Counting down to the Cup, Sir Dragonet can become the first horse since Makybe Diva in 2005 to win both the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup in the same year. The last horse to achieve the feat before her was Saintly in 1996. Sir Dragonet’s emphatic Cox Plate win last month doubled as his Australian debut. He would make history if he can do the double at his second Australian start. Glen Boss will take the reins and hope he can make the shift to firmer ground. In these extraordinary times, the Guardian’s editorial independence has never been more important. Because no one sets our agenda, or edits our editor, we can keep delivering quality, trustworthy, fact-checked journalism each and every day. Free from commercial or political influence, we can report fearlessly on world events and challenge those in power. Your support protects the Guardian’s independence. We believe every one of us deserves equal access to accurate news and calm explanation. No matter how unpredictable the future feels, we will remain with you, delivering high quality news so we can all make critical decisions about our lives, health and security – based on fact, not fiction. Support the Guardian from as little as $1 – and it only takes a minute. Thank you. This is from my esteemed colleague Matilda Boseley, who is on the ground in Melbourne: In a year filled with pandemics and protests it’s easy to forget that the Melbourne cup has always been a controversial event. Despite a lack of crowds, animal right protesters have still ventured to Flemington racecourse to draw attention to issues within the industry. A group of horse head-clad demonstrators cracking “bloody horse whips” gathered outside the racing club holding signs reading “Nup to the Cup”, and “You bet, they die”, and shooting red smoke into the sky. The stunt was organised by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses. “While media coverage glosses over the bleeding lungs, broken bones, and tragic loss of life, horses on Australian racetracks are subject to severe abuse and even death,” said PETA spokeswoman, Emily Rice in a statement. “How many more deaths will it take before we call time on this disgraceful demonstration of national senselessness?” Kylie Minogue is on Channel Ten, via video link from London, and she’s taking a trip down memory lane. “The first memory that comes to mind is, uh, ‘88 I think,” says a green silk-clad Minogue. “Where Jason Donovan and I, and maybe some other Neighbours cast members, they dressed us up. I think I looked like I was about 65 years old. In a really, really fancy race outfit. That was a good day. So, that is cemented in my memory. But I don’t really have one. It’s just the general, you know, the build-up and the excitement and the moment.” On lockdown in London, she says: “I was very grateful that I was able to keep working and be creative and, you know, I had it pretty good, I’ve gotta say. But the emotional ride was still something. And I can tell you I’ve never felt further away from home.” For the stats enthusiasts out there, here are some fun facts and figures. Real trivia stuff, this. * First run in 1861 under the banner of the Victorian Turf Club and won by the Etienne de Mestre-trained Archer who beat the favourite Mormon by six lengths. The prize was 1420 pounds and the trophy a gold watch. * Archer came back the following year to beat Mormon, this time by eight lengths, a record margin that still stands (it was equalled in 1968 by Rain Lover). * De Mestre would go on to train three other winners of the Melbourne Cup - Tim Whiffler (1867), Chester (1877) and Calamia (1878). * Trainer Bart Cummings claimed the first of his 12 Melbourne Cups in 1965 with Light Fingers. The following year stablemate Galilee was the only horse to prevent Light Fingers making it back-to-back Cups and in 1967 Red Handed gave Cummings his third straight victory. * Cummings’ other winners were Think Big (1974, 1975), Gold And Black (1977), Hyperno (1979), Kingston Rule (1990), Let’s Elope (1991), Saintly (1996), Rogan Josh (1999) and Viewed (2008). * In 1972 the race was altered to the metric distance of 3200m, 18.7 metres or 61.5 feet short of two miles. * Kingston Rule holds the metric race record of three minutes 16.30 seconds. * 1985 marked the dawn of a new era for the Cup with prize money raised to $1m. The owners of What A Nuisance received $650,000 and a $23,000 Cup. * This year the race is worth $4.4m to the winning owners. * Four-year-olds (46) and five-year-olds (44) have the best record of any age group. Other age groups are three-year-old (23), six-year-old (32), seven-year-old (10) and eight-year-old (2). * The oldest horses to win the race were the eight-year-olds Toryboy (1865) and Catalogue (1938). * Bobby Lewis and Harry White are the most successful jockeys. In 33 rides in the Cup Lewis saluted the judge four