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Buckaroo Confirmed for Melbourne Cup as Williams Secures the Ride

Owners committed after veterinary clearance following a Cox Plate second.

Overview

  • Majority owner Ozzie Kheir said connections agreed on Wednesday morning to run, locking in Craig Williams for next Tuesday’s race.
  • Trainer Chris Waller had rated the chance as 50/50 on Tuesday, having left the final call to the owners after the horse passed Racing Victoria’s scans.
  • The decision overrides an alternative tilt at the $3 million Champions Stakes on the final day of the Flemington carnival.
  • Buckaroo sits among the market leaders at roughly $8–$9, behind Al Riffa and Half Yours, with stablemate Valiant King also prominent in betting.
  • Waller noted the campaign was aimed at the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate rather than the two miles, and Buckaroo was ninth in last year’s Cup after a wide run, while final acceptances now loom and Birdman remains 26th in the order of entry.