JUST FINE winning the The Lexus Bart Cummings at Flemington in Australia. Picture: Racing Photos
The latest Melbourne Cup Order Of Entry log shows the Larry Nestadt part-owned Just Fine, who won the Gr 3 Bart Cummings at Flemington on October 5, to be one of just three horses who are now exempt.
The Nestatdt part-owned horses who are still standing their ground are shown in bold (the other two are Military Mission and Royal Patronage).
See all the details about the Melbourne Cup order of entry here (we will continue to update the table as more information becomes available):
Melbourne Cup order of entry as of October 7th, 2024:
| Order | Horse | Age | Weight | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne Cup ballot exempt horses as of October 7, 2024: 3 | ||||
| Exempt |
Just Fine (IRE) |
7 | 53kg | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| Exempt | Point King (IRE) | 6 | 50.5kg | Anthony & Sam Freedman |
| Exempt | The Map | 6 | 50kg | Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray |
| Passed 2024 Melbourne Cup ballot clause as of October 7, 2024: 50 | ||||
| 4 | Via Sistina (IRE) | 7 | 56kg | Chris Waller |
| 5 | Jan Brueghel (IRE) | 4 | 54kg | Aidan O’Brien |
| 6 | Vauban (FR) | 7 | 55.5kg | Willie Mullins |
| 7 | Place Du Carrousel (IRE) | 6 | 54kg | Anthony & Sam Freedman |
| 8 | Kalapour (IRE) | 8 | 55kg | Kris Lees |
| 9 | Warmonger (NZ) | 4 | 53.5kg | Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) |
| 10 | Fawkner Park (IRE) | 6 | 55kg | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
| 11 | Circle Of Fire (GB) | 5 | 54.5kg | Ciaron Maher |
| 12 | Warp Speed (JPN) | 6 | 54.5kg | Noboru Takagi |
| 13 | Buckaroo (GB) | 6 | 54.5kg | Chris Waller |
| 14 | Zardozi | 4 | 51.5kg | James Cummings |
| 15 | Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) | 5 | 53.5kg | Graeme & Deborah Rogerson |
| 16 | Kovalica (NZ) | 5 | 53.5kg | Chris Waller |
| 17 | Coco Sun | 4 | 50.5kg | Tony & Calvin McEvoy |
| 18 |
Military Mission (IRE) |
7 | 53kg | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 19 | Adelaide River (IRE) | 5 | 53kg | Kris Lees |
| 20 | Land Legend (FR) | 5 | 53kg | Chris Waller |
| 21 | Eliyass (FR) | 6 | 53kg | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 22 | Absurde (FR) | 7 | 52.5kg | Willie Mullins |
| 23 | Athabascan (FR) | 6 | 52kg | John O’Shea & Tom Charlton |
| 24 | Cleveland (IRE) | 7 | 52kg | Kris Lees |
| 25 | Mahrajaan (USA) | 7 | 52kg | Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray |
| 26 | Alegron | 8 | 52kg | Bjorn Baker |
| 27 | Deny Knowledge (IRE) | 7 | 50.5kg | Anthony & Sam Freedman |
| 28 | Post Impressionist (IRE) | 6 | 51.5kg | Anthony & Sam Freedman |
| 29 | Bankers Choice (NZ) | 7 | 51.5kg | Anthony & Sam Freedman |
| 30 | Knight’s Choice | 5 | 51.5kg | John Symons & Sheila Laxon |
| 31 | Muramasa | 5 | 51kg | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 32 | Aurora’s Symphony | 8 | 50.5kg | Symon Wilde |
| 33 | Valiant King (GB) | 5 | 50.5kg | Chris Waller |
| 34 | Future History (GB) | 7 | 50kg | Ciaron Maher |
| 35 | Interpretation (IRE) | 7 | 50kg | Ciaron Maher |
| 36 | Mostly Cloudy (IRE) | 6 | 50kg | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 37 | Sir Lucan (IRE) | 7 | 50kg | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| 38 | Suizoro | 5 | 50kg | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 39 | Etna Rosso (IRE) | 5 | 50kg | Chris Waller |
