Melbourne Cup 2024 Cheat Sheet: Key Horses and the Latest Odds

The 164th running of the iconic Melbourne Cup is nearly upon us, and it’s time for punters to start deciding which horse to have a flutter on. A strong field will take to the course at Flemington on 5th November, and if favourite Jan Brueghel takes the victory he’ll become the first unbeaten colt to win since 1883. That said, he’s up against some stiff competition in the shape of Buckaroo and Vauban, among others.

The Cup attracts a wide variety of horses to compete, and it’s not unusual to find genuine stayers joined on the course by middle-distancers who may be competing at 3,200 metres for the first time. Whatever the result, the Melbourne Cup is almost guaranteed to be an exciting race — the race that “stops a nation” almost never disappoints, as attested by the 90,000-strong crowds it often commands. Let’s have a look at the latest odds and key horses in this year’s running.

Can Jan Brueghel do it?

The bookie’s favourite Jan Brueghel arrived in Australia in September in a bid to become the first unbeaten winner of the Melbourne in 141 years. The three-year-old is also the first winner of a UK Classic to come to Australia for the Cup in the same year — he won at St. Ledger last month.

Jan Brueghel is trained by legend Aidan O’Brien, who bids to win the Melbourne Cup for the first time, to match his son Joseph’s successes at Flemington. In the saddle will be Ryan Moore, the hugely experienced British jockey, himself a Cup winner back in 2014 — having said that, he did ride to a disappointing 14th last time out on Vauban.

Although the Melbourne Cup is an extra two furlongs over St. Ledger, the latest bookmakers odds suggest that the young colt can stay the distance to ride into the history books.

Vauban

One horse with a point to prove is last year’s favourite Vauban. Trained by legendary Willie Mullins, the six-year-old only managed to come in 14th last time around but will start second favourite after a strong run of form this year in some key races outside Australia. Last year’s winner Without a Fight managed to come back for glory after a disappointing showing in 2022, so history may smile on Vauban.

Likewise, it may scowl at Jan Brueghel — a favourite who hasn’t won the Cup since 2013 when Fiorente crossed the line first. A favourite has only been in the top-3 three times since 2006.

Circle of Fire

This five-year-old stallion, trained by Ciaron Maher, stormed to the win of the Sydney Cup earlier in the year, despite being three wide no cover for the trip. He is nominated for all three big races but given his form dictates that the Melbourne Cup is his targeted race.

On 13th Apr 2024 at Randwick, Circle Of Fire was ridden by Andrea Atzeni to score his most significant win to date, getting the money in the three-year-old Open Handicap, defeating Athabascan. The bookies have made him a slight outsider, so he could be a lucrative one-to-back, should he manage to ride out a winner.

Land Legend

Trained by Chris Waller and local to Flemington, Land Legend is another in the running who may provide an upset, and a home favourite for those in Melbourne. The five-year-old was ridden to victory for his biggest win to date at Randwick, jockeyed by Reece Jones, defeating Zardozi.

His form might be deceptive, as he’s been running often at 1600 metres, whilst he’s probably suited more to longer races. We’ll see if he’s a stayer at 3,200.

The Map

A six-year-old mare who won her spot in the Cup this year thanks to a stunning victory in the Andrew Ramsden Stakes at Flemington, ridden by Damian Lane. While she is an outsider, she has proved she can go the distance and will be favoured in terms of weight.

Much of the buzz around The Map is due to her winning the ‘golden ticket’, and it’ll be a fairytale finish if she does manage to run out a Cup winner.

Not long to go now until the Melbourne Cup, and it’s time to pick a winner. Can  Jan Brueghel do it? Or will a plucky outsider reach the post first?