Lucky bettors could have won more than $1 million by betting one dollar on the 164th running of the nation-stopper race, won by outsider Knight’s Choice in a photo finish.
An 80-1 shot, Knight’s Choice won by a nose ahead of trainers John Symons and Sheila Laxon of Japanese raider Warp Speed at Flemington on Tuesday.
Ciaron Maher-trained Okita Soushi was third, while global racing giant Godolphin’s Zardozi was fourth.
There were huge wins to be had, especially for those who picked the top four.
Australian sportsbook UBET paid $1,054,972.90 for the top four, with NSWTAB paying $870,448.60 and SuperTab paying $728,015.70.
For a trifecta, UBET paid $28,491.70, with NSWTAB paying $22,576.80 and SuperTab paying $22,576.80.
Knight’s Choice is the longest-priced winner of the major race since Prince of Penzance in 2015.
Australian sports betting company UBET paid $1,054,972.90 for those who picked the first four across the line
The Melbourne Cup was won in a thrilling finish by outsider Knight’s Choice
Irish jockey Robbie Dolan produced what 2021 Cup-winning jockey James McDonald described as ‘one of the best rides I’ve ever seen’ in Australia’s biggest race.
“I didn’t know what to expect, but it feels like I’ve ridden it ten times already because I’ve ridden it a hundred times in my head,” Dolan, 28, told broadcaster Nine after the race.
‘To win it with him (father Bobby) here and my daughter Maisy and my partner Christine, I’m going to cry again. Jesus Christ.
“Look, you can’t do it without (trainers) Sheila and John. They had so much confidence in this horse even before he entered this race.
‘A lot of people doubted it. And honestly, I didn’t do that.’
Jockey Robbie Dolan kissing the trophy after winning the 2024 Melbourne Cup on Knight’s Choice
It gave Symons and Laxon their first Cup win together, after Laxon became the first woman to train the winner with Ethereal in 2001.
“What a great ride from Robbie,” Symons told Nine.
“He stayed in, took the risk, went through the pack.
“I was worried and he came back further than we talked about, but it was a great ride.
‘What a sensation.’
Daily Mail Australia brings you information on the final finishing order and form of every horse and rider in the Melbourne Cup and how they performed at the 2024 event.
Winner: Knight’s Choice
Defied all the so-called experts and odds as high as 81-1 to charge home down the infamous Flemington straight and muscle his way into the lead. Robbie Dolan had the ride of his life and just claimed his third Group 1 victory.
2: Warp speed
The Japanese rider was involved in a duel with Okita Soushi that looked like it would decide the winner of the cup, but was rudely nicked by Knight’s Choice with the line in sight.
3: Okita Soushi
Found the perfect line on the straight and pedaled away, confident he would win. But the extra length of the Melbourne Cup sapped the speed and slipped back into the duel with Warp Speed before also being overshadowed by Knight’s Choice.
4: Zardozi
Sometimes winning isn’t everything. Jockey Andrea Atzeni rode almost perfectly and the horse had every chance over the 3200 meters. I gave it everything and a place in the top four was the reward.
5: Absurd
Kerrin McEvoy looked set for a big run to the finish but rammed straight into the back of Zardozii, depriving his mount of all momentum and chance of a top three finish.
6: Circle of fire
Another horse who produced a huge run after doubts were raised about his ability to compete over the distance. The Sydney Cup winner will have to put in a lot of effort to get to the front of the pack in the grueling final 800 meters.
7: Fancy Man
Another rough one that finished much higher than most people gave him credit for.
8: Country legend
There is no doubt that this horse can race, but staying focused remains a problem for Chris Waller. They tried earmuffs to keep this skittish horse on track, but couldn’t get the performance they wanted.
9: Buckaroo
Was lured into favoritism by punters, but came into the Cup with a well-documented problem: the Cup had never been won at this distance before. The risk didn’t pay off.
10: Kovalica
Missed the start and never recovered
11: Vauban
Another one to add to the favorite’s scrap heap at the Melbourne Cup. After finishing thirteenth favorite in 2023, the Vauban experiment may now be over.
12: One smooth operator
The late money made Onesmoothoperator second favorite, but it yielded no results over the entire distance. Vets discovered a cut on his right heel last week and a second vet check was needed to get fit for the race. It is not yet clear whether that was a problem here.
13: Brave king
14: Sea King
15: Interpretation
16: Sharp ‘N’ Smart
17: Trust in you
18: Partly cloudy
19: Manzoice
20: Positivity
21: The map
22: Saint George
23: Just good