| 40 | Positivity (NZ) | 4 | 50kg | Andrew Forsman |
| 41 | Mission Of Love | 5 | 50kg | John Symons & Sheila Laxon |
| 42 | Onesmoothoperator (USA) | 7 | 50kg | Brian Ellison |
| 43 | Trust In You (NZ) | 6 | 50kg | Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley |
| 44 | Saint George (GB) | 5 | 50kg | Ciaron Maher |
| 45 | Birdman (IRE) | 4 | 50kg | Chris Waller |
| 46 | Fancy Man (IRE) | 7 | 50kg | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
| 47 | Brayden Star (GB) | 4 | 50kg | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| 48 | Unusual Legacy (NZ) | 5 | 50kg | Chris Waller |
| 49 | Manzoice | 5 | 50 | Chris Waller |
| 50 | Sayedaty Sadaty (IRE) | 4 | 50kg | Ciaron Maher |
| 51 | Kinesiology (GB) | 4 | 50kg | Jessica Harrington |
| 52 | Berkshire Breeze (IRE) | 6 | 50kg | Ciaron Maher |
| 53 | Okita Soushi (IRE) | 7 | 50kg | Ciaron Maher |
| Not Passed Melbourne Cup first ballot clause as of October 7, 2024: 19 | ||||
| 54 |
Royal Patronage (FR) |
6 | 53.5kg | Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott |
| =55 | Francesco Guardi (IRE) | 7 | 52kg | Chris Waller |
| =55 | Le Don De Vie (GB) | 9 | 52kg | Ciaron Maher |
| 57 | El Bodegon (IRE) | 6 | 51.5kg | Chris Waller |
| =58 | Convener (FR) | 6 | 50kg | Ciaron Maher |
| =58 | Dashing Duchess (NZ) | 5 | 50kg | Symon Wilde |
| =58 | Divus Romulus (IRE) | 5 | 50kg | Nick Ryan |
| =58 | Firestorm (NZ) | 4 | 50kg | Chris Waller |
| =58 | Gear Up (IRE) | 7 | 50kg | Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
| =58 | Harracaine (IRE) | 5 | 50kg | Nick Ryan |
| =58 | Horrifying (NZ) | 7 | 50kg | Lindsey Smith |
| =58 | Immediacy (NZ) | 4 | 50kg | Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
| =58 | Quantum Cat (USA) | 5 | 50kg | Chris Waller |
| =58 | Sea King (GB) | 6 | 50kg | Harry Eustace |
| =58 | Sentimental Flame | 4 | 50kg | Travis Doudle |
| =58 | Think ‘N’ Fly | 8 | 50kg | David Noonan |
| =58 | Waltham (GB) | 5 | 50kg | Matthew Smith |
| =58 | Whiskey On The Hill (GB) | 5 | 50kg | Mike Moroney & Glen Thompson |
| =58 | Red Aces | 3 | 49kg | Nick Ryan |
2024 Melbourne Cup Entry Requirements
The selected entries for the Melbourne Cup are nominated in the first week of August. From an initial Melbourne Cup field of 300 to 400 horses, the committee will select the final 24 starters. However, after nominations, the owner of the runner must confirm their intention to run four more times leading to the race.
This system allows owners to gauge the competition as the selection process moves forward. This way, they are given four times to decide to whether they want to continue with the selection process by paying a fee, or to back out. Thus, the owners are essentially betting that their horse will be selected in the final field with every fee that they pay.
How is the 2024 Melbourne Cup Order of Entry Determined?
Approximately two months before Melbourne Cup day, the chief handicapper of Racing Victoria releases the weights and the first weekly Melbourne Cup order of entry.
When determining the field, horses are ranked by the amount of weight that they are handicapped to carry in the Melbourne Cup, compared with the weight-for-age scale.
In Australia, the current scale is:
- 59.5 kg for horses aged five and above;
- 58 kg for four-year-olds;
- 50 kg for three-year-olds; and
- Mares and fillies (which scarcely run) are afforded a 2kg allowance.
