03:08 GMT – WELCOME TO AFP’s COVERAGE OF THE MELBOURNE CUP in Australia, the world’s richest two-mile handicap race. Celebrities and politicians are among the elegantly dressed crowd at Flemington race course. Australians around the country are taking time off work and gathering for parties for one of the year’s biggest sports events, dubbed “the race that stops a nationâ€.
Japan’s Fame Game is the favourite at 4-1 and 11 foreign-trained horses are in the field of 24 with Aus$6.2 million ($4.4 million) in prize money at stake. The 154-year-old race over 3,200m (two miles) race has only been won six times by international runners.
Among the other foreign raiders is Sky Hunter belonging to Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed, who has had three second placings in 18 attempts at winning the coveted trophy.