- One punter outlaid $5000 on Just Fine
- Odds of $51, could collect $255,000
- Melbourne Cup jumps at 3pm AEDT
Come 3pm on Tuesday afternoon, attention turns to the 164th staging of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse.
With a number of leading chances ruled out leading up to the race that stops a nation, the 2024 field is wide open.
French stayer Vauban ($4.50) is the pre-race favourite, slightly ahead of the Chris Waller trained Buckaroo ($5).
But if outsider Just Fine salutes over 3200 metres, one fearless punter will be elated.
They stand to collect a whopping $255,000 after parting with $5000 at the juicy odds of $51.
Jockey Jye McNeil is tasked with the ride from barrier 13 – and it what could be an omen, the hoop won the Cup in 2020 on board Twilight Payment – which is also an Irish stayer.
Other big bets with the TAB include $10,700 on Onesmoothoperator to win at $9, $9000 on Absurde to win at $11 and $7500 on Land Legend to win at $17.
Another punter has outlaid $5000 on Kiwi entrant Sharp ‘n’ Smart, who is paying $23.
Come 3pm on Tuesday afternoon, attention will turn to the 164th staging of the Melbourne Cup at Flemington Racecourse (pictured, punters trackside)
Eager punters at Flemington last year soaking in the atmosphere of the Melbourne Cup
Jockey Mark Zahra is gunning for third successive Melbourne Cup triumph – on three different horses – he will ride Circle of Fire, rated a $15 chance
Champion jockey Jim Cassidy knows what it takes to win a Melbourne Cup – after winning two – and has high praise for French stayer Vauban
Okita Soushi (right) took out the Mooney Valley Gold Cup and is another leading contender in the race that stops a nation
| Horse | Trainer(s) | Jockey | Barrier | Weight | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vauban (FR) | Willie Mullins | William Buick | 11 | 55.5kg | $4.50 |
| Buckaroo (UK) | Chris Waller | Joao Moreira | 21 | 54.5kg | $5 |
| Circle of Fire (UK) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Mark Zahra | 24 | 54.5kg | $15 |
| Warp Speed (JPN) | Noboru Takagi | Akira Sugawara | 3 | 54.5kg | $12 |
| Kovalica (NZ) | Chris Waller | Damian Lane | 17 | 53.5kg | $10 |
| Sharp ‘n’ Smart (NZ) | Graeme & Deborah Rogerson | Michael Dee | 15 | 53.5kg | $20 |
| Just Fine (IRE) | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | Jye Mcneil | 13 | 53kg | $25 |
| Land Legend (FR) | Chris Waller | Zac Purton | 18 | 53kg | $30 |
| Absurde (FR) | Willie Mullins | Kerrin Mcevoy | 7 | 52.5kg | $18 |
| Athabascan (FR) | John O’shea & Tom Charlton | Zac Lloyd | 2 | 52kg | $35 |
| Knight’s Choice (AUS) | John Symons & Sheila Laxon | Robbie Dolan | 6 | 51.5kg | $50 |
| Okita Soushi (IRE) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Jamie Kah | 10 | 51kg | $8 |
| Onesmoothoperator (USA) | Brian Ellison | Craig Williams | 12 | 51kg | $12 |
| Zardozi (AUS) | James Cummings | Andrea Atzeni | 4 | 51kg | $22 |
| Sea King (UK) | Harry Eustace | Hollie Doyle | 1 | 50.5kg | $15 |
| Valiant King (UK) | Chris Waller | Craig Newitt | 22 | 50.5kg | $40 |
| Fancy Man (IRE) | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald | Ron Stewart | 19 | 50kg | $60 |
| Interpretation (IRE) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Teo Nugent | 14 | 50kg | $25 |
| Manzoice (AUS) | Chris Waller | Declan Bates | 8 | 50kg | $50 |
| Mostly Cloudy (IRE) | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young | Karis Teetan | 16 | 50kg | $70 |
| Positivity (NZ) | Andrew Forsman | Winona Costin | 20 | 50kg | $80 |
| Saint George (UK) | Ciaron Maher & David Eustace | Tyler Schiller | 9 | 50kg | $100 |
| The Map (AUS) | Dan Clarken & Oopy Macgillivray | Rachel King | 23 | 50kg | $150 |
| Trust in You (NZ) | Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley | Mark Du Plessis | 5 | 50kg | $200 |
Trackside, it looks to be a perfect day for racing, with fine conditions and temperatures of up to 25 degrees forecast.
There is just a 10 per cent chance of rain and even if that eventuates, it would only be light showers in the early morning or evening.
When it comes to the experts, veteran bookmaker Robbie Waterhouse has highlighted Circle of Fire as a Melbourne Cup ‘bolter’.
Trainer Ciaron Maher ranks Okita Soushi as his top contender, highlighting its recent Moonee Valley Gold Cup win, lightweight 51kg and favourable barrier 10.
Decorated jockey Jamie Kah will also be on the saddle for the $8 chance, as she looks to emulate Michelle Payne, who won on board Prince of Penzance in 2015.
In doing so, Payne became the first woman to win the iconic race.
Champion jockey Jim Cassidy couldn’t go past Vauban – but anticipates a huge run from Buckaroo.
You can watch the great race on Channel Nine and Sky Racing at 3pm AEDT, plus a number of streaming services including 9 Now.
