Early look at the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup contenders

Trainers: Anthony & Sam Freedman (Mornington, AUS) 

7YO Bay Gelding 

Foaled: 29 January 2017 

Sire: Teofilo (IRE) 

Dam: Khor Sheed (GB) (Dubawi (IRE)) 

Owner: Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum 

Breeder: Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum 

Career Record: 23-11:3:4 

Prizemoney: $9,471,620 

Previous Melbourne Cup Performances 

2023 – WON by 2.25L from Soulcombe (GB)  

2022 – 14th beaten 21.15L behind Gold Trip (FR) *trained by Simon & Ed Crisford 

Latest/Best Performances 

Won 2023 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington 

Won 2023 Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) at Caulfield 

Won 2023 Group 2 The Q22 (2200m) at Eagle Farm 

Won 2023 Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup (1800m) at Eagle Farm 

2nd 2022 Listed Godolphin Stakes (2414m) at Newmarket GB 

Won 2022 Group 3 Silver Cup Stakes (2816m) at York GB 

Won 2022 Listed Grand Cup (2816m) at York GB 

3rd 2022 Group 3 Aston Park Stakes (2400m) at Newbury GB 

2nd 2022 Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold (2400m) at Meydan UAE 

Won 2021 Listed Godolphin Stakes (2414m) at Newmarket GB 

4th 2021 Listed Geoffrey Freer Stakes (2715m) at Newbury GB 

3rd 2021 Listed Buckhounds Stakes (2414m) at Ascot GB 

2nd 2021 Group 3 Surprise Stakes (2414m) at Newbury GB 

3rd 2020 Listed Noel Murless Stakes (2816m) at Ascot GB 

The father-son training partnership of Anthony and Sam Freedman took Without A Fight into their care after he ran for his previous trainers, Simon and Ed Crisford, in the 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup run behind Gold Trip.  

The Freedman stable got off to a winning start, winning the 1800-metre Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup first up before claiming victory in the Group 2 The Q22 (2200m), both at Eagle Farm. 

After a successful autumn/winter campaign in Brisbane, the horse was set for the feature staying races in Melbourne, running well fresh in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield close-up behind weight-for-age star, Alligator Blood. 

Zahra produced a masterful ride in the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), biding his time on the rail before working off the fence and into the race at the 800-metre mark, tracking race favourite West Wind Blows into the straight and racing to victory. 

In last year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup, Without A Fight became the first horse since Ethereal in 2001 to win the coveted Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double and became the twelfth horse to complete the double in the same year.

Under another sensational ride from Zahra, who waited patiently for the runs to develop in amongst the field while keeping his horse balanced and ready to strike. 

Zahra tracked Gold Trip into the straight, he won the race on the year prior, and who he controversially forfeited the ride on to ride Without A Fight. The runs opened up at the 400-metre mark and the horse raced away to claim victory from a fast-finishing, Soulcombe. 

It would be back-to-back victories for jockey Mark Zahra after the win on Gold Trip in 2022, the first jockey to win consecutive Melbourne Cups since Glen Boss strung three on end thanks to mighty mare, Makybe Diva between 2003 and 2005. 

It was the eighth fasting running of the race, just over two seconds outside the course record mark set by Kingston Rule in the Cup of 1990. 

Trainers: Roger James & Robert Wellwood (Cambridge, NZ) 

4YO Bay Gelding 

Foaled: 13 October 2019 

Sire: Shocking 

Dam: Pinders Prize (NZ) (Prized (USA)) 

Owners: OTI Management Pty Ltd 

Breeder: Taikorea Thoroughbreds Ltd 

Career Record: 12-4:1:2 

Prizemoney: $463,615 

Latest/Best Performances 

Won 2024 Listed Lexus Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington  

3rd 2024 Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie NZ  

4th 2023 Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Te Rapa NZ  

American author Mark Twain wrote of the Melbourne Cup nearly 140 years ago and a horse of the same name could write his own piece of history in this year’s Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m). 

The son of 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking came from near last in the Listed Lexus Roy Higgins (2600m) on TAB Australian Cup Day to claim a golden ticket into the race that stops a nation™. 

The Lexus Roy Higgins was Mark Twain's first start at Flemington for the Kiwi training partnership of Roger James and Robert Wellwood and the big-striding gelding relished the Flemington circuit, motoring home and completing his final 1000 metres in 56.70 secs. Amazing, considering this is at the back end of a 2600-metre race. 

Mark Twain finished tenth in the Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) at Randwick last year, but James said the gelding was not suited on the heavy ground on that occasion. 

The two-mile of the Lexus Melbourne Cup should be no concern based on his third-placed effort behind Mahrajaan in the 3200m-metre Group 2 Auckland Cup run at Ellerslie the start prior to his Flemington outing. 

Connections now have the luxury of setting the horse to be firing on Cup Day knowing they will be guaranteed a start. 

