Melbourne Cup Carnival closes with a celebration of champions

The final day of the carnival, TAB Champions Stakes Day, attracted 62,022 people to witness Via Sistina win the $3 million Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes (2000m), becoming the first horse since the great So You Think to complete the Cox Plate and TAB Champions Stakes double.

The four days of the Melbourne Cup Carnival recorded the four highest attendances at Australian race meetings in 2024 as international and interstate visitors descended on Victoria to attend the world-famous major event.

The total crowd figure of 285,675 marked an eight per cent increase in attendance compared to 2023.

Mr Brightside continued his love affair with Flemington in the $3 million Group 1 VRC Champions Mile (1600), maintaining his terrific record at Headquarters for Flemington training partnership Ben, Will and JD Hayes and Craig Williams. Having finished fourth, third and second the last three years, he showed all of his tenacity to defeat the Hong Kong-bound Antino. 

The $3 million G1 Darley Champions Sprint (1200m) was taken out by the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained Sunshine In Paris, leading home a first four for the mares against the boys with Right To Party, Bella Nipotina and Stretan Angel filling second, third and fourth.

Champion jockey James McDonald rode four winners on TAB Champions Stakes Day, including Via Sistina and Sunshine In Paris, to take his total haul for the week to 11, breaking his own record of 10 wins across the Melbourne Cup Carnival set in 2021.

This secured him the Ron Hutchinson Award as the leading jockey of the Melbourne Cup Carnival for the fourth consecutive year in what was his sixth victory overall. It also catapulted him to the top of the Longines World’s Best Jockey standings.

Ciaron Maher, who memorably scored his first Group 1 winner on this day 17 years ago with Tears I Cry, completed his rise to the top of the training ranks by winning his first JB Cummings Award for champion trainer across the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

TAB Champions Stakes Day brought the curtain down on four sensational days of world-class racing, headlined by the remarkable victory of Knight’s Choice in the $8.56 million Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m). The stories of jockey Robbie Dolan and trainers Sheila Laxon and John Symons have captivated the nation and throngs of racegoers celebrated his success today as both Knight’s Choice and his connections returned to the site of their greatest triumph.

Victoria Racing Club (VRC) Chief Executive Officer Kylie Rogers said the Club was delighted with the final day of Cup Week.

“What a fitting finale to the 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival. Wherever you looked, TAB Champions Stakes Day delivered,” Ms Rogers said.

“We celebrated the Lexus Melbourne Cup champion, Knight’s Choice in the Mounting Yard, champion Australian athletes and actors mingled in the Birdcage, and the crowd of 62,022 championed our charity partners by supporting the Pin & Win campaign and the RSL’s Poppy Appeal.

“The crowd was treated to the three exceptional championship races, with James McDonald having an afternoon to remember. His ride on Via Sistina was the standout, comfortably pulling away to win the TAB Champions Stakes in champion style.

“We have been delighted with the Melbourne Cup Carnival, more than 280,000 racegoers through the gates, world-class racing at its best, and of course the fashion, food and entertainment ensured racegoers had an unforgettable day out at Flemington. Bring on 2025,” she said.

A host of champions visited the world-famous Birdcage Enclosure including Melbourne Cup Carnival Ambassadors Ariarne Titmus OAM and Michelle Payne OAM, Lexus Melbourne Cup winning jockey Robbie Dolan, Australian actress Rachel Griffiths AM, racing royalty Kate Waterhouse and social personality Anna McEvoy as guests of Lexus, Matthew Richardson as a guest of Furphy, Melbourne Storm player Ryan Papenhuyzen and former Australian Olympic long jumper David Culbert for Nine and Victoria Racing Club ambassador and fashionista Crystal Kimber-Peters as well as fellow VRC Ambassador, Paralympian Emma Booth.

The greatest race week in Australia concluded with a flourish on and off the track.

The Park Live Stage was pumping with ARIA-winning group The Temper Trap and rising singer-songwriter Mia Wray entertaining an appreciative crowd.

In its 62nd year, Melbourne Cup Carnival Fashions on the Field in The Park attracted stylish entrants across the first three days of Cup Week with the competition coming to a spectacular close on Crown Oaks Day.

The Best Dressed competition was won by Emma Scodellaro from Greenvale in Victoria.  Ms Scodellaro was wearing a full-dress by Isable Sanchis and hat by Millinery Jill.  Kalombo Ntumba from Sydney won the Best Suited category in a custom-made suit and hat.  This year’s competition had a record-breaking prize pool of over $370,000.  The Best Dressed and Best Suited winners each take away over $34,6000 in cash and an incredible suite of prizes from VRC partners including Penfolds, Schweppes, Sofitel Melbourne on Collins, TAB and TLC Electronics. 

The finals of the creative and designled categories commenced on Penfolds Victoria Derby Day with the notable Emerging Designer Award, won by Melbourne-based creative Victoria Canazi who is currently undertaking her final year at the Whitehouse Institute of Design.  The Lillian Frank AM MBE Millinery Award was won by Sydney-based milliner and first-time winner Kathryn Lee. 

The Melbourne Cup Carnival’s Pin & Win campaign continues to be a great community contributor with over $8 million raised for charities since it was introduced in 1995. This year, pins were sold across the course for new charity partner, Ronald McDonald House Charities Victoria & Tasmania. This year’s campaign has set a new fundraising record of more than $660,000 with major prize winner Kelly McGregor driving away with a brand new Lexus RZ 450e Sports Luxury valued at over $148,000.

The RSL’s Poppy Appeal was also supported at Flemington today ahead of Remembrance Day on Monday. The official flower of the day was changed from a red rose to a red poppy, with more than $25,000 raised by volunteers selling poppies across the course.