Gunna Wins Australia’s Melbourne Cup of Camel Races in an emotional race for jockey Matt Anderson

Gunna won Australia's longest camel race with a strong finish today, witnessed by over 3,100 travellers flooding the tiny town of Boulia in Outback Queensland.

Touted the Melbourne Cup of Camel Races, it was an ecstatic victory for jockey Matt Anderson, camel Gunna and trainer Wayne Morris with a strong leading win in the 1200m Better Beer Cup, the most coveted camel race to win in Australia.

The win is an emotional one for Anderson, Morris and the Spinifex camel team who were racing today in memory of Morris’ wife Mel and Anderson’s father who sadly passed away during the week. “Unfortunately we lost Mel, Wayne’s wife, it’s the anniversary of losing my sister and we lost Dad on Tuesday so I was riding for a few people” said winning jockey Matt Anderson. “I’ve got on the back of my hat ‘Go Matty Go’, that’s what Mel used to sing out to me last year, and Mel you got me home.” 

Winning camel trainer Wayne Morris, based on QLD’s east coast remarked on Gunna’s win “everyone wants to know about Gunna, they’ll definitely want to know him now. We’re bringing the cup home to Gympie!”.

Matt Anderson recounted of the race, “It was priceless that race, an unbelievable feeling. From the moment the gun went off Gunna wanted the win and so did I. Emily and Polished Copper kept us pretty honest, it was neck and neck for a little bit but Gunna took the lead, hung on to that inside barrier and he went for it.”

“At the end I just sang out ‘go you good boy’ and he came home strong. He saw that finish line and he wanted it. It was a feeling I never thought I’d have of holding the cup, but we’ve done it as a team. We love coming out to Boulia Camel Races, and I want to say a big thank you to the committee and event organisers for co-ordinating such a great atmosphere.”

The race was a strong comeback for Anderson and Gunna, who finished third place in the Toby Harris Memorial Quarter Mile Flyer 400m Final (sponsored by Harris Road Contractors) earlier in the day. Jockey Emily Parrott on camel Polished Copper took home the win on the 400m final race after a stellar weekend of racing, earning Emily the “Jockey of the Weekend” award.

Beyond all the racing action and bets with the bookies was 3-days of outback entertainment, kicking off with the Great Australian Ride-on Lawn Mower Race on Friday with local teen Boston Norton taking the prize on his ‘batmobile’ mower. As helicopter joy flights buzzed overhead across the edge of the Simpson Desert and Winton's Crackup Sisters entertained the crowds, many attendees noted this was the largest crowd they’d seen drawn to this event in the tiny town of Boulia.

“We’ve had record attendance this year with over 3,100 visitors, camel teams, and racing enthusiasts turning out in force for the 2024 Boulia Camel Races” noted event committee president Shelley Lorensen. “Attendance is up over 10% on last year, we’re so excited to see this increase considering the challenges so many events are facing. Thank you to all our supporters, volunteers and sponsors, we couldn't do it without you! And special mention to major event partners Tourism and Events Queensland, Better Beer, Boulia Shire Council and Just Country". 

Official attendance figures and economic impact figures will be released post the event.

Held annually on the third weekend of July, Boulia Camel Races returns in 2025 on 18 – 20 July.

The Boulia Camel Races is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.