Trainers: Dan Clarken & Oopy Macgillivray (Murray Bridge, AUS) 

5YO Bay Mare 

Foaled: 1 November 2018 

Sire: Alpine Eagle 

Dam: This Moment (Savoire Vivre (GB)) 

Owners: Mrs J A MacGillivray, D J Clarken, R A Sadek, P Cousins, G V Davidson, Mrs B R Davidson, B R Hayden, South East Connections (Mgr: R S Dix) & Gambling Graziers (Mgr: A B Prior) 

Breeder: M G Crossin 

Career Record: 28-9:3:3 

Prizemoney: $845,215 

Latest/Best Performances 

Won 2024 Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m) at Flemington  

Won 2024 Group 3 QEII Cup (Port Adelaide Cup) (2500m) at Morphettville 

2nd 2024 Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at Morphettville 

2nd 2024 Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) at Morphettville 

Won 2024 Listed JRA Plate (2006m) at Morphettville 

Won 2023 The Macca’s Run (2800m) at Flemington 

2nd 2022 Listed Tokyo City Cup (John Letts Cup) (1800m) at Morphettville 

4th 2022 Group 3 SA Fillies Classic (2500m) at Morphettville 

The Lexus Melbourne Cup dream was given a significant boost for the Murray Bridge training partnership of Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray, along with their loyal group of owners. 

The South Australian mare booked herself a trip to Flemington in November with an impressive win in the Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m), a race that holds golden ticket entry into the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup. 

Jockey Damian Lane’s masterful ride, producing The Map at the right time in the straight to claim the lead and stave off the challenges of fellow golden ticket aspirants, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young import Mostly Cloudy and seven-year-old, Excelleration, who took the honours over The Map in the Group 2 Adelaide Cup (3200m) at their previous meeting. 

The plan to target the Melbourne Cup with the daughter of Alpine Eagle was hatched the year prior when she easily won The Macca’s Run over 2800 metres on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day 2023. 

She will be looking to become only the fourth Australian-bred winner of the Cup in the twenty-first century. 

Trainer: H. Graham Motion (Maryland, USA) 

5YO Grey Gelding 

Foaled: 7 March 2019  

Sire: Caravaggio (USA) 

Dam: Fancy (IRE) (Galileo (IRE)) 

Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners & Albert Frassetto 

Breeder: Longfield Stud 

Career Record: 15:4-4-1 

Prizemoney: $860,253 

Latest/Best Performances 

Won 2024 Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup (3219m) at Saratoga USA 

3rd 2024 Grade 3 Louisville Stakes (2414m) at Churchill Downs USA 

2nd 2023 Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup (3219m) at Belmont Park USA 

2nd 2022 Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup (2414m) at Del Mar USA 

2nd 2022 Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby Invitational Stakes (2414m) at Aqueduct USA 

The Grade 2 Belmont Gold Cup (3219m) held extra significance this year when it was declared as the eighth golden ticket race into the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup.  

This year the race was run and won at Saratoga due to works being conducted at the Belmont Park racetrack, and it was the big striding grey, The Grey Wizard, relishing the two miles and making a late surge from back in the field to claim the race in the shadows of the ‘wire’, and in course record time.  

His trainer Graham Motion stated he had toyed with the idea of bringing five-time Grade 1 winner Better Talk Now for the Melbourne Cup back in 2006.  

"I did think about this with a horse I won the Breeders’ Cup with Better Talk Now a long time ago...it’s a tall order but it’s fun to think about it.” 

The Belmont Gold Cup was The Grey Wizard’s first stakes triumph after placings in the Grade 3 Jockey Club Derby (2414m) and Grade 2 Hollywood Turf Cup (2414m) in 2022, last year’s Belmont Gold Cup behind Siskany, and a last start third in the Grade 3 Louisville Stakes (2414m) at Churchill Downs. He could get treated quite well by the handicapper should they make the trip down under. 

The Irish-bred gelding won a maiden at Dundalk as a three-year-old for 2017 Melbourne Cup-winning trainer, Joseph O’Brien before he was purchased by Albert Frassetto and Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners and sent to the US to be trained by Motion in Maryland, Pennsylvania. 

Frassetto passed away in May of 2024 and fittingly carried his colours in the Belmont Gold Cup win. 

Trainer: Ciaron Maher (Cranbourne, AUS) 

4YO Brown Horse 

Foaled: 28 January 2020 

Sire: Almanzor (FR) 

Dam: Fiery Sunset (GB) (Galileo (IRE)) 

Owner: M Johnston, Mrs A J Johnston, T N Porter, H P Sambor, Eleven Royals, Shadwell Farm Racing, The Greene Machine, A S Ingersole, M J Burns, B S David, B R A W Racing, Burning Ring, T A Ginnane, R McClure, B G Noonan, D J O'Connor, G J P Van Ameyden, D J House, W B Keighran & Madica 

Breeder: Queen Elizabeth II 

Career Record: 10-3:1:3 

Prizemoney: $1,578,187 

Latest/Best Performances 

Won 2024 Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick 

Won 2024 Group 2 Chairman’s Quality (2600m) at Randwick 

3rd 2023 Listed Glasgow Stakes (2212m) at Hamilton Park GB 

4th 2023 Group 2 Queen’s Vase (2816m) at Royal Ascot GB 

3rd 2023 Listed Lingfield Derby Trial (2414m) at Lingfield GB 

2nd 2023 Listed Newmarket Stakes (2011m) at Newmarket GB 

Bred by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Circle Of Fire came to Australia having only won a one race over a mile at two-years-old.  

