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The Melbourne Cup will be un at 3pm AEDT with Al Riffa favourite to take out the $10m race.
First race at Flemington today will take place at 10:45am with the final race at 5:15pm.
For all race goers, pack the umbrella with rain set to wreak havoc on the track with huge bands of down pour threatening the Victorian skyline.
We will be live ALL DAY with the latest news, results and market moves.
Today's schedule and race results
Race 1 - winner Tornado Valley
Race 2 - winner Party Crasher
Race 3 - Different Gravy
Race 4 - Pallaton
Race 5 - Litzdeel
Race 6 - Kingswood
Race 7 - 3pm MELBOURNE CUP
Race 8 - 3:50pm
Race 9 - 4:35pm
Race 10 - 5:15pm
2:29pm RAIN AT FLEMINGTON
I spoke too soon, the heavens have opened, the brollies are up, the ponchos are out and we're tearing up the form.
1:13pm The greatest story from Cup Day?
Jockey James McDonald has promised to donate all of his prize money from today's racing to the Tom Prebble fundraiser.
He's already got one win to his name today, and victory in the Cup could net another $225,000.
McDonald won the Cox Plate last weekend and instead of celebrating drove straight to see Prebble.
The 23-year-old was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital Emergency Department in September where he underwent major surgery on his spine after an extremely dangerous fall at Warrnambool.
He sustained a devastating spinal cord injury.
Speaking on Derby Day, Prebble said: "It was no fault of anyone's. The horse just had a stumble and it was a wet track. I can't blame anyone for it.
"He went head first and so did I and, unfortunately, from then on I couldn't feel anything below chest level. From here down I can't feel anything. I have got no sensation and it's been two months now, so they have basically declared me as complete (paraplegic).
"I'll hopefully move home to Mum's house where it will be modified for me to be suitable to live in. From then on, hopefully (I'll) just get my independence back, and if there's any rehab that could get me a bit more sensation, I would love to do it.
"I would fly anywhere and do anything just to get half my body back."
The fund for Prebble is currently around $300,000.
PROTEST UPDATE
PROTEST DISMISSED: FLEM R6 - No.5 Saint George (2nd) vs No.3 Kingswood (1st)
2nd v 1st alleged interference in the last 300m of race 6.
2pm ONE HOUR TO GO
So far the heavens have held on at Flemington, dare I say the sun has even poked its head out and I've seen some evidence of blue skies. And while I haven't quite figured out the new BOM website, this looks problematic.
Race 5 results
Litzdeel wins
Race 4 results
Pallaton wins and J-Mac is on the board. he signals his first win with his index finger as he crosses the line. A very controlled race for his 50th Cup carnival win.
He won't ride again today until the Cup.
Zahra came in second.
Race 4 tips
Street Artist - Cam Luke
That'smoneybrother - Campbell Brown
Race 3 Zahra AGAIN!
That's 6/11 for Mark Zahra now as he chase the J-Mac record. A win from the back of the pack on Different Gravy described by the SEN crew AS "ABSOLUTLEY SAVAGE".
"We’re only 12 races in (to the Carnival)," Gerard Whateley said. "He’s had nine rides and six wins and he’s got the odds on favourite in the Cup and Oaks."
As an aside but a big one, Zahra is also scheduled to ride the Cup favourite Al Riffa.
Race 3 tips
Matahga - Campbell Brown
Arabian Prince - Cam Luke, David Taggart
Race 2 result
Huge run from Party Crasher ridden by Mark Zahra who claims his fifth win of the Carnival. He is almost halfway to level James McDonald’s record of 11 wins and he's got plenty or runners left today and this week.
Race 2 tips
Miles Pfitzner, David Taggart and Cam Luke are all going Makdane, while Campbell Brown is backing Brave Miss.
10:58 PROTEST FROM RACE 1
Alleged interference near the 500m between No.7 Tales Of Time (2nd) vs No.2 Tornado Valley
UPDATE: PROTEST DISMISSED
10:48 Race 1
Won by Tornado Valley
- 2nd/7 Tales Of Time
- 3rd/11 Luna Vega
- 4th/4 Carnevale
10:30am most backed by SEN?
