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The biggest show on turf starts at Flemington at 3pm
By SHAYNE BUGDEN, SPORTS EDITOR, AUSTRALIA
Updated:
Follow Daily Mail's live blog for all the latest fashion triumphs and fails, celebrity appearances and updates from the track as the race that stops a nation gets underway.
Michelle Payne appears to confirm her new romance
In June this year, the first woman to ride a Melbourne Cup winner set tongues wagging when she posted an Instagram video showing her being kissed on the cheek by a mystery man during a cruise in Bali (pictured, bottom).
Now Payne has stepped out with Gabriel Ribeiro at Flemington, with the pair looking very happy in each other's company.
Payne also posted some social media shots of Ribeiro enjoying some time at her farm in Ballarat last month...
Jockey cops huge suspension
Neil Farley has been suspended for a whopping seven races for breaking whipping rules as he rode Pittsburgh Pirate (pictured bottom, with Farley in yellow helmet and purple and yellow top) in race two at Flemington, the MA Services Grand Handicap.
Farley (pictured top) pleaded guilty to whipping his mount too many times in a thrilling finish that saw Party Crasher emerge victorious.
He was also suspended over a whipping-related offence when he struck his horse nine times during a race in February 2021.
The rain has returned at Flemington
You can see the umbrellas going up as I write this. Eddie McGuire has told Nine viewers the rain is coming with a strong wind from the south-east.
And your race five winner is...
Kingswood has taken out the Kirin Ichiban Plate from Saint George and Shaiyhar.
Winning hoop makes stunning promise to wheelchair-bound jockey
Tom Prebble (pictured below with Michelle Payne and his father Brett) has been left confined to a wheelchair with no feeling below his chest after a horror race fall in September. Now his fellow hoop James McDonald - who has already steered a winner home today - has promised he will donate all his Cup prizemoney percentage to Prebble.
Race five result
Litzdeel has won the Australian Heritage Cup.
We're two races away from the main event...
Fashions on the field update
Flemington is as full as Elon Musk's wallet
It was estimated that 80,000 to 90,000 spectators would rock up today, despite the wet weather in Melbourne, and it looks like that top guess might be a bit conservative...
More marquee looks
Pictured top to bottom: Melbourne socialite Rozalia Russian, Channel Nine's Sylvia Jeffries, and AFL WAG Jessie Murphy.
Wardrobe malfunction hits race winner
Pallaton has taken out race four, the Schweppervescence Plate, after being struck by a last-minute fashion disaster.
Punters who were looking forward to seeing the horse turn out in a vibrant green and purple outfit would have been shocked to see the steed and jockey James McDonald running in a simple black and white outfit with the logo of the Victoria Racing Club on it (pictured).
Channel Nine commentator Francesca Cumani explained that the change is due to Pallaton's team forgetting to bring the original outfit. After this result, maybe they should try that for every race.
Big names, big fashion statements
Bec and Chris Judd step out
Australia's 'hottest footy WAG' kicks a fashion goal
Chelsea Becirevic has arrived with her Port Adelaide AFL star boyfriend Ivan Soldo, just days after exclusively telling Daily Mail about their wedding and family plans.
And your third winner of the day is...
Different Gravy, which has taken out the TAB Trophy with super jockey Mark Zahra holding the reins.
The big names begin to arrive
Here we have (top to bottom) A Current Affair host Ali Langdon, her fellow Channel Nine star Samantha Armytage, and TV chef Melissa Leong
Hello, Stella Klim
The daughter of swimming legend Michael Klim and his ex Lindy is wearing a custom gown by Atoir.
More celeb arrivals
In 2014, Kate Peck wore a $3million fascinator to Victoria Derby Day. She's gone for a simpler look today, with tennis star Thanasi Kokkinakis going for a black tie look with a difference.
An NFL legend takes in his first Cup
Earl Thomas was one of the most feared men in the NFL when he won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks. He's wearing a slightly smaller set of shoulder pads in his dapper suit at Flemington today.
Today's second race is run and done
Party Crasher has won the MA Services Grand Handicap in another close finish, just beating Pittsburgh Pirate.
Kate Waterhouse steps out
The style icon and racing heiress is wearing an Alin Le' Kal dress with an Ezara/J hat, coupled with Jimmy Choo supplying her shoes and bag.
First protest of the day
Tornado Valley's victory in the day's first race was the subject of a protest from second-placed Tales of Time, alleging interference at the 500m mark of the Maribyrnong Cup. The stewards have thrown it out.
More of this year's fashion
Pictured top to bottom: Victoria Racing Club CEO Kylie Rogers, Hannah McKnight and Emma Dowling.
Sport star makes a splash
Netball star Rudi Ellis has gone for a simple but stunning look.
You might need to wear sunnies for this one
We already brought you one punter rocking a technicolour dreamcoat, and now he's got some company in the form of these extravagantly attired gentlemen.
The Block's Mitch Edwards and Mark McKie arrive
And your first winner of the day is...
Tornado Valley has taken out the Maribyrnong Plate over 1000m in a tight finish from Tales of Time.
Early favourite for the best dressed award
Fashion statements galore
Today's schedule
Here's how the action on the track will unfold...
10.45am: Darley Maribyrnong Plate
11.20am: MA Services Grand Handicap
12pm: TAB Trophy
12.40pm: Schweppervescence Plate
1.20pm: Australian Heritage Cup
1.55pm: Kirin Ichiban Plate
3pm: Melbourne Cup
3.50pm: Lexus Amanda Elliott
4.35pm: Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes
5.15pm: Channel Nine Trophy
Miss Universe Australia leads the celeb arrivals
Moraya Wilson won the Miss Universe Australia crown in 2023, and was runner-up in the worldwide pageant. She arrived in a Jason Grech gown that should be a hit in the Birdcage.
Aussie bookmaker opens up about accepting bet that could cost him $4MILLION
Hats off to these trendsetters
Sisters Sara Nicotera and Livia Della-Fontana have been turning heads at the Cup for around 30 years, and they didn't disappoint with the latest version of their incredibly flamboyant hats today. This morning they joked that they have to train their neck muscles to support their towering headwear/
See which horse Australia's smartest boffins - and artificial intelligence - are picking as the winner
Macquarie Capital's team of quantitative analysts are regarded as some of the smartest data scientists in the country, trusted with predicting incredibly complex market movements with millions of dollars at stake.
They have turned their talents to predicting today's winner, and so has a separate AI model. Both the 'quants' and the artificial intelligence are in agreement - Half Yours (pictured below) will be first past the post today.
The first race of the day has begun
The mad dash for the best spots at a Flemington has kicked off as the first of an expected 80,000 to 90,000 fans flood through the gates.
It's not raining at the track at the moment but the weather is unlikely to stay fine...
Hello and welcome
Thanks for joining us for the Daily Mail's coverage of the 2025 Melbourne Cup.
We'll be here with you all day to keep you up to date with all the action both on and off the track as we build up to the running of the famous race at 3pm.