Formerly trained by Sir Michael Stoute, the horse was once on the Epsom Derby path but was kept for Royal Ascot and the Group 2 Queen’s Vase, stepping up to 2816-metre event at only his fifth start.  

While he was no match for eventual winner Gregory, the Almanzor colt acquitted himself well at the distance.  

Fast forward to 2024 and Circle Of Fire finds himself in the care of star trainer Ciaron Maher, and after a couple of tune up runs in Benchmark grade, he was able to claim the 2600-metre Group 2 Chairman’s Quality at Randwick.  

This gave connections the green light to head to the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m), the same distance as the Lexus Melbourne Cup, and with 51.5kg and star Italian jockey, Andrea Atzeni in the saddle, the horse had plenty of admirers.  

Despite spending most of the race three-deep with no cover, his class and staying power saw him race clear and claim favouritism for the race that stops a nation™. 

Trainer: Ciaron Maher (Cranbourne, AUS) 

5YO Grey Gelding 

Foaled: 21 January 2019 

Sire: Mastercraftsman (IRE)  

Dam: Bright And Shining (IRE) (Camelot (GB)) 

Owners: Ciaron Maher Racing (Mgr: C Maher), B G Taylor, S J Pellegrino, A R E Investments (Mgr: P H Butts), A Sterpin, A Facey, M L Anghie, Mrs S Anghie, R Gibbs, C Hadley, Mrs D A Satterley, Killara Racing Pty Ltd, G J P Van Ameyden, M Phillips, Mrs L Phillips & J M Simmons 

Breeder: Lynch Bages Ltd 

Career Record: 15-5:5:2 

Prizemoney: $267,101 

Latest/Best Performances 

Won 2024 Banjo Paterson Series Final (2600m) at Flemington 

Won 2024 RDAV Sally Francis Plate (2520m) at Flemington 

Won 2023 Rating 105 Handicap (2414m) at Lingfield GB 

Formerly trained in the UK by Andrew Balding the grey took nine starts to break his maiden status but place in six of those starts, over distances ranging from 2000 metres to 2800 metres. 

He broke through on the synthetic track at Lingfield in a maiden over 2414 metres and then returned next start to repeat the dose in a Rating 105 race. 

He’s had experience on the first Tuesday in November, competing in the greys race, the MSS Security Subzero Handicap (1400m) on Lexus Melbourne Cup Day 2023, finishing a credible seventh beaten under three lengths. It was a super effort considering he has shown more promise over a mile-and-a-half.  

This preparation he’s raced over much more suitable distances and has worked his way through the grades with strong performances in Benchmark 70 grade at Caulfield and then in his first win on Australian soil at Cranbourne over 2025 metres. 

He was ultra impressive on VRC Community Race Day, taking out Heat 5 of the Banjo Paterson Series, the RDAV Sally Francis Plate (2520m), angling out on the turn and in a stride was on the leaders and taking charge of the race, surging clear at the 300-metre mark and recording a four-and-three-quarter-length victory. 

He recorded the same winning margin at his last start, a demolition of his rivals in the Banjo Paterson Series Final over 2600 metres on Flemington Finals Race Day. The ease of the win brought back memories of another grey, Puissance De Lune, when he won the Group 3 Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2600m) by five lengths. 

Maher has grand plans for the son of Mastercraftsman. He will plot a path that towards a Flemington golden ticket race in the lead up to the Melbourne Cup Carnival, either the newly rescheduled Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) on Makybe Diva Stakes Day (14 Sep) or The Group 3 Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m), a race that also offers golden ticket entry into the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) and a race Maher has won three of the past four years. 

Trainer: Ciaron Maher (Cranbourne, AUS) 

4YO Bay Horse 

Foaled: 20 March 2020 

Sire: Roaring Lion (USA) 

Dam: Roheryn (IRE) (Galileo (IRE)) 

Owners: Qatar Bloodstock & Ciaron Maher Racing 

Breeder: The Roheryn Partnership 

Career Record: 8-4:2:1 

Prizemoney: $494,940 

Latest/Best Performances 

3rd 2024 Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes (2414m) at Royal Ascot GB 

Won 2024 Group 3 Aston Park Stakes (2414m) at Newbury GB 

Won 2023 Listed Noel Murless Stakes (2816m) at Ascot GB 

Won 2023 Melrose Handicap (2816m) at York GB 

Ciaron Maher and his team of owners have bought into the Qatar Bloodstock-owned Middle Earth and is headed to his Cranbourne stable this spring.  

He recently won the Group 3 Aston Park Stakes (2414m) at Newbury only a week after the deal was struck for the horse. It was a gritty win, poking up along the rail and driving hard to nose out Godolphin galloper King Of Conquest in a thrilling finish.  

