2024 Melbourne Cup Runners Guide Include Four UK and Irish Entries

There are 23 Melbourne Cup runners expected to be heading to post for the 2024 renewal of the $8m contest that is dubbed ‘The Race The Stops A Nation’.

Read on to see the full list of entries below ahead of the race on Tuesday 5th November at Flemington Park racecourse.

Four UK and Irish Melbourne Cup Runners In 2024

Since 2010 we’ve seen six Melbourne Cup runners win the race being trained in Europe – with France and Ireland winning two each, plus wins for the UK and Germany.

They will be trying to wrestle the lucrative prize away from the homegrown trainers again in 2024 with four Melbourne Cup runners from Europe – which include Vauban and Absurde for Ireland, plus Onesmoothoperator and Sea King for England.

Australia horse racing followers might also remember two of these names – Vauban and Absurde – from last year’s race as the Willie Mullins-trained pair finished 7th and 14th.

With Vauban also being sent off as the Melbourne Cup favourite that year with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.

Onesmoothoperator and Sea King have also recently built up a following Down Under with the former winning the Geelong Cup (watch below) and the last-named taking the Bendigo Cup (watch below).

WATCH: Onesmoothoperator Winning The Geelong Cup 2024

If you are living in the UK or Ireland find out how to watch the Melbourne Cup and race time.

WATCH: Sea King Winning The Bendigo Cup 2024

Melbourne Cup European Winners Since 2010

Japan Have A 2024 Melbourne Cup Runner

Japan also like sending Melbourne Cup runners to Flemington – they won the race in 2006 with Delta Blues and are back for more with Warp Speed their sole entry in 2024.

This Noboru Takagi-trained runner was last seen running 13th in the Caufield Cup, so will need to improve on that.

Melbourne Cup Runners In Full For 2024

See below the final 23 Melbourne Cup runners for the 2024 race, with racecard number, draw (in brackets), jockey and trainer.

These entries will all be in with a chance of winning a share of the $8m Melbourne Cup prize money.

1. (11) Vauban

J:William Buick
T:W P Mullins

Likely favourite and second run in the race after finishing 14th in 2023. Drawn better in 11 (was 3 last year) and William Buick, who won on the horse at York, comes over for the ride.

2. (21) Buckaroo

J:Joao Moreira
T:Chris Waller

Another popular pick in the betting and trained in the past by Joseph O’Brien. Now with Chris Waller, who won this race in 2021, and was last seen running on well to take second in the Caufield Cup – the race last year’s Melbourne Cup winner landed.

3. (24) Circle Of Fire

J:Mark Zahra
T:Ciaron Maher

10th in the Caufield Cup last time out so more needed here, but on a plus has the winning jockey from the last two Melbourne Cups on his back.

4. (3) Warp Speed

J:Akira Sugawara
T:Noboru Takagi

Sole Melbourne Cup runner from Japan, who won this in 2006. Down the field (13th) in the Caufield Cup last time so will need to bounce back.

5. (17) Kovalica

J:Damian Lane
T:Chris Waller

Another from the Chris Waller camp. Second in the G2 Hill Stakes in October but failed to build on that last time when 6th (of 9) in the Cox Plate.

6. (15) Sharp ‘N’ Smart

J:Michael Dee
T:Graeme & Deborah Rogerson

Third in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup at the end of last month but down the field before that in the Turnbull Stakes here at Flemington. Stepping up in trip here.

7. (13) Just Fine

J:Jye McNeil
T:Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott

Used to be trained by a certain Sit Michael Stoute but is now with the powerful Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott teams in Australia. Won the G3 Bart Cummings Stakes here at Flemington at the start of October, but down the field last time at Moonee Valley. Another that is up in trip.

8. (18) Land Legend

J:Zac Purton
T:Chris Waller

Grade One winner of the Metropolitan at Randwick in October – beating another Melbourne Cup runner in Zardozi by a nose. Also a fine third in the Caufield Cup last time out.

