Tuesday’s $10 million Melbourne Cup is poised to assemble the first full field of 24 since 2019 after all runners passed their final veterinary checks on Monday.
Racing Victoria’s vets completed the second and final pre-race inspections early Monday afternoon, clearing each of the 24 contenders to take their place in Australia’s greatest race.
Notably, the Cup has experienced a late scratching on veterinary grounds after acceptances in each of the past five years, but this year’s edition is set to buck that trend with a complete line-up.