Melbourne Cup Field News

2024 Melbourne Cup Results: Winner Knight’s Choice at Big Odds Beats Warp Speed

• Race Day Melbourne Cup 2024 Odds Update: Market Movers
• Melbourne Cup Day 2024: Flemington Race Scratchings & Track Report
• Athabascan Scratched from Melbourne Cup 2024, Lloyd Without Ride
• Can Vauban Salute for Punters in the Melbourne Cup 2024?
• Can Waller Win Second Melbourne Cup in 2024 With Buckaroo?

2024 Melbourne Cup Results

The 2024 Melbourne Cup results will be known when the race runs on Tuesday November 5, 2024. 

• 1st: #11 Knight’s Choice ($91)
• 2nd: #4 Warp Speed
• 3rd: #12 Okita Soushi
• 4th: #14 Zardozi

The John Symons & Shelia Laxon-trained Queenslander, Knight’s Choice ($91), flashed home from the back late with Robbie Dolan aboard to score a thrilling upset in the 2024 Melbourne Cup results narrowly denying the Japanese raider Warp Speed in a remarkable finish.

Okita Soushi for Ciaron Maher ran third with the James Cummings-trained mare Zardozi briefly looking the winner before holding for fourth.

Click here for the full story.

The Melbourne Cup field is made up of the world’s best staying types with both local Australian gallopers and international raiders fighting it out for the richest handicap prize every November.

Held on the first Tuesday of November each year at Melbourne’s famous Flemington Racecourse the Melbourne Cup field features a capacity 24 starters and has no emergencies.

Every spring the Melbourne Cup field of final acceptances is released on the Saturday before Melbourne Cup Day. The live announcement of the Melbourne Cup field is made from Flemington at around 6:00pm (local time), with the official Melbourne Cup final acceptances closing to connections at 4:30pm (AEDT) after the action of Victoria Derby Day.

Bet on the 2024 Melbourne Cup Field

To bet on the potential runners in the 2024 Melbourne Cup field head to Ladbrokes.com.au.

2024 Melbourne Cup Field

The Melbourne Cup 2024 Field & Barriers will be published below as soon as the final 24 Melbourne Cup horses are confirmed by Racing Victoria on the Saturday prior to Melbourne Cup Day – Saturday November 2nd, 2024. 

The 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup final field and barriers are now out with Chris Waller to saddle-up five runners including the widely-drawn favourite Buckaroo from gate 21.

Click here for the full story.

• Update: No. 10 Athabascan (John O’Shea & Tom Charlton) has been 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.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 Melbourne Cup Field Dates

2024 Melbourne Cup field and nomination announcement dates:

• 2024 Melbourne Cup Nominations: Closed on Tuesday September 3, 2024 @ 12:00pm (Melbourne time) attracting 123 entries including 20 internationals.
• 2024 Melbourne Cup Late Entries: Close on Tuesday September 10, 2024 @ 12:00pm (Melbourne time)
• 2024 Melbourne Cup First Declarations: Closed on Tuesday, October 1 , 2024 @ 12:00pm (Melbourne time) – drew 72 first acceptors including 6 internationals.
• 2024 Melbourne Cup Handicaps: Weights were declared Tuesday, September 17, 2024 with Without A Fight the original 58.5kg topweight.
• 2024 Melbourne Cup Second Declarations: Closed on Tuesday October 15, 2024 @ 12:00pm with 55 remaining entries including 6 internationals. 
• 2024 Melbourne Cup Third Declarations: Closed on Monday October 28, 2024 @ 12:00pm (Melbourne time) with 35 hopefuls including 6 internationals.
• 2024 Melbourne Cup Final Field: Announced Saturday November 2, 2024 at 4:30pm (Melbourne time) on Victoria Derby Day.
• 2024 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw: Took place on Saturday November 2, 2024 at 6:30pm (Melbourne time) following the Derby Day racing.

2024 Melbourne Cup News & Field Updates

Stay tuned for the breaking news on the horses and jockeys that are in and out of the Melbourne Cup 2024 field this spring.