9. (7) Absurde

J:Kerrin McEvoy
T:W P Mullins

7th in the race 12 months ago and is back for more with just a pound more. Has since won the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival and last seen winning at Chester last time out. 2016 and 2018 winning jockey Kerrin McEvoy gets the ride.

10. (2) Athabascan

J:NON-RUNNER
T:John O’Shea & Tom Charlton

11. (6) Knight’s Choice

J:Robbie Dolan
T:John Symons & Sheila Laxon

One of the big outsiders having run behind several of the other runners this season – would be a big shock, but we did see a 100/1 winner in 2015.

12. (10) Okita Soushi

J:Jamie Kah
T:Ciaron Maher

11th in the Melbourne Cup last year when trained by Joseph O’Brien – now with Ciaron Maher, who co-trained the 2022 winner Gold Trip. Heads here in winning form too after taking the Moonee Valley Gold Cup.

13. (12) Onesmoothoperator

J:Craig A Williams
T:Brian Ellison

UK Melbourne Cup runner that won the Geelong Cup in easy fashion last time out. Has the 2019 winning jockey Craig Williams on and is another of the leading players.

14. (4) Zardozi

J:Andrea Atzeni
T:James Cummings

Will be ridden by Andrea Atzeni, who used to be based in the UK, but is riding in Hong Kong at the moment. Last seen running fifth at Flemington in the G1 Rose Stakes only a few days ago and was also a fine 4th in the Caulfield Cup this season.

15. (1) Sea King

J:Hollie Doyle
T:Harry Eustace

With 18 of the last 20 winners coming from stalls 5 or higher, this is a Melbourne Cup trend against Sea King in gate 1. Another from a UK yard – coming over from the Harry Eustace team and was formerly with Sir Mark Prescott. Won the Bendigo Cup last time out and not without a chance if getting the breaks from the inside berth.

16. (22) Valiant King

J:Craig Newitt
T:Chris Waller

Another for trainer Chris Waller and UK horse racing fans might remember him being trained by Joseph O’Brien, who won this race in 2020 and 2017. Only one career win though, which came at Navan (Ire) on soft ground in May 23 and last seen running 9th in the Caulfield Cup.

17. (19) Fancy Man

J:Ronnie Stewart
T:Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald

Sixth in the Caulfield Cup last month off a low weight and third before that in the Herbert Power Stakes – but this is a big step up again.

18. (14) Interpretation

J:Teodore Nugent
T:Ciaron Maher

Another from the 2022 winning yard and won’t be without his backers are running second to Onesmoothoperator in the Geelong Cup last time out.

19. (8) Manzoice

J:Declan Bates
T:Chris Waller

7th in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup last time out – only beaten 3 3/4 lengths that day. But only try over 2m resulted in a 14th in the Sydney Cup back in April.

20. (16) Mostly Cloudy

J:Karis Teetan
T:Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young

Well down the field in the Bart Cummings Stakes at Flemington last time out (12th), so more needed and is seven races without a win.

21. (20) Positivity

J:Winona Costin
T:Andrew Forsman

Lightly-raced filly. 8th in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup last time – has won over 1m4f, but yet to race beyond that so stamina an unknown.

22. (9) Saint George

J:Tyler Schiller
T:Ciaron Maher

5th in the Moonee Valley Gold Cup – beaten only 3 lengths. UK racing fans might also remember the horse being with Andrew Balding last year.

23. (23) The Map

J:Rachel King
T:Dan Clarken & Oopy Macgillivray

6th in the Geelong Cup last time – so needs to find just under 5 lengths with the winner Onesmoothoperator.

24. (5) Trust In You

J:Mark Du Plessis
T:Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley

Another of the big outsiders – has only raced three times before and is yet to win a race. Could have more to come but would be a tall order for such an experienced Melbourne Cup runner.