Melbourne Cup

The Victoria Racing Club’s decision to align its broadcast rights with the Nine network appears to have paid dividends with a 30 per cent increase in television audience figures.

Knight’s Choice’s breeding never gave an inkling he could be a Melbourne Cup winner. But that never bothered his co-trainer Sheila Laxon, who always believed you need a horse with speed to win Australia’s greatest staying race.

Outsider Knight's Choice has given co-trainer Sheila Laxon a second Melbourne Cup win, beating Japanese stayer Warp Speed and Okita Soushi in a desperate finish at Flemington.

It’s been 40 years since Mark Read led a successful Melbourne Cup plunge on Black Knight. One of racing’s great thinkers, Read says there has been no other race like it for wagering.

Ozzie Kheir has tasted Melbourne Cup success before as an owner, but never in his own colours. On Tuesday, he has four chances to do just that but shuns comparisons to leviathan Cup owner Lloyd Williams.

Galileo’s progeny have won nearly all the world’s best races, but despite 34 attempts, never a Melbourne Cup. On Tuesday, the late Coolmore legend has three more chances. But he is not the sire with the strongest numerical hand.

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.