The win was reminiscent of his sire Roaring Lion, a dogged fighter in his own right, ears pinned back and stretching his neck out to get the win.  

Middle Earth also comes through the same race that produced Soulcombe, the Melrose Handicap (2816m). Soulcombe came to Australia off the back of that win and produced one of the runs of the 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival, before returning to Flemington and finishing an unlucky second to Without A Fight in the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup. 

He lost no admirers chasing home Isla Of Jura in the Group 2 Hardwicke Stakes over 2400 metres at Royal Ascot, settling back in the field and tracked into the race nicely and ran out the trip strongly but was unable to bridge the gap to the winner.  

Last start he took on the cream of the European staying ranks in the Group 1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2414m) but was very disappointing. The stable had no explanation for the poor performance but new trainer Ciaron Maher was on course to assess the horse and will welcome him into his Cranbourne stable in the new racing season. 

Middle Earth is also a half-brother to Buckaroo a stakes-winner in Ireland for Joseph O’Brien and was a close fifth behind Atishu in the 2023 Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes (2000m) before transferring to Chris Waller and placing in the Group 1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m). 

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien (Cashel, Co Tipperary, IRE) 

4YO Bay Horse 

Foaled: 15 May 2020 

Sire: Galileo (IRE) 

Dam: Dialafara (FR) (Anabaa (USA)) 

Owners: D Smith, Mrs J Magnier, M Tabor, Westerberg 

Breeder: Lynch Bages Ltd & Camas Park Stud (IRE) 

Career Record: 12-6:1:0 

Prizemoney: £1,886,837 

Latest/Best Performances 

Won 2024 Group 2 Curragh Cup (2816m) at The Curragh IRE 

Won 2024 Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup (3200m) at Meydan UAE 

Won 2024 Group 3 Red Sea Turf Handicap (3000m) at Riyadh KSA 

4th 2023 Group 1 English St Leger (2916m) at Doncaster GB 

2nd 2023 Group 3 Bahrain Trophy Stakes (2615m) at Newmarket GB 

4th 2023 Group 1 English St Leger (2916m) at Doncaster GB 

Won 2023 Ulster Derby (2916m) at Down Royal NIR 

Won 2023 Listed King George V Cup (2414m) at Leopardstown IRE 

Tower Of London was an impressive winner of the Group 2 Curragh Cup (2816m) reeling in tear away leader and Galileo stablemate, Grosvenor Square.  

He came surging out of the pack, going past the Willie Mullins-trained Vauban to win the 2816-metre even comfortably in the end.  

O’Brien was quick to suggest he ‘could be a Melbourne Cup horse’ after the emphatic victory, a race he has not brought a horse to Flemington for since 2020. 

The Curragh Cup’s honour roll mirrors the Irish influence on the Melbourne Cup, with three Curragh Cup winners going on to win the Melbourne Cup, Vintage Crop in 1993, Rekindling in 2017 and Twilight Payment in 2020.  

Previous Curragh Cup winners to have also competed later that year for Melbourne Cup glory are Maridpour (20th in 1999), Daliapour (16th in 2002), Septimus (18th in 2008), Red Cadeaux (2nd in 2011), Bondi Beach (16th in 2015) and Camorra (21st in 2022). 

It was a welcome return to the winner’s circle for Tower Of London, who landed the Group 3 Red Sea Turf Handicap (3000m) at Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, and the Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup at Meydan during the Dubai World Cup Carnival to start the year off, but was disappointing at York in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup (2816m) when he lost a front shoe and dropped out to finish fifth of six runners, eleven and a half lengths off the winner, Giavellotto, 

O’Brien will look to space his runs going forward and may have a tilt at the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) before a possible trip to Melbourne. 

The Ballydoyle trainer has won most of the world’s best races but is yet to win Australia’s great two-mile handicap. His highest finish was with Tiger Moth, who finished second in 2020 behind Twilight Payment, trained by his son Joseph. 

Trainer: Willie Mullins (Muine Bheag, County Carlow, IRE) 

6YO Bay Gelding 

Foaled: 4 May 2018 

Sire: Fastnet Rock 

Dam: Incroyable (USA) (Singspiel (IRE)) 

Owner: H O S Syndicate 

Breeder: Wertheimer Et Frere  

Career Record: 16-7:4:1 

Prizemoney: $864,905 

Previous Melbourne Cup Performances 

2023 – 7th beaten 5.5L behind Without A Fight (IRE) 

Latest/Best Performances 

Won 2024 Grade 3 County Handicap Hurdle (3382m) at Cheltenham GB 

4th 2024 Grade 1 Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle (3219m) at Leopardstown IRE 

Won 2023 Ebor Handicap (2816m) at York GB 

2nd 2023 Copper Horse Handicap (2816m) at Royal Ascot GB 

2nd 2021 Listed Derby du Midi (1900m) at Bordeaux Le Bouscat FR 

2nd 2021 Listed Prix de Suresnes (2000m) at Chantilly FR 

Irish master trainer Willie Mullins is looking to bring three hopes for the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) and Mullins is not afraid to get his flat horses jumping obstacles and vice versa.  

