The chance of a British or Irish-trained winner of the 2024 Melbourne Cup received a blow when ante-post favourite Jan Breughel failed to meet the stringent veterinary standards. However, a number of familiar names remained in the 23-runner field. Having flopped as favourite in 2023, Vauban returned for another crack, accompanied by Ebor-winning stablemate Absurde.
Brian Ellison’s Onesmoothoperator led the charge for the Brits, having displayed an excellent turn of foot to land the Geelong Cup in his warm-up outing. The Harry Eustace-trained Sea King also made the longest journey of the racing year; arriving on the back of a solid success in the Bendigo Cup, he had the assistance of Hollie Doyle for the first time. Formerly based in British or Irish yards, Valiant King, Okita Soushi, Land Legend, Interpretation, and Saint George, sought to follow the lead of the ex-Simon and Ed Crisford runner, Without A Fight, who landed the 2023 edition for Anthony & Sam Freedman.
Japanese challenger Warp Speed added to the international flavour, but the home team sent out the market leader in the shape of Buckaroo. Hailing from the yard of Chris Waller, the five-year-old had finished second in Group 1 company on his two most recent outings, and looked the sort who may improve for the step up to two miles.
Others to note included the Godolphin runner Zardozi, who had the former British-based jockey Andrea Atzeni in the saddle, and Circle Of Fire, who was one of only a few runners proven over the trip.
Result
- 1st – Knight’s Choice 90/1, Jockey: Robbie Dolan, Trainer: John Symons & Sheila Laxon
- 2nd – Warp Speed 25/1, Jockey: Akira Sugawara, Trainer: Noboru Takagi
- 3rd – Okita Soushi 18/1, Jockey: Jamie Kah, Trainer: Ciaron Maher
- 4th – Zardozi 13/1, Jockey: Andrea Atzeni, Trainer: James Cummings
Prize Money Breakdown
- 1st – £2,485,875.71
- 2nd – £621,468.93
- 3rd – £310,734.46
- 4th – £197,740.11
- 5th – £129,943.50
- 6th – £90,395.48
- 7th – £90,395.48
- 8th – £90,395.48
- 9th – £90,395.48
- 10th – £90,395.48
- 11th £90,395.48
- 12th – £90,395.48
Tote and Forecast Payouts
- Tote Win – A$63.50
- Tote Places – 1st – A$17.80, 2nd – A$9.30, 3rd – A$4.80
- Exacta – A$1986.80
- Trifecta – A$22,574
Recap
The ex-Joseph O’Brien runner Okita Soushi broke smartly when the stalls opened and made his way over to the inside rail. However, Just Fine was much the quickest in the early exchanges, tracking over from stall 12 to lead the field around the first bend. Land Legend followed through in second, followed by Mostly Cloudy and Circle Of Fire. Zardozi sat further back having obtained a nice position against the rail, with Vauban sat in the middle of the pack following a fair break. Absurde found himself shuffled back early but quickly found his stride under Kerrin McEvoy.
Passing the winning post for the first time, Just Fine, Circle Of Fire and Land Legend had opened up a three-length gap to Mostly Cloudy and Okita Soushi. That trio were, in turn, a couple of lengths ahead of Fancy Man and Zardozi as the field began to string out – around 20 lengths between first and last as the runners turned into the backstretch.
There was little change in the order on the turn for home. Okita Soushi appeared to travel best of those at the head of affairs, but plenty of those in behind were full of running. Not Vauban, however, who began to be scrubbed along much earlier than anticipated. Absurde responded to his rider’s urgings but had a mountain to climb from second last.
Into the straight, Zardozi and Land Legend took it up from the flagging Just Fine but were quickly overtaken by Okita Soushi, who moved a length clear at the two-furlong pole. He had every chance from there, but those ridden more patiently were beginning their charge. Warp Speed caught the eye for Japan but found himself checked at a crucial stage, as the unheralded 90/1 shot Knight’s Choice began to scythe through rivals to his inside.
Fifth and sixth at the one-furlong marker, Knight’s Choice and Warp Speed swept through together, storming between Zardozi and Okita Soushi with barely 50 yards to go. Warp Speed was eating into the narrow deficit, but the line came in time for Knight’s Choice to cause a huge shock.
A first Melbourne Cup for John Symons, but a second for his training partner Sheila Laxon, who claimed the 2001 edition with Ethereal. This represented a second Group 1 win for Robbie Dolan and the biggest success of his career to date.
Runners
- 1. Vauban – SP: 7/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: William Buick
- 2. Buckaroo – SP: 5/1F, Trainer: Chris Waller, Jockey: Joao Moreira
- 3. Circle Of Fire – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Ciaron Maher, Jockey: Mark Zahra
- 4. Warp Speed – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Noboru Takagi, Jockey: Akira Sugawara
- 5. Senor Kovalica – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Chris Waller, Jockey: Damian Lane
- 6. Sharp ‘N’ Smart – SP: 50/1, Trainer: Graeme & Deborah Rogerson, Jockey: Michael Dee
- 7. Just Fine – SP: 30/1, Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott, Jockey: Jye McNeil
- 8. Land Legend – SP: 14/1, Trainer: Chris Waller, Jockey: Zac Purton
- 9. Absurde – SP: 9/1, Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
- 10. Athabascan – Non-Runner
- 11. Knight’s Choice – SP: 90/1, Trainer: John Symons & Sheila Laxon, Jockey: Robbie Dolan
- 12. Okita Soushi – SP: 18/1, Trainer: Ciaron Maher, Jockey: Jamie Kah
- 13. Onesmoothoperator – SP: 6/1, Trainer: Brian Ellison, Jockey: Craig Williams
- 14. Zardozi – SP: 13/1, Trainer: James Cummings, Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
- 15. Sea King – SP: 11/1, Trainer: Harry Eustace, Jockey: Hollie Doyle
- 16. Valiant King – SP: 90/1, Trainer: Chris Waller, Jockey: Craig Newitt
- 17.Fancy Man – SP: 80/1, Trainer: Annabel Neasham & Ron Archibald, Jockey: Ronnie Stewart
- 18. Interpretation – SP: 20/1, Trainer: Ciaron Maher, Jockey: Theodore Nugent
- 19. Manzoice – SP: 100/1, Trainer: Chris Waller, Jockey: Declan Rice
- 20. Mostly Cloudy – SP: 90/1, Trainer: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young, Jockey: Karis Teetan
- 21. Positivity – SP: 100/1, Trainer: Andrew Forsman, Jockey: Winona Costin
- 22. Saint George – SP: 25/1, Trainer: Ciaron Maher, Jockey: Tyler Schiller
- 23. The Map – SP: 70/1, Trainer: Dan Clarksen & Oopy Macgillivray, Jockey: Rachel King
- 24. Trust In You – SP: 70/1, Trainer: Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley, Jockey: Mark Du Plessis
Non-Runners
Athabascan (veterinary advice)