CLICK HERE FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES TO THE 2024 MELBOURNE CUP FIELD & ORDER OF ENTRY

• Jan Brueghel (Aidan O’Brien) was set to be ridden by Ryan Moore but the European raider was ruled out of the Melbourne Cup on October 29 by Racing Victoria vets – click here for the full story.
• Eliyass (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott) was to be ridden by Tim Clark but connections have confirmed the horse will miss the Melbourne Cup in favour of a drop back in distance to target the Group 1 Champions Stakes (2000m) on November 9.
• Point King (Anthony & Sam Freedman) was to be ridden by Jamie Kah but connections confirmed the horse would be a non-acceptor in the Melbourne Cup.
• Jamie Kah picked up a subsequent ride on Okita Soushi (Ciaron Maher).
• Daniel Moor will miss the Melbourne Cup ride on Muramasa (Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young) due to suspension.
• Tyler Schiller subsequently picked up the ride on Muramasa.
• Muramasa (Truent Busuttin & Natlie Young) has been officially withdrawn on vet’s advice after a CT scan revealed he was at a “heightened risk of injury” should he run. Tyler Schiller is now without a ride.
• Trust In You (Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley) has now moved inside the Top 24 on the Melbourne Cup order of entry and gains a start with Mark Du Plessis to ride.
• Interpretation (Ciaron Maher) has been passed fit to run on Friday evening after a re-examination by Racing Victoria vets and will don an Equicast on his left fore foot.
• Mission Of Love (John Symons & Shelia Laxon) who was to be ridden by Nikita Beriman has failed her inspection on Friday and has been withdrawn on veterinary advice.
• Onesmoothoperator (Brian Ellison) sustained a cut to his right hind heel bulb and was not passed suitably in his Friday examination but will be reshoed and re-examined on Saturday morning.

2024 Melbourne Cup Jockeys

The confirmed 2024 Melbourne Cup jockeys will be updated below as connections lock in a rider for their Melbourne Cup contenders.

The Melbourne Cup 2024 riders must be declared by 4:30pm (local time) on Saturday the 2nd of November 2024. 

See what jockeys have locked in a ride aboard one of the 24 Melbourne Cup horses this spring.

CONFIRMED 2024 MELBOURNE CUP RIDES

1. Vauban (FR) (Willie Mullins) to be ridden by William Buick (55.5kg) from barrier 11
2. Buckaroo (GB) (Chris Waller) to be ridden by Joao Moreira (54.5kg) from barrier 21
3. Circle Of Fire (GB) (Ciaron Maher) to be ridden by Mark Zahra (54.5kg) from barrier 24
4. Warp Speed (JPN) (Noboru Takagi) to be ridden by Akira Sugawara (54.5kg) from barrier 3
5. Kovalica (NZ) (Chris Waller) to be ridden by Damian Lane (53.5kg) from barrier 17
6. Sharp ‘n’ Smart (NZ) (Graeme & Deborah Rogerson) to be ridden by Michael Dee (53.5kg) from barrier 15
7. Just Fine (IRE) (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott) to be ridden by Jye McNeil (53kg -includes 0.5kg penalty) from barrier 13
8. Land Legend (FR) (Chris Waller) to be ridden by Zac Purton (53kg – includes 1.0kg penalty) from barrier 18
9. Absurde (FR) (Willie Mullins) to be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy (52.5kg) from barrier 7
10. Athabascan (FR) (John O’Shea & Tom Charlton) to be ridden by Zac Lloyd (a) (52kg) from barrier 2
11. Knight’s Choice (John Symons & Sheila Laxon) to be ridden by Robbie Dolan (51.5kg) from barrier 6
12. Okita Soushi (IRE) (Ciaron Maher) to be ridden by Jamie Kah (51kg – includes 1.0kg penalty) from barrier 10
13. Onesmoothoperator (USA) (Brian Ellison) to be ridden by Craig Williams (51kg – includes 1.0kg penalty) from barrier 12
14. Zardozi (James Cummings) to be ridden by Andrea Atzeni (51kg) from barrier 4
15. Sea King (GB) (Harry Eustace) to be ridden by Hollie Doyle (50.5 includes 0.5 penalty kg) from barrier 1
16. Valiant King (GB) (Chris Waller) to be ridden by Craig Newitt (50.5kg) from barrier 22
17. Fancy Man (IRE) (Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald) to be ridden by Ron Stewart (50kg) from barrier 19
18. Interpretation (IRE) (Ciaron Maher) to be ridden by Teo Nugent (50kg) from barrier 14
19. Manzoice (Chris Waller) to be ridden by Declan Bates (50kg) from barrier 8
20. Mostly Cloudy (IRE) (Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young) to be ridden by Karis Teetan (50kg) from barrier 16
21. Positivity (NZ) (Andrew Forsman) to be ridden by Winona Costin (50kg) from barrier 20
22. Saint George (GB) (Ciaron Maher) to be ridden by Tyler Schiller (50kg) from barrier 9
23. The Map (Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillvray) to be ridden by Rachel King (50kg) from barrier 23
24. Trust In You (NZ) (Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley) to be ridden by Mark Du Plessis (50kg) from barrier 5

