On a day honouring the memory of the man who made the Melbourne Cup famous, the Cummings family name is once again to the fore.
James Cummings, the grandson of 12-time Cup winning trainer Bart, has trained Zarzali to win the 1700m mares race at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November.
Racing in the black and white checked colours made famous by Dato Tan Chin Nam's two Cup winners Saintly and Viewed, Zarzali ($2.80 fav) fought hard over the final 200 metres to stave off the challenge from Precious Gem ($6.50) by a neck.
Bart Cummings, who trained both Saintly and Viewed for Dato Tan along with Think Big who won the Cup twice, died two months ago aged 87.
"It's a very emotional day and we are all very appreciative of the tributes to Bart," James Cummings said.
"I think perhaps someone was smiling from above.
"She is a good fighter and she may back up on Saturday in the Matriarch Stakes as long as she comes through this race.
James (left) and Anthony Cummings participate in the Melbourne Cup Parade in Melbourne, Monday, Nov. 2, 2015. The Melbourne Cup will be held on November 3. (AAP) Source: AAP
"And it's great to win with these colours. She is actually owned by Dato Tan's son, Tan Boon Seng, who is continuing the family interest in horse racing."
Three-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey Glen Boss, who doesn't have a ride in the race this year, said he was proud to wear the colours.
"They've been synonymous with Cup day and synonymous with Flemington," he said.
Three-time winner Oliver faces tough field
Three-time winning jockey Damien Oliver knows he is up against a tough field in his 26th Melbourne Cup.
Oliver is trying for a fourth Cup win, on the Gai Waterhouse-trained The Offer at Flemington on Tuesday.
"It's a tough race this year," he said. "There's many chances, I think, and there's a lot of jockeys going into the race thinking they've got a chance to win it.
"It's going to be a very competitive race."
Japanese galloper Fame Game is the short-priced favourite, but heavy support has come for English trainer Ed Dunlop's Trip To Paris, the stablemate of crowd favourite and three-time runner-up Red Cadeaux.
The three are among a record-equalling 11 contenders trained overseas.
The existing record was set in the 2011 Melbourne Cup, which was won by French stayer Dunaden. Six of the first seven placings that year were filled by horses trained abroad.
Of the 24 runners this year only one, Sertorius, was bred in Australia.
Lleyton and Bec Hewitt pose for photographs in the Swisse marquee at the Birdcage on Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington Racecourse, in Melbourne, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015. (AAP) Source: AAP
"To be the only Australian-owned, Australian-bred and Australian-trained horse in the race, it's pretty special," trainer Jamie Edwards said.
"My wife said to me, `have a look at the wealth and racing experience that's in this room and here we are little battlers from Geelong'."
Race three on Tuesday has been renamed the JB Cummings AM Tribute Plate in honour of the legendary trainer of a record 12 Melbourne Cup winners.
There will also be a special tribute to Bart Cummings before the main event.
Blake Shinn, the last jockey to win a Melbourne Cup for Cummings, with Viewed in 2008, has the ride on Who Shot Thebarman, trained by Chris Waller, and says it is a wide-open race.
"I think the internationals are going to be very hard to beat," Shinn said.
"You've got to respect the internationals - Fame Game and the English horses and Europeans - but I think my horse is probably the best local chance."
It is expected to be partly cloudy and 22C on Tuesday, with crowd numbers reaching 100,000 - on par with last year.
