Melbourne Cup betting update: Vauban & Buckaroo joint favourites

Melbourne Cup Day
Melbourne Cup Day. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Racing Photos)

Melbourne Cup Day 2024 has finally arrived, and come 3pm AEDT, the nation will virtually stop for the 164th running of the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m).

Following the withdrawal of Athabascan from the Melbourne Cup field on vets advice, a field of 23 will duke it out for the $8.56 million on offer in the time-honoured classic.

With no further scratchings, the Melbourne Cup is $7 the field, with Vauban and Buckaroo joint- favourites in the Melbourne Cup betting with Playup roughly six hours out from the great race.

Vauban has hardly budged from his $6.50 quote following the Melbourne Cup barrier draw, whilst Buckaroo continues to ease from his $5.50 quote when final field markets opened.

The biggest move in the Melbourne Cup betting has been for the Ciaron Maher-trained Circle Of Fire.

To be ridden by Mark Zahra – who is chasing a third straight win in the Melbourne Cup – Circle Of Fire has seen his quote basically halve from when markets opened.

The 2024 Sydney Cup winner has seen his odds tighten in from a $41 chance to $21 with Marantelli Bet.

Other Melbourne Cup fancies such as Onesmoothoperator ($8), Absurde ($10), Okita Soushi ($12), Land Legend ($13), Zardozi ($13) and Sea King ($14) have all remained solid at their price since Saturday’s barrier draw.

At a longer price, Kiwi stayer Sharp ‘N’ Smart has shortened from $67 into $51, joining the likes of Mostly Cloudy ($101-$71) and Positivity ($101-$71) as Melbourne Cup roughies who have received backing.


2024 Melbourne Cup Field

Vauban Silks

1. Vauban (11)

  • T: Willie Mullins
  • J: William Buick
  • W: 55.5kg
  • F: 21342
  • Age: 7YO
  • Colour: Chestnut
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Galiway (GB)
  • Dam: Waldfest (GB)
+600
+170
Buckaroo Silks

2. Buckaroo (21)

  • T: Chris Waller
  • J: Joao Moreira
  • W: 54.5kg
  • F: 22118
  • Age: 6YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Fastnet Rock
  • Dam: Roheryn (IRE)
+600
+190
Circle Of Fire Silks

3. Circle Of Fire (24)

  • T: Ciaron Maher
  • J: Mark Zahra
  • W: 54.5kg
  • F: 098×1
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Horse
  • Sire: Almanzor (FR)
  • Dam: Fiery Sunset (GB)
+2000
+500
Warp Speed Silks

4. Warp Speed (3)

  • T: Noboru Takagi
  • J: Akira Sugawara
  • W: 54.5kg
  • F: 0x523
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Horse
  • Sire: Drefong (USA)
  • Dam: Deep Love (JPN)
+3000
+700
Kovalica Silks

5. Kovalica (17)

  • T: Chris Waller
  • J: Damian Lane
  • W: 53.5kg
  • F: 6243x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Ocean Park (NZ)
  • Dam: Vitesse (NZ)
+2200
+600
Sharp N Smart Silks

6. Sharp ‘N’ Smart (15)

  • T: Graeme & Deborah Rogerson
  • J: Michael Dee
  • W: 53.5kg
  • F: 3020x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Redwood (GB)
  • Dam: Queen Margaret (NZ)
+5000
+1000
Just Fine Silks

7. Just Fine (13)

  • T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
  • J: Jye McNeil
  • W: 53kg
  • F: 01050
  • Age: 7YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE)
  • Dam: Bint Almatar (USA)
+3400
+700
Land Legend Silks

8. Land Legend (18)

  • T: Chris Waller
  • J: Zac Purton
  • W: 53kg
  • F: 3160x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Chestnut
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Galileo (IRE)
  • Dam: Landikusic (IRE)
+1200
+300
Absurde Silks

9. Absurde (7)

  • T: Willie Mullins
  • J: Kerrin McEvoy
  • W: 52.5kg
  • F: x14x1
  • Age: 7YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Fastnet Rock
  • Dam: Incroyable (USA)
+900
+240
Athabascan Silks

