Melbourne Cup

The songstress and Victoria Racing Club ambassador opened the pre-race entertainment with a powerful display, but many viewers were left scratching their heads.

Goodrem’s performance began with a pre-recorded segment of her in a paddock at Twin Hills Stud in Cootamundra, in the NSW Riverina, singing her song Keep Climbing on a grand piano.

Then, dressed in a showstopping orange silk gown with prominent shoulder pads, she belted out a medley of power ballads live at Flemington, with the assistance of a group of back-up singers, each wearing an orange neck scarf.

The Peter Moody-trained gelding has captured the imagination of the sports-mad country, winning its last nine starts and blitzing the field in last month's 2400-metre Caulfield Cup, a traditional formguide for the Cup.

Incentivise's attraction has been boosted by the lack of international entrants in the world's richest two-mile handicap, with foreign stables shunning the race due to a combination of strict, new veterinary checks and Covid-19 logistical issues.

Because of Covid-19 restrictions, the tens of thousands of fans that normally turn up will be forced to watch from elsewhere.

Foreign horses have won eight of the last 10 Melbourne Cups and they again lead the favouritism for the $8.2 million race which starts at 5pm New Zealand time.

There are nine european entrants with Irish pair Anthony Van Dyck and Tiger Moth, who are both trained by Aiden O'Brien, among the leading contenders.

Prince of Arran, Master of Reality and Twilight Payment are the other heavily backed foreign raiders.

The five-year-old bay horse, trained by Hughie Morrison in Berkshire in England, has come in for increased attention since flashing home to be sixth behind Boom Time in the Caulfield Cup.

Marmelo had the fastest sectionals — times for the last 200 metres — in the race, covering the final furlong in 11.79 seconds.

The British horse had already caught the eye with a solid win in one of the key Cup lead-up races in Europe, the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville in France in August.

The defending Cup winner Almandin, another Lloyd Williams-owned entry Johannes Vermeer, the Darren Weir-trained Humidor and the British galloper Marmelo are the only horses at $10 and under.

There will be 11 overseas-trained horses in the field this year, equalling the record from 2011 and 2015.

Six of the top 10 chances in the betting were internationals the day after the barrier draw, but the top two were the Robert Hickmott-trained Almandin and Humidor.

Former AFL player agent Ricky Nixon angered punters after posting a winning Melbourne Cup ticket on Facebook with the outlay and winnings missing.

Nixon claimed he placed the bet on the wrong horse for girlfriend Tahlia McNamara, and realised shortly after the race that it was actually a winning ticket. 

Cafés and Bars like Mojo Social, part of the New World group, take opportunities like this to present the perfect venue to celebrate such events.

Mojo Social is the newest dining destination opened only in May this year.

It is located on the Ground Floor of PWC Haus, Harbour City, Port Moresby, with an open area bar.

The five-month-old café took to host its first Melbourne Cup luncheon yesterday, giving its customers a fresher feel of the day.

Mojo Social provided luncheon meal deals, from which the proceeds go to Links of Hope Foundation.

O’Neill throws down gauntlet for 2017

http://www.looppng.com/content/o%E2%80%99neill-throws-down-gauntlet-2017

Hartnell ($5) leads a five-horse assault for the Godolphin racing operation and will start from barrier 12 but could be challenged for favouritism by Oceanographer ($5.50) who drew alongside in 11.

Oceanographer rocketed up Cup betting markets following his impressive win in the Lexus Stakes on Saturday but must face the starter for a third time in 13 days on Tuesday.

The imported Almandin scored his maiden Australian win with a two-length success in the Listed Harry White Classic (2400m) but the manner of the win was not enough to earn him more weight for the Melbourne Cup.

Almandin passed the first Melbourne Cup ballot clause with his win, which promoted the Macedon Lodge galloper to 64^th in the order of entry for the great race.