'The most wide-open Melbourne Cup in history'
English horse Marmelo is the narrow favourite to win the Melbourne Cup, but many agree that this year's race is one of the most unpredictable in its famous history.
On Cup eve in the country's biggest betting race, Marmelo was the TAB's $8 favourite, displacing last year's winner Almandin who is out to $9.50 and one of six horses running for his owner Lloyd Williams who has won the race a record five times.
But Marmelo's is the longest-priced favourite since the TAB started doing Melbourne Cup odds in 2001.
"I could look at this race so many times and not pick the winner," jockey Glen Boss said on Monday. "It's so open this year."
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The Darren Weir-trained Humidor, who chased Winx home in the Cox Plate, is at $10 alongside Johannes Vermeer, third in the Caulfield Cup for Irish trainer Aidan O'Brien and co-owner Williams.
But the worst result for the TAB is Single Gaze, the Caulfield Cup runner-up.
The diminutive mare from Canberra is at $41 but well supported by her loyal following.
She is trained by Nick Olive, who believes people continue to underestimate her toughness, and will be ridden by Kathy O'Hara, the only woman with a ride in the Cup famously won by Michelle Payne two years ago.
"It would mean the world to me, not only just me and my career but also to win for Nick and all of the owners in this horse," O'Hara said.
"She's come from many humble beginnings and she's just come so far in her career. For her to come back after a really nasty fall, it just says volumes about her temperament, her will to win and her toughness."
DETTORI OUT TO END 16-YEAR HOODOO
Superstar jockey Frankie Dettori hopes he can finally break his Melbourne Cup hoodoo, the Italian rider returning for his 16th attempt at Australia's most famous race in 24 years.
Dettori rides defending Cup champion Almandin for owner, and the jockey's good friend, Williams who has won the race a record five times.
"It's one of the best races in the word," Dettori said. "I'd like to put my name on that famous list of jockeys."
Dettori has ridden the winners of most of the world's greatest races, but the closest he has come to claiming the Melbourne Cup was his second on Max Dynamite in 2015.
"To me the Melbourne Cup is one of the biggest races in the world and I haven't won," Dettori said.
"It would mean a lot to break this hoodoo."
The 46-year-old won Europe's biggest race, the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, for a record fifth time a month ago.
He picked up the ride on Almandin following three-time Cup winner Damien Oliver's suspension.
Williams has six runners in this year's Cup: Almandin, Johannes Vermeer, Bondi Beach, US Army Ranger, Gallante and Rekindling.
A record-equalling 11 horses trained in the northern hemisphere are in the field including 2015 runner-up Max Dynamite, one of three runners for Irish trainer Willie Mullins.
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Famous for his association with triple Cox Plate winner Winx, Hugh Bowman gets his best chance yet to also become known as a Melbourne Cup winner.
The heavyweight rider has had few genuine chances over the years in the world's richest handicap but punters believe Marmelo can change that on Tuesday.
Before his eye-catching sixth in the Caulfield Cup, the Hughie Morrison-trained Marmelo won the Prix Kergorlay (3000m) at Deauville.
Two winners of that testing staying race, Americain (2010) and Protectionist (2014), have gone on to win the Melbourne Cup over 3200m.
COLDEST MELBOURNE CUP IN A DECADE
Fashionable racegoers are set to shiver through the coldest Melbourne Cup in a decade.
Temperatures are expected to hit a top of just 16C on Tuesday, with a cool southerly breeze making it feel colder and showers expected in the morning, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
"It will be a cool Cup Day and will probably be the coldest since 2006," senior forecaster Rod Dickson told AAP.
Showers are also expected for the morning, but should clear in time for the race that stops a nation.
"It will be cool and grey morning but there will be a bit of sunshine... it should be quite a fine afternoon," Mr Dickson said.
The weather is expected to clear from Wednesday and the weekend is expected to be sunny and warm.
Watch all the Melbourne Cup action on the screens of Channel 7 and 7Live from 10am AEDT
with AAP