Live: Punters brave wintry conditions as new Melbourne Cup favourite emerges
British horse Hopewell Rock begins Melbourne Cup Day as the favourite for the race that stops the nation.
The four-year-old colt is one of 24 horses preparing to start the 166th edition of the Cup at Flemington this afternoon.
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Melbourne Cup Day 2026
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Melbourne Cup 2026 field, horses and form guide
By Michael Doyle
By Michael Doyle
Point Of Law, a horse bought from King Charles only a few months ago, remains the punters' elect ahead of Tuesday's Melbourne Cup.
He'll be having only his sixth career start and is one of a record seven runners in the race for leading trainer Ciaron Maher.
Explore our interactive form guide to all the horses set to line up in the 166th Melbourne Cup, by tapping the link below.
Key Event
What time is the Melbourne Cup?
By Michael Doyle
By Michael Doyle
Here are the start times for the Melbourne Cup in each state and territory, including New Zealand.
- 3pm AEDT: Victoria, NSW, Tasmania, ACT
- 2:30pm ACDT: South Australia
- 2pm AEST: Queensland
- 1:30pm ACST: Northern Territory
- 12pm AWST: Western Australia
- 5pm NZDT: New Zealand
Welcome to the ABC Sport Melbourne Cup blog
By Michael Doyle
By Michael Doyle
Good morning, Australia.
Welcome to ABC Sport's live digital coverage of the 2026 Melbourne Cup.
British horse Hopewell Rock begins Melbourne Cup Day as the favourite for the race that stops the nation.
There has been rain in Melbourne over the previous 24 hours, with the Flemington track currently rated a Soft 5.
Join Andrew McGarry and me throughout the day, and be part of the conversation in the comment section.
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