J: Robbie Dolan 51.5kg
T: J G Symons & S Laxon |
||
2nd
4. Warp Speed (2)
J: Akira Sugawara 54.5kg
T: N Takagi |
||
3rd
12. Okita Soushi (9)
J: Jamie Kah 51kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
4th
14. Zardozi (3)
J: Andrea Atzeni 51kg
T: James Cummings |
||
5th
9. Absurde (6)
J: Kerrin McEvoy 52.5kg
T: Willie Mullins |
||
6th
3. Circle Of Fire (23)
J: Mark Zahra 54.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
7th
17. Fancy Man (18)
J: Ron Stewart 50kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
||
8th
8. Land Legend (17)
J: Zac Purton 53kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
9th
2. Buckaroo (20)
J: Joao Moreira 54.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
10th
5. Kovalica (16)
J: Damian Lane 53.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
11th
1. Vauban (10)
J: William Buick 55.5kg
T: Willie Mullins |
||
12th
13. Onesmoothoperator (11)
J: Craig Williams 51kg
T: Brian Ellison |
||
13th
16. Valiant King (21)
J: Craig Newitt 50.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
14th
15. Sea King (1)
J: Hollie Doyle 50.5kg
T: Harry Eustace |
||
15th
18. Interpretation (13)
J: Teodore Nugent 50kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
16th
6. Sharp 'N' Smart (14)
J: Michael Dee 53.5kg
T: Graeme & Debbie Rogerson |
||
17th
24. Trust In You (4)
J: Mark Du Plessis 50kg
T: Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley |
||
18th
20. Mostly Cloudy (15)
J: Karis Teetan 50kg
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
||
19th
19. Manzoice (7)
J: Declan Bates 50kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
20th
21. Positivity (19)
J: Winona Costin 50kg
T: Andrew Forsman |
||
21st
23. The Map (22)
J: Rachel King 50kg
T: Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray |
||
22nd
22. Saint George (8)
J: Tyler Schiller 50kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
23rd
7. Just Fine (12)
J: Jye McNeil 53kg
T: G Waterhouse & A Bott |
Data retrieved: 08/12/2024 10:05:06 PM (Australia/Brisbane)
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