Melbourne Cup 2024: Every horse in contention

Warp Speed

(JPN) 6yoH 54.5kg
Trainer: Noboru Takagi
Jockey: Akira Sugawara
Career: 23: 4-3-4. Last start: 13th of 18 group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m)
The all-conquering Japanese are losing their aura. This fella arrived in Australia with decent staying wraps and then put in a shocker in the Caulfield Cup, only beating five home. But we are prepared to forgive that effort on a number of fronts – he drew wide, went back and it was hard to make ground that day on a wet Caulfield track. The stable has been adamant that he is a two-miler and would need the lead-up run. His fifth in the group 1 Tenno Sho in Tokyo in April ranks him among the leading chances.
Early call: Can bounce back, top seven.

Sharp ‘N’ Smart

(NZ) 5yoG 53.5kg
Trainer: Graeme and Deborah Rogerson
Jockey: Michael Dee
Career:22: 6-5-2. Last start: Third of 10 group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m)
Not sure this horse has a winning chance, but isn’t it great to see Rogie back up and about! Rogerson, 75, who trains with his wife, Deborah, has recovered from open-heart surgery in July to pilot another assault on the Cup – a race he won for Lloyd Williams with Efficient in 2007. Sharp ‘N’ Smart showed early promise as a stayer. He won the New Zealand Derby last year, but has not landed a decent blow this spring, finishing 13th in the Turnbull Stakes and then third in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.
Early call: Do it for Rogie, top 12.

Kovalica

(NZ) 5yoG 53.5kg
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Damian Lane
Career: 24: 6-2-4. Last start: Sixth of nine group 1 Cox Plate (2040m)
At a guess, this is Chris Waller’s Cup project. Kovalica has not had the brilliance to win at group 1 weight-for-age level like stablemates Via Sistina and Buckaroo. But his build-up form suggests he will peak over 3200m on the first Tuesday in November. New Zealand-bred Kovalica has had the old-fashioned Cup preparation, winning the Queensland Derby last year as a three-year-old, and then getting miles in his legs during the spring. Good closing sectionals in the Cox Plate.
Early call: Top 10.

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Just Fine

(IRE) 7yoG 53kg
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Jockey: Jye McNeil
Career: 25: 7-1-2. Last start: 10th of 10 group 2 MV Gold Cup (2500m)
Even the supremely confident Gai Waterhouse has lost a little faith in this guy. Formerly owned by King Charles, Just Fine continues to mix his form, with more lows than highs. He has run 10th, first and 10th at his past three starts. He won the group 1 Metropolitan over 2400m last year and looked to have rediscovered that form by taking out the group 3 Bart Cummings (2500m) last month at Flemington to gain automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup. Then he put in a stinker in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.
Early call: Towards the back.

Land Legend

(FR) 5yoG 53kg
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: Zac Purton
Career: 13: 3-2-1. Last start: Third of 18 group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m)
Thrashed his head around like he was in a rock concert mosh pit, rather than a horse race during the Caulfield Cup, so it was a fair effort to finish third. Superstar Hong Kong hoop Zac Purton could not get him to settle over the 2400m at Caulfield, so will be hoping that Waller can give him some chill pills ahead of next Tuesday’s staying test. If Land Legend can relax during the run, he is a serious chance.
Early call: Top five.

Absurde

(FR) 7yoG 52.5kg
Trainer: Willie Mullins
Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy
Career: 21: 6-6-2. Last start: First of seven listed Chester Stakes (2916m)
The stable’s second stringer behind Vauban. He’s the Paul McCartney to John Lennon, the Stuart MacGill to Shane Warne, the Pam Shriver to Martina Navratilova – anyway, you get the picture. While Absurde outperformed his Irish travelling companion in last year’s Cup – seventh compared to 14th – there is no suggestion from the Willie Mullins’ camp that he is a better horse. Since last year, he has had five starts for two wins, but neither was at group level.
Early call: McCartney will be outrun by Lennon, top 12.