times with The Victory (1902), Patrobas (1915), Artilleryman (1919) and Trivalve in 1927. He also finished third on Phar Lap in 1929. * Harry White steered the Bart Cummings-trained Think Big to successive victories in 1974 and 1975. He was back in the winner’s circle again with Arwon in 1978 and another Cummings’ runner Hyperno in 1979. * Think Big failed to win a race between his two Melbourne Cup wins and Vow And Declare will be trying to emulate that achievement. * Makybe Diva is the only horse to win the Cup three times - in 2003, 2004 and 2005. * Perhaps the unluckiest of all Melbourne Cup runners was Shadow King who ran in six Cups between 1929 and 1935 finishing third to Phar Lap in 1930, second to White Nose in 1931, third to Peter Pan in 1932 and second again behind Hall Mark in 1933. * The longest-priced horses to win: Four horses have won at 100-1: The Pearl (1871), Wotan (1936), Old Rowley (1940) and Prince Of Penzance (2015). * The shortest-priced are Archer 2-1 (1862), Tim Whiffler 5-2 (1867), Revenue 7-4 (1901), Phar Lap 8-11 (1930), Even Stevens 3-1 (1962), Let’s Elope 3-1 (1991) and Makybe Diva at 5-2 in 2004. * Melbourne Cup winners to produce other Melbourne Cup winners:- Grand Flaneur (1880) sired Bravo (1889) and Patron (1894); Malua (1884) sired Malvolio (1891); Comedy King (1910) sired Artilleryman (1919) and King Ingoda (1922); Spearfelt (1926) sired Dark Felt (1943); Marabou (1935) sired Skipton (1941); Silver Knight (1971) sired Black Knight (1984). * Surprise Baby is a son of 2009 winner Shocking. * In 1993, Vintage Crop became the first northern hemisphere-trained horse to win. The Irish stayer was trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Mick Kinanne and is credited with putting the race on the world stage. * In 2015, Michelle Payne became the first woman to ride the winner of the Melbourne Cup when she took Prince Of Penzance to a famous victory. Jamie Kah is given a second-to-none chance of winning on Prince Of Arran. The racecourse looks absolutely glorious, by the way. Bathed in sunshine and without the public, somehow the grass looks greener. Race 5: Tab Trophy Damian Lane puts the disappointment of King of Leogrance’s earlier scratching from today’s main event as he pilots Aintnodealdun to victory over Confrontational. Grinzinger Lord claims third after a photo finish. On this morning’s news, Lane says: “I’ve been in racing long enough to know that these things happen and there’s not much that you can do about it.” Police are getting heavy-handed at the Melbourne protest. Wallabies great Matt Giteau has settled in for the day wearing Zoom meeting-friendly attire ... Race 4: The Macca’s Run Handicap (2800m) Or if you prefer horse names a little more mainstream than Alf Ramsey’s Porn Dungeon, Sin To Win has broken a 989-day drought under the guidance of Luke Currie, who will ride Warning in the Cup. Second place went to Naval Warfare and third to Yonkers. “He cruised along, and I sort of got that three wide running line,” Currie said. “And on the back of a couple of horses that I was happy to follow in. So it was always going to be spotting them away. That’s his style. So he was coming out and unleashed down the middle.” Here is Alan Partridge’s live commentary of Race 4 ... From my colleague Matilda Boseley: Michelle Paton and her friends go to the races every year, and although they can not make it to Flemington in 2020, they say it won’t stop them from celebrating. They have dressed up to watch the race in Federation Square, face masks accompanying their fascinators and floral dresses. “It’s a little bit of a bittersweet day, but at least the weather has turned on, so that’s amazing,” Paton said. “Obviously it’s a great time be out with friends, we have been cooped up for so long. .. we just wanted to find somewhere to get together and have a good time.” Federation Square has been set up to host a large number of groups that have been barred from the course this year. The race will be broadcast on the giant screen, and fake grass has been painted with white circles, has bee. n laid out; helping to ensure the would-be punters keep a safe distance. Persistent anti-lockdown protesters have followed through on threats to descend on parliament house for another rally. A man who unfurled a banner reading “Free Victoria” has reportedly been questioned by police and escorted away and another maskless man arrested just before the rally began. Race 3: Schweppervescence Plate (1000m) It is surreal observing a track bereft of the masses. For the first time in Cup history the grass at Flemington is visible. There are no picnic blankets, no bubbles in plastic cups, no fake-tanned decolletage teetering about on sky-high heels. It is in this eerie environment that Craig Williams takes Alleboom to victory in race 3, a shade too strong for Hard Landing and Mr Moppett. “Nothing but the beautiful