Of course, betting on the Melbourne Cup field opens at bookies around the country including Ladbrokes.com.au before even the Melbourne Cup nominations are taken.

Melbourne Cup odds are open nearly all year round with futures betting offering great prices, the favourite paying over $20, for those that want to get in on the action early.

To check out the latest Melbourne Cup betting markets for this year’s showdown head to Ladbrokes.com.au, the country’s most trusted bookie for Melbourne Cup odds.

It is a long process to whittle down all the hopeful horses to reveal the official Melbourne Cup field. Things start in late August or early September when the Melbourne Cup nominations are taken, with numbers usually exceeding 150 early entries. First declaration stage narrows down the number of Melbourne Cup horses a month later at the start of October by as much as half. Second declarations follow about three weeks on at the end of October before the final declaration or acceptance stage on Victoria Derby Day.

2024 Melbourne Cup Third Acceptances

The 2024 Melbourne Cup third acceptances will be published below once announced by Racing Victoria (RV) on Monday the 28th of October 2024 at midday local time.

The Lexus Melbourne Cup 2024 third acceptances feature 35 hopefuls including six internationals and last weekend’s eight-length Cox Plate hero Via Sistina who is one of eight still in the mix for trainer Chris Waller.

Click here to read more on the official 2024 Melbourne Cup third acceptors.

2024 Melbourne Cup Second Acceptances

The 2024 Melbourne Cup second acceptances are taken by Racing Victoria (RV) on Tuesday the 15th of October 2024 at midday local time.

The 2024 Melbourne Cup second acceptances are now out with 55 stayers including 6 internationals still chasing a win in Australia’s best race including Jan Brueghel who heads the markets with Ryan Moore locked in for the ride.

Click here for the full story.

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

2024 Melbourne Cup First Acceptances

The 2024 Melbourne Cup first acceptances will be published below once announced by Racing Victoria (RV) on Tuesday the 1st of October 2024 at midday local time.

The 2024 Melbourne Cup first acceptances are now out attracting 72 stayers including 20 internationals led by the Aidan O’Brien-trained favourite Jan Brueghel. Without A Fight was the most notable omission with connections of last year’s champion opting not to pay up at first acceptance stage.

Click here to view the complete list of Melbourne Cup 2024 first acceptors.

2024 Melbourne Cup Nominations & Weights

The 2024 Melbourne Cup nominations will be listed below as soon as they are released by Racing Victoria (RV) on Tuesday the 3rd of September 2024 at midday local time.

The official Melbourne Cup 2024 nominations attracted 123 early entries including Andrew Ramsden winner The Map, the defending champion Without A Fight for Anthony & Sam Freedman, Ciaron Maher’s Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire, the Chris Waller-trained VRC Derby champ Riff Rocket, and 20 international raiders.

Click here to read more on the key contenders in the 2024 Melbourne Cup nominations.

The 2024 Melbourne Cup weights (handicaps) were declared on Tuesday September 17, 2024 with the reigning champion Without A Fight allocated the 58.5kg topweight.

Click here to view the official 2024 Melbourne Cup weights.