A 2024 Melbourne Cup start is Just Fine

Just Fine has raced his way into the Melbourne Cup with an all-the-way victory at Flemington.

The G Waterhouse & A Bott-trained stayer dominated the Group 3 The Bart Cummings (2500m) on Saturday to cement his place in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on November 5.

Just Fine was already in the field as number 20 in the Order of Entry into Australia’s most famous race, but Saturday’s success earns the stayer a ballot exemption.

In ‘catch me if you can tactics’ under Jordan Childs, Just Fine ($21) held off a late bid from Point King ($5.50 with betting apps) by a head with Amade ($41) a short-half-head away third.

Just Fine is part-owned by My Racehorse who has owners in all parts of Australia and Waterhouse said it would be a great thrill for all the owners to have a Melbourne Cup runner.

“They’re going to have a lot of fun running in our biggest race,” Waterhouse said.

“What a wonderful thing. It happens nowhere else in the world, I can tell you, where people from all different walks of life can have a share in a horse for not much money and to be able to come here on the first Tuesday in November and maybe win a multi-million-dollar race.”

Just Fine turned around his form with his success on Saturday.

The gelding ran a pleasing fifth in the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on September 7, but was comfortably beaten at his first Melbourne start for the campaign in the Group 3 MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on September 21.

“I saw him the other day when he raced at Caulfield, I wasn’t happy with him, so we gave him a little bit more work and just did some different things,” Waterhouse said.

“I just knew today they would really have to try hard to beat him. It has been a matter of building, getting his fitness level right there, and he’s got lovely cruising speed.”

“And Jordan, that’s Jordan at his best. When Jordan gets going on a front runner, he’s very effective