straight five at Flemington,” says Williams, who will be all aboard Surprise Baby for the main event. “So it’s a bit daunting for some horses, because it’s a straight line. They’re used to being trained around bends. But Richard and Chantelle Jolly, who train this horse, have done a really good job. He was in his right race today.” Vis-a-vis sartorial overtures, here’s Delta Goodrem and her innocent eyes earning the ire of Twitter users who seem unimpressed at her romanticisation of animal cruelty and alleged ignorance of the trackside dress code. Here is a nice story from Nino Bucci on the fashion state of play. Milliners are experiencing a dip in sales, but have had more interstate orders than previous years. David Attenborough has made an appearance on Ten’s coverage. Tabcorp’s chief executive, obviously. He’s back by popular demand to encourage people to spend their money on his business. And thus begins the annual fixture of Gambling Binge Drinkers v Animal Welfare Advocates. Get in the spirit, people. In hindsight, that sweep conducted by Kindergarten teacher is looking pretty dubious. Which side of the fence are you on? Important to note this whole ridiculous palaver is happening mere days after allegations in Victorian parliament suggesting the slaughter of unwanted thoroughbreds is continuing in New South Wales. It also follows a study finding there is no benefit to jockeys using a whip. Animal welfare will be front and centre once again. The Melbourne Cup has long been marred by horse deaths. Two years ago Cliffsofmoher was euthanised. The Irish stallion was the sixth horse to suffer that fate since 2013. Race 2: World Horse Racing Desirable Stakes (1400m) No Restriction has come out of nowhere at huge odds of $34.5 to beat Pride of Jenni and Ripper Rita. Declan Bates was the winning hoop and the Irishman, who will ride Ashrun in the Cup, says the winkers and a firmer surface helped. Here he is in his home gym. Lucky he bought this racing simulator in January because they really flew out the door when Covid hit. The party has started in Longreach, where beers are already being poured at the Birdcage Hotel. Nothing will stop the Queenslanders having some fun. The town, which has a population of about 3000, is set to peak at 38 degrees this afternoon. Some 2000km south at Flemington, best efforts are being made to keep the horses cool ... In case you aren’t already aware, Jamie Kah is the Cup’s only female jockey. You might not know from looking at the paper this week. Nonetheless, she’ll ride Prince Of Arran, an English galloper who ran second in 2019 and is a decent shot today. Weather update! Melbourne is supposed to be building to its hottest Cup Day in six years with the Bureau of Meteorology forecasting temperatures to rise to a top of 29 degrees. Such balminess is expected to draw people outdoors to parks and gardens, and police will be out and about to ensure social distancing rules are followed. The last Cup weather this warm was in 2014 when the mercury climbed just north of 29 degrees. Take your cues from Glen Boss, who is in his paddling pool getting ready to ride Sir Dragonet. Race one: Maribyrnong Plate Earlier, in the first race of the day, Finance Tycoon was too strong for the fancied Ingratiating, ridden by Damian Oliver, to claim victory. Marine One came in third. “They do a good job, the juveniles,” said jockey Luke Nolan. “He’s always shown nice ability, but he’s just been a by backward in coming forward. You know, he’s just not quite there and a bit unsure about it all. But I think he possesses nice ability.” Early scratching this morning, with King of Leogrance ruled out after a vet inspection, reducing the race field to 23. The five-year-old gelding was found to be lame in its off fore leg, according to Racing Victoria stewards. The decision was made just after 7.30am AEDT. Top of the morning to you all and welcome to our live coverage of the Melbourne Cup, the race that will somehow stop a nation already on pause. The race that, we are told by various Melbourne-centric outlets, will reign as today’s undisputed centrepiece of a big wide world in which all its inhabitants await the result with bated breath. We are aware there are some other quite big things happening today, particularly in the US and Vienna. Gai Waterhouse, apparently, is not. The queen of the track scene has been on 2GB this morning to lambast the Victorian government’s decision to ban spectators. “It’s quite ridiculous really, the way they’ve gone on in Victoria,” she said. “The Premier there should wake up and let people go on with their business. By all means social distance … but you can’t have the country cut off at the knees.” We simply cannot have that. Nay, we say. So come with us on this deep dive of fan-free frolicking, fashion and turf action. And please do send us photos, videos and updates of what you are up to.