Athabascan

(FR) 6yoG 52kg
Trainer: John O’Shea and Tom Charlton
Jockey: Zac Lloyd
Career: 29: 4-4-4. Last start: First of nine group 3 St Leger, Randwick (2600m)
The stealth bomber of the field – has absolutely flown under the radar for the entire spring, despite winning the 2600m group 3 St Leger at Randwick this month. The French import has had one crack at the distance, and finished second behind Circle Of Fire in the Sydney Cup. You can rest assured the training duo of John O’Shea and Tom Charlton would have mapped out a Melbourne Cup preparation from that moment on.
Early call: Top 10.

Mahrajaan

(US) 6yoH 52kg
Trainer: Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray
Jockey: TBA
Career: 24: 5-2-6. Last start: 13th of 15 group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m)
An old-fashioned Kiwi raider. Mahrajaan loomed as a likely smoky for this year’s event after winning the 3200m group 2 Auckland Cup back in March. Co-trainer Shaune Ritchie has experienced the highs of racing, strapping the mighty Bonecrusher for his father, Frank, to win the 1986 Cox Plate. But Mahrajaan is not in the same class as Bonecrusher and is more of a one-paced grinder. Finished 10th in the Herbert Power behind Herman Hesse.
Early call: No chance

Knight’s Choice

5yoG 51.5kg
Trainer: John Symons and Sheila Laxon
Jockey: TBC
Career: 21: 5-3-2. Last start: 14th of 18 group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m)
Trainer Sheila Laxon is no stranger to winning Melbourne Cups, lifting the famous gold trophy with Ethereal back in 2001. She was the first woman to win the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double. Laxon was based in New Zealand then, but has since relocated to the Sunshine Coast where she trains with partner John Symons. Knight’s Choice had a strong winter in Queensland, with group placings in the Q22 and Tatt’s Cup, but has struggled in Melbourne this spring.
Early call: Closer to the back than the front.

Zardozi

4yoM 51kg
Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Andrea Atzeni
Career: 18: 6-3-1. Last start: Fourth of 18 group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m)
James Cummings still has a dozen Melbourne Cups to make-up on his famous grandfather, Bart, so will need to get cracking sooner or later. Many expected the Godolphin-owned Zardozi to win the Caulfield Cup, so she looked a shade disappointing to finish 8.5-length fourth behind Duke De Sessa. She is an Oaks-winning mare with European bloodlines, so by rights should be able to get the two miles.
Early call: Not this year, James.

Okita Soushi

(IRE) 7yoH 51kg
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Jamie Kah
Career: 18: 5-3-3. Last start: First of 10 group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m)
There is a sense of occasion about this horse. He does not enjoy the wraps of the top-class weight-for-age runners, but he has been building up to something special. Every year, Maher has an underrated stayer that bobs up and finishes inside the top four – Ashrun last year, High Emocean in 2022, Floating Artist in 2021 – and Okita Soushi has a similar feel. The last-start win at the Valley was impressive as were the wraps from jockey Jamie Kah, who says he has a surprising turn of foot.
Early call: This could be our next Michelle Payne moment.

Onesmoothoperator

(US) 7yoG 51kg
Trainer: Brian Ellison
Jockey: Craig Williams
Career: 37: 5-11-5. Last start: First of 13 group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m)
Smashed the Geelong Cup field last week in one of the most dominant displays on a Corio Bay sporting field since Gary Ablett Snr booted 12 against Richmond at Kardinia Park in 1993. It brought back memories of international runners – Media Puzzle, Americain and Dunaden – romping in at Geelong and then backing up to win the Melbourne Cup. If there is any doubt that Via Sistina and Buckaroo can’t get the two miles, this UK-trained stayer will be ready to pounce.
Early call: Top five.

