The 2024 Melbourne Cup, known commercially as the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup, was the 164th running of the Melbourne Cup, an Australian thoroughbred horse race. The race, run over 3,200 metres (1.988 mi), was held on 5 November 2024 at Melbourne's Flemington Racecourse.[2]
| Melbourne Cup | |
 Flemington Racecourse, location of the race | |
| Location | Flemington Racecourse Melbourne, Australia |
|---|---|
| Date | 5 November 2024 |
| Distance | 3,200 metres |
| Winning horse | Knight's Choice |
| Starting price | $81 |
| Jockey | Robbie Dolan |
| Trainer | John Symons & Sheila Laxon |
| Surface | Grass |
| Attendance | 91,168 |
Land Legend goes to the front with Okita Sushi on the outside, then Zardozi, back behind those Circle of Fire, Fancy Man and from a long way back Buckaroo. It's Okita Sushi, Zardozi a length away on the inside wearing it down. Okita Sushi grabbed by Zardozi, Knight's Choice is coming through at any old price and Warp Speed as well. Zardozi grabbed by Knight's Choice and Warp Speed coming at it. Knight's Choice, Warp Speed they hit the line, it's a photo finish! Knight's Choice I reckon's won from Warp Speed in a photo, what a magnificent finish to the Cup!
Commentator Matt Hill describes the climax of the race [1]
The final field for the race was declared on 2 November 2024.[3] The total prize money for the race was A$8.56 million, a $150,000 increase from 2023.[4] It was the first Melbourne Cup to be broadcast by Nine Network after Network 10, who had broadcast the race since 2019, dropped out of the bidding for the rights to the race in June 2023. Nine Network will have broadcast rights from 2024 until 2029.[5][6][7][8][9]
The Italian jockey Frankie Dettori decided to not retire from horse racing in order to compete in the 2024 Cup. He was ruled out of the 2023 Cup after being suspended for a whip breach.[10]
The race was won by Knight's Choice, ridden by Robbie Dolan. This was his first time racing in the Cup.[11]
Field
edit| Number | Horse | Trainer | Jockey | Weight (kg) | Barrier | Placing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vauban (FR) | Willie Mullins | William Buick | 55.5 | 11 | 11 |
| 2 | Buckaroo (GB) | Chris Waller | Joao Moreira | 54.5 | 21 | 9 |
| 3 | Circle Of Fire (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Mark Zahra | 54.5 | 24 | 6 |
| 4 | Warp Speed (JPN) | Noboru Takagi | Akira Sugawara | 54.5 | 3 | 2 |
| 5 | Kovalica (NZ) | Chris Waller | Damian Lane | 53.5 | 17 | 10 |
| 6 | Sharp 'N' Smart (NZ) | Graeme & Deborah Rogerson | Michael Dee | 53.5 | 15 | 16 |
| 7 | Just Fine (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Jye McNeil | 53 | 13 | 23 |
| 8 | Land Legend (FR) | Chris Waller | Zac Purton | 53 | 18 | 8 |
| 9 | Absurde (FR) | Willie Mullins | Kerrin McEvoy | 52.5 | 7 | 5 |
| 10 | Athabascan (FR) | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | Zac Lloyd | 52 | 2 | Scratched |
| 11 | Knight's Choice | John Symons & Sheila Laxon | Robbie Dolan | 51.5 | 6 | 1 |
| 12 | Okita Soushi (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Jamie Kah | 51 | 10 | 3 |
| 13 | Onesmoothoperator (USA) | Brian Ellison | Craig Williams | 51 | 12 | 12 |
| 14 | Zardozi | James Cummings | Andrea Atzeni | 51 | 4 | 4 |
| 15 | Sea King (GB) | Harry Eustace | Hollie Doyle | 50.5 | 1 | 14 |
| 16 | Valiant King (GB) | Chris Waller | Craig Newitt | 50.5 | 22 | 13 |
| 17 | Fancy Man (IRE) | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Ron Stewart | 50 | 19 | 7 |
| 18 | Interpretation (IRE) | Ciaron Maher | Teo Nugent | 50 | 14 | 15 |
| 19 | Manzoice | Chris Waller | Declan Bates | 50 | 8 | 19 |
| 20 | Mostly Cloudy (IRE) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Karis Teetan | 50 | 16 | 18 |
| 21 | Positivity (NZ) | Andrew Forsman | Winona Costin | 50 | 20 | 20 |
| 22 | Saint George (GB) | Ciaron Maher | Tyler Schiller | 50 | 9 | 22 |
| 23 | The Map | Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray | Rachel King | 50 | 23 | 21 |
| 24 | Trust In You (NZ) | Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley | Mark Du Plessis | 50 | 5 | 17 |
References
edit- ^ "Knight's Choice – Lexus Melbourne Cup – Lexus Melbourne Cup Day, Race 7". YouTube. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
- ^ "Melbourne Cup 2024 | Latest news, Updates, Tips & Results". racenet.com.au. 1 December 2023.
- ^ 2024 Melbourne Cup field and barrier draw – racenet.com.au. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ^ "2024 Melbourne Cup Guide: What Time, Which Race, Who Will Win? - races.com.au". www.races.com.au. 2 November 2024. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
- ^ Ten withdraws Melbourne Cup broadcast bid Mumbrella 22 June 2023
- ^ Ten Network drops bid to secure Melbourne Cup rights over Tabcorp deal The Guardian 22 June 2023
- ^ Brunsdon, Simon (20 February 2024). "Nine announces landmark broadcast rights deal with VRC for Melbourne Cup carnival". Wide World of Sports. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ McKnight, Robert (20 February 2024). "Nine nabs the MELBOURNE CUP as part of a complicated deal". TV Blackbox. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ Knox, David (20 February 2024). "Nine announces Melbourne Cup deal to 2029". TV Tonight. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ "Horse racing-Dettori eyes another Melbourne Cup in 2024 after retirement U-turn". Reuters. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
- ^ O’loughlin, Liam (5 November 2024). "'Pinch me, I'm dreaming': $81 roughie Knight's Choice salutes in thrilling Melbourne Cup photo finish". Nine news. Retrieved 6 November 2024.