The VRC’s comprehensive guide and projected finishing places for the 2024 Melbourne Cup

This year shapes as a vintage Lexus Melbourne Cup.

Buckaroo, Zardozi, Circle Of Fire, Kovalica, The Map and Land Legend will be flying the Aussie flag, but they will all come up against highly credentialed raiders such as Willie Mullins’ Vauban and Absurde along with Onesmoothoperator and Japanese hopeful Warp Speed.

Here is a comprehensive look at every runner hoping seto to compete on the first Tuesday in November.

VAUBAN (FR) - 7YO Gelding 55.5kg

Trainer: Willie Mullins (Ireland)
Jockey: William Buick
Barrier: 11
Career: 20:8-5-2
Last start: 2nd Irish St Leger (The Curragh, IRE)

Irish stayer Vauban was the hype horse last year in the pre-race Melbourne Cup discussions and as a result started favourite at $5.50. The Willie Mullins trained stayer failed to flatter though and finished 14th. There was talk he didn’t handle the firm track but Mullins believed he had got to Australia too early. This year he’s waited to bring him over and his last start second behind superstar stayer Kyprios in the Irish St Leger after a win in the Doncaster Cup demonstrate he’s in superb form.

The tip: Top 5

CIRCLE OF FIRE (GB) - 5YO Horse 54.5kg

Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Mark Zahra
Barrier: 24
Career: 13:3-1-3
Last start: 10th Caulfield Cup

He was favourite for the Melbourne Cup earlier this year after his Sydney autumn which included a win in the Sydney Cup. He hasn’t fired in three runs this time in although his mid-field effort in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington was fair. He didn’t fire a shot in the Caulfield Cup but nor did many other talented runners who struggled on the circuit which was a messy surface. Ciaron Maher has had the luxury of knowing he was certain of a run. No surprise to see Maher weave some magic and have him peaking in the Melbourne Cup.

The Tip: Top 6

BUCKAROO (GB) - 6YO Gelding 54.5kg

Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Joao Moreira
Barrier: 21
Career: 22:5-4-3
Last start: 2nd Caulfield Cup

The gelded son of Fastnet Rock has turned him into one of the best performers in the land. He won the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes before coming to Melbourne and winning the Underwood Stakes. He then finished a close second to his stablemate and subsequent runaway Cox Plate winner in Via Sistina in the Turnbull Stakes. His effort to finish second in the Caulfield Cup was the best run looking towards the Melbourne Cup in the race. He got shuffled back on a day where it was hard to make ground and gave away a huge start to Duke De Sessa which he reduced to 1.25 lengths. He’s got to go close.

The tip: Top 3

WARP SPEED (JPN) - 6YO Horse 54.5kg

Trainer: Noburu Takagi (Japan)
Jockey: Akira Sugawara
Barrier: 3
Career: 23:4-3-4
Last start: 13th Caulfield Cup

The Japanese raider didn’t fire a shot at his Australian debut when he finished 13th in the Caulfield Cup but he had a multitude of excuses with the first and foremost being he didn’t handle the wet track. He also settled a clear last on a track which played to on-pacers. He should be respected on his best Japanese form which includes a fifth in the Tenno Sho over 3200m at his last run before coming to Australia. His best form is over 3000m and further which includes a win and a Group 2 second at 3000m and a third at Group 3 level over 3400m.

The tip: Top 6

ZARDOZI - 4YO Mare 51kg

Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
Barrier: 4
Career: 18:6-3-1
Last start: 4th Caulfield Cup

2023 VRC Oaks winner who has been racing in solid fashion. She followed a second to Land Legend in the Metropolitan Handicap with another good effort with a fourth in the Caulfield Cup. James Cummings would love to join his grandfather the legendary Bart Cummings who won the race a record 12 times on the honours board. She’s sure to give some cheek with her lightweight.

The tip: Top 10

SHARP ‘N’ SMART (NZ) - 5YO Gelding 53.5kg

Trainer: Graeme and Deborah Rogerson (New Zealand)
Jockey: Michael Dee
Barrier: 15
Career: 22:6-5-2
Last start: 3rd Moonee Valley Gold Cup

Tough New Zealand stayer who looks back to his best form judging by the way he ran on to finish third in the Moonee Valley Cup coming from close to last before the turn. As a three-year-old he finished second in the Victoria Derby and won the NZ Derby. Rogerson experienced success as a Melbourne Cup winning trainer with Efficient in 2007.

The tip: Top 12

KOVALICA - 5YO Gelding 53.5kg

Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Damian Lane
Barrier: 17
Career: 24:6-4-2
Last start: 6th Cox Plate

Chris Waller has always had an eye on the 2024 Melbourne Cup for Kovalica who finished off in good fashion when sixth behind his runaway stablemate winner of the Cox Plate, Via Sistina. His last 200m was the third fastest in the race only bettered by Via Sistina and Broadsiding. He’s had one start over 2400m for a win in the 2023 Queensland Derby.

The tip: Top 10

JUST FINE (IRE) - 7YO Gelding 53kg

Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Jockey: Jye McNeil
Barrier: 13
Career: 25:7-1-2
Last start: 10th Moonee Valley Gold Cup

With his vast ownership group which includes My Racehorse and their micro shares he will have no shortage of supporters on track. He won his way into the Melbourne Cup by winning a Golden Ticket in The Bart Cummings when he led throughout on a slow track. He then finished last in the Moonee Valley Cup but Gai Waterhouse wasn’t perturbed by the performance saying he will be a different horse at Flemington where he will be allowed to roll along. The Queen Of The Turf is chasing her second Melbourne Cup win.

The tip: Top 20

LAND LEGEND (FR) - 5YO Gelding 53.5kg

Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Zac Purton
Barrier: 18
Career: 13:3-2-1
Last start: 3rd Caulfield Cup

Tried hard in the Caulfield Cup when third to Duke De Sessa. He made a run with 1000m to go and took the race up to Duke De Sessa before the turn. The pair looked like they would fight it out but Duke De Sessa shrugged off his challenge. The commendable part of his effort was that he held down third when it appeared Zardozi would run past him. The 3200m should be right up his alley and he likes a firm surface.

The tip: Top 6

ABSURDE (FR) - 7YO Gelding 52.5kg

Trainer: Willie Mullins (Ireland)
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
Barrier: 7
Career: 21:6-6-2
Last start: 1st Chester Stakes (Chester, UK)

Dual purpose Irish stayer who mixes jumps and flat racing successfully for Willie Mullins. Last year he won the Ebor at York before he finished a creditable seventh behind Without A Fight. This year he also heads to Flemington as a last start winner having won the Chester Stakes at Chester. In last year’s Melbourne Cup he swept to the front at the top of the straight and he was grabbed by Without A Fight with 300m to go. He was still second until the 150m mark.

The tip: Top 10

ATHABASCAN (FR) - 6YO Gelding 52kg

Trainers: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
Jockey: Zac Lloyd
Barrier: 2
Career: 29:4-4-4
Last start: 1st ATC St Leger

He’s in form as he showed with his determined win in the ATC St Leger when he held off a late challenge from Wyclif who looked certain to sprint by him. He finished second in the Sydney Cup at his only start over 3200m earlier this year. His prospects would be enhanced by a wet track.

The tip: Top 12

KNIGHT’S CHOICE - 5YO Gelding 51.5kg

Trainers: John Symons & Sheila Laxon
Jockey: Robbie Dolan
Barrier: 6
Career: 22:5-3-2
Last start: 5th Bendigo Cup

Much improved effort in the Bendigo Cup where he finished fifth after being held up in the straight. He could have finished second with any luck. Her co-trainer Sheila Laxon was thrilled with the effort. Laxon has the distinction of being the first woman trainer to have officially trained a Melbourne Cup winner having done so in 2001 with Ethereal.

The tip: Top 12

OKITA SOUSHI (IRE) - 7YO Gelding 51kg

Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Jamie Kah
Barrier: 10
Career: 18:5-5-3
Last start: 1st Moonee Valley Gold Cup

Ciaron Maher has him humming for a bold showing in the Melbourne Cup. He was a strong last start winner of the Moonee Valley Cup and he recorded a good time. He finished 11th in last year’s Melbourne Cup when trained by Joseph O’Brien. His connections transferred him to Maher and he’s getting better with each start. He appeals as a light-weight chance.

The tip: Top 5

ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (USA) - 7YO Gelding 51kg

Trainer: Brian Ellison (Great Britain) Jockey: Craig Williams Barrier: 12 Career: 37:5-11-5 Last start: 1st Geelong Cup

English stayer who could not have created a bigger impression than what he did in his Australian debut with his win in the Geelong Cup. He sprinted clear of some talented stayers in the closing stages and leading jockey Craig Williams immediately committed to riding him in the Melbourne Cup. This century three international visitors, Media Puzzle (2002), Americain (2010) and Dunaden (2011) went on to win the Melbourne Cup at their next start and he was equally impressive as them.

The tip: Top 5

SEA KING (GB) - 6YO Gelding 50.5kg

Trainer: Harry Eustace
Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Barrier: 1
Career: 18:5-1-2
Last start: 1st Bendigo Cup

English stayer who raced into Melbourne Cup calculations with his win in the Bendigo Cup. Declan Bates rode him as he was the best horse in the race and he outclassed his rivals sitting mid-field and wide before taking off before the turn and then sprinting clear to win by three and three-quarter lengths. He’s got a great from reference as he finished sixth in the Ebor and last week’s Geelong Cup winner Onesmoothoperator finished seventh.

