Melbourne Cup Day for 2024 has finally arrived and after 12-month preparations, 24 horses will go around and compete for the honoured prize over 3200m.
Buckaroo is the favourite for Chris Waller, followed by Vauban, but I have concentrated on the other nine races of the program, while a full runner-by-runner preview for the Melbourne Cup can be found here.
Tips for Melbourne Cup Day are below with the first of 10 starting at 10:45am (AEDT). Good luck to everyone following along!
2024 Melbourne Cup Day Racing Tips
Race 1: Darley Maribyrnong Plate – 10:45am (AEDT)
(10) Price Tag gets the nod but I have no confidence in this race. Basically, the only reason I am tipping her is because she has seen the track (3rd) and she has attracted some early bets after markets opened. Her placing was on a Good surface in which she will get again.
(2) Winmar was 3rd at Caulfield after running on late. The Hayes Team has won this race multiple times so this has to be included.
(1) Shining Smile beat Price Tag on debut at Flemington and should be further improved from that run. Another Hayes runner.
(10) Price Tag Each-Way
$3.80/$1.75 (1 Unit)
Race 2: TAB Trophy – 11:20am (AEDT)
(2) Open Address for Liam Howley and JMac combine here with a gelding who is very consistent at being around the mark. He settled on speed and just missed when 2nd in The Vase last start and with an upgrade in jockey he is sure to be in the finish again. He is proven on Good tracks and remains with 57kg.
(5) Lavalier has only been fair his last couple when missing the Place and his best races seem to be on the Soft. Drawn to get a Soft run in barrier 1 and can improve.
(8) Plymouth has been running on well and might be suited by Flemington. Gets a new jockey with Blake Shinn on top and its his first time over the distance.
(2) Open Address Each-Way
$4.00/$1.55 (1U/2U)
Race 3: MSS Security Subzero Handicap – 12pm (AEDT)
(6) Riot And Rose has drawn well in 3 and should get a lovely run in transit. He has won 3 from 7 on Good tracks and he drops a massive 7kg for this race. Moody & Coleman trains and they usually pick up a race or two over the carnival.
(4) Cloudland is the fav but barrier 10 is a slight concern. He comes over from Queensland for Kris Lees and has been running well without winning. Is Capable at the distance though.
(2) Chattahoochee is an interesting runner who was 3rd at New Zealand last start. Has a good winning strike rate (7 from 16) and gets the in-form Craig Williams on.
(6) Riot And Rose Each-Way
$5.50/$1.80 (1 Unit)
Race 4: The Schweppervescence Plate – 12:40pm (AEDT)
(13) Manolo Bling has jumped out well leading into this and the appointment of Ben Melham is a good one. She was beaten a nose at Hillside last start but is fitter now. The Anthony & Sam Freedman Stable are flying and at each-way odds she is worth a small play.
(18) Versaille won a jumpout last week in good fashion and won well on debut on a Soft track at Bendigo.
(4) Last Druid goes well fresh and barrier 18 might be ok. He has a 1st and 2nd over this distance and JMac is on.
(13) Manolo Bling Each-Way
$8.00/$2.60 (1 Unit)
Race 5: Australian Heritage Cup – 1:20pm (AEDT)
(10) Newfoundland drops 7kg in weight and is going for three on the bounce after winning at Rosehill and Warwick Farm in October. He is an up and coming gelding who usually settles midfield or slightly better than and with Kah on I can see him tasking off at the 500m and hitting the front with 100m to go. Its his 4th run in and it does look like the 2800m will suit.
(3) Kinesiology comes over from Ireland and I really don’t know too much about him. Has been runner-up the past couple and he has ever missed a top 3 finish on a Dry track.
(7) Whisky On The Hill was unlucky in the Bendigo Cup so forget that run. Before that he won at Caulfield over 2400m.
(10) Newfoundland Each-Way
$8.50/$2.70 (1 Unit)
Race 6: Furphy Plate – 1:55pm (AEDT)
(8) Apulia was 2nd last start in the Gold Star at The Valley and is primed now. He drops back in class and has raced in many harder races than this. He hasn’t won in over and year and will be fav, but is the one to beat after lead up jumpouts and fitness on his side.
(3) Midnight Blue will settle on speed here and gets a suitable Dry deck. Has won twice over the 1800m but his Flemington form is poor.
(5) Arran Bay likes Flemington and should run well again after almost winning the Sale Cup last start. Luke Nolen hops on for the first time.
(8) Apulia WIN
$3.40 (2 Units)
Race 7: Lexus Melbourne Cup – 3:00pm (AEDT)
Race 8: The Amanda Elliot – 3:50pm (AEDT)
(5) Extremely Hardys has drawn well in 2 and did lead all of the way last start at Kensington on similar ground to this. He had the same barrier last start and was an odds on fav so the each-way odds here looks appealing. Waller and Moreira combine.
(7) Big Swinger smashed them last time at Ballarat and his confidence is up. Willow and Littlefield combine again and they did win a race two weeks ago on a Friday night.
(8) Chewing Gum will be running on like she did last start when 2nd at Caulfield over 1200m. The extra 200m looks ideal and so does Flemington.
(5) Extremely Hardys Each-Way
$6.50/$2.20 (1 Unit)
Race 9: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes – 4:35pm (AEDT)
(10) Fortunate Kiss at any old odds is the pick here. As usual has been having no luck in its races and got too far back when running on for 6th at this track last start. A good surface is a plus and with a bit of tempo in this race she should be running on again. McEvoy goes on for the first time which is a bonus and she has won over this track & distance before. Small bet.
(6) Comrade Rosa ran on well for 3rd at this track last start and is another who likes Dry tracks. IS fit and barrier 1 is ok.
(9) Miss Aria scored at The Valley three starts back after a peach of a ride from Shinn. Placed at Flemington and Caulfield after that.
(10) Fortunate Kiss Each-Way
$31/$6.50 (0.5 Units)
Race 10: Channel 9 Trophy – 5:15pm (AEDT)
(3) Rheinberg goes well fresh and is resuming here. He does tick a few boxes, he likes the distance, he likes Dry ground but he hasn’t run his best races at Flemington which is a slight concern. He has had two jumpouts leading into this and I reckon the Hayes boys have targeted this race.
(5) Snow Patrol is also resuming and also goes well fresh. Barrier 11 is a slight concern but he will get back anyway and will be running on late.
(1) Bank Maur will settle around 3rd and has raced in harder races than this. Hasn’t won in ages but will find this easier than the Toorak.
(3) Rheinberg WIN
$4.60 (1 Unit)
