World-class racing headlines 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival

This year’s Carnival celebrated both rising stars and racing legends, showcasing unforgettable victories and milestones that highlighted the thrill and prestige of Australia’s premier racing event.

Penfolds Victoria Derby Day

Penfolds Victoria Derby Day drew its largest crowd since 2018, where Goldrush Guru took centre stage with a victory in the $2 million Group 1 Penfolds Victoria Derby (2500m), Australia’s oldest classic.

Sixteen years after Clare Lindop’s groundbreaking 2008 win on Rebel Raider for trainer Leon Macdonald, Andrew Gluyas – Macdonald’s former training partner – teamed up with top jockey Jamie Kah to claim victory with Goldrush Guru, marking a momentous connection between past and present.

In other standout performances, Chris Waller and James McDonald dominated the features, winning the $2 million Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) with Switzerland and the $1 million Group 1 TAB Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) with Atishu. Earlier, Kah rode Another Wil, trained by Ciaron Maher, to an emotional win in the Group 2 The Damien Oliver (1400m), a tribute to the late owner and great friend of trainer and jockey, Colin McKenna.

Lexus Melbourne Cup Day

Australia’s iconic Group 1 $8.56 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) gained a new chapter with Knight’s Choice from Queensland claiming victory in a memorable finish. Sheila Laxon, the first woman to train a Melbourne Cup winner with Ethereal in 2001, returned with Knight’s Choice in 2024 alongside her husband and training partner, John Symons.

Ridden by Cup debutant Robbie Dolan, the pair narrowly defeated Japanese runner Warp Speed, while Jamie Kah finished third on Okita Soushi, becoming the first female jockey to place in the Melbourne Cup twice.

The day’s highlights included family and emerging trainers leaving their mark. The Hayes dynasty celebrated their 10th G3 Darley Maribyrnong Plate win with Tycoon Star, while rising trainers Michael Hickmott, Liam Howley, and Dominic Sutton each secured their first Melbourne Cup Carnival victories, showcasing the promising future of Australian racing.

Hickmott, from Murray Bridge in South Australia, prepared Fancify to win the G3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m); Howley’s Opening Address took out the Listed TAB Trophy (1800m) for three-year-olds, a race that has proven a stepping stone to Group 1 glory in the past; and Sutton, who only had his first runner in March, won the Australian Heritage Cup (2800m) with outsider Garachico.

Crown Oaks Day

Treasurethe Moment, trained by Matt Laurie, became the 166th winner of the $1 million Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m). After winning the Group 2 HKJC World Pool Wakeful Stakes (2000m) on Derby Day, the talented filly, ridden by Damian Lane, completed the coveted Oaks double. Laurie earned his third Group 1 win with this length-and-a-quarter victory over Powers Of Opal, with Hurry Curry in third place.

James McDonald’s day featured a double victory, including a memorable win aboard Amelita in the Group 3 3AW Red Roses Stakes (1100m) and a Listed Channel 9 Chester Manifold Stakes (1600m) triumph with Light Infantry Man.

TAB Champions Day

The $3 million Group 1 TAB Champions Stakes (2000m) saw Via Sistina make history by completing the Cox Plate and Champions Stakes double, a feat last achieved by the legendary So You Think.

Mr Brightside continued his love affair with Flemington, winning the $3 million Group 1 VRC Champions Mile (1600m) for Ben, Will, and JD Hayes and jockey Craig Williams.

After finishing in the top four the previous three years, Mr Brightside finally clinched victory, outlasting Hong Kong-bound Antino.

The $3 million G1 Darley Champions Sprint (1200m) went to Sunshine In Paris, trained by Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald, who led an historic sweep with mares filling the top four spots.

James McDonald set a record with 11 wins over the Carnival, surpassing his own previous record of 10 wins. His four wins on Champions Stakes Day earned him the Ron Hutchinson Award for leading jockey and propelled him to the top of the Longines World’s Best Jockey standings.

With five wins and 10 placings for the week, Ciaron Maher received his first the JB Cummings Award as the Carnival’s champion trainer.

2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival Group 1 winners

2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival attendances