Melbourne Cup runner-by-runner greyhound tips & preview | 30/11
The 2024 Melbourne Cup at Sandown Park promises a thrilling spectacle, with all eight finalists showcasing blistering early speed. This year’s Group 1 worth $500,000 brings together young stars and seasoned campaigners, ensuring a fascinating clash set for Saturday, November 30.
Here’s our free runner-by-runner betting guide:
Can Joey The Jet win the Melbourne Cup?
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1 Joey The Jet
T: Jason ThompsonF: 1133Career: 9: 7-0-2Prizemoney: $40,770
+300
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Joey The Jet is the youngest greyhound in the Melbourne Cup final, but his inexperience is offset by raw talent and a perfect box draw. Undefeated in two starts at Sandown Park, including a 29.20 heat win, he’s shown a knack for handling pressure and finding the rail early. His first split of 5.06 was one of the slowest; however, it was achieved from box 8. While he faces more seasoned opponents, his insdie draw, paired with his early pace, could see him defy the odds and make history as one of the youngest Melbourne Cup winners.
Can Epitomize win the Melbourne Cup?
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2 Epitomize
+450
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Epitomize brings exceptional early speed and a nearly flawless race record into the Melbourne Cup final. His slick 4.97 first split in the heats was the fastest alongside Explicit of the night. While his first step wasn’t picture-perfect, he recovered quickly to lead all the way in a solid 29.27 victory. The draw in Box 2 plays perfectly into his strengths, giving him the ideal setup to repeat his performance and challenge for the $500,000 prize. Trainer Brad Greenough expects him to make the most of his inside position, mapping him as the likely leader early. With seven wins from eight career starts, including notable victories over 525m in the Group 3 Great Chase Final, Epitomize has already proven his versatility and class. If he can avoid trouble at the first turn, his acceleration and early control make him a serious contender to go all the way and will be the one to watch paying $5.50 at Unibet.
Can Schillaci win the Melbourne Cup?
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3 Schillaci
T: Jihad TalgiF: 1621Career: 39: 16-8-2Prizemoney: $1,183,960
+1100
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Schillaci, the defending Phoenix champion and son of 2020 Melbourne Cup winner Hard Style Rico, silenced his critics with a dominant 8.5-length heat win in 29.21. This commanding performance was a significant improvement on his prior form, where he struggled to recapture his best after a five-month layoff. His first split of 5.07 was solid, but moving from Box 1 in the heats to Box 3 in the final presents a new challenge, especially with speed drawn on either side. While his overall strike rate (41%) is strong, Schillaci’s success often hinges on a clean getaway, something that could be difficult from the middle draw in such a speed-heavy field. While capable of running big races, Schillaci will need to replicate his explosive heat performance and find clear air early to have a say in this final. He’s a wildcard, but at $12 odds at Picklebet, he is the value bet of the night.
Can Sunset Frazier win the Melbourne Cup?
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4 Sunset Frazier
T: Jeffrey BrittonF: 1153Career: 33: 16-9-5Prizemoney: $330,900
+350
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Sunset Frazier delivered a stunning performance in the heats, clocking the fastest time of the night with a dazzling 29.00, thanks to a record breaking third split. This marked a significant step forward for the versatile chaser, who took full advantage of the inside draw to secure his second consecutive victory at Sandown Park. Known for his experience on the big stage, he’s made Group 1 finals across Western Australia, Queensland, and Victoria and secured a Group 2 title in New South Wales. That pedigree makes him a dangerous contender despite the challenge of moving from Box 1 in the heats to Box 4 in the final. Sunset Frazier’s experience with the blue vest (three wins and four placings from eight attempts) could prove pivotal. If he can replicate his heat performance and navigate the first turn cleanly, expect him to feature prominently.
Can Miss Envy win the Melbourne Cup?
