Geelong Mayor and the lovely Elissa Friday at the Emirates Marquee. pic.twitter.com/rNy8NeuLoF
— Caroline Zielinski (@CE_Zielinski) November 4, 2014
Race 3: Visit Victoria Plate
Here we go for the poor man’s Melbourne Cup, a race run over 2800m and populated by steeds connections wish were good enough to get into the big race. The betting is dominated by Gai Waterhouse’s Order Of The Sun and Grand Marshal, trained by Chris Waller. I’ll be with the former, who’ll give a great sight from the front.
1. Grand Marshal
2. Renew
3. Distillation
4. Waltzing To Win
Order Of The Sun sets a solid pace but, along with others who race on the pace, is gone at the 300m. The race is decided by those running on near the middle of the track, with Jim Cassidy getting the most out of Grand Marshal in a photo finish from former English galloper Renew. Distillation grabs third at huge odds to add value to exotics. The First Four pays over $116,000 on the Vic TAB.
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The one day in Melbourne when all men dress like they're defending themselves in court. #MelbCup #melbournecup
— Craig Platt (@CPtraveller) November 4, 2014
As Melissa Davey points out below, the best kind of fun at Flemington today is responsible fun.
There are a whole lot of barbecues in The Nursery and Joel Field and Danni Blackwell, from ABE Fire Services, aim to prevent blazing drunken accidents.
“We go around and check all gas bottles on barbecues,” Field says.
“I’ve seen a few leaking gas bottles and we’re the first responders for anything that happens.”
Blackwell says they are both trained firefighters.
“You don’t want fire alarms going off and an evacuation in the middle of the race, so we hope to prevent that happening.”
Is it possible to have too much Denis Napthine? I think not.
VIDEO: Premier's #MelbourneCup tips @FlemingtonVRC #SpringSt https://t.co/vx0OVy0Dfe
— Denis Napthine (@Vic_Premier) November 4, 2014
Random Cup Trivia
The past five winners of the Melbourne Cup had (at least) one thing in common: testicles. Entires going around today are Admire Rakti, Protectionist, Gatewood, Au Revoir, Lidari and Araldo. The most recent mare to win the race was Makybe Diva in 2005.
In the exquisitely named Rose Room at Flemington, here’s Guardian Australia’s Brigid Delaney:
Stationed now in the Rose Room - an undercover, massive marquee where you can bet, booze & eat a 6 course meal. Not quite 11am and waiters are ferrying heaving trays of champagne around to guests - many of whom are here on a corporate ticket. My favourite thing here is the bathrooms. A woman in there will give you a hair and make up refresher - or in my case do your hair and make up from scratch. An angry queue formed behind me with one woman accusing me of “cheating” with the touch up service . “It’s for a story!” I replied. For the blokes there is a shoe shine service & you can give them your phone for charging up.
If I’d known Denis Napthine was going to back Dig A Pony, I might have thought twice about it ...
@Vic_Premier has placed a bet on Dig a Pony in race two, for the punters out there pic.twitter.com/xovxDypmWf
— Michelle Ainsworth (@mlainsworth) November 4, 2014
Weather Cupdate
The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted damaging winds with gusts of up to 100km an hour this afternoon, just as people start to go home from the Melbourne cup. The winds are expected to arrive in Melbourne at around 5pm.
Let’s hope racing is done and dusted before the gusts arrive.
If you ever wondered about the cleaning process at Flemington:
Nursery cleaning manager on the strangest thing left behind: "I once found a 23-year-old sleeping on a pile of rubbish" #MelbourneCup
— Melissa Davey (@MelissaLDavey) November 3, 2014
Race 2: Tab.com.au Trophy
A very open race for the mares over 1700m. The trend on Derby day favoured horses running on out wide, so it will be interesting to see if that pattern remains today. I’m guessing it may well, so Dig A Pony fits the bill for my modest each-way investment at around $5.50.
1. Precious Gem
2. Amanpour
3. Dig A Pony
4. Are There Any
The race seems to be run at a solid pace but those who race on or near the speed fight out the finish, with Precious Gem just nudging out Amanpour in a very tight photo. Dig A Pony gets a god run in transit before grabbing the skinny end of the prize on the line. A good result for Craig Williams, who lost his Melbourne Cup ride on the scratched Cavalryman. On the evidence of this race, there’s nothing wrong with the rails.
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"You know what this outfit needs? A fascinator." SAID NOBODY EVER #melbournecup Hope the guardian reimburses me for this headpiece thing.
— Melissa Davey (@MelissaLDavey) November 3, 2014
Chad Schofield and Antelucan return to scale after winning race one.
Guardian Australia’s two-pronged at Flemington today, with Brigid Delaney also trackside. Good morning, Brigid.
It’s a picture perfect day in Melbourne today . Currently around 21degrees & expected to get to around 28 degrees once the big race is run. Previous cup days have been marred by bad weather - we’ve all seen those pictures of drink racegoers wearing garbage bags & running for cover. But that shouldn’t happen today. Men are wearing light suits with sunglasses while sleeveless dresses & bare legs are popular with women. The VRC (Vic Racing) did ban bare midriffs on derby day though. Good call!
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Melbourne Cup drinking game: drink every time a lazy reporter refers to women as 'fillies'. Expect to die of alcohol poisoning by noon.
— Josephine Tovey (@Jo_Tovey) November 3, 2014
Cupdate: Mutual Regard well backed
Irish visitor Mutual Regard, a last-start winner of the Ebor Handicap at York, is coming in for support to win the Melbourne Cup. Damien Oliver’s mount is as short as $9 with tab.com.au, with Admire Rakti retaining favouritism at $6. Fawkner also has admirers at $7.50.