With the entry of more international contenders in recent years, the scale has been complicated because international runners are virtually guaranteed a start by virtue of their larger allocated handicaps. That said, locals are finding it harder and harder to force a start in the Melbourne Cup.
With all the speculation and spin leading up to the big race, it can be difficult to make an informed decision with your Melbourne Cup Betting. But the Melbourne Cup order of entry offers punters a fairly reliable guide to determine the chances of your favourite getting a start in this spectacular event.
2024 Melbourne Cup Ballot Exemptions
The winners of several elite races from around the world are awarded ballot exemption. That means they qualify automatically for the race, without needing to enter the nominations system.
The horse that wins any of the following events will be exempt from ballot: the Lexus Hotham Stakes, Cox Plate, Caulfield Cup, The Bart Cummings, Roy Higgins Quality, Andrew Ramsden Stakes, Belmont Gold Cup and the Ebor Handicap will be invited to take part in the Melbourne Cup.
The winners of several international races will be invited to contest the Melbourne Cup: the Arlington Million, the San Juan Capistrano Handicap in the USA, the Doncaster Cup in the UK, the Irish St. Leger, and the Tenno Sho and Sankei Sho in Japan.
Under a further tweak to Melbourne Cup conditions, any placegetter from a golden ticket race, or any Group 1 held over 2000m or further, will pass the first ballot for the race that stops a nation.
2024 Melbourne Cup International Entry Requirements
Racing Victoria officials identified a trend of higher injury rates among overseas horses during the past decade, so they have toughened up their entry criteria.
Horses from overseas must now complete a series of pre-export tests to gauge their ability to complete this gruelling race without suffering an injury. Any raider that has previously suffered a fracture or required orthopaedic surgery will not be permitted to visit Australia to take part.
All international horses that arrive at the Werribee International Quarantine Centre will need to undergo full body scintigraphy and CT/MRI of their distal limbs. Officials hope that these extra requirements will significantly reduce injury rates among Melbourne Cup runners.
On April 2022, Racing Victoria announced International Melbourne Cup contenders will no longer be required to undergo a nuclear scintigraphy unless requested by Racing Victoria‘s veterinary team.
In 2023, Racing Victoria slightly tweaked its protocols for the spring racing carnival.
Order of Acceptance Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup nominations system gives owners four opportunities to assess the level of competition and decide whether they want to continue with the selection process. These are the key stages in the process:
Details:
| First Nominations | Fee $1500 | Date: TUESDAY 3 SEPTEMBER 12pm |
|---|---|---|
| Late Nominations | Fee $5500 | Date: 12 NOON (Melbourne Time) on 10TH SEPTEMBER 2024 |
| Handicaps Declared | Date: TUESDAY 17TH SEPTEMBER 2024 | |
| First Declarations | Fee $2000 | Date: 12 NOON (Melbourne Time) TUESDAY 1 OCTOBER |
| Second Declarations | Fee $3000 | Date: 12 NOON (Melbourne Time) TUESDAY 15 OCTOBER |
| Third Declarations | Fee $4000 | Date: 10.00 AM (Melbourne Time) MONDAY 28 OCTOBER |
| Final Declarations & Field | Fee $49,500 | Announced Saturday November 2nd 4:30pm (local time). Barrier draw at 5:30pm |
Melbourne Cup 2024 Timeline Info
The 2024 Timeline updates and links can be found below, when available.
2024 Melbourne Cup Nominations
Nominations closed on Tuesday, September 3rd.
In 2024, there were 123 nominations this year – including 20 overseas horses.
Click here for the Nominations
2024 Melbourne Cup First Declarations
First Declarations were taken on October 1st.
More than 70 horses remain in the picture for this year’s Melbourne Cup
Click here for the First Acceptances
2024 Melbourne Cup Second Declarations
TBA
2024 Melbourne Cup Third Declarations
TBA
2024 Melbourne Cup Final Field
The final field of 24 runners will be unveiled at 4.30pm local time on Saturday, November 4th, three days before the race takes place.
2024 Melbourne Cup Barrier Draw
The barrier draw is revealed at 7pm on November 4th and this is a very eagerly anticipated event among punters.
