Melbourne Cup Day has officially arrived with 10 races set at Flemington.
The time-honoured Lexus Melbourne Cup will be run and won at 3:00pm, and you can find our thoughts and recaps following every race right here on neds!
Tycoon Star burst clear down the middle to grab the first race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.
Trading at 18-1, the Hayes-trained filly was untrialled heading into her debut, given a 10/10 ride under Michael Dee to pull clear and win by half a length in the Maribyrnong Plate.
Stablemates Bacash and Shining Smile completed the quinella, while race-favourite Price Tag, who was heavily backed ahead of the jump, rattled home late for fourth.
1st – No. 9 Tycoon Star
2nd – No. 3 Bacash
3rd – No. 1 Shining Smile
Opening Address saluted for favourite backers and trainer Liam Howley.
James McDonald settled one off the speed out of the gates and took up the lead heading into the turn, straightening up and kicking clear for a handy win in the end by close to a length.
Statuario ran on nicely at a good price for second, while Matthew Cumani’s gelding Cecchetti filled the minors under Daniel Stackhouse.
1st – No. 2 Opening Address
2nd – No. 3 Statuario
3rd – No. 12 Cecchetti
The Kris Lees-trained Cloudland has taken out the greys race, grabbing an early double for James McDonald.
The pair powered away over the final furlong with a strong turn of foot, overcoming a wide gate to find the right spot into the straight.
Peter Moody’s mare Riot and Rose flew home late for second, while Chattahoochee grabbed third after seeing strong support before the jump.
1st – No. 4 Cloudland
2nd – No. 6 Riot and Rose
3rd – Chattahoochee
Manolo Bling has proved her worth taking out the Schweppervesence plate for Team Freedman.
The booking of Ben Melham proved the key to her chances as the pair pounced late over the final 100m to punch clear down the middle of the track and win well.
Hedonist grabbed second paying $6.00 a place, while Overfull flew home late for third.
1st – No. 13 Manolo Bling
2nd – No. 9 Hedonist
3rd – No. 12 Overfull
The first real boilover of Cup Day came in the Australian Heritage Cup with the Dom Sutton-trained Garachico winning at massive 70-1 odds.
The gelding by Irish stayer Ribchester kept finding to fend off a late challenge from Newfoundland, winning just his second race from 24 tries.
1st – No. 6 Garachico
2nd – No. 10 Newfoundland
3rd – No. 7 Whisky On The Hill
Arran Bay has held on for a brave win to claim the Furphy Plate.
Luke Nolen lifted his ride over the line to fend off a serious challenge from Unspoken, who made up nice late ground from out wide for second.
Apulia caught the eye when running on strongly for third., while Strawberry Rock was unlucky not to run a place after offsetting a difficult gate.
1st – No. 5 Arran Bay
2nd – No. 1 Unspoken
3rd – No. 8 Apulia
A Melbourne Cup upset for the ages as Knights Choice takes out the 164th edition of the race that stops a nation.
With all eyes on Zardozi on the inside and the fast-finishing Buckaroo, who wound up with a massive run down the outside, it was the five-year-old son of Extreme Choice who poked through down the centre to win a photo over Warp Speed.
Okita Soushi, who loomed the winner at the top of the straight, ran on strongly for third, while Zardozi clung on late for fourth.
1st – No. 11 Knight’s Choice
2nd – No. 4 Warp Speed
3rd – No. 12 Okita Soushi