Efficient and Phar Lap are the only two horses to have successfully won the Lexus Melbourne Cup as four-year-olds after winning the Victoria Derby the previous year.
Victoria’s leading trainer Ciaron Maher has nominated a total of 16 horses in this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup headlined by current race favourite and Sydney Cup winner Circle of Fire.
A handful of international imports will enter Maher’s stables in the coming weeks with plans toward the first Tuesday including Middle Earth and Sayedaty Sadaty.
Genuine nominations from international connections are of strong quality with horses from Japan, Ireland, France and England signalling their intention to travel to Australia.
Leading Irish trainer Willie Mullins will have a trio of horses travelling to Melbourne including Vauban and Absurde who are returning to Flemington for a chance at redemption.
Vauban returned to career best form at York in his most recent start winning the Group 2 Lonsdale Cup late last month.
South Australian galloper The Map features among the nominations for Murray Bridge trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillvray. The talented stayer is guaranteed of a start in this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup after her impressive win in the Listed Lexus Andrew Ramsden (2800m) earlier in the year.
Further opportunities for horses and connections to receive ballot exemption at Flemington include the Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) which has been moved to Crown Makybe Diva Stakes Day on Saturday 14 September and the Group 3 Lexus Bart Cummings (2500m) on TAB Turnbull Stakes Day. Outside of Flemington, the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) offer ballot exemption.
VRC Executive General Manager Racing Leigh Jordon said he was pleased with the nominations for this year’s Cup.
“Today is an exciting milestone as we build momentum towards this year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup with 123 horses declaring their intention to race at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November,” Mr Jordon said.
“This year's Lexus Melbourne Cup is shaping up to have strong representation from across the world with horses from Ireland, Japan, France and England looking to compete against Australia and New Zealand’s best stayers.
“Among the nominations are a strong group of local contenders headlined by the pride of South Australia, The Map who is giving her country-based owners a ride of a lifetime.”
The full list of nominations for the 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup can be found here.
Key Milestones Dates for 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup
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Entry & Acceptance Stages
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Date
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Nominations/Entries
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12:00pm Tuesday 3 September
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Late Nomination
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12:00pm Tuesday 10 September
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Weights Announcement
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Tuesday 17 September
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First Declarations
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12:00pm Tuesday 1 October
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Second Declarations
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12:00pm Tuesday 15 October
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Third Declarations
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10:00am Monday 28 October
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Final/Fourth Declarations
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4:30pm Saturday 2 November
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