Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern backs NZ-trained Sound Check for Melbourne Cup

Greg Childs aboard the Mike Moroney-trained Second Coming after winning the 1997 Victoria Derby at Flemington. Childs' son will ride in the Melbourne Cup. Photo / Vince Caligiuri

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is hoping Lady Luck is smiling on her on Melbourne Cup Day today.

Ardern told reporters she'd never had much luck betting on the horses, so would probably join a sweepstake for the event billed as the Race that Stops the Nation.

"I always had terrible luck in this regard, so I might just join a sweepstake."

Her pick for the race? Sound Check, a German import trained in Melbourne by New Zealander Mike Moroney.

Sound Check is being ridden by Jordan Childs, the son of well-known Kiwi jockey Greg Childs.

Ardern said she'd had tips from fellow Labour MP Kieran McAnulty, a former TAB bookmaker.

"He's one of the reasons I've never done well in the past."

Ardern did join a sweepstake, the Labour caucus sweepstake, where she drew Irish stallion The Cliffsofmoher, which has won three of 17 starts.

Racing Minister Winston Peters, who knows a thing or two about horseflesh, drew Yucatan from his office sweepstake, a favourite but not tested over 3200m and an unfavourable barrier draw.