• Adam Pengilly
• 1 hr ago

Michelle Payne's hopes of getting a Melbourne Cup ride have evaporated after Godolphin locked in their jockeys for its army of horses trying to break Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's drought in the $6.2 million race.

• Larissa Nicholson

Racing is not a sexist sport, one of the British industry's high profile women says.

• Thomas Hackett

The Coolmore Stud Stakes is arguably the race of the 2016 Spring Racing Carnival.

• Chris Roots

Bart Cummings' most trusted lieutenant Reg Fleming is part of the Godolphin team trying to break the boys in blue's Melbourne Cup hoodoo with favourite Hartnell.

• Adam Pengilly

John Wheeler might still be recovering from Veandercross's near miss in the Caulfield-Melbourne cups double of 1992, but his old school methods haven't waned as he stands on the brink of squeezing into this year's race.

• Patrick Bartley

Racing Victoria veterinary surgeons have spent the past two days travelling across Victoria examining the 32 runners in contention for this year's $6.2 million Melbourne Cup.

• Patrick Bartley

Racing Victoria's annual general meeting on Monday revealed $1.9 million had been spent instigating and defending cobalt charges against several prominent trainers. When one considers that total statewide turnover for the industry is $5.5 billion, the cost to ensure it operates according to the highest levels of integrity and transparency is money well spent.

• Michael Lynch

Colourful racing identity is not a phrase heard quite so often on Australian racetracks these days as the big stables have become slicker and more professional. Image and "brand awareness" have become essential elements for success.

• Adam Pengilly

Hugh Bowman hadn't ridden two of his three Victoria Derby winners before the three-year-old classic. He is desperately hoping history will repeat again this year.

• Melissa Singer

They are the Taj Mahal of tents but what does it actually take to build the salubrious marquees inside Flemington's Birdcage?

Which day of the carnival is right for you?

• Chris Roots

The Derby has always been the plan for Sacred Elixir, but now the vision is for derbies around the world.

• Chris Roots

It is says a lot about the Newgate Farm operation that it didn't have its our racing colours until a couple of weeks ago.

• John Holloway

Victoria Derby favourite Sacred Elixir is the horse responsible for allowing his English Derby-winning sire Pour Moi to restart shuttle duties from Coolmore Stud to Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand, with an outstanding book of mares now being covered.

• Adam Pengilly

Kurt Goldman has a theory about races for country horses. You'd rather be out than in. In the race, but out of trouble. Because you just don't know when it's about to appear.

• Adam Pengilly

Is there a better way to make a splash in your first year of training than winning the race named after a horse you knew so well to chalk up the same sire's first winner? Mark Newnham hopes the stars align in the Pierro Plate.

• Max Presnell

Aiden O'Brien is regarded in Europe as the best trainer in the world, but is he any better than Chris Waller? Like all greats they "have something", according to wise guys, possibly a magic potion or gadget that makes their racehorses go faster for longer than rival horsemen.

• Adam Pengilly

It was the turn of the century when his Melbourne Cup dream was fulfilled, but watching sister-in-law Michelle Payne ride into the record books has ignited Kerrin McEvoy's desire to win another and keep the country's most coveted racing prize in the family.

• Chris Roots

Tommy Berry is among the best connected jockeys in the world. He has learnt quickly that associations and connections led to opportunities and it is why he locked in the Melbourne Cup ride on Curren Mirotic six months ago.

• Kieran Iles

Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby has become the first international raider to win the Jayco Bendigo Cup, as St Francis Of Assisi stormed to victory in Wednesday's group 3 feature race.

• Adam Pengilly

Rival trainers have all but conceded the Victoria Derby to firming favourite Sacred Elixir, whose iron-clad grip on the $1.5 million classic strengthened after being gifted the coveted pole position in the barrier draw.

• Melissa Singer

It's a battle of the 'enthusiasts' and the novices - who will win?

• Chris Roots

James Cummings believes he has a great chance in the Victoria Derby with Prized Icon but it came down to last minute call for Good Standing to miss the blue ribband for the Emirates Stakes on the final day of the carnival.

• Adam Pengilly

Caulfield Cup runner-up Scottish won't run in the Melbourne Cup as Godolphin's juggling act before Australia's great race took another twist on Wednesday.

• Patrick Bartley

Matt Cumani is better placed than most to comment on the raging debate between how Australian horse trainers prepare their distance horses as against their fellow horseman in Europe.

• James Hall

Canberra jockey John Kissick has broken his back and could be out of the saddle for up to 12 months after a nasty cattle riding fall.

• Adam Pengilly

All jockeys will dismount from their horses in front of Randwick's $150 million grandstand in a major shift to post-race procedures – but the polarising theatre of the horse is here to stay.

• Chris Roots

The first experience of Australian racing for Charlie Appleby has been a profitable one and the success of his team has the Godolphin trainer coming into Melbourne a couple days earlier than expected.

• Adam Pengilly

A defiant Gai Waterhouse has predicted an Australian-trained horse will repel the challenge of the internationals and win the Melbourne Cup while launching a passionate defence of the slumping entries and quality in the race.