2024 Melbourne Cup Day Tips & Preview

Price Tag was one of the runs of the race on debut in the Maribyrnong Trial Stakes a few weeks ago, bolting home for third down the outside with a powerful turn of foot.  

A few things went wrong in the run for the Freedman-trained filly by Zoustar, who was slowly away at the start and forced to check across heels around the 400m mark. 

She hit top gear quite impressively over the final 100m though, rattling off some of the fastest final 200m sectionals of the day.  

If she jumps on time and can find even luck in running from the wide gate, she’ll be a big threat in the finish again in the 2024 Maribyrnong Plate.

Opening Address should race forward and give a mighty sight up on the speed. 

This boy is going around on a quick 10-day turnaround after finishing second to Red Aces in the Moonee Valley Vase on Cox Plate Day, a brave run that saw him settle second and stoke up heading into the turn to take the lead.  

He brushed Red Aces at the 250m mark, a move that likely cost him some momentum when he was faced with a late challenge over his final few strides. 

Even so, he’s clearly pulled up well, while the booking of James McDonald tells you all you need to know about Liam Howley’s confidence. Providing that run hasn’t spent too much petrol, he’ll take a power of beating again. 

Mathletic lools ready to rock and roll first-up for Michael Moroney and Glen Thompson.  

The European-bred son of Kingman is still searching for his first run since venturing down under back in March, and based on his three runs during the autumn, you’d be forgiven for thinking he’s no chance here fresh over 1400m. 

The six-year-old ran some flat races at Caulfield and Mornington, tiring on each occasion and looking as though he was lacking fitness. 

That said, he’s worked through the gears stylishly in two recent jump outs here at Headquarters, while he’s also proven himself first-up over this distance winning twice over in France.  

With Blake Shinn booked, the right ride back and off the speed would see him right in the mix. 

Manolo Bling has been kept on ice for this race with about five weeks between runs.  

The Freedman-trained filly was much-improved last start at Sandown back over 1000m, running on beautifully along the rail to concede in a head-bob to the fast-finishing Adolfito. 

She finished off strongly for second and meets that same horse 2kg better off at the weights, while it’s worth keeping in mind she also copped a bit of a bump that day around the 400m mark.  

Kept fresh with a jumpout between starts, she might be ready to peak now with the in-form Ben Melham taking over. 

Ahuriri finds it tough to win, but she clearly showed some improvement last start at Warwick Farm where she was unlucky to finish just outside the money.

Chris Waller’s mare was fourth to Newfoundland off a three-week break between runs, stoking up late with a powerful run down the outside where she just got a little wayward before a few smart types reeled her in.

The daughter of Almanzor is hard fit now fourth-up and does own a win over 2800m in the St Leger here at Headquarters earlier in the year.

This is a tougher race again, but dropping 5kg and having run at Group 1 level up in Queensland earlier in the winter, she’s got a few of these covered in terms of class, particularly if she gets back from out wide again and can run on.

Earl Of Tyrone looks ready to run another solid race second-up.  

This international raider from Ireland caught the eye when finishing second in the Seymour Cup on debut a couple of weeks ago, stoking up along the rail where he simply found Midnight Blue a touch too sharp in the end.  

A Listed winner back home, the son of Australia was having his first race since overcoming an off-fore ligament injury, so there is big room for improvement after putting together some nice late sectionals.  

In a tricky race between the stayers, it’s worth trusting the polish of Ciaron Maher to have this guy revved up and ready to win.  

Land Legend’s resume just about speaks for itself heading into this year’s Melbourne Cup.  

Already a Group 1 winner having won The Metropolitan two back by a small margin over Zardozi, the French stayer brings the always likable Caulfield Cup form into his first start over 3200m, running on well down the outside a couple of weeks ago to finish a distant third to Duke De Sessa.  

There was a good gap between the first two and the rest of the field in The Metrop, while I love the fact he had a gallop at Flemington during the week in front of a crowd to get him ready.  

Chris Waller knows a thing or two about training the winner of this race, and with three runs under his belt now, his best might bet yet to come. 

Chewing Gum has gone up double figures, which is surprising given the turn of foot she showed at Caulfield two weeks ago.  

A daughter to Brazen Beau, the smart three-year-old exploded to go down by the narrowest of margins to Kuroyanagi from a wide gate, an encouraging effort in just her third appearance at the races.  

She’s rock-hard fit fourth-up and has drawn to get a much kinder ride in transit this time from the soft gate.  

Based on her late sectionals, and the fact she drops 2kg in the saddle, she should see out 1400m in her stride. 

Keen to give Running By another chance in her third run back. 

Ciaron Maher’s mare clearly never handled the wet conditions in her second start in the Let’s Elope Stakes, tiring late after racing on speed where she was beaten 8.5 lengths in the end. 

Her previous win first-up at Caulfield over The Open was full of merit though, running on late to get the upper hand over the final 100m in a BM84 contest.  

Back on top of the ground now and proven third-up, she looks well-placed to make amends if she gets some early from the wide gate in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes.  

Rheinberg resumes for Team Hayes hoping to build on a consistent winter prep in Melbourne. 

The six-year-old son of Swiss Ace held his form nicely to return a win and three placings from his last five starts, beating home the always honest St Lawrence over the 1400m trip at Caulfield back in June. 

He’s always been a bet first-up with a couple of wins on the board, and if he’s afforded early running room, he should roll straight to the front and give a nice sight on the speed under James McDonald.