The 2024 Melbourne Cup over 3200 metres at Flemington brought back Willie Mullins' Vauban, 14th a year earlier but in strong form after running second to Kyprios in Ireland. Chris Waller's Buckaroo came through the Underwood Stakes, a nose second in the Turnbull Stakes and second in the Caulfield Cup, though he had never raced over two miles.
The local staying form ran through the Sydney Cup winner Circle Of Fire, the Moonee Valley Gold Cup winner Okita Soushi, the Metropolitan winner Land Legend and the Bendigo Cup winner Sea King. Britain's Onesmoothoperator arrived after wins in the Northumberland Plate and the Geelong Cup, and Japan was represented by Warp Speed.