Purchased from France to join the seventeen-time Irish National Hunt Champion trainer, Absurde won his first start over the hurdles for his new trainer. But as is the case with many of Mullins’ horses, he’s not afraid to target feature flat races with his stable of jumping stars. 

Absurde followed stablemate Vauban to Royal Ascot in 2023, finishing seven-and-a-half lengths second behind Vauban in the Copper Horse Handicap (2816m) in what was a stunning display.  

Mullins was buoyed by the effort of his charge that he targeted the first golden ticket to be offered in the UK for the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup, the Listed Ebor Handicap (2816m). 

Ridden by champion jockey Frankie Dettori, Absurde joined in strongly and raced away to claim the Listed event and that coveted golden ticket in Australia’s great race. 

He turned the tables on stablemate Vauban in the Cup, handling the parade and pre-Cup build up much better than his counterpart and running a credible seventh behind Without A Fight. 

The horse has had a break since winning 2024 Grade 3 County Handicap Hurdle (3382m) over the Cheltenham festival in March and holds entries for the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes (2414m) at Leopardstown on August 8, the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup (3319m) at York on August 23 and the Group 1 Irish St Leger (2816m) at The Curragh on September 15. 

Absurde has an Australian and Flemington connection through his sire, 2005 Lightning Stakes winner and champion sire, Fastnet Rock. 

Trainer: Willie Mullins (Muine Bheag, County Carlow, IRE) 

6YO Chestnut Gelding 

Foaled: 25 March 2018 

Sire: Galiway (GB) (11.7f) 

Dam: Waldfest (GB) (Hurricane Run (IRE)) 

Owner: Mrs S Ricci 

Breeder: P Decouz & S C E A Du Bas Bugey 

Career Record: 17-7:4:1 

Prizemoney: $962,943 

Previous Melbourne Cup Performances 

2023 – 14th beaten 13.35L behind Without A Fight (IRE) 

Latest/Best Performances 

3rd 2024 Group 2 Curragh Cup (2816m) at The Curragh IRE 

4th 2024 Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup (4023m) at Royal Ascot GB 

2nd 2024 Group 2 Yorkshire Cup (2816m) at York GB 

Won 2023 Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes (2414m) at Naas IRE 

Won 2023 Copper Horse Handicap (2816m) at Royal Ascot GB 

2nd 2023 Grade 1 Punchestown Champion Hurdle (3219m) at Punchestown IRE 

4th 2023 Grade 1 Champion Hurdle (3298m) at Cheltenham GB 

3rd 2023 Grade 1 Irish Champion Hurdle (3219m) at Leopardstown IRE 

2nd 2023 Grade 1 Matheson Hurdle (3219m) at Leopardstown IRE 

Won 2022 Grade 1 Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle (3219m) at Punchestown IRE 

Won 2022 Grade 1 Triumph Hurdle (3382m) at Cheltenham GB 

Won 2022 Grade 1 Spring Juvenile Hurdle (3219m) at Leopardstown IRE 

Won 2021 Listed Prix Frederic de LaGrange (2414m) at Vichy FR 

He came to Melbourne with a big reputation and a confident owner, but things didn’t pan out as planned for race favourite Vauban in the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup.  

But owner Rich Ricci vowed to be back at Flemington to give the race that stops a nation™ another crack and his trainer Willie Mullins has hatched a plan for the gelding for his return visit. 

Since Vauban’s effort in last year’s Cup, he returned to the track in the Group 2 Yorkshire Cup (2816m) finishing second behind Giavellotto.  

He then chased home Kyprios and Trawlerman in the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup (4023m) on the third day of the Royal Ascot meeting, known as one of the coveted staying races on the European calendar.  

Vauban looked to have plenty to offer on straightening but was no match in the run to the line, with Kyprios holding off strong opposition from Trawlerman to claim his second Ascot Gold Cup win, the 23rd multiple winner of the two-and-a-half-mile staying event. 

He was sent out warm favourite in the Group 2 Curragh Cup (2816m) but got a long way off tear away leader Grosvenor Square who led by as many as twenty lengths. Under vigorous riding from the 600-metre mark, Vauban halved the margin into the straight but never looked a winning hope.  

It was the Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemate, Tower Of London, who came out of the pack with a burst of speed that saw him reel in Grosvenor Square and land the prize, comfortably in the end. O’Brien suggested both horses may head to Australia for the Cup. 

Trainer: Willie Mullins (Muine Bheag, County Carlow, IRE) 

6YO Grey Gelding 

Foaled: 29 January 2018 

Sire: Belardo (IRE)  

Dam: Three Cards (GB) (Mastercraftsman (IRE)) 

Owner: Thurloe Thoroughbreds Ireland Limited 

Breeder: Vasby Distribution Ab 

Career Record: 19-7:0:1 

Prizemoney: $383,545 

Latest/Best Performances 

Won 2024 Copper Horse Handicap (2816m) at Royal Ascot GB 

3rd 2023 Listed Floodlit Stakes (2414m) at Kempton Park GB 

4th 2023 Group 3 September Stakes (2414m) at Kempton Park GB 

Won 2022 Listed Wild Flower Stakes (2414m) at Kempton Park GB 

Belloccio was previously trained by David Menuisier, recording five wins including the Listed Wild Flower Stakes (2414m) at Kempton Park and a fourth placing in the Group 3 September Stakes (2414m) behind Group 1 winner, Bay Bridge.  

