Victoria Racing Club chairwoman Amanda Elliott could be handing the $6.25 million Melbourne Cup to herself on the first Tuesday in November.
Ms Elliott has her first Melbourne Cup runner in Libran, in her inaugural year overseeing the event.
And she's not sure how she will feel should Libran win on November 7.
"I should be asking Lloyd Williams what it feels like," Ms Elliott said.
"He seems to get more joy every time he wins one.
"I've got a tiny share of a horse that's in the Cup.
"If we won, I'm not sure what I would do to be honest. I'd be very, very excited."
Mr Williams won his record fifth Melbourne Cup last year with Almandin.
The horse is equal favourite for this year's Cup with Humidor, after the Darren Weir-trained horse's close second to Winx in Saturday's $3 million Cox Plate.
Chris Waller trains both Winx and Libran, who is owned by a syndicate led by Highclere Thoroughbred Racing.
Not surprisingly, Ms Elliott nominated Libran when asked for her Cup tip.
"The Melbourne Cup is the hardest race in the world to win," said the first chairwoman in the VRC's 153-year history.
"I just hope it's a really, really competitive race won by the best horse."
About 300,000 racegoers are expected to flock to Flemington for the four big race days beginning with Derby Day on Saturday.
The VRC had anticipated a five per cent reduction in attendance due to the members' grandstand being closed for its $128 million redevelopment, Ms Elliott said.
But there may not be much of an impact, given ticket sales are ahead of this time last year.
"We budgeted around a five per cent drop but we're not even sure we'll get that," she said at Monday's launch of the Melbourne Cup carnival.
"Corporate sales have been really strong, ticket sales are ahead and everything seems really positive."
The VRC has set up new spaces for its members during construction of the Club Stand, which will be finished before next year's carnival.
For those who head to the races for the off-track styles rather than the horses, the men's Fashions on the Field has been expanded to include heats on both Derby Day and Melbourne Cup Day.
