Melbourne Cup Runners 2024 Could Feature St Leger 1-2 Jan Brueghel and Illinois

The Melbourne Cup runners for 2024 could still feature the recent Doncaster St Leger first and second – Jan Brueghel and Illinois – with trainer Aidan O’Brien not discounting out a trip Down Under for the November 5th race.

Aidan O’Brien Eyeing Melbourne Cup Trip With St Leger First and Second

The Melbourne Cup is billed as the ‘Race That Stops A Nation’, but if trainer Aidan O’Brien sends his Doncaster St Leger first and second – Jan Brueghel and Illinois – to Australia this year – it could also be called the ‘Race That Stops Ireland’.

O’Brien was mopping up his eighth St Leger win on Town Moor on September 14th when Jan Brueghel out-gunned his stablemate Illinois in a sustained horse racing battle up the Doncaster straight (watch below) – and the pair still hold entries for the Melbourne Cup 2024.

In the process Jan Brueghel, who was ridden this time by Sean Leavy, remained unbeaten – having now won all four of his starts and there could be more to come.

What’s next for Jan Brueghel is a slight unknown, but his trainer Aidan O’Brien has yet ruled out the Melbourne Cup – a race he’s yet to win, but his son Joseph O’Brien has won twice (2020 Twilight Payment & 2017 Rekindling).

His unbeaten Galileo colt still holds and entry for the race on November 5th and having won over 1m 6 1/2f last time, which was the furthest he’d gone – looks the sort to relish the longer 2m trip the Melbourne Cup provides.

The best horse racing betting sites in the UK make Jan Brueghel one of the leading fancies should he make the trip over. While the last 3 year-old to win the Melbourne Cup was another European raider – Cross Country in 2018 for trainer Charlie Appleby.

Related: Melbourne Cup Weights Revealed as Vauban Handed 8st 10lbs For 2024 Flemington Park Renewal

When Is The Melbourne Cup 2024?

📅Date: Tuesday 5th November 2024
⌚Time: 4:00am (GMT)
🏇Racecourse: Flemington (2m)
💰Winning Purse: £2,485,875
📺 TV: Sky Sports Racing

Illinois Also Holds A Melbourne Cup Entry

Illinois also has the option of running in the 2024 Melbourne Cup still.

O’Brien’s consistent stayer was only out battled by a neck by Jan Brueghel in the St Leger and earlier this season was a to winner of the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot (watch below).

With the Queen’s Vase run over a trip of 1m6f, then staying the Melbourne Cup distance, which is over 2m, also looks within range for Illinois.

The St Leger fifth – Grosvenor Square – who is also trained by Aidan O’Brien, also still holds a Melbourne Cup entry.

Illinois is also another Galileo colt, so is related to Jan Brueghel, the horse is yet to finish out of the first three from his eight starts having also raced in France in his career has now been in action in three different countries.

The best betting sites in the UK have installed Illinois in the top half of the market – just behind Jan Brueghel and the likely favourite Vauban.

O’Brien said after the St Leger.

“Either of them (Jan Brueghel & Illinois) could go to Melbourne, they’re two real proper staying horses, classy stayers.”

St Leger 1 & 2 Jan Brueghel & llinois remain in contention for this years Melbourne Cup pic.twitter.com/yFs7AlRIw0

— AIDANOBRIENFANSITE (@aobrienfansite) September 17, 2024

Willie Mullins Also Targeting Last Year’s Beaten Favourite Vauban At The Melbourne Cup Again

12 months ago in the Melbourne Cup, the Willie Mullins-trained Vauban was a beaten favourite, but he’s another possible Irish raider who is on course for the big Australian handicap.

Vauban trailed in 14th (of 23) in the Melbourne Cup in 2023 but has returned this season to run well – including a fourth in the Ascot Gold Cup in June at Royal Ascot and also winning the Lonsdale Cup at York at the end of August (watch below).

His popular owner Rich Ricci went close to winning in the Melbourne Cup in 2015 and 2017 when his Max Dynamite finished second and third.