He was recently purchased and transferred to the yard of Irish master trainer Willie Mullins, and as is the case with a lot of Mullins’ prospects, began his career in his new stable with a win over the hurdles at Punchestown, winning by nine lengths in May of 2024. 

Mullins targeted the Copper Horse Handicap (2816m) on the first day of the Royal Ascot carnival, as he did in 2023, with Vauban who won the race by seven-and-a-half lengths from stablemate Absurde, both would eventually line up in the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup.  

The grey was sent out equal-second favourite and won handily under a perfect ride from star jockey William Buick, moving closer to the leaders in the middle stages of the race after settling midfield, setting the horse up to stay on in the run to the line, surpassing his rivals. 

Mullins will look to target the golden ticket race during the Ebor Festival at York in late August, the Listed Ebor Handicap (2816m), the same race that saw Absurde win his place into the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup field. 

Trainer: Gerard Keane (Trim, County Meath, IRE) 

6YO Bay Gelding 

Foaled: 20 April 2018 

Sire: Teofilo (IRE) 

Dam: She's Our Mark (GB) (Ishiguru (USA)) 

Owners: Wear A Pink Ribbon Syndicate 

Breeder: Moyglare Stud Farms Ltd 

Career Record: 18-6:0:2 

Prizemoney: £211,339 

Latest/Best Performances 

Won 2024 Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (2414m) at Royal Ascot GB 

Formerly trained by master Irish trainer and dual Melbourne Cup winner, Dermot Weld, Crystal Black is now in the care of Gerry Keane, and is starting to show form over a staying trip. 

The horse raced predominantly over a mile for Weld and since joining Keane’s stable in Trim, County Meath, has won five races for the stable including his last four on end, from 1600 metres up to 2400. 

On the fourth day of the Royal Ascot carnival, Gerry’s jockey son Colin Keane, partnered Crystal Black to an impressive victory in the Duke Of Edinburgh Stakes (2414m), and has been in the saddle for the geldings past five starts. 

Coming from the back third of the field, he got to the outside and gradually ate away at the margin, staying on strongly over the final furlong to win by two-and-a-quarter lengths. 

He is now entered for the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes (2414m) at Leopardstown on August 8, the same race 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup favourite Vauban won en route to his first trip to Melbourne.  

It will be Crystal Black’s first try in stakes grade but if successful will certainly help him pass the required ballot clause to be eligible for the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup.  

The arrival of Crystal Black into the Keane stable has provided a much-needed lift to the trainer after suffering a horrific fall while galloping a horse in 2021, and while he still wears the scars of that accident, having a horse like him in the yard is providing plenty of joy. 

Trainer: Chris Waller (Flemington, AUS) 

3YO Bay Gelding 

Foaled: 2 November 2020 

Sire: American Pharoah (USA) 

Dam: Missile Coda (Smart Missile) 

Owners: Woppitt Bloodstock 

Breeder: Woppitt Bloodstock Pty Ltd 

Career Record: 11-7:2:1 

Prizemoney: $3,508,625 

Latest/Best Performances 

Won 2024 Group 1 ATC Derby (2400m) at Randwick 

Won 2024 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill 

Won 2024 Group 1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington 

Won 2024 Group 3 C.S Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington 

Won 2023 Group 1 Penfolds Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington 

2nd 2023 Group 3 Norman Robinson Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield 

Won 2023 Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington 

A five-and-a-half length romp in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington put Riff Rocket’s name in lights and springboarded him into favouritsm for the 2023 Penfolds Victoria Derby (2500m).  

The son of US triple crown champion, American Pharoah, was odds-on favourite to win a second consecutive VRC Derby for trainer Chris Waller and had to survive a photo finish and a fast-finishing Apulia to land Australia’s oldest classic in a thriller. 

Riff Rocket was bred and owned by Woppitt Bloodstock, who is managed by Debbie Kepitis who part-owns champion mare Winx and recently purchased her first yearling by Pierro for a record $10 million AUD. 

Returning to Flemington in the autumn, Riff Rocket won the Group 3 C.S Hayes Stakes (1400m) first-up and before finishing third in the Group 1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m) behind Southport Tycoon. 

He then claimed his second Group 1 in the Rosehill Guineas (2000m) this time with Nash Rawiller in the saddle in the absence of James McDonald.  

Rain added some extra intrigue to Riff Rocket’s bid to emulate previous stars Hitotsu (2022), Mahogany (1994) and Dulcify 1979 in completing the VRC Derby-ATC Derby double. He sat near last and sliced his way through the field on straightening, holding off the efforts of Ceolwulf in the surge to the line.  

Efficient was the last horse to come back to Flemington and win the 2007 Melbourne Cup after winning the VRC Derby in the previous year. 

