Switzerland minted his future as one of Australia’s most valuable stallions with an emphatic win in the Coolmore Stud Stakes as Chris Waller and James McDonald nabbed a Flemington Group 1 double, while it was a South Australian-flavoured Victoria Derby.

William Haggas took his extraordinary record to 10 wins from 22 starters in Australia with his four-year-old Lake Forest causing an upset win in a rough-and-tumble Golden Eagle at Rosehill.

Broadcasting legend Bruce McAvaney still believes the Melbourne Cup is racing’s greatest prize, but believes it no longer stops the nation. Matt Stewart spoke to McAvaney and trainer Richard Freedman about how the Cup has changed.

The Golden Gift for two-year-olds and The Warra at Kembla Grange appear to have been handed Group 3 status with immediate effect for the first time, but the latest changes to the New South Wales Pattern are unlikely to be recognised by international authorities.

Matthew Sandblom’s focus will be split between Flemington and the Breeders’ Cup this weekend, as his homebred Stoli Bolli takes on the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Ramatuelle contests the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

In this episode of Straight Talk, hosts Bren O'Brien and Tim Rowe dive into the latest headlines surrounding the Melbourne Cup, discuss Australian investment in overseas sales and stallion fertility in the wake of the premature end to Militarize's stud career.