Most selected horse to win the Melbourne Cup: No.6 - Presage Nocturne (5) 🏆
Most selected horses to finish top four:
No.14 - Half Yours (13)
No.24 - Valiant King (9)
No.6 - Presage Nocturne (7)
No.2 - Buckaroo (5)
No.10 - Flatten The Curve (5)
No.1 - Al Riffa (4)
No.22 - Royal Supremacy (4)
No.4 - Vauban (3)
No.9 - Absurde (2)
No.21 - River Of Stars (2)
No.7 - Middle Earth (1)
No.16 - Onesmoothoperator (1)
No.8 - Meydaan (1)
No.23 - Torranzino (1)
9:34am Gareth Hall's tip for the day? Valiant King
"I think it’s going to be his race today, 51kgs on his back today after the Caulfield Cup. I don’t know if he’s the best horse in the race. Half Yours will be hard to beat. Absurde I will watch in the yard.
"In the wet? I'll still back the favourite."
8:45am Cup by the numbers
AGE 4 - FURTHUR ✅ 4YOs won three in a row from 2017 to 2019. Two of those (Cross Counter and Rekindling) were Northern Hemisphere 3YOs racing in Aus as 4YOs. FURTHUR is exactly that.
5 - MEYDAAN, HALF YOURS, PARCHMENT PARTY, ROYAL SUPREMACY ✅ 5YOs have won two of the last three including Knight’s Choice and Gold Trip.
6 - AL RIFFA, PRESAGE NOCTURNE, MIDDLE EARTH, LAND LEGEND, TORRANZINO, VALIANT KING ✅ 6YOs have won six of the past 15. Big tick if you’re six.
7 - BUCKAROO, FLATTEN THE CURVE, CHANGINGOFTHEGUARD, MORE FELONS, ATHABASCAN, GOODIE TWO SHOES, RIVER OF STARS 👍 7YOs have had two winners in the last 15 years. Without A Fight the most recent in 2023.
8 - VAUBAN, CHEVALIER ROSE, ABSURDE, ONESMOOTHOPERATOR ❌ 8YOs have won just once since 1938. That was Twilight Payment in 2020.
9 - ARAPAHO, SMOKIN’ ROMANS ❌❌ 9YOs have never won the Melbourne Cup.
AVERAGE AGE OF LAST 15 WINNERS: 5.6
7:40am Tony McEvoy going for the double:
So much history on the line today for Melbourne Cup jockey Jamie Melham and Tony McEvoy.
The Caulfield Cup winning jockey will ride Half Yours at Flemington today looking to become the 13th person to do the double and the first woman.
So how is McEvoy feeling?
He's just joined SEN and here's what he said:
"Everything points to yes we can (win) Caulfield Cup is a proven race for form coming into the Cup. Things couldn’t be better.
"I’m proud to have the only horse in the race (based purely on breeding). It shows that horses can come from anywhere.
"I’d love him in the middle and coming through in that second wave. If you’re on the favourite you need to give yourself some air.
"He’s a big track horse and a galloping horse so I’d like her to be patient.
"She’s an elite jockey and she will ride the horse beautifully."
EARLY TIPS
Winner: No.6 - Presage Nocturne Second: No.24 - Valiant King Third: No.14 - Half Yours
David Taggart
Winner: No.10 - Flatten The Curve Second: No.24 - Valiant King Third: No.14 - Half Yours Fourth: No.1 - Al Riffa
Gareth Hall
Winner: No.24 - Valiant King Second: No.14 - Half Yours Third: No.21 - River Of Stars Fourth: No.10 - Flatten The Curve
Mick Gannon
Winner: No.6 - Presage Nocturne Second: No.1 - Al Riffa Third: No.24 - Valiant King Fourth: No.14 - Half Yours
Campbell Brown
Winner: No.14 - Half Yours Second: No.1 - Al Riffa Third: No.10 - Flatten The Curve Fourth: No.22 - Royal Supremacy
Cam Luke
7am Latest from RV TRACK UPGRADE
Despite the torrential rain yesterday - some 34mm of water - the track has dried back to a soft 6 from a soft 7 yesterday morning. So we wait and see how much damage this morning's weather has done.
"Upgraded with 34mm of rain