Trainer: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr (Cranbourne, AUS) 

3YO Brown Gelding 

Foaled: 6 October 2020 

Sire: War Decree (USA) 

Dam: Princess Sapphire (NZ) (Savabeel) 

Owners: OTI Racing, Balmerino Racing Partnership, Prestige Racing 7, A P Grant, M Neale, Mrs K Neale, J C Slattery, Mrs C M Slattery, YES Bloodstock, T Bleakley, T M Dickson, B B W W S Group, H M M W W Group, J P Spence, L Webb, Ms D McKeown, M P Stone & Mrs A G Stone 

Breeder: K J Hickman ONZM 

Career Record: 9-3:2:1 

Prizemoney: $933,300 

Latest/Best Performances 

Won 2024 Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm 

2nd 2024 Group 1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville 

2nd 2024 Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) at Morphettville 

Won 2023 Listed TAB Trophy (1800m) at Flemington 

Warmonger recently turned heads when winning the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) by an incredible ten lengths, handling the soft conditions well to score impressively for the training partnership of Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.  

He made up plenty of ground in the start prior, chasing home Coco Sun in the Group 1 SA Derby (2500m), sustaining a long surging run to finish second, just over a length off the winner.  

Looking to join the likes of Vow And Declare, Shocking, Efficient and Ethereal as southern hemisphere born four-year-olds that have won the Cup since the turn of the century. He also won the Listed TAB Trophy (1800m), formerly the Batman Stakes, the same race won by Vow And Declare the year before his triumph in the 2019 Melbourne Cup. 

Warmonger would have to defy history as no Queensland Derby winner has gone on to win the Melbourne Cup. Hawkspur was the last to attempt the double, finishing twentieth behind Fiorente back in 2013. 

Trainer: James Cummings (Agnes Banks, AUS) 

3YO Bay Filly 

Foaled: 25 August 2020 

Sire: Kingman (GB) 

Dam: Chanderi (GB) (Dubawi (IRE)) 

Owners: Godolphin 

Breeder: Godolphin Australia 

Career Record: 13-6:2:1 

Prizemoney: $1,407,200 

Latest/Best Performances 

2nd 2024 Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) at Randwick 

3rd 2024 Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill 

Won 2024 Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill 

Won 2023 Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) at Flemington 

2nd 2023 Group 1 TAB Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington 

Won 2023 Group 1 TAB Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington 

History is not on the Godolphin filly Zardozi’s side. Should she target the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup, she would be looking to become the first VRC Oaks winner to win the Melbourne Cup since the Bart Cummings-trained Light Fingers did it in 1965.  

2019 VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound had two cracks at the two-mile feature, finishing 14th in 2020 and 12th in 2021. 2015 VRC Oaks winner Jameka won the 2016 Caulfield Cup en route to a 15th placed finish in the Cup in 2016. 

Zardozi is out of unraced mare Chanderi, who sold for 1,300,000gns (approximately AUD$2.4mil) at the 2017 Tattersall’s Yearling Sale. Her grand dam won the 2014 Group 2 Hill Park Stakes over 2916 metres and finished second in the Group 1 Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes over 2414 metres, so there is some staying blood in her pedigree to suggest she could relish the 3200 metres of the Lexus Melbourne Cup. 

Her sire Kingman was a star miler but has produced top-class performers at 2000 metres and beyond with the likes of Group 1 winners Sparkling Plenty (Prix de Diane-2100m) and Feed The Flame (Grand Prix de Paris-2400m) while closer to home Emissary won the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) before running a gallant second to Gold Trip in the 2022 Lexus Melbourne Cup. 

Her trainer carries the surname of the most successful Melbourne Cup-winning trainer and could be the one to break the VRC Oaks-winner drought that has lasted 59 years. 

Trainer: Noriyuki Hori (Miho, JPN) 

5YO Bay Gelding 

Foaled: 21 April 2019 

Sire: King Kamehameha (JPN) 

Dam: Anchuras (JPN) (Deep Impact (JPN)) 

Owner: Katsuko Muraki 

Breeder: Oiwake Farm 

Career Record: 13-6:3:0 

Prizemoney: $1,934,699 

Latest/Best Performances 

Won 2024 Group 2 Meguro Kinen (2500m) at Tokyo JPN 

Won 2024 Group 2 Nikkei Sho (2500m) at Nakayama JPN 

Fresh from back-to-back Group 2 staying successes, Struve is putting forward his claim for 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup consideration.  

After settling back in the field in the Group 2 Nikkei Sho, Struve was able to take a gap in the run to the line and burst through to win at the end of the 2500-metre event, his first stakes win. 

He then went on to win the Group 2 Meguro Kinen, also over 2500 metres, but this time at Fuchu Racecourse in Tokyo. The race holds a ballot exemption for the Caulfield Cup, further enticing connections to make a trip to Melbourne for the spring carnival. 

Turning for home last, jockey João Moreira got the gelding to the outside, staying on strongly in what was a great battle to the line, holding off horses such as dual Group 2 winner Satono Glanz and Nikkei Sho runner-up Chrominance. 