Off and racing #melbournecup Wearing @dolcegabbana dress and bag, @hatmakeraus and… http://t.co/wa3Vj6tKCw
— Rebecca Judd (@becjuddloves) November 3, 2014
Good luck to everyone in the Melbourne Cup today. I'm tipping Fawkner in the race that stops the nation. #MelbourneCup #fawkner
— Clive Palmer (@CliveFPalmer) November 3, 2014
Here’s another post from Melissa Davey, trackside at Flemington:
Trevor and Fabi Dray throw a party in the Nursery every year for their friends and family as a way of celebrating their wedding anniversary.
“I had my bucks party on Cup day, Fabi had her hens party on Oakes Day and we got married on Stakes Day,” Dray said.
“That was 11 years ago and we celebrate our wedding here every year. It’s a great party atmosphere and a tradition.”
He says The Nursery has a better atmosphere than inside the racecourse itself.
“It’s more of a party and by 4pm when the champagne kicks in, it’s a bit of a free for all.”
Fabi says they’ve chosen a yellow theme because the yellow rose is the official flower of the Cup.
“I love the whole day,” she says. “The people who come here are those who were at our wedding so it’s very special.”
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Race 1. Emirates Airline Plate
In amongst the fashion and food, there are actually some races happening today.
And the first - a 1000m scamper for two-year-old fillies - is just moments away. Half the field hasn’t had a race start yet, but one which has - Mihalic - is holding sway as favourite. I’ll have my responsibly small $5 each-way wager on Comprende. Understand?
1. Antelucan
2. Thurlow
3. Dagny
4. Miss Idyllic
The field splits into two groups, with the smaller group on the inside rail struggling to keep up (of course, Comprende is in this group). Godolphin draw first blood on cup day, with first starter, the Domesday filly Antelucan, finishing strongly in the middle of the track to score at double-figure odds. Not sure the rail is the place to be today.
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Over to you, Guardian Australia’s Melissa Davey:
The is is the hottest ticket for the nursery, according to Angelo Conti. “It’s a European extravaganza,” he says. He and Marina Papas, his business partner, have been setting up in The Nursery for the past 10 years. They’ve prepared a menu for 200 guests, and it’s all self catered.
“We have a professional bar and we have so much good we had to hire a van, Papas says.
“Everyone pitches in and our parents and relatives help make food.”
On the menu are oysters three ways, Morton Bay bugs, lamb cutlets, kebabs and four types of dessert including limoncello tiramisu.
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Hats. Fascinating.
Raceday headgear pic by special request from @emilyhopewilson @ Sheraton Melbourne http://t.co/Ie4NGdClmk
— Brigid Delaney (@BrigidWD) November 3, 2014
Guardian Australia’s Melissa Davey is trackside at Flemington and will be filing throughout the day. Here’s her first post:
It’s barely 9am at Flemington but Rick Lansdown and his partner, Brett Ould, have been here since just after 7am. They’re setting up in The Nursery car park, an area dedicated cars and marquees on the outskirts of the race course. It’s known as the more flamboyant area to enjoy the races, and has its own TAB and large TV screens to watch the races going on inside.
Lansdown calls his marquee ‘The Barb,’ named after the 1866 Melbourne Cup winner.
“He was captured by a bushranger called Captain Thunderbolt, because thoroughbred horses were the easiest way to elude the cops,” he tells Guardian Australia.
“His owner found one day miles away, exhausted, and took him back. He went on to win 16 out of 21 starts and a total of $18,000 pounds - about $1.49 million.”
Lansdown and Ould have been doing this for four years, saying their aim is to carpark “in style”.
“We’re both event stylists and we are planning to have 34 guests come here today,” Lansdown said.
“At the moment it’s in the very raw stage but when you come back later you’ll see a five-course lunch being served, french champagne, chandeliers and a lot of hats.”
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Bet you didn’t know Hitler was into his horse racing ...
Cupdate: Cavalryman scratched
Cavalryman, No.2 in the Melbourne Cup, has been scratched from the race. The Godolphin inmate joins Sea Moon out the door, meaning we have a field of 22 to contest the race. There are no emergencies in the Melbourne Cup. The numbers on TAB tickets only go up to 24, you see. The Flemington track has been watered overnight and its rating for the start of the day is a Dead 4. But it’s a lovely, sunny day in Melbourne and the track will become a Good 3 sooner rather than later. Make sure your cup tip races well on firm going.
Let the blog beginneth
Hello and welcome to our coverage of Melbourne Cup day at Flemington. Do you need telling how significant this day is to (almost all) Australians? If you’re reading this in Australia, probably not. Chances are, right now you’re knee deep in a form guide, knee deep in lederhosen (that one’s for you, Protectionist fans) getting ready for a day at the races or knee deep in any number of office sweeps (if you’ve drawn Mr O’Ceirin, I’d be making sure you get at least money back for last place). If you’re reading this elsewhere, the Melbourne Cup is a pretty big deal in Oz. It’s called the Race That Stops A Nation for a reason. People who for the rest of the year couldn’t give a hoot about horse racing will be having their dollar each-way on a horse they’ve never heard of, and will never think about again (unless it wins, of course). It’s a very significant day in Australian sport and culture. Other big events on the calendar are Christmas Day, the Boxing Day Test (not necessarily in that order of importance), Australia Day, Easter, footy grand finals, and my birthday.
Right, who’s your tip for the big race?
Scott will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s a few things to get you started:
