Overview
- Flemington was rated a Soft 6 after more than 30 millimetres of rain, with up to 10 millimetres of additional showers forecast and temperatures hovering in the mid-teens.
- The Melbourne Cup will start at 3:00 pm AEDT and proceed with the full field of 24 runners.
- Meteorologists flagged gusts near 40 km/h and off‑and‑on showers, with a possible brief midday lull before more bands move through.
- Wet conditions are influencing markets toward proven mud runners, with Al Riffa and Australian favourite Half Yours prominent in pre‑race assessments.
- This year’s purse is $10 million with $4.5 million to the winner, and coverage is available free‑to‑air on Channel 9 and via 9Now.