The confirmed Melbourne Cup 2024 jockeys are taking shape with Jamie Kah set to partner the Lexus Archer Stakes winner Point King while Zac Purton has been cleared to partner Land Legend in the spring cup races down under.
The Group 1 $8.56 million Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) is the crown jewel of Australian racing with hoops around the globe fighting to lock in a ride on one of the 24 stayers to face off over the Flemington two miles on Tuesday November 5.
Kah will look to join Michelle Payne as the only female Melbourne Cup winning jockeys when she rides one of this year’s Golden Ticket holders, Point King, for Anthony & Sam Freedman.
The imported Zoffany six-year-old, formerly in Ireland with Aidan O’Brien, secured his spot in the 2024 Melbourne Cup field via a solid Group 3 Lexus Archer Stakes (2500m) win on September 14 in the wet.
He franked that form in last weekend’s Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) when narrowly denied in an upset by Just Fine in a good lead-up to the majors.
Point King is currently allocated 50.5kg and Kah, who rode him to victory in the Lexus Archer Stakes, has confirmed she is riding the lightweight.
Kah was also in negotiations to ride fellow Golden Ticket holder The Map, winner of Flemington’s Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (1800m) back in May having previous Group 3 winning experience on the mare in South Australia.
Murray Bridge trainers Dan Clarken & Oopy MacGillivray are now in the hunt for a replacement.
Point King is the current $15 third favourite in early Melbourne Cup betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au, while The Map is at $21.
Another confirmed Melbourne Cup hoop is the Hong Kong-based Purton who has been given the go ahead to race in Australia on Land Legend in both the Group 1 $5 million Caulfield Cup (2400m) on October 19 and the Melbourne Cup should the Chris Waller-trained galloper make the 24-horse field.
Land Legend received a 1kg penalty to go up to 52kg in the Melbourne Cup weights following the son of Galileo’s gutsy Group 1 The Metropolitan (2400m) win in Sydney on Epsom Day.
He is into $21 Melbourne Cup odds in the latest pre-field markets.
Click here for the full markets courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.
