Rain is set to play a major role in this year’s Melbourne Cup, with Flemington Racecourse expected to be rated either a Soft 7 or Heavy 8 when the gates open on Tuesday. The Cup, known as Australia’s most famous horse race, will be run on November 4, the first Tuesday of the month as tradition dictates.
The Melbourne Cup is scheduled as the seventh race of the 10-race card at Flemington.
Start times across Australia and New Zealand
- 3pm AEDT: Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, ACT
- 2:30pm ACDT: South Australia
- 2pm AEST: Queensland
- 1:30pm ACST: Northern Territory
- 12pm AWST: Western Australia
- 5pm NZDT: New Zealand
Weather forecast and track conditions
The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast 20 to 40 millimetres of rain in Melbourne on Monday, with up to 10 millimetres more on Tuesday. The heavy rainfall is expected to leave the track wet and testing for runners.
Although Flemington is known for its strong drainage system, track manager Liam O’Keeffe has predicted the surface will likely be rated Soft 7 or Heavy 8 by Cup time. That rating would make conditions challenging and could significantly influence the outcome of the race.
+ There are no comments
Add yours