KEY POINTS:
Want a winner in Australia's greatest horse race? Don't back the Australians. That is the almost unthinkable prospect facing the millions of punters who will have their annual racing bet on the A$5 million ($5.75 million) Melbourne Cup at Flemington today.
The race that has always stopped two nations now attracts a far wider international audience and it could be Northern Hemisphere punters who yell the loudest.
The strongest international presence in the history of the race, coupled with the lack of a champion stayer from Downunder, means few of the leading fancies are Australian. Favourite Tawqeet is trained there but has spent most of his career in Europe, while Irish raider Yeats is the topweight and two Japanese runners are also heavily supported.
Which leaves Australia's best hope as Efficient, a three-year-old who has had only six starts and is attempting to become the first of his age to win in 65 years.
New Zealand has a smaller than usual representation, with Pukekohe-based galloper Mandela rated the best chance of the three Kiwi hopefuls.
The race will start at 5pm.
