Melbourne Cup 2024 field down to 55 horses
The Melbourne Cup is three weeks away and after second declarations closed on Tuesday there are 55 horses still in contention for Australia’s great race.
Headlining the list of second declarations is the Aidan O’Brien-trained Jan Bruegel who arrived in Melbourne on Saturday evening and is currently undergoing quarantine at Werribee ahead of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5.
Jan Brueghel was a last start winner of the English St Leger and will become the first UK classic winner to run in the Melbourne Cup in the same season while also aiming to become the first galloper to continue an unbeaten winning streak by taking out the race since 1883.
Champion jockey Ryan Moore has been booked to ride Jan Brueghel in the Melbourne Cup.
Leading Australian trainer Chris Waller still has 13 horses in the hunt for Melbourne Cup glory including topweight Via Sistina and import Kinesiology who, like Jan Brueghel, is undergoing quarantine at Werribee.
Just Fine, The Map and Point King, all winners of ballot exempt races in recent months, remain in contention while 18 of the 21 acceptors in the Caulfield Cup are also aiming for a start on the first Tuesday in November.
Victoria Racing Club Executive General Manager Racing Leigh Jordon said the second declarations were another important milestone on the road to this year’s Melbourne Cup.
“Today marks three weeks from the running of the 2024 Melbourne Cup with 55 horses still in the running for their chance to be a part of history,” Jordon said.
“The Caulfield Cup this weekend will provide a preview on where the domestic competitors are at during their campaign with horses looking to repeat the incredible feats of last year’s champion Without A Fight.
“The final field is starting to become clearer with some of the world’s best jockeys locking in their rides including Ryan Moore, Kerrin Mcevoy, Jamie Kah and William Buick.”
More Racing News
Traffic Warden ready for The Everest assault
Trainer James Cummings says Traffic Warden is fine to represent Godolphin in The Everest after reporting to stewards the colt had been involved in a stable mishap. Cummings reported to Racing NSW Stewards Traffic Warden had sustained minor abrasions to his hocks last Thursday. “He took fright, slipped, got a scrape, it’s a long...
Joe Pride Eyeing off The Everest
Joe Pride is happy with his confirmed starter in this Saturday’s The Everest at Randwick, but the Warwick Farm trainer has not surrendered hope of having more than one runner in the inaugural edition at Group 1 level. Think About It, the horse who won last year’s $20 million event, has...
Price maintains faith in Warmonger ahead of Caulfield Cup
Warmonger has fallen from favour with many punters in the lead-up to Saturday’s Caulfield Cup, but co-trainer Mick Price remains optimistic about his chances in the $5 million event. The Cranbourne trainer is convinced the rise to 2400 metres will bring out the best in the gelding, who he trains in partnership...
Bedggood’s King to reign in the Coongy Cup
The lavish odds put up about Kingswood before his first start for Gavin Bedggood are nowhere to be seen ahead of this Wednesday’s Coongy Cup at Caulfield. The import made a stunning first impression in Bedggood’s care when he thrashed his rivals in benchmark 78 grade at Sandown on September 28. He started $9.50...
Old rivals renew hostilities in the Caulfield Cup
Jockeys Joao Moreira and Zac Purton will renew their rivalry when they face off on a couple of Chris Waller-trained stablemates in the Caulfield Cup. The pair had thrilling battles in Hong Kong over the seasons, bringing out the best in both, but the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) on Saturday will be...
Tough Caulfield Cup barrier draw for Japanese visitor
A third win by a Japanese-trained galloper in the Caulfield Cup has been made a little tougher with Warp Speed drawing wide in the Group 1 handicap. Warp Speed will have to overcome barrier 19 – he will jump from gate 16 if the three emergencies do not gain a start –...
Amelia’s Jewel up for King Charles III Stakes test
Amelia’s Jewel faces the biggest test of her high-profile career this Saturday at Randwick, but co-trainer Rob Archibald believes there are enough things in her favour to suggest a peak performance is possible in the $5 million King Charles III Stakes. The daughter of Siyouni takes on recently-crowned Horse of the Year,...
Snowden’s Tour heads south for Coongy Cup
Trainers can often wonder in hindsight whether they pulled the right rein, but Peter Snowden is comfortable with the call he made on Touristic. The import will run in Wednesday’s $200,000 Group 3 Coongy Cup (2000m) at Caulfield, which Snowden elected in preference to last Friday’s Port Macquarie Cup (2000m). The backmarker will...
Shinn produces pearler on Antino
Memories of Shane Dye scoring aboard Octagonal at Warwick Farm came flooding back when Blake Shinn produced Antino to win the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield. Shane Dye set Octagonal alight mid-race to claim the Group 1 Chipping Norton Stakes at Warwick Farm in 1997, an act Shinn replicated in Saturday’s...
El Castello stamps G1 Spring Champion Stakes qualities
The Spring Champion Stakes in a fortnight beckons for rising talent El Castello as trainer Anthony Cummings believes his victory in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes Rosehill to be the making of the stayer. El Castello ($6.50) denied betting sites favourite Swiftfalcon ($2.60) by 1¾-length margin, who was an eye-catcher in the...