10. Athabascan (2)

  • T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
  • J: Zac Lloyd
  • W: 52kg
  • F: 1008x
  • Age: 6YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Almanzor (FR)
  • Dam: Alzubra (GB)
SCR
SCR
Knight's Choice Silks

11. Knight’s Choice (6)

  • T: John Symons & Sheila Laxon
  • J: Robbie Dolan
  • W: 51.5kg
  • F: 5009x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Extreme Choice
  • Dam: Midnight Pearl
+10000
+1500
Okita Soushi Silks

12. Okita Soushi (10)

  • T: Ciaron Maher
  • J: Jamie Kah
  • W: 51kg
  • F: 1208x
  • Age: 7YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Horse
  • Sire: Galileo (IRE)
  • Dam: Amicus
+1100
+270
Onesmoothoperator Silks

13. Onesmoothoperator (12)

  • T: Brian Ellison
  • J: Craig Williams
  • W: 51kg
  • F: 1471x
  • Age: 7YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Dialed In (USA)
  • Dam: Sueno D’Oro (USA)
+750
+200
Zardozi Silks

14. Zardozi (4)

  • T: James Cummings
  • J: Andrea Atzeni
  • W: 51kg
  • F: 54256
  • Age: 4YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Mare
  • Sire: Kingman (GB)
  • Dam: Chanderi (GB)
+1200
+290
Sea King Silks

15. Sea King (1)

  • T: Harry Eustace
  • J: Hollie Doyle
  • W: 50.5kg
  • F: 1×631
  • Age: 6YO
  • Colour: Brown
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Sea The Stars (IRE)
  • Dam: Pamona (IRE)
+1300
+300
Valiant King Silks

16. Valiant King (22)

  • T: Chris Waller
  • J: Craig Newitt
  • W: 50.5kg
  • F: 906×6
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Grey
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Roaring Lion (USA)
  • Dam: Assembly (USA)
+9000
+1350
Fancy Man Silks

17. Fancy Man (19)

  • T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald
  • J: Ron Stewart
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 635×0
  • Age: 7YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Pride of Dubai
  • Dam: Fancy (IRE)
+9000
+1500
Interpretation Silks

18. Interpretation (14)

  • T: Ciaron Maher
  • J: Teo Nugent
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 26800
  • Age: 7YO
  • Colour: Brown
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Galileo (IRE)
  • Dam: Daldiyna (FR)
+1800
+380
Manzoice Silks

19. Manzoice (8)

  • T: Chris Waller
  • J: Declan Bates
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 7032x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Almanzor (FR)
  • Dam: Choice (NZ)
+15000
+3000
Mostly Cloudy Silks

20. Mostly Cloudy (16)

  • T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
  • J: Karis Teetan
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 044×2
  • Age: 6YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Harzand (IRE)
  • Dam: Clarinda (FR)
+6600
+1300
Positivity Silks

21. Positivity (20)

  • T: Andrew Forsman
  • J: Winona Costin
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 8712x
  • Age: 4YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Mare
  • Sire: Almanzor (FR)
  • Dam: Pussy O’Reilly (NZ)
+7000
+1400
Saint George Silks

22. Saint George (9)

  • T: Ciaron Maher
  • J: Tyler Schiller
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 5948x
  • Age: 5YO
  • Colour: Grey
  • Sex: Horse
  • Sire: Roaring Lion (USA)
  • Dam: Lady Dragon (IRE)
+2200
+550
The Map Silks

23. The Map (23)

  • T: Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray
  • J: Rachel King
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 6509x
  • Age: 6YO
  • Colour: Bay
  • Sex: Mare
  • Sire: Alpine Eagle
  • Dam: This Moment
+5000
+1100
Trust In You Silks

24. Trust In You (5)

  • T: Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley
  • J: Mark Du Plessis
  • W: 50kg
  • F: 44036
  • Age: 6YO
  • Colour: Brown
  • Sex: Gelding
  • Sire: Sweynesse
  • Dam: Shinko Bay (NZ)
+10000
+1800

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