The tip: Top 5

VALIANT KING (GB) - 5YO Gelding 50.5kg

Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Craig Newitt
Barrier: 22
Career: 11:1-3-1
Last start: 9th Caulfield Cup

He went back from his wide draw and settled well back. He also raced three wide and then attempted to come round the field. He was never in the race but his effort wasn’t that bad as he made up some ground. He finished sixth in last year’s Caulfield Cup when trained by Joseph O’Brien. He could be the best longshot in the race.

The tip: Top 10

INTERPRETATION (IRE) - 7YO Gelding 50kg

Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Teo Nugent
Barrier: 14
Career: 23:4-2-2
Last start: 2nd Geelong Cup

Last year Ciaron Maher got this stayer to peak at the right time and he seems to have done it again. He won the Bendigo Cup in 2023 and followed that with a sixth in the Melbourne Cup. He could have finished in the placings last year as RV stewards noted he was held up for a run from the 600m to the 400m. His last start second in the Geelong Cup shows he’s ready to replicate that effort.

The tip: Top 8

FANCY MAN (IRE) - 7YO Gelding 50kg

Trainers: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
Jockey: Ron Stewart
Barrier: 19
Career: 27:5-4-5
Last start: 6th Caulfield Cup

He held his ground when he finished sixth in the Melbourne Cup. His previous two efforts at Caulfield were sound where he finished fifth in the Naturalism Stakes and third in the Herbert Power. It’s hard to build a legitimate case for him to have a winning chance.

The tip: Top 20

MOSTLY CLOUDY (IRE) - 6YO Gelding 50kg

Trainers: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
Jockey: Karis Teetan
Barrier: 16
Career: 28:6-4-4
Last start: 12th The Bart Cummings

Forget his last start failure when he didn’t handle the going in the Bart Cummings. He’s usually a reliable stayer and he’s got some solid form with a second in The Andrew Ramsden Stakes and the Brisbane Cup to his credit. If he’s ridden quietly and has some luck he could fill a placing at big odds.

The tip: Top 10

POSITIVITY (NZ) - 4YO Mare 50kg

Trainer: Andrew Forsman
Jockey: Winona Costin
Barrier: 20
Career: 12:4-2-0
Last start: 8th Moonee Valley Gold Cup

New Zealand trained mare who ran home well for seventh in the Bart Cummings. She then missed the Caulfield Cup and then finished well back in the Moonee Valley Cup where in a surprise she raced forward and was beaten a long way out. She’s a talented stayer on her day but she really needs to lift off her last start.

The tip: Top 16

THE MAP - 6YO Mare 50kg

Trainers: Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray
Jockey: Rachel King
Barrier: 23
Career: 32:9-3-3
Last start: 6th Geelong Cup

Secured her start in the Melbourne Cup with a game win in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes. This has given her South Australian trainers the luxury of knowing she had gained a start in the Melbourne Cup and train her accordingly. She didn’t get a lot of galloping room when she finished sixth in the Geelong Cup. She was mid-field or worse for most of the race on the fence and didn’t have a lot of galloping room in the straight. When she finally got clear she worked home nicely. She’s ready to run a race in the Melbourne Cup at big odds.

The Tip: Top 10

TRUST IN YOU (NZ) - 6YO Gelding 50kg

Trainers: Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley (New Zealand)
Jockey: Mark Du Plessis
Barrier: 5
Career: 30:4-5-1
Last start: 4th ATC St Leger

Kiwi who has shown some staying aptitude with his last two runs in Sydney fourths behind Cup rivals Land Legend and Athabascan have been sound but this is a quantum leap in class and he’s also a query at the distance.

The tip: Top 20

SAINT GEORGE (GB) - 5YO Horse 50kg

Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Tyler Schiller
Barrier: 9
Career: 10:2-1-2
Last start: 5th Moonee Valley Gold Cup

Another Ciaron Maher runner who has a sense of timing in that he’s getting ready to peak in the Melbourne Cup. He got going late in the Moonee Valley Cup when he came from last to finish fifth with the fastest last 200m split for that race.

The tip: Top 10

MANZOICE - 5YO Gelding 50kg

Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Declan Bates
Barrier: 8
Career: 21:2-4-1
Last start: 7th Moonee Valley Cup

He’s only shown glimpses of the form which he produced when he won the 2022 Victoria Derby which was his last win. That was also his only run at Flemington in his career.

The tip: Top 20

Originally written by Michael Manley and published by the VRC.

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