Overview
- Flemington was rated a Soft 6 this morning after more than 30mm of rain in 24 hours, with forecasters and analysts warning the track could downgrade to Soft 7 or Heavy 8 by post time.
- The Bureau of Meteorology expects a cool top of 16–17°C, gusty winds up to about 40 km/h, and on‑off showers with a brief midday lull before more bands move through.
- The AU$10 million Melbourne Cup is scheduled for 3:00pm AEDT with a full field of 24 starters on rain‑affected ground.
- Markets highlight wet‑track credentials, with Al Riffa and Half Yours among the leading chances based on recent form and suitability to softer going.
- Tens of thousands have streamed into Flemington despite the wet conditions, with the winning connections set to receive AU$4.5 million from the expanded purse.