Melbourne Cup Final Field and Hurdle Draw (2024 Edition)

Here’s the final field for the 2024 Group One Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington Racecourse on Tuesday 5 November.

This year marks the 164th edition of the Cup, with jockey Mark Zara aiming to win the great race three years in a row on three different horses.

While headlines have focused on veterinary inspections for horses, both local and international, the Class of 2024 has attracted 24 locations.

The race is worth $8.56 million, with $7.75 million in prize money plus $810,000 worth of trophies for the winners, including the Harry White Whip for the winning driver and the Tommy Woodcock Trophy for the winning athlete.

Your early favorite is Buckaroo, ridden by Joao Moreira, who is aiming for his first Cup win after a number of minor placings. Buckaroo is trained by Chris Waller and wears the silks associated with outstanding owner Ozzie Hair.

*Hurdle draw will take place on Saturday evening.

MELBOURNE CUP FIELD 2024 (saddleback)

1 – VAUBAN (trainer: Willie Mullins; jockey: William Buick) 55.5 kg
2 – BUKARU (Chris Waller; Joao Moreira) 54.5 kg
3 – CIRCLE OF FIRE (Ciaron Maher, Mark Zara) 54.5 kg
4 – WARP SPEED (Noboru Takagi; Akira Sugawara) 54 kg
5 – KOWALIKA (Chris Waller, Damian Lane) 53.5 kg
6 – SHARP ‘N’ SMART (Graham and Deborah Rogerson, Michael Dee) 53.5 kg
7 – JUST FINE (Guy Waterhouse and Adrian Bott; Jay McNeil) 53 kg
8 – LAND LEGEND (Chris Waller; Zach Purton) 53 kg
9 – ABSURD (Willie Mullins; Kerryn McAvoy) 52.5 kg
10 – ATHABASCAN (John O’Shea and Tom Charlton; Zach Lloyd) 52 kg
11 – KNIGHT’S CHOICE (John Simons and Sheila Lacson; Robbie Dolan) 51.5 kg
12 – OKITA SUSHI (Ciaron Maher; Jamie Ka) 51 kg
13 – ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (Brian Ellison; Craig Williams) 51 kg
14 – ZARDOZI (James Cummings; Andrea Atzeni) 51 kg
15 – SEA KING (Harry Eustace; Holly Doyle) 50.5 kg
16 – VALIANT KING (Chris Waller; Craig Newitt) 50.5 kg
17 – FANCY MAN (Annabelle Neesham and Rob Archibald; Ron Stewart), 50 kg
18 – INTERPRETATION (Ciaron Maher; Theo Nugent) 50 kg
19 – MANZOICE (Chris Waller, Tyler Schiller) 50 kg
20 – MOSTLY CLOUDY (Trent Busattin and Natalie Young; Carys Titan), 50 kg
21 – POSITIVITY (Andrew Forsman; Winona Costin) 50 kg
22 – ST GEORGE (Ciaron Maher; TBA) 50 kg
23 – THE MAP (Dan Clarken and Upi MacGillivray; Rachel King) 50 kg
24 – TRUST IN YOU (Bruce Walls and Grant Cooksley; Mark Du Plessis) 50 kg

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Melbourne Cup history

Often referred to as “the race that stops a nation”, the Melbourne Cup has a rich history dating back to the mid-19th century. In 1861, the first race took place on the first Tuesday in November. The idea came from a group of wealthy landowners and horse breeders who wanted to stage a grand race to attract visitors and boost the local economy.

The first event took place at Flemington Racecourse with 17 horses competing. A horse named Archer, owned by a local butcher, won the race and little did anyone know that this was the beginning of a beloved Australian tradition. The race attracted a modest audience, but its popularity grew over time, attracting thousands of spectators eager to witness the excitement.

By the late 1800s, the Melbourne Cup had become a significant event and horse racing had become an integral part of Australian culture. It became a public holiday in Melbourne and people dressed up in their best clothes to celebrate. The prestige of the Cup attracted not only local talent but also international competition, elevating its status to a world racing event.

Over the years, the Cup has witnessed many memorable moments. In 1930, the legendary horse Phar Lap captured the heart of the nation with his remarkable victories. His death in 1932 led to national mourning, demonstrating how deeply intertwined the race was with Australian identity.

As the decades passed, the Melbourne Cup continued to evolve. Innovations such as television coverage in the 1960s allowed millions of people to follow the action, and fashion became an important aspect of the event, with the Fashions on the Field competition showcasing stunning styles.

Today the Melbourne Cup is more than just horse racing; it’s a huge celebration of Australian culture, including food, fashion and celebrations. Every year people from all walks of life gather to take part in the excitement, united by a shared love of racing and tradition.