The 2015 Melbourne Cup takes place on Tuesday.
The Melbourne Cup takes place at Flemington and is scheduled to start at 04:00 GMT (Tuesday 15:00 local time).
In the United Kingdom, the action airs live on At The Races, while you can also watch and bet live online with 365.
Coverage of the Group 1 showpiece is also available via Ladbrokes Australia here:
Preview:
A 24-strong line-up will bid to follow in the footsteps of Protectionist, who won last year but is ruled out of the race this time due to a bone problem.
Japanese galloper Fame Game looks set to start as a short-priced favourite following an unlucky sixth in the Caulfield Cup as he bids become the latest international runner to win Australia’s biggest race.
Fame Game is part of another strong international contingent bidding to make it back-to-back wins for the visitors following the then German-trained Protectionist’s victory 12 months ago.
Among the visiting set to join Fame Game in the line-up are second favourite Trip To Paris, three-time runner-up Red Cadeaux, Max Dynamite, Snow Sky, Hokko Brave and Quest For More.
Another international Bondi Beach’s hopes were hit when he landed barrier 18, the gate from which no horse has ever won the Melbourne Cup. Can he defy history?
The best of the home team contenders look set to include last year’s placegetter Who Shot Thebarman, his stablemate with Chris Waller Preferment, Cox Plate runner-up Criterion and Almoonqith.
Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan was set to bid join an elite band of horses to complete the Cups double, but a bout of colic has ruled the New Zealand galloper out of the Flemington showpiece.
This year’s $6.2 million contest will be Race Seven of a 10-race programme at Flemington.
Melbourne Cup Day – Race Schedule (all times AEST)Watch and bet live at 365 > Live Streaming
Race 1 – 10:40am Gr.3 Emirates Airline Plate
Race 2 – 11:20am tab.com.au Trophy
Race 3 – 12:00pm J.B. Cummings AM Tribute Plate
Race 4 – 12:40pm Lavazza Short Black
Race 5 – 1:20pm Schweppes #FlemingtonFling
Race 6 – 2:00pm Lexus Hybrid Plate
Race 7 – 3:00pm Gr.1 Emirates Melbourne Cup
Race 8 – 3:55pm LR James Boag’s Symphony Stakes
Race 9 – 4:35pm LR MSS Security Sprint
Race 10 – 5:15pm Gr.3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes
Betting Preview:
The most most famous race on the Australian racing calendar looks set to be another memorable edition with Fame Game a strong favourite to win the $6.2m for Japan.
Bet on the Melbourne Cup with Ladbrokes.com.au and claim up to $70,000 in prizes.
A strong international contingent also includes second favourite Trip To Paris, three-time runner-up Red Cadeaux, Snow Sky and Quest For More.
The home team’s leading contenders include last year’s placegetter Who Shot Thebarman, stablemate Preferment, Max Dynamite, Amralah, Criterion and Almoonqith.
With prize money in excess of $6 million, the Melbourne Cup is the richest two-mile handicap race on the planet and attracts the finest stayers from Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Japan.
The field size is capped at 24 with balloting conditions determining the final field, which will be revealed on Saturday after the completion of Derby Day at Flemington.
Things To Look Out For…
The gruelling staying test is run over 3200m and carries more than just Group 1 status.
Horses that claim victory in the race will be forever etched into Australian racing folklore and be celebrated for generations to come.
Traditional lead-up races have been the Group 1 Caulfield Cup (2400m), held 17 days earlier, and the Group 1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m), held on the Saturday before the Melbourne Cup.
However, in more recent times, the Group 1 Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley and the Group 3 Geelong Cup (2400m) have also been successful lead-up races.
Fiorente used the Cox Plate as his springboard into the Cup, as did Green Moon in 2012.
In 2010, Americain won the Geelong Cup before claiming Melbourne Cup victory, and in 2011 French galloper Dunaden followed the same path before recording the narrowest win in Cup history when he beat the gallant Red Cadeaux by a whisker.
