More than 90-thousand people are expected at Flemington racecourse, to witness the 164th running of the Melbourne Cup.
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00:00It's buzzing here at Flemington. 90,000 people expected, as you said. Lots of people here
00:08early but still a very steady stream of race goers coming in this afternoon. The main race
00:14of course isn't until three o'clock and following that off the track for anyone not too keen
00:19on the horses, Sophie Ellis-Bexter is performing as well. So something for everyone here at
00:24Flemington. It's a beautiful day. We're expecting a top of 26 degrees and there's just a lot
00:29of light breeze around so a lovely day for racing. A very big day on Melbourne's sporting
00:35calendar of course and earlier this morning I did catch up with some of those very keen
00:41punters who were here just as gates opened. Tell me, how special is the Melbourne Cup?
00:47Very special. I come from Ireland to visit the Cup.
00:51You've come over just for the Cup today?
00:52I want to stay with my family.
00:55What do you like about it?
00:57Just seeing the noise of the track and just everything.
01:03How special is the Melbourne Cup today? Why do you like coming?
01:08We like to enjoy and we'll see everything, excited more.
01:12Every year we always celebrate the Melbourne Cup.
01:16How's the field looking, Erin?
01:18We are down to 23 horses. Arthur Baskin was scratched last night by the Racing Victoria
01:25stewards conducting their pre-race checks ensuring the health of all the horses is right up to scratch
01:31but unfortunately for that horse they detected an irregular heartbeat and weren't happy to allow
01:37the horse to race today. The owners not pleased with that result at all and they are taking it up
01:43with Racing Victoria. Their vets did clear the horse to run so there's a bit of disagreement
01:49there but that decision has already been made. In terms of the favourites today Buckaroo,
01:54the Chris Waller trained horse is right up there. Chris Waller of course has five runners in the
02:00Melbourne Cup, an incredible effort from his stables. Vauban, an international horse trained
02:06by the Irishman Willie Mullins as well is highly favoured in this race. Having another crack this
02:12year, didn't go so well last year but has had a different build up this time around and eyes will
02:18definitely be on that seven-year-old. James Cummings as well, the grandson of Bart Cummings,
02:26of course Bart won 12 Melbourne Cups. James has Zardozi in today's race. It would be a wonderful
02:34fairy tale if he's able to claim his first Melbourne Cup. He's got a long way to go to
02:39claim 12 like his grandfather but that would be a lovely story if he's able to continue that success
02:45today at the Melbourne Cup.
02:48you