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Valiant King

(GB) 5yoG 50.5kg
Trainer: Chris Waller
Jockey: TBC
Career: 11: 1-3-1. Last start: Ninth of 18 Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m)
This might come as a shock, but Chris Waller does have international stayers in his barn that don’t win every start or top the betting charts. This bloke is his fifth stringer in the Cup field, which says something for the might of Waller’s arsenal. He has been stepping up every start, from 10th in the Turnbull Stakes to ninth in the Caulfield Cup, but would need one giant step to land in front by the end of this year’s Melbourne Cup.
Early call: Last in of the Waller runners.

The Map

6yoM 50kg
Trainer: Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray
Jockey: Rachel King
Career: 32: 9-3-3. Last start: Sixth of 13 Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m)
Gained an automatic entry into the Melbourne Cup by winning the Andrew Ramsden Stakes in May over 2800m at Flemington. The Map finished second in this year’s Adelaide Cup behind Excelleration at the mare’s only start over 3200m. So while the distance should not pose a problem, her turn of foot is a concern. Finished five lengths off Onesmoothoperator in the Geelong Cup, so needs to improve again. A bonus to have Rachel King on board.
Early call: Outside top 10.

Interpretation

(IRE) 7yoG 50kg
Trainer: Ciaron Maher
Jockey: Teo Nugent
Career: 23: 4-2-2. Last start: Second of 13 Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m)
Started $61 in last year’s Melbourne Cup and outperformed those odds before finishing sixth. To put that into perspective, he beat home Irish pair Vauban and Absurde, who are once again more fancied in this year’s betting charts. Ran a decent second in the Geelong Cup and looks a dead-set two-miler, so would be worth including in first four exotics.
Early call: Running home for eighth.

Sea King

(GB) 6yoG 50kg
Trainer: Harry Eustace
Jockey: Hollie Doyle
Career: 18: 5-1-2. Last start: 1st of 15 group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m)
This horse will look to break more than 150 years of history after winning Wednesday’s Bendigo Cup by almost four lengths – and will be in line for a penalty to lift it up the Melbourne Cup order of entry. No horse has done the Bendigo-Melbourne Cup double in the same year since Warrior in 1869. Believe us, we have checked. Ciaron Maher’s High Emocean came close in 2022 when she won at Bendigo and then finished third at Flemington. Further franking the form is that Sea King ran sixth in the Ebor Handicap, while Geelong Cup winner Onesmoothoperator finished seventh in the Ebor. Early call: Can give the Cup a shake.

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Fancy Man

(IRE) 7yoG 50kg
Trainer: Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald
Jockey: Ron Stewart
Career: 27: 5-4-5. Last start: Sixth of 18 group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m)
There’s a bit of Alex de Minaur about Fancy Man as he always presents at the business end of the competition, but just can’t deliver a knock-out blow. He has finished third in the group 2 Herbert Power Stakes and sixth in the group 1 Caulfield Cup, without really looking like the winner. He would need to improve lengths on those efforts for the recently formed training partnership of Neasham and Archibald to figure in the first half dozen.
Early call: Doesn’t have the weapons. Outside top 10.

Mostly Cloudy

(IRE) 6yoG 50kg
Trainer: Trent Busuttin and Nat Young
Jockey: Karis Teetan
Career: 28: 6-4-4. Last start: 12th of 13 group 3 Bart Cummings (2500m)
We advise the owners of Mostly Cloudy to soak up the atmosphere and hop into any free race-day offerings because this gelding has as much chance of winning the Melbourne Cup as former Qantas chief Alan Joyce has of being named our next Australian of the Year. Twelfth of 13 in 2500m Bart Cummings just does not cut it for lead-up form.
Early call: From 20th to 24th.

Positivity

(NZ) 4yoM 50kg
Trainer: Andrew Forsman
Jockey: Winona Costin
Career: 12: 4-2-0. Last start: Eighth of 10 Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2400m)
A year too early for Positivity. She has shown glimpses of talent this spring. She won the 2000m group 3 Naturalism in September in a blanket finish before being scratched two days before the Caulfield Cup because she was showing signs of lameness. Positivity recovered from that little setback to run in the Moonee Valley Cup, but it was a disappointing showing. That is hardly the ideal preparation.
Early call: Will be gasping by the finish post.