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7:24pm - That's the end of our coverage today. Hope you all had a collect at some stage...
7:17pm - Pascero takes out the last, as the rain starts to fall at Flemington. More than 84,000 spectators at the course today.
1-Pascero $40.3/$9.30, 2-Bermadez $4, 3-Chorlton Lane $1.90
7:11pm - The final race at Flemington is the Paramount+ Trophy, timed for 7:15pm, with favourite Chorlton Lane paying $4/$1.75.
6:38pm - Wow, favourite Madame Pommery was stood up at the start, gave up five lengths and couldn't make up ground. Skew Wiff, with Kiwi Oppie Bosson on board, wins the Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes from Foxy Cleopatra.
1-Skew Wiff $6.60/$2.20, 2-Foxy Cleopatra $7.30, 3-Forbidden City $7.30
6:33pm - Penultimate race of the day is about to jump at Flemington, with Madame Pommery the favourite at $4.50/$1.90.
5:59pm - Roll On High takes the eighth at Flemington.
1-Roll On High $12.50/$3.90, 2-Joliestar $3, 3-Kimochi $1.70
5:55pm - Full placings for the 2023 Melbourne Cup are...
1-Without A Fight, 2-Soulcomeb, 3-Sheraz, 4-Ashrun, 5-Daqiansweet Junior, 6-Interpretation, 7-Absurde, 8-True Marvel, 9-Vow And Declare, 10-Military Mission, 11-Okita Soushi, 12-More Felonts, 13-Lastotchka, 14-Vauban, 15-Future History, 16-Breakup, 17-Gold Trip, 18-Virtuous Circle, 19-Serpentine, 20-Kalapour, 21-Alenquer, 22-Magical Lagoon, dnf - Right You Are
Despite earlier reports, Virtuous Circle did finish.
5:52pm - Racing Victoria vets have confirmed all 23 horses have survived the Melbourne Cup, the third straight year this has happened.
The last horse to die during the Cup was Antony Van Dyck in 2020 and racing authorities strengthened safety protocols afterwards.
5:49pm - The next race about to jump at Flemington - the Howden Desirable Stakes - with Commemorative the favourite at $3.50/$1.60.
5:27pm - Two horses did not finish the course. Right You Are was pulled up with 400 metres and will be assessed by vets. Virtuous Circle was also pulled up.
5:21pm - Placings have been confirmed for the Melbourne Cup...
1-Without A Fight $9/$3.30, 2-Soulcombe $3.40, 3-Sheraz $21
5:16pm - Great performance for jockey Mark Zahra, who won aboard Gold Trip last year.
Remember, two years ago, he was meant to ride Verry Elleegant, but lost the ride when he was suspended. Of course, James McDonald took the ride and won the race.
Last year, Zahra gained some payback with his victory on Gold Trip and is now a back-to-back winner... could have been three.
5:08pm - RACING THIS TIME
Serpentine the early leader with Future History and Vow And Declare...
Serpentine still making the pace, with Future History and Magical Lagoon...
Halfway through, no signe of the favourites and a group of five now clearing away off the front.
Coming around the home turn now, with Serpentine making all the running from Future History, but the field closing up now.
Vauban hits the front with 400m left, but fades..
Without a Fight wins from Soulcome and Sheraz, as the favourite fades down the straight.
5:07pm - Slowly getting the field into the gates, running well behind time now.
5pm - Horses are heading to the gates now, a little behind time it seems. Without a Fight making a late run in the betting to overhaul Absurde at third favourite.
4:48pm - The horses are now in the parade ring for this year's Melbourne Cup...
Three favourites are Vauban ($6/$2.30), Gold Trip ($7/$2.50) and Absurde ($7.50/$2.70).
4:22pm - Pro-Palestine protestors have been arrested and peppersprayed at the Flemington Racecourse.
About 100 protestors arrived at the scene about 1pm (NZ time), including a female, whoclimbed onto the roof of a white van and refused to come down.
"In the course of managing the non-compliant protesters, police sprayed two of them, before they were successfully arrested,” Victoria Police said. "The female who was on top of the white van has also since been arrested."
3:59pm - Impressive run from the all-grey field at Flemington, with The Maggster prevailing...
1-The Maggster $25.50/$6.70, 2-Glint of Silver $1.90, 3-Platinum Wolf $2.10
Next up is the big one - the Melbourne Cup at 5pm. Vauban has maintained favouritism throughout the day, paying $5/$2.
3:39pm - The Map has taken out The Macca's Run at Flemington...
1-The Map $6.60/$2.10, 2-Mr Waterville $1.50, 3-Garachico $2.30
One more race before the big one, with MSS Security Subzero Handicap timed for 3:55pm.
3:09pm - All Blacks and Chiefs Damian McKenzie and Quinn Tupaea have been spotted at Flemington, as guests of the TAB. They look serious...
2:42pm - On his last Melbourne Cup day, Damien Oliver rides Wiggum to victory in the fourth at Flemington, his 21st on a Melbourne Cup day.
