By Lucy Henderson
Buckaroo was excellent scoring an eye-catching second in the Caulfield Cup ahead of Tuesday’s ‘Race That Stops a Nation’, but can the classy galloper go one better over the two miles and hand trainer Chris Waller a second success in the 2024 Melbourne Cup results?
Can Buckaroo deliver a second Melbourne Cup win for trainer Chris Waller in 2024? Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos. Waller held up the Lexus Melbourne Cup trophy as a winning trainer for the first time back in 2021 with the ill-fated mare Verry Elleegant and the mast horseman returns with a five-strong contingent in this year’s $8.56 million classic.
The shortest priced from the Waller Melbourne Cup contingent on Tuesday is 3.5 length Underwood Stakes winner Buckaroo who has eased out to $7 second favouritism in the markets at Ladbrokes.com.au for the 164th running.
The ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira is aboard and seeking to win back the love of the punters after his weaving rice on Soulcombe last year, when he should have stayed straight and followed the eventual winner Without A Fight home (hindsight’s great isn’t it?!), for a second-place finish.
Waller has forgiven him, but has the hoop forgive himself?
“I think there’s a part of Joao who would love to win the Melbourne Cup, and he’s a competitive jockey, but Joao wouldn’t be looking back on things,” Waller told the Sydney Morning Herald this week.
“Joao would be only looking forward. I respect that. There’s only one tick, it’s this year’s race. If he ticks the box, he’ll be smiley Joao.”
So, can the Brazilian hoop atone and ride this year’s Melbourne Cup winner?
Read on for the arguments for and against Buckaroo!
Click here to bet on Buckaroo in the Melbourne Cup at Ladbrokes.com.au.
2024 Melbourne Cup Horse Form: No. 2 BuckarooBarrier: 20 (in from 21) Weight: 54.5kgJockey: Joao Moreira Trainer: Chris WallerOwner/s: Mr A Kheir, Qatar Bloodstock Ltd, Mr J A O’Neill, YES Bloodstock, Carty Racing, A K Racing, Mr D Edmonds, Mr B D Nettlefold, Mr T R Maddern, Bromfield Park Pty LtdAge: 6YOGender: GeldingBreeding: by FASTNET ROCK from ROHERYN (IRE)Career: 22-5:4:3Win: 22.73%Place: 54.55% Last 10: 5356×81122Prize Money: $2,074,648 Track: 2:0-1-0Distance: 0:0-0-0Current 2024 Melbourne Cup Odds*: $7 (at time of publish) – BET NOWHorse Racing TipBuckaroo need to win over further than 1800m for the first time to salute in the 2024 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday!Why Buckaroo Can Win the 2024 Melbourne Cup for WallerChris Waller trained is a plus with the horseman a master trainer and previous winner of this race in 2021 with Verry ElleegantJoao Moreira learnt his lesson last year and won’t be making the same mistake in 2024 Caulfield Cup is the superior Melbourne Cup form race historically and his second in that was eye-catching Ran through the line in the Caulfield Cup suggesting he can see out the 3200m Well-weighted with 54.5kg Proven Group 1 winner by 3.5 lengths in the Underwood two back Ultra-consistent lead-up running top two in his past 4 Great performances this prep since being geldedForm around his subsequent eight-length Cox Plate winning stablemate Via Sistina when runner-up in the Turnbull at his latest Flemington run Why Buckaroo Won’t Win the Melbourne Cup in 2024 Has to overcome barrier 20 (in from 21) Needs to prove his two-mile credentials only having won up to 1800m previously Only has a 22.73% Win RateIs the international form stronger? Melbourne Cup 2024 Odds & Results Lexus Melbourne Cup (G1) FinalRace time: 1730779472 Runner DetailsWinPlace 1st11. Knight's Choice (5) J: Robbie Dolan 51.5kgT: J G Symons & S Laxon 2nd4. Warp Speed (2) J: Akira Sugawara 54.5kgT: N Takagi 3rd12. Okita Soushi (9) J: Jamie Kah 51kgT: Ciaron Maher 4th14. Zardozi (3) J: Andrea Atzeni 51kgT: James Cummings 5th9. Absurde (6) J: Kerrin McEvoy 52.5kgT: Willie Mullins 6th3. Circle Of Fire (23) J: Mark Zahra 54.5kgT: Ciaron Maher 7th17. Fancy Man (18) J: Ron Stewart 50kgT: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald 8th8. Land Legend (17) J: Zac Purton 53kgT: Chris Waller 9th2. Buckaroo (20) J: Joao Moreira 54.5kgT: Chris Waller 10th5. Kovalica (16) J: Damian Lane 53.5kgT: Chris Waller 11th1. Vauban (10) J: William Buick 55.5kgT: Willie Mullins 12th13. Onesmoothoperator (11) J: Craig Williams 51kgT: Brian Ellison 13th16. Valiant King (21) J: Craig Newitt 50.5kgT: Chris Waller 14th15. Sea King (1) J: Hollie Doyle 50.5kgT: Harry Eustace 15th18. Interpretation (13) J: Teodore Nugent 50kgT: Ciaron Maher 16th6. Sharp 'N' Smart (14) J: Michael Dee 53.5kgT: Graeme & Debbie Rogerson 17th24. Trust In You (4) J: Mark Du Plessis 50kgT: Bruce Wallace & Grant Cooksley 18th20. Mostly Cloudy (15) J: Karis Teetan 50kgT: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young 19th19. Manzoice (7) J: Declan Bates 50kgT: Chris Waller 20th21. Positivity (19) J: Winona Costin 50kgT: Andrew Forsman 21st23. The Map (22) J: Rachel King 50kgT: Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray 22nd22. Saint George (8) J: Tyler Schiller 50kgT: Ciaron Maher 23rd7. Just Fine (12) J: Jye McNeil 53kgT: G Waterhouse & A Bott Odds are subject to fluctuation. For current odds on all of our live racing markets, please visit ladbrokes.com.au/racing.Data retrieved: 14/11/2024 01:09:20 PM (Australia/Brisbane) Bet Now Race commentsThe Melbourne Cup. Plenty of betting angles as usual, with one being whether BUCKAROO (2) will run 3200m strongly. Gelded this campaign, he's been outstanding in defeat at his past two starts, nosed out by Via Sistina in the G1 Turnbull Stakes before charging into second in the G1 Caulfield Cup. That looked a perfect Cup trial, the gamble is whether that translates to two miles. VAUBAN (1) returns to Flemington having started favourite in this race last year and failing. He's coming off a tough second to a superstar in Kyprios and if he handles the occasion, he'll just about win. INTERPRETATION (18) has a sense of timing. He's flown home at his past two and was excellent from a long way back here last year. KOVALICA (5) is very interesting out to a trip, which we haven't seen since his G1 Queensland Derby win. He's got the ability. ONESMOOTHOPERATOR (13) and SEA KING (15) were both excellent at their local debuts and come here with genuine chances.
*Note: 2024 Melbourne Cup odds are correct at time of publish, provided by Ladbrokes.com.au, and subject to change without notice.
THINK. IS THIS A BET YOU REALLY WANT TO PLACE?
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
News Tagged: 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup 2024 Melbourne Cup 2024 Melbourne Cup Betting 2024 Melbourne Cup Carnival 2024 Melbourne Cup Contenders 2024 Melbourne Cup Day 2024 Melbourne Cup Field 2024 Melbourne Cup Form 2024 Melbourne Cup Form Guide 2024 Melbourne Cup Horses 2024 Melbourne Cup Jockeys 2024 Melbourne Cup Odds 2024 Melbourne Cup Tips 2024 Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival Buckaroo Chris Waller Flemington Flemington Racecourse Joao Moreira Lexus Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup Melbourne Cup 2024 Melbourne Cup Betting Melbourne Cup Carnival Melbourne Cup Contenders Melbourne Cup Day Melbourne Cup Field Melbourne Cup Form Melbourne Cup Form Guide Melbourne Cup Horses Melbourne Cup Jockeys Melbourne Cup Odds Melbourne Cup Tips Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival