Welcome to nzherald.co.nz's latest updates on Melbourne Cup day. We cover all the action as it happens, on both sides of the Tasman.
5.28pm:
The puns are out in force already. The Melbourne Age says "Shock and awe" and a "Shocking crime scene". News.com.au says it was a "Shocking win". The Sydney Morning Herald is claiming it is a win for that city saying "Cup's heart is in Sydney".
5.23pm:
Jockey Corey Brown
said he was elated.
"I've finally won a Melbourne Cup. It's a dream come true. I counted to 10, saw the clocktower and went for home. I'm speechless. I want everyone to experience the feeling I'm feeling now."
Trainer Mark Kavanagh was also happy. He said it was one of the great performances in Melbourne Cup history and said of Brown: "His preparation was timed to perfection."
5.17pm:
Winning jockey Corey Brown said immediately after the victory: "Every jockey wants to win. I have just lived my dream."
5.05pm
Shocking wins Melbourne Cup at $9.90 for the win, $3.60 place. Crime Scene placed second, with Mouriylan third. Warringah led for much of the race but faded in the closing stages.
But Shocking had the stronger legs, clearing out 50 metres from home and winning by a length.
4:34pm - TAB turnover up
Betting turnover is "looking good", and is up on last year, says the TAB.
TAB communications manager Kelly McAra says turnover at 4pm was almost at $5 million, just for the main 5pm race.
She is confident turnover for that race will reach this morning's prediction of about $7.5 million.
"It's looking good so far," she says.
The 4pm turnover is an improvement of about 5 per cent on the same time last year.
4:27pm - Melbourne Cup charity
Charity events are in full swing across the country, making good use of Melbourne Cup day frivolity. Although the TAB is experiencing high betting turnover, many are choosing to trade their money in for a good cause.
In Nelson, a summer fashion show featuring Trelise Cooper and Jane Daniels, with canapes and drinks on offer has just kicked off to raise money for Nelson Marlborough Rescue Helicopter Trust.
Meanwhile, Starship is holding a sell-out Melbourne Cup Charity Luncheon at the Ellerslie Race Course. A spokesperson for Starship says over $270,000 has been raised over the last eight years thanks to their Melbourne Cup events. They are hoping this year will crack the $300, 000 mark with funds raised going to a high definition camera stack for their Paediatric Neurology unit.
3:20pm - Odds gap closing
The gap is closing in the betting stakes between the favourites, according to some bookies.
Australian betting agency BetStar has Viewed and Alcopop as equal favourites at $5.00 each.
Australia's largest bookmaker Sportingbet Australia also has the two horses equal at $5.50 apiece.
In New Zealand, the TAB has Viewed in front at $5.10, with Alcopop and Roman Emperor second, both at $6.60.
3:00pm - Not for kids
An expert on gambling has warned about the dangerous effects of letting children have a punt on the Melbourne Cup today.
Dr Matthew Rockloff, a senior lecturer in psychology at Central Queensland University, said having a flutter is not a harmless activity for children, ABC News reported.
He is warning that one-off bets on the Melbourne Cup can be an initiation into problem gambling.
"There's a lot of evidence that shows it's not a good idea to introduce gambling to people when they're young," he told ABC News Online.
"In fact, most people with gambling problems often develop gambling problems when they're adolescents."
2:52pm - You mean there's OTHER sport on?
Yep, the Melbourne Cup isn't the only event that sports-watchers' eyes are glued to today.
Over in USA, the Philadelphia Phillies are struggling to keep their baseball World Series dream alive against the dominant New York Yankees this afternoon (NZ time).
The Yanks have jumped out to a 3-1 lead in this year's best-of-seven games Fall Classic, and can win it all with a victory in Philadelphia today.
If the Phillies - the reigning champions - manage a win at home, it's back to New York for game 6 and (possibly) game 7.
Early on in today's baseball action, the score is 3-1 to the home team.
2:15pm - Cummings eyes main rival
Master trainer Bart Cummings is not too worried about the challenge from South Australian horse Alcopop in the Cup this afternoon.
Alcopop presents the greatest challenge to Cummings collecting his 13th Melbourne Cup with top picks Viewed, Roman Emperor and Allez Wonder.
Previously a cattle horse, Alcopop has undergone endurance training in the remote country of South Australia, leaving Cummings unsure how the horse will react to the bright lights and crowds at the race.
"He's hard to assess," Cummings told The Age newspaper. "Being trained away from a crowd, it's hard to say how he'll be. It could upset the horse."
Cummings added he doesn't believe Alcopop is ready as he will not have raced for three weeks when he hits the track today.
1:45pm - On the streets of Melbourne ...
Racegoers have already started arriving at Flemington as Australians gear up for the race that stops a nation.
With the race itself now just hours away, organisers are still making last-minute preparations, as blue skies appear over the course after a gloomy start to the day, the Melbourne Herald-Sun reports.
Melbourne streets are quiet for the Cup Day holiday, apart from punters headed to functions in their racing finery.
Taxis are gearing up for a huge day and operators of the city's trains and trams are under pressure to avoid any problems.
1:25pm - The place to see and be seen
Celebrity guests are expected to arrive in droves at Flemington racecourse today to schmooze it up in Emirate's Bollywood-themed birdcage party tent.
Notable entrants are glam metaller Tommy Lee, British royal Zara Phillips, Good Charlotte rockers Benji and Joel Madden, model/actress Sophie Monk and crooner Ronan Keating.
Melbourne Cup day is known for attracting big names to party - last year hip-hop superstar Snoop Dogg came downunder, and Paris Hilton with sister Nicky caused a stir with their table-dancing antics in 2003.
1:10pm - Bridgette has her say
Ellerslie racing ambassador and style icon, Bridgette O'Sullivan, has given her top tips on what she looks for in a winning horse.
Bridgette O'Sullivan
"I look for horses that can run over long distances and have displayed good form leading into the race." Unconcerned with the pedigree of the horse, she says a good jockey and barrier draw are more important for a win.