1-Wiggum $8.50/$2.10, 2-Barber $1.20, 3-Perilous Fighter $5.10
Race Five is The Macca's Run at 3:20pm, when the favourite will be Supagirl ($3/$1.30)
2:19pm - In case you missed it, the Melbourne Cup is being attended by royalty of sorts - twin sisters Lady Amelia Spencer and Lady Eliza Spencer, who are daughters of Princess Diana's brother, Charles Earl of Spencer and model Victoria Lockwood.
That makes them neices of Princess Di.
"I think we both love dressing up for different occasions," said Amelia.
"But being able to dress up for something as iconic as this is a unique experience, and we thought why not be bright and bold, and really express our inner personality, said Eliza.
2:02pm - Tight finish between Warmonger and Queen of Dragons in the third race at Flemington, with Warmonger just dipping through on the line.
1-Warmonger $5.80/$2.90, 2-Queen of Dragons $1.90, 3-Aztec State
Fourth race on the card is the Schweppervescence Plate at 2:40pm. Favourite is Barber at $2.10/$1.20.
1:43pm - Flemington is under a weather warning, with a big storm closing in on Melbourne and expected to hit late afternoon/early evening.
1:24pm - Forgot You has taken out the second at Flemington, from Warning and Sibaaq.
1-Forgot You $3.70/$1.50, 2-Warning $5.10, 3-Sibaaq $2.10
Next race, TAB Trophy, is timed for 2pm. The favourite is Aztec State, paying $2.10/$1.15.
12:51pm - Dublin Down has taken out the first at Flemington, closing fast to catch Blue Stratum a few metres from the line.
1-Dublin Down $10.80/$2.20, 2-Blue Stratum $1.70, 3-Odinson $1.80
Next race, the Furphy Plate, is timed for 1:20pm.
12:36pm - About 10 minutes away from the first race at Flemington - the Darley Maribyrnong Plage over 1000 metres. Favourite is Admitted ($3.30, $1.35), just ahead of Blue Stratum ($3.50, $1.35)
11:51am - Cute moment for the McDonald family, with jockey James riding last year's winner Gold Trip in the Melbourne Cup and mum Dianne, who owns and bred Virtuous Circle. Asked who she'd be cheering, Dianne has no hesitation backing her son over her own horse.
"I will be cheering for Gold Trip, all the way,” she told Racenet. "My ultimate dream would be Gold Trip first, Virtuous Circle second.
"I went to bed the other night picturing it happening, picturing the colours of Gold Trip going over the line first and then Virtuous Circle running on for second."
James McDonald rode Verry Elleegant to victory two years ago and was meant to ride Gold Trip last year, but
11:44am - Good news for followers of Alenquer, which was under an injury cloud with a stone bruise to its foot.
Vets have cleared him to run the Melbourne Cup, which means veteran jockey Damie Oliver will make his last appearance in the big race, still looking for his first win in four decades.
11:25am - Right You Are has been a big mover among punters on the Melbourne Cup.
One of five starters from the stable of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, it opened the morning at $81 on Sportsbet and has dropped to $31 over the past few hours.
Another from that stable is last year's winner Gold Trip, who has falledn from favouritism and slips from $4.80 to $8.
Vauban looks likely to start at favourite on $4.20.
11:18am - Here's a schedule of racing today (NZ times)...
Race 1 - Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) 12:45pm
Race 2 - Furphy Plate (1800m) 1:20pm
Race 3 - TAB Trophy (1800m) 2pm
Race 4 - 1The Schweppervescence Plate (1000m) 4:40pm
Race 5 - The Macca's Run (2800m) 3:20pm
Race 6 - MSS Security Subzero Handicap (1400m) 3:55pm
Race 7 - MELBOURNE CUP (3200 METRES) 5pm
Race 8 - Howden Desirable Stakes (1400m) 5:50pm
Race 9 - The Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes (1400m) 6:35pm
Race 10 - Paramount+ Trophy (1400m) 7:15pm
11:10am - The big news around the Cup field is the scratching of Cleveland overnight, after the horse returned an elevated temperature. The six-year had taken out the Mooney Valley Gold Cup and was in good form.
That reduces the field to 23, but there is also some doubt over Alenquer, so hold your tickets on that. Our offices sweepstake kit (below) has been updated for the scratching...
10:43am - And the first punters are sprinting through the gates at Flemington...
10:31am - Welcome to our Melbourne Cup build-up. The gates are scheduled to open at Flemington for race-goers about now and we can confirm the sun has risen bright and beautiful at Melbourne.
Some breaking news, which we'll update soon...
*****
Kia ora, good morning and welcome to Newshub's live coverage of the Melbourne Cup Carnvial from Flemington Raceway.
Yes, this is the iconic race that supposedly stops a nation... but actually two, capturing the interest of race fans on both sides of the Tasman.
New Zealand has bred 40 winners over the years, carving a significant role in the history of Australia's greatest race - but it's not just about horses.
Flemington's 'Fashion in the Field' is also legendary for bringing together society's beautiful people... and perhaps those that drink a little too much and behave somewhat badly. We'll try to cover both those extremes today.
This race also acts as a focal point for animal welfare protests and justifiably so, with a sad record of horses that don't survival the event and others whipped excessively to the finish-line.
Join us as gates open at about 10:30am (NZ time). If you haven't already, download Newshub's office sweepstake kit and become part of the occasion.
