Melbourne Cup 2018 live: horses, form guide, fashion and tips – latest updates!

There is some weather good news on the horizon, according to Channel Seven’s Jane Bunn. On the TV they’re talking about some show called “That’s Racing’, but all I can focus on are the three red hats on the desk plugging the program that say “Make Racing Greaterer”.

Meanwhile, Calla has been seeking out more stories from the folks on the lawns.

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We’re edging towards Race Seven, also known as the one that stops the nation. Shaaroh (10), ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, absolutely smashed race four, leaving Steel Prince (12) and Azuro (11) and the rest of the field in its wake. McEvoy is also riding one of the Cup favourites, Cross Counter.

Flemington’s exclusive Birdcage enclosure has become a refuge for A-listers as flash flooding hits the city ahead of the running of the Melbourne Cup.

Rain has deluged the entrance to the invitation-only area, with organisers creating a bridge out of pallets for celebrities to cross.

Many, however, have ditched their designer heels and braved the elements.

About 17.5mm of rain has already fallen in Melbourne since 7am on Tuesday, and up to 10mm is still on its way.

Many media opportunities have been cancelled or moved indoors, while some celebrities scheduled to arrive haven’t shown.

Myer ambassadors Rachael Finch and Elyse Knowles say they’re thankful to have deluxe shelter in the form of the Fashions on the Field enclosure.

“I’m pretty lucky I get to spend the day in here,” Finch, in a spaghetti-strap, full-skirted Elliatt dress, told AAP.

“I’m looking forward to seeing all the beautiful outfits at Fashions on the Field because no matter the weather, ladies put so much of an effort into their looks.”

Knowles, in bright yellow pants and a white and yellow floral shirt by Acler, didn’t consider an outfit change despite the downpour.

“I’m bringing the sunshine today in my bright yellow pants, and some positivity too,” she said.

Grammy-winning singer Sam Smith, however, will have to face the elements when he performs two of his hits before the Melbourne Cup starts at 3pm.

He will be joined by US soul great Dionne Warwick in the Victoria Racing Club marquee.

Also jetting in for the festivities are Australian expats Lara Worthington and Nathalie Kelley.

Worthington – or Bingle as she is better known – is a guest of Bumble, with the marquee to host a range of businesswomen from the fashion, beauty and media industries.

Kelley, who has appeared in hit US TV shows including Body of Proof, Unreal, The Vampire Diaries and the 2017 remake of Dynasty, will party in the Mumm champagne marquee, likely alongside Olympic sprinter Usain Bolt.

Mining magnate Gina Rinehart is expected to attend as a guest of Lexus. It is the billionaire’s first return to the Cup since she was photographed taking a tumble down the stairs of the Emirates marquee in 2016.

In the Tabcorp marquee, guests will get a sneak peek into the production of Ride Like A Girl, the film based on story of Michelle Payne, the first female jockey to win the Melbourne Cup.

Payne, her brother Stevie, director Rachel Griffiths and producer Richard Keddie are all on the guest list.

Just to remind you, it’s been raining a lot. Those who are saying #nuptothecup – that’s the official anti-cup hashtag – are taking it as an omen. The main race has never cancelled due to wet weather. Could today be the first time?

Our intrepid reporter Calla Wahlquist has been braving the rain to chat with some punters.

Just to return to the PM’s pick – Youngstar. Sydney-based co-owners Arthur and Charlotte lost their daughter Olivia in a riding accident in March 2016. The 17-year-old was a rising equestrian star and so the horse is named after her.

“We did want to run with something with star in it,” Arthur Inglis told the Herald Sun of of the name. “We used to live in Young Street in Newmarket. Youngstar was also bred in Young. The dam was Starspangled.”

Youngstar is an outside chance at $14 and is carrying the hopes of Australian racing on its shoulders, according to some observers. Good luck to jockey Craig Williams and to the Inglis family on what is sure to be an emotional day.

Fifty Stars (10) has taken out race three, followed by Manuel (2) and Haunted (13).

Here’s what that looked like at track level.

It’s just ticked past midday on Melbourne Cup day. So let’s take a look at the favourites for the main race. I won’t be giving you rolling updates of the betting odds – you probably came here to escape that – but here’s a quick glance.

Magic Circle (17) and Yucatan (23) are now equal favourites, paying $7 for the win. Cross Counter is paying $9, with Best Solution (no.6, $12) and Muntahaa (no.13, $13) rounding at the top five.

Just so you know, I’ve drawn Yucatan in our office sweep; you know who I’ll be backing. (We’ve still got a few horses left: numbers 6, 14, 21 and 2.)

And if you had wondered who the prime minister is backing (no, me neither), he’s told us on Twitter.

Linda Meech has steered One More Try to victory in race two, with Seductive Miss and Miss Siska in second and third place.

Meech is asked about the weather and the track. Would they be racing if it wasn’t Cup day?

“I sort of thought it was safe enough, but it is very, very heavy,” she says.

While we’re waiting for race two to get under way, it’s time for some light entertainment. For the uninitiated, I present to you, horse racing Alan Partridge-style.

There are murmurings – in this office, anyway – about what the rain means for today’s schedule. Here’s an initial answer to that question.

The rain is expected to subside in about an hour, according to the bureau. It’s not just impacting punters at Flemington.

The track has been downgraded to a “heavy 8”. And here’s the scene at the station that adjoins the racecourse. God knows what it’s going to look like at the end of the day.

Meanwhile, in Queensland health experts have been warning of a heatwave.

Who is faster? A Cup-winning horse or a 100-metre sprinter/almost signed A-League footballer? Our data guru, Nick Evershed, has the answer to a question you may not have considered until you read this post.

Check out Nick’s interactive here.

I’m not sure if I mentioned that it’s raining? We’re being reminded every few minutes on the TV. “It doesn’t feel like summer right now, but it is, I promise you,” Bruce McAvaney tells us. Well, technically it’s spring, but I take your point, Bruce.

We’ll have some pics of people getting soaked for you shortly – I know you’ve been waiting for them.

It’s the Bumble Stakes – normally I wouldn’t mention the sponsor, but yes, that’s the dating app we’re talking about.

Bella Rosa got to the line first, followed by Lankan Star and Champagne Boom.

Winning jockey Mark Zahra tells Channel Seven: “Geez, it’s wet … Couldn’t see much.”

“Whipping horses to make them run faster is just cruel. One racehorse dies every 3 days in Australia and 119 racehorses have died in the last racing year alone.”

I mentioned earlier that Alana Schetzer would be joining our coverage. Alana is unwell and won’t be able to make it down to the track. Get well soon, Alana!

Let’s look at the race itself. As Calla has shamed me for my lack of racing knowledge, we’d better turn to the experts. It looks like today is going to be all about those “overseas raiders” we always hear about at this time of year.

As Greg Wood writes:

The overseas challenge also includes the first five names in the betting, and some – perhaps many – Australian fans have already given up this year’s Cup as lost.

Read Greg’s entire piece here.

Michael Hutak has also looked at the growing international flavour to the race, but also notes:

While “community attitudes” to horse racing are polarising in the social media era, Cup Day, a public holiday in Victoria since 1873, still signals party time in Australia, an end of year imperative to down tools, gather in groups, overindulge, and “get on the punt” in the best antipodean tradition.

Michael’s story is here.