The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won by 100/1 outsider Knight’s Choice in a photo finish.
Japanese raider Warp Speed was second and Okita Soushi third in a frantic finish to the race that featured many winning changes.
MORE TO COME
Follow below for all the drama and action as the big one nears.
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NEW FAVOURITE AS RACE NEARS
It’s been a fascinating battle for favouritsm with Caulfield Cup runner-up Buckaroo ($6) edging it ahead of Onesmoothoperator ($7) — the big mover of the day.
Star import Vauban — who disappointed in this race last year as favourite — was the favourite earlier in the day but has drifted out to $8.
But despite the drift Star UK rider William Buick believes he’s on the right horse.
Buick will partner the Willie Mullens-trained Vauban, who started Tuesday morning as the joint $7 favourite for the race.
Buick has jetsetted halfway across the world on several occasions to try and to win Australia’s most famous race, but he’s so far fallen short.
However, Buick thinks Vauban is his best chance to date.
“I’ve had good rides in the race, but they haven’t materialised whereas I think Vauban is the classiest horse I’ve ridden in the Cup so far,” Buick said soon after touching down in Melbourne on Monday.
“He’s competed against the best stayers that we have, but Onesmoothoperator and Sea King are coming off good wins here leading up to the Cup, so huge respect for them.
“Vauban he has got the best form in the race, no question about that.
While several experts believe Vauban can deliver Buick and Mullens their first Melbourne Cup, there are a few who can’t get last year’s flop out of their heads.
Vauban finished 14th last year when beginning favourite in the 2023 Cup.
Yet Buick thinks his charge is much better suited heading into this year’s edition.
““He’s a high class horse and for whatever reason he didn’t run to form in the Cup last year at all,” Buick said.
“When he came into the Cup last year he had a fair level of form but this year he stepped up again … his form is rock solid in the UK and Ireland and two-mile is his optimum trip.”
“He has that tactical speed to get into position and equally he has the finishing kick over two mile, I’ve never won the Melbourne Cup but in my experience, that ticks a lot of boxes.”
FIELD REDUCED AS LONG SHOT FORCED OUT
Connections of outsider Athabascan suffered a cruel blow with the horse having to be scratched from the field on Monday night.
The John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained gelding was found to have a cardiac arrhythmia when Racing Victoria vets completed their second round of pre-race inspections.
“ECG reports and the results of blood tests were then forwarded to three independent experts specialising in equine internal medicine, including cardiology,” Racing Victoria said in a statement.
“They each independently advised that, due to the nature of the cardiac arrhythmia, Athabascan should undergo further extensive testing before being permitted to race again on the grounds of safety.
“Acting on these opinions and having considered additional material provided by the stable, RV veterinarians advised the Stewards that in their view the horse should be withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup due to an increased risk of a cardiac episode.
Athabascan, who finished runner-up in the 2024 Sydney Cup and was to by Zac Lloyd, was rated a $67 chance at the time of his scratching.
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FLEMINGTON RACE CARD & RESULTS
Race 1 10:45am Darley Maribyrnong Plate (Group 3) 1000m
One of the roughies of the field collects the first race on Cup day, with the Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Tycoon Star bursting through a gap to win.
The stable trained the trifecta, with Bacash and Shining Smile filling out the top three.
Favourite Price Tag drifted significantly ($2.30-$3.30) and ran on ok for 4th but was well held.
1st – #9 Tycoon Star (Ben, Will, JD Hayes/Michael Dee) $16/$3.60pl
2nd – #3 Bacash (Ben, Will, JD Hayes/James McDonald) $2.05pl
3rd – #1 Shining Smile (Ben, Will, JD Hayes/Daniel Stackhouse) $1.95pl
Race 2 11.20am TAB Trophy (Listed) 1800m
Coming out of a strong edition of the Moonee Valley Vase on Cox Plate Day, Opening Address wins a weaker race next start, proving far too good in the Listed TAB Trophy.
Ridden by James McDonald, Opening Address settled up on the pace and given every hope, outlasting a decent field of 3YOs.
It marks McDonald’s fourth win (from 11 races) during the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival.
1st – Opening Address (Liam Howley/James McDonald) $4.50/$1.70
2nd – Statutorio (Emma & Damien Browne/Damian Lane) $2.30pl
3rd – Cecchetti (Matt Cumani/Daniel Stackhouse) $4pl
Race 3 12pm MSS Security Subzero Handicap 1400m
It’s unfortunate James McDonald doesn’t have a ride in this year’s Melbourne Cup as the jockey is absolutely flying at the moment.
He just booted home his fifth winner of the Melbourne Cup carnival, steering home the favourite Cloudland home in the annual Subzero Handicap for grey horses.
His five winners have come from just 12 rides spanning across today and Saturday’s Derby Day.
1st – Cloudland (Kris Lees/James McDonald) $2.90/$1.33
2nd – Riot and Rose (Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman/Luke Nolen) $1.57pl
3rd – Chattahoochee (Cindy Alderson/Craig Williams) $1.73
Race 4 12.40pm Schweppervescence Plate 1000m
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Manolo Bling has let rip over the final 200m down the middle of the Flemington straight to take out Race 4.
The stable have trained a couple of impressive straight track winners this carnival, including this filly and well-bred mare Isthmus who thrashed her rivals in a Group 3 on Derby Day.
1st – Manolo Bling (Anthony & Sam Freedman/Ben Melham) $9/$3
2nd – Hedonist (Tom Dabernig/John Allen) $6.50pl
3rd – Overfull (Peter Robl/Blake Shinn) $3.60pl
Race 5 1.20pm Australian Heritage Cup 2800m
Wow!
The bookies are cheering at Flemington after outsider of the field Garachico won the Australian Heritage Cup.
In the stable of up-and-coming trainer Dom Sutton and ridden by Billy Egan, Garachico sustained a long run and simply outstayed his rivals.
“Absolute blowout,” Sky Racing’s Ben Way said following the result.
Two of the favourites in Whisky On The Hill and Newfoundland ran on well to fill the trifecta.
1st – Garachico (Dom Sutton/Billy Egan) $67/$12
2nd – Newfoundland (Gai Waterhouse/Jamie Kah) $2.05pl
3rd – Whisky on the Hill (Mike Moroney/Ethan Brown) $2.05pl
Race 6 1.55pm Furphy Plate (Listed) 1800m
Consistent gelding Arran Bay continues his excellent Flemington form with a gutsy win in the Listed Furphy Plate.
He was under siege for half of the straight but held off challengers Unspoken and Apulia.
It’s Arran Bay’s fourth win at headquarters.
1st – Arran Bay (Phillip Stokes/Luke Nolen) $6.50/$2.20pl
2nd – Unspoken (Peter Snowden/Damian Lane) $3.50pl
3rd – Apulia (Ben, Will, JD Hayes/Mark Zahra) $1.30pl
Race 7 3pm Melbourne Cup (Group 1) 3200m
Race 8 3.50pm The Amanda Elliot (Listed) 1400m
Race 9 4.35pm Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (Group 3) 1400m
Race 10 5.15pm Channel 9 Trophy 1400m
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ULTIMATE GUIDE: How much winner gets and the horses punters are backing
FINAL FIELD: Who made the cut in 2024?
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