Melbourne Cup 2024 LIVE updates: Crowds flock to Flemington for ...

We’re calling it early. Red is definitely the colour of the day with a number of celebrities and VIPs choosing the shade for this sunny Cup Day.

Olympic champion Ariarne Titmus arrived bang on time in an Aje minidress and Ezara J bow, while model and former Miss Universe Australia Olivia Molly Rogers turned plenty of heads in her custom Oglio-Loro Couture look.

Ariane Titmus.Credit: PENNY STEPHENS

After working with stylist Paul Versace for years, Rogers took a punt on styling herself today, as Versace has moved to Sydney.

She’s obviously learnt a thing or two – there’s nothing DIY about her efforts.

Olivia Molly Rogers at the Birdcage.Credit: PENNY STEPHENS

Given my hair, I should have some expertise in a race restricted to grey horses, but I can’t guarantee it.

Steven King is an interesting name to appear on the trainer’s list, having ruled the roost way back in 1991 when he was the Melbourne Cup-winning jockey aboard the champion mare Let’s Elope.

In this race he sends out the more modest Top Arctic, who carries the hopes of the Grey Plastic Shoes racing syndicate, which is appropriate.

That makes the horse one to watch against the more fancied Mathletic and Cloudland, who shape as the main chances in a race that rarely goes to script.

Stormfront will run well with blinkers on first time for Clinton McDonald, but I’ll be on Chattahoochee, the New Zealand horse having his first start with Cindy Alderson. Each way.

We asked Europe correspondent Rob Harris, who is in town for the Cup carnival – because why not – for his favourite Melbourne Cup moment. He went back to his childhood:

You never love or learn more about life, sport and culture than when you’re 12 years old, and for that reason, Subzero remains my greatest Cup moment.

That 1992 race call is still seared into my mind. Subbie, the grey, running away from Veandercross and Castletown. Impressionable young me cut out the pictures of Greg Hall riding to victory and pinned them on my wall for years to come. It cemented a great love affair with the race.

Subzero wasn’t the greatest horse to win the Cup, but his contribution to racing is perhaps unmatched. Bless, Subbie. He was one of a kind.

Subzero and jockey Greg Hall streak past the winning post at Flemington in 1992.Credit: The Age

Protesters have marched down to the Flemington entrance and are picketing across the road.

Campaign director Elio Celotto is leading the demonstration and chanting with a megaphone as racegoers awkwardly make their way past the group to the entrance.

Protesters near the racecourse.Credit: Brittany Busch

“Winners are grinners and losers become doggy dinners,” he yelled.

“Horse racing kills!” the group called back.

“You lose your money, they lose their lives,” Celotto continued.

Protesters are stationed across the street from the entrance.Credit: Brittany Busch

“Nup to the Cup!” came the reply.

About 20 police officers patrolled the opposite side of the road, escorting one particularly eager protester back to the demonstrators’ side.

“This is how they silence us, we’d love to be on that side,” Celotto said into his megaphone.

After about half an hour, most protesters went back to the park, leaving only a handful out the front.

After three winners on Derby Day, James McDonald strikes an early blow with victory on the well-fancied Opening Address for trainer Liam Howley in the second race, the TAB Trophy over 1800 metres.

Sitting outside the leader in the run, Opening Address hit the lead at the top of the straight then held off a wall of horses to win by about a length from Statuario and the unlucky Cecchetti, which did not get clean air until late.

It was a horror watch for punters on the favourite Plymouth, which was blocked for several runs in the straight, checked off heels and did not get out until the race was over to finish just behind the placegetters.

Kate Waterhouse at the Cup.Credit: Melissa Singer

Channeling Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday, racing royalty Kate Waterhouse has brought la dolce vita vibes to the Birdcage in a fire-engine red Versace dress.

“We really interpret runway trends into racewear,” she says.

Waterhouse will spend today at Lexus until just before 3pm, when she will try to make it to the grandstand to watch the big race with her mother, legendary trainer Gai Waterhouse, whose horse Just Fine is running.

On a major intersection about a kilometre from the main pedestrian entrance, protesters have started to gather in opposition of animal abuse.

The demonstration, organised by the Coalition for the Protection of Racehorses, is smaller than in years past because it has become too big for the Newmarket Reserve location.

Nup to the Cup protesters.Credit: Brittany Busch

When this masthead arrived this morning, only two people held down the fort.

Campaign director Elio Celotto said most people – up to 1000 – would instead be heading to Welcome to Thornbury for a sanctioned Nup to the Cup celebration.

He said they wanted to raise awareness about the treatment of racehorses, both for the physical stress of racing and being whipped, and the killing of horses when they can no longer race.

“They want to show you the glamour. They don’t tell you that the majority of racehorses have been killed prematurely because they don’t have the homes for them,” he said.

And he said revellers didn’t need to stop having fun.

“We’re celebrating here today, and many people are doing it around the country, making it a fun day. But instead of it being a day that we exploit animals, today we remember animals and raise funds for many animal causes around Australia,” he said.

Beach chairs and drinks on ice make the event feel more like a picnic than a traditional protest, but once demonstrators begin to arrive they arm themselves with signs and stand along the roadside.

The group is experienced and professional, with slick messaging on placards, a marquee and banners.

A woman pushing a pram past called out over the fence: “Hey! Good luck today.”

But not everybody was supportive.

Two separate cars full of young men shouted threats and profanities as they drove past within the first 20 minutes of the protest starting.

Another group walked through the park and gave the finger, laughing, to the steadily growing group of people.

Celotto said they had some growing up to do.

“I don’t believe they’re pro animal cruelty or pro horse racing. I think they’re just venting at the fact that we’re opposing something that’s been a long-standing tradition. But traditions can change and we think eventually it will cease to exist, and perhaps could be replaced with Nup to the Cup day.”