Pop Rock who finished second to stablemate Delta Blues in the 2006 Melbourne Cup, won the Meguro Kinen in the lead-up to a trip down under. 

Struve dropped back to the 2200-metre Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen at his most recent outing but was not suited on the yielding surface and finished down the track behind the fast-finishing, Blow The Horn, who claimed his maiden Group 1 victory, revelling in the conditions. 

Trainer: Ryuji Okubo (Ritto, JPN) 

7YO Brown Horse 

Foaled: 18 February 2017 

Sire: Kizuna (JPN) 

Dam: Zephyranthes (JPN) (King Halo (JPN)) 

Owner: Shinji Maeda 

Breeder: Murata Bokujo 

Career Record: 29-5:5:3 

Prizemoney: $7,307,181 

Latest/Best Performances 

3rd 2024 Group 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) (3200m) at Kyoto JPN 

3rd 2023 Group 2 Kyoto Daishoten (2400m) at Kyoto JPN 

2nd 2023 Group 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) (3200m) at Kyoto JPN 

4th 2022 Group 1 Takarazuka Kinen (2200m) at Hanshin JPN 

2nd 2022 Group 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) (3200m) at Hanshin JPN 

Won 2022 Group 2 Hanshin Daishoten (3000m) at Hanshin JPN 

2nd 2021 Group 2 Arima Kinen (Grand Prix) (2500m) at Nakayama JPN 

Won 2021 Group 2 Prix Foy (2400m) at Longchamp FR 

2nd 2021 Group 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) (3200m) at Hanshin JPN 

Won 2021 Group 2 Hanshin Daishoten (3000m) at Hanshin JPN 

Won 2020 Group 2 Kyoto Shimbun Hai (2200m) at Kyoto JPN 

Four-time Group 2-winner Deep Bond has been knocking on the Group 1 door his entire career. He’s placed in the Group 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) (3200m) an incredible four years in a row, running second in 2021, 2022 and 2023 before a third-placed finish in his most recent attempt in April of 2024. 

He clearly has a liking for the two-mile trip, the same distance as the 3200-metre Lexus Melbourne Cup. He stayed on strongly after sitting on a steady tempo in the Tenno Sho in Kyoto, but was no match for the Japanese staying sensation T O Royal, and was demoted to third in the closing stages by the fast-finishing Blow The Horn.  

Deep Bond has stamped his passport previously, heading to France to contest the Group 1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (2400m) in 2021. The trip began positively claiming the Group 2 Prix Foy (2400m) over the same course and distance as the Arc.  

He finished an uncharacteristic fourteenth in his main European assignment after following the eventual upset German-trained winner, Torquator Tasso.  

They believed he performed his best when fresh in the Foy so he returned 12 months later and ran in the 2022 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with no lead up run, but a soft Longchamp track hampered his chances. 

Japanese horses are well-travelled and a force to be reckoned with whenever they target international features, Deep Bond would be one to keep an eye on should he make the trip down under. 

Trainer: Noboru Takagi (Miho, JPN) 

5YO Bay Horse 

Foaled: 14 February 2019 

Sire: Drefong (USA) 

Dam: Deep Love (JPN) (Deep Impact (JPN)) 

Sire: Epiphaneia (JPN) 

Dam: Halteclere (JPN) (Durandal (JPN)) 

Owner: Hiroshi Yamada 

Breeder: Northern Farm 

Career Record: 22-4:3:4 

Prizemoney: $2,397,512 

Latest/Best Performances 

5th 2024 Group 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) (3200m) at Kyoto JPN  

2nd 2024 Group 2 Hanshin Daishoten (3000m) at Hanshin JPN  

Won 2024 Group 3 Diamond Stakes (3400m) at Kyoto JPN  

4th 2023 Group 2 Sports Nippon Sho Stayers Stakes (3600m) at Nakayama JPN  

In the past twelve months Warp Speed has gone beyond a mile and a half and relished it, winning his first attempt at 3000 metres at Kyoto in the Koto Stakes. All his starts since have all been at stakes level and all at 3000 metres and beyond. 

He ran a credible fourth behind Iron Barrows stepping up to the 3600 metres of the Group 2 Sports Nippon Sho Stayers Stakes. At his three subsequent outings he chased home in-form stayer T O Royal, who won all three marathon races, the Group 3 Diamond Stakes (3400m), Group 2 Hanshin Daishoten (3000m) and the Group 1 Tenno Sho (Spring) (3200m). 

Interestingly, he is by Breeders’ Cup Sprint winner Drefong, who won six of nine career starts on dirt and all between 1200 and 1400 metres, including three at Grade 1 level. His love for the staying trips didn’t come from his sire. 

Warp Speed’s dam, Deep Love, was winless in eight starts between 1600-2000 metres. But there’s no denying the staying prowess of Warp Speed’s dam sire, Deep Impact, winner of 12 of 14 starts, from 2000-3200m, including eight at Group 1 level and one of Japan’s all-time champion racehorses and sires before his passing in 2019.