55 horses still in contention for the race that stops a nation

Headlining the nominations is the unbeaten TAB favourite Jan Brueghel for trainer Aidan O’Brien who arrived from Ireland on Saturday evening. The English St Leger winner will be the first UK classic winner to compete in the Lexus Melbourne Cup in the same season and is hoping to defy the history books and become the first unbeaten horse to win the Lexus Melbourne Cup since 1883. World-champion jockey Ryan Moore will travel to Melbourne to ride the classy colt.

Also arriving to Australia over the weekend were Irish duo Vauban and Absurde, who have returned to Melbourne for their second tilt at a Lexus Melbourne Cup. Multiple Group 1 winning jockeys William Buick (Vauban) and Kerrin McEvoy (Absurde) have been booked to ride for the Willie Mullins stable with McEvoy hoping to win his fourth Lexus Melbourne Cup.

Champion trainer Chris Waller is represented by 13 horses including Via Sistina who was an impressive winner last start at Flemington in the Group 1 TAB Turnbull Stakes. Import Kinesiology is a new addition for the stable and is on the cusp of a start for this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup.

There are 18 horses still in the acceptances that will run in this weekend’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup which offers a golden ticket to the winner into the Lexus Melbourne Cup. The final opportunity for horses to win their way into the race is via the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley next weekend.

Three horses in the second declarations that have already secured their start in the 164^th running of the race include Just Fine (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott), The Map (Oopy MacGillvray & Dan Clarken) and Point King (Sam & Anthony Freedman).

Leading jockey Jamie Kah will ride in her third Lexus Melbourne Cup and has opted to ride Point King with 50.5kg.

VRC Executive General Manager Racing Leigh Jordon said the second declarations were another important milestone on the road to this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup.

“Today marks three weeks from the running of the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup with 55 horses still in the running for their chance to be a part of history,” Mr 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 in the race that stops a nation® including Ryan Moore, Kerrin McEvoy, Jamie Kah and William Buick.”

The 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival begins with Penfolds Victoria Derby Day on Saturday 2 November, followed by Lexus Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 5 November, Crown Oaks Day on Thursday 7 November and TAB Champions Stakes Day on Saturday 9 November.

All the action can be seen live and free across the Nine Network, the official broadcast partner and new home of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

The full list of nominations for the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup can be found here.

Key Milestones Dates for 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup