Melbourne Cup: What you need to know ahead of Tuesday's big race

Race day at Flemington has seen Athabascan scratched from the 164th running of the Melbourne Cup - but there are three New Zealand-trained horses set to line up in Race 7.

After the 2023 edition of the great race was run without a New Zealand-trained stayer, this year features two horses emerging from the Waikato thoroughbred nursery and one from Byerley Park at Karaka in south Auckland.

Three-time Group 1 winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart is trained by the husband-and-wife partnership of Graeme and Debbie Rogerson at Tuhikaramea just west of Hamilton, and Positivity is prepared by Andrew Forsman at Cambridge. Trust In You, who secured his spot in the 24-horse field as number 24, is trained by Bruce Wallace and former jockey Grant Cooksley at Byerley Park New Zealand Cup and Auckland Cup winner Mahrajaan was withdrawn from contention on Saturday.

While top ex-pat Kiwi jockey James McDonald won’t be riding in the race, Kiwi jockeys will be well represented by Mick Dee aboard Sharp ‘N’ Smart, and Mark du Plessis taking the ride on Trust In You.

Alongside the three New Zealand-trained runners, Kovalica is another advertisement for the New Zealand thoroughbred, having been prepared at Curraghmore Stud near Te Awamutu.

As of 11am on Sunday, 3 November, Vauban – who finished 14th in last year’s Melbourne Cup – and Underwood Stakes winner Buckaroo were contesting favouritism.

Download your updated Melbourne Cup sweepstakes kit here

What You Need To Know

• The 3200-metre race starts at 5pm on Tuesday.
• The Melbourne Cup field is available at tab.co.nz and extra markets such as Top 5 and Top 10 are available at tab.co.nz/racing/extras.
• Build-up to the race will be broadcast on trackside.co.nz, both Trackside channels, free to air on Freeview and on TVNZ 1 from 4.30pm.

The Field and The Odds

Gate 1: 15. Sea King - Jockey: Hollie Doyle - 14.00 to win, 4.40 to place
Gate 2: 4. Warp Speed - Jockey: Akira Sugawara - 31.00 to win, 7.50 to place
Gate 3: 14. Zardozi - Jockey: Andrea Atseni - 12.00 to win, 4.00 to place (market mover)
Gate 4: 24. Trust In You - Jockey: Mark Du Plessis - 101 to win, 19.00 to place
Gate 5: 11. Knight's Choice - Jockey: Robbie Dolan - 151 to win, 21.00 to place
Gate 6: 9. Absurde - Jockey: Kerrin McEvoy - 10.00 to win, 3.60 to place
Gate 7: 19. Manzoice - Jockey: Declan Bates - 151 to win, 23.00 to place
Gate 8: 22. Saint George - Jockey: Tyler Schiller - 23.00 to win, 6.50 to place
Gate 9: 12. Okita Soushi - Jockey: Jamie Kah - 14.00 to win, 4.60 to place
Gate 10: 1. Vauban - Jockey: William Buick - 7.00 to win, 2.80 to place (favourite)
Gate 11: 13. Onesmoothoperator - Jockey: Craig Williams - 8.50 to win, 3.20 to place
Gate 12: 7. Just Fine - Jockey: Jye McNeil - 51.00 to win, 9.00 to place
Gate 13: 18. Interpretation - Jockey: Teodore Nugent - 18.00 to win, 5.50 to place
Gate 14: 6. Sharp 'N' Smart - Jockey: Michael Dee - 41.00 to win, 12.00 to place
Gate 15: 20. Mostly Cloudy - Jockey: Karis Teetan - 71.00 to win, 16.00 to place
Gate 16: 5. Kovalica - Jockey: Damian Lane - 23.00 to win, 6.50 to place
Gate 17: 8. Land Legend - Jockey: Zac Purton - 13.00 to win, 4.60 to place
Gate 18: 17. Fancy Man - Jockey: Ron Stewart - 81.00 to win, 17.00 to place
Gate 19: 21. Positivity - Jockey: Winona Costin - 81.00 to win, 16.00 to place
Gate 20: 2. Buckaroo - Jockey: Joao Moreira - 7.00 to win, 2.80 to place
Gate 21: 16. Valiant King - Jockey: Craig Newitt - 101 to win, 20.00 to place
Gate 22: 23. The Map - Jockey: Rachel King - 51.00 to win, 12.00 to place
Gate 23: 3. Circle Of Fire - Jockey: Mark Zahra - 23.00 to win, 6.50 to place

Scratched: 10. Athabascan.

Odds current as of Tuesday 11am NZDT | R18, bet responsibly