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5 Miss Envy
+700
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Miss Envy has quickly stamped herself as one of the most exciting West Australian greyhounds to make the trek to Victoria in recent years. With two impressive victories at Sandown Park, including a 29.16 heat win, she’s proven her ability to handle the track and thrive under high-pressure conditions. Her first splits of 5.05 and 5.06 show she can break well, though she may struggle to lead in a field packed with early pace. Her sharp acceleration through the turn and consistency make her a tenacious chaser, and while her draw in Box 5 is less than ideal, she has the capability to adapt and navigate tricky situations. While this final will be her toughest test yet, her form, versatility, and determination suggest she can hold her own and possibly surprise.
Can Explicit win the Melbourne Cup?
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6 Explicit
T: Jason ThompsonF: 1418Career: 35: 25-4-1Prizemoney: $472,880
+270
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Explicit is the class greyhound of this Melbourne Cup final, and his record speaks for itself. Undefeated at Sandown Park from five starts, including a breathtaking 28.97 effort, and unbeaten from Box 6, he’s earned his reputation as the presumptive favourite. His heat performance was electric, recording a slick 29.05 to win by six lengths, underpinned by a sharp 4.97 first split. With 25 wins from 35 career starts and an 86% placing strike rate at the track, he has consistently demonstrated why he is one of the best in the business. However, while his form at Sandown is flawless, questions remain about his performances in high-pressure finals. His past four unplaced runs have all come in major events, including the Topgun, Million Dollar Chase, and Adelaide Cup. With only four winners ever coming from Box 6 in the 68 years, the statistics are not on his side. The best dog of the field by far, however, the unfortunate box draw could be the downfall on November 30.
Can Big Energy win the Melbourne Cup?
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7 Big Energy
+700
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Big Energy, the 2023 Melbourne Cup runner-up, is back and racing as well as ever. With four consecutive wins, including a heat victory in 29.14, he remains one of the fastest and strongest greyhounds in the field. His ability to accelerate mid-race was on display in his heat, where he overcame an awkward start to power past his rivals. Known for his blistering track record at Sandown, including five sub-29 second runs, Big Energy has proven his class time and again. Drawn in Box 7, Big Energy faces a tricky task as he prefers the rail and will need to navigate early traffic. However, with Explicit drawn to his inside, he may get a tow into the race if he steps cleanly. Two weeks shy of his fourth birthday, he is the veteran of the field, and a win here would make him the oldest Melbourne Cup champion since at least 1986.
Can Buddy Monelli win the Melbourne Cup?
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8 Buddy Monelli
T: Lyn SmithF: 1581Career: 67: 23-8-10Prizemoney: $179,957
+7000
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Buddy Monelli secured his spot in the Melbourne Cup final with a gutsy 29.57 heat win, overcoming trouble at the first turn to claim victory by 1.25 lengths. While his time was the slowest of all the heats, the effort showed his resilience and ability to stay competitive under pressure. Trainer Lyn Smith has done an exceptional job bringing Buddy Monelli back to consecutive Melbourne Cup finals, but the wide draw in Box 8 poses a significant challenge for the veteran. He has shown an affinity for inside boxes, with his heat win coming from Box 1, making this draw an uphill battle. His lack of elite early pace (5.08 first split in the heats) could leave him chasing a gap that may never appear. While his toughness and experience are admirable, Buddy Monelli will need significant luck in running to be a factor in this high-class final.
Melbourne Cup selections & top bets
With being one of the toughest Melbourne Cup’s in a long time to decipher, you can make a case for nearly every greyhound racing in the Final.
The history being on the inside draw and the speed in the race, it will look to come down to the first sectional and who can make it around the first bend.
The $5.50 on offer with the top Australian bookmakers for Epitomize to claim his first Group 1 is too hard to pass up on.
Depending on how well Explicit is to jump and navigate box 6, he will be a close second.
Sunset Frazier’s pace in the heats cannot be looked past, however the $2.70 odds for Schillaci to place look very enticing.
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2
EPITOMIZE
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6
EXPLICIT
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3
SCHILLACI
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4
Sunset Frazier
2024 Melbourne Cup Best Bets – Sandown Park Race 10 – 30/11/24
Melbourne Cup Best Bet
Race 10 – 
Epitomize (2)
Form: 14111 | Career: 8: 7-0-0 